But the hot topic at the moment is Cap & Trade or some variation of that. At first I thought it was a very good idea or at least a good place to start. Now I am pretty sure it is not a good idea and fear that it might in fact be a very bad idea. I would love to hear your thoughts but first please watch the video Cap & Trade, made by the same guys that made The Story of Stuff.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Slumdog Millionaire is 5 Stars if you don’t squirm out of your seat and leave in the first half – a few people did. This movie is brilliant, but heavy cause it is not afraid to be real while the whole time portraying a fanciful story line. The journey is worth it, but the journey is rough. This movie makes me want to talk but I should shut up until you have seen it. This movie will be over looked. Don’t let it slip by.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Just finished watching a movie called Machuca. It was recommended by Karen as one of the movies that we could be lending out from the shop. In itself the movie was great. I am no movie reviewer so all I can really say is that I think it was really well made. What stuck me about the movie was the theme of hatred. It is not the first movie to depict such racial/political/class/etc hatred but this time I thought I might blog my thoughts on hatred.

Besides Internet Explorer I pretty much don’t feel hatred for anything or anyone these days. I used to feel a lot of hatred though, once upon a time – for people mostly. It made me feel powerful even though I know now it was a power that was born in fear. It was an illusionary power that was week in nature and never prevailed. It did not serve me in the end. So to a degree I can understand it when a person hates, but when a culture hates I can’t identify with that on a personal level.

I guess that I am lucky to have never had hatred for another culture instilled in me although in recent times there have been attempts. And just so my government knows. I don’t buy the scare campaigns. I will decide one by one my trust for another person and should a person do me wrong, I will not condemn a whole culture for it.

So in the movie there is this cultural hatred that escalates into violence and ultimately a military coup. And I think to myself for a minute that I am lucky to live in a country where there may be racism and cultural hated but it is mild and it is kept to oneself mostly. I quickly call myself a ‘Sheltered Wanker’ to start with, because I bet there is plenty of cultural hated out there that is affecting people in real and damaging ways everyday. Either I am fortunate or I don’t see it because I am not contributing to it. Then I remember Detention Centres – I do see it, it is just too easy to forget.

But here is the point I am trying to get at. From good soil good food grows. From poor quality soil that is laden with toxic chemicals things still grow, even things that look pretty much the same as things that grow healthy but they are not healthy. Hitler was a plant growing in a soil that let him be the person he was. And there are many other examples like this one. Is the soil to blame? That is, are the people to blame? I am going to go with Yes. But I say it with empathy. I heard it explained once that Hitler’s ‘emergence’ can be traced back along a chain of events. Unchecked sledging that becomes ok on a day to day level makes small things that should not have been ok, ok. And once the small things seem ok it makes the bigger things seem ok too, and on and on until no one remembers how it started. What kind of soil are we? What kind of leaders will emerge from us? Sorry for the long winded analogy – emergence is the key word. Responsibility belongs to us.

I don’t understand all of the details but someone suggested to me once on this topic that Pauline Hanson was Australia’s test and we passed. Maybe, not sure. You might know better – use the comments. I do like the idea though that for all our superficial cultural hatred, if called on it we would walk the other way.

By the way, in the soil analogy there is usually a farmer…

The show started right on time. It was a seamless effort and for me a very emotional experience that was very hard to pull away from. I was supposed to leave early but couldn’t. I now can’t wait for the next Pangea Day. I strongly urge you to visit the Pangea Day website where you can watch all of the films that were shown during the event and even reply the event which is well worth the 4 hours.

If you do find it inspiring then head to TED.com where it all started. TED is also a great way to keep the conversation going.

Anyway, if you dare to ask the money question. This might just be the answer:
Money as Debt

If so here is what you have to do. Answer a 2 part question.

Some background info.
The Kite Runner was co-financed by Participant Productions and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

Using our Contact form I want you to tell me:
Who is the Founder of Participant Productions?
What is the link to his talk on www.ted.com?

I have 2 double passes to give away which can be picked up from Urban Grind before 4pm this Wednesday. Ability to pick up the tickets is a requirement of entry.

Bonus Question for the winners: What is the Ebay item that is mentioned at the end of the talk? (Basically I want you to watch the talk. Give us something very cool to talk about over the free coffee that I am going to give you for answering the bonus question correctly).

And even if you don’t want to or can’t see The Kite Runner on that night please do the exercise anyway. I promise you will be enriched.

Food Connect is proudly hosting farmer John Peterson and two special movie screenings of his award winning film on Dec 1st at Ahimsa House, Horan Street, West End.

Screening Times: 5:30pm & 8:30pm.
$60 – Families (2 adults & 2 children),
$25 – Adults,
$20 – Concession/Student Cards,
$15 – Under 15′s
$10 – Over 5′s

Call Food Connect for further details and bookings: (07) 3216 7555

Oh and while you are at it. Sign up for Food Connect. They are our local example of what the movie is all about – Community Supported Agriculture.