Past list view

I met Franny Alexander, (see the email from Franny below "Looks like the global audience will be around one million people." per Franny. If you attend, you will truly be one in a million.) director of Age of Stupid (looking back from the future on how stupid humanity has been by continuing what we are doing now) when she was here for a preview screening in downtown DC. Franny thinks the Copenhagen Climate Conference in December 2009 is critical - and is releasing the film now to promote interest in the climate change issue. (This is United Nations Climate Week and there is a big meeting in Pittsburgh.)

There are 9 theaters screening the premier in the DC area -- enter your zip code for the closest. I suggest these theaters for meetup members who want to meet each other -- contact through the meetup email system and meetup photos, or raise a "Meetup" sign overhead outside the theater.

AMC Mazza Gallerie 7 Metro Red Line - Friendship Heights
5300 WISCONSIN AVE NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20015
202-537-9551

Ballston Commons 12 Metro Orange Line - Ballston
671 N. GLEBE ROAD
ARLINGTON, VA 22203
703-527-9730
For tickets to the Age of Stupid premier go to:

http://www.ncm.com/Fa...

From Franny Armstrong- Age of Stupid Director
Today's Topics:

1. 2 days to go... 250 trees planted in Zimbabwe (Franny Armstrong)
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:01:32 +0100
From: Franny Armstrong <franny@spannerfilms.net>
Subject: 2 days to go... 250 trees planted in Zimbabwe
To: age-of-stupid@aos.dh.bytemark.co.uk

01.48. Sunday morning in New York

Which technically means that the premiere is TOMORROW. But I'm going
for "2 days to go..." on the subject header to fool Team Stupid Global
Premiere (15 of us in the office right now) that we have more time.

- Hankies at the ready... Zimbabwe sold all 250 tickets to their
premiere and as the ticket price included the cost of planting a tree,
250 saplings are going in next week. They're thinking of calling it
the Not Stupid Forest.

- Helsinki, Paris, London, New York and almost every cinema seat
across the Netherlands has sold out. Though New York has just moved
Stupid to the biggest screen in Union Square, so there are 100 new
tickets up for grabs as of a few hours ago. Boston has 17 left.

- Rome sold out three screens in just two days (they were latecomers
to the party) and are trying to get one more cinema.

- Madagascar and Israel have confirmed, which takes the total number
of countries up to 63, even with Nigeria pulling out (see below).
Looks like the global audience will be around one million people. And
quite a few TV stations are getting in touch wanting to broadcast the
whole shebang later.

- The Nigerian government waded in and pulled the plug on our Lagos
screening. Funnily enough they didn't like the way they were depicted
in the film, destroying villages, siphoning off the oil money and
allowing illegal gas flares.

- The Chair of the IPCC, Dr Pachauri, and NASA's James Hansen have
confirmed to speak in the solar tent.

- Glenn Beck is being very rude about our film, but we don't believe
he even watched it as surely he would have noted that he is in it.
(Funny Facebook response: Beck didn't like this new film, therefore,
it must be GREAT. I'm going.) So we made Glenn a little cheeky video,
challenging him to come down to the NY premiere and watch the damn
thing. We also made a video for Jon Stewart, wondering why he didn't
want us on his show. This felt like a good idea after I'd done 14 back-
to-back TV interviews all round America, all from one chair in New
York: the studio guys helpfully hold up cards so you continue to get
the "Hello Seattle" or "Good morning Wichita" or "Hello Atlanta" right
long after you have lost all track of space or time. It was in this
state that the videos seemed like a good idea.

- Oh no, not another film about climate change - my second blog for
the Huffington Post made it passed the selectors.

- Screenings are now confirmed in Palestine and Israel... please, no
more emails.... we're trying to fix climate change....

- Think we just got our best ever review in the San Francisco Bay
Guardian: "The film's opening sequence begins with the big bang and
hurtles via countdown clock through billions of years, flying past the
earliest stages of evolution, past dinosaurs, past the industrial
revolution, and past the present day, the titular Age of Stupid, so
fast that we barely have time to notice ourselves on the screen before
it's 2055, the Age of Too Late. The message: in the grand scheme of
things, we have about a nanosecond left...."

- Or maybe this one's even better, in Wired: "the urge to do something
immediate is palpable and powerful"

- Cute school story 1: "My parents are high school teachers outside of
Chicago and are taking a bunch of science students (including the
environmental club) to the movie. But then today they announced it to
the whole school."

- Cute school story 2: A teacher in Boston is offering her students an
extra grade (or point or whatever it's called) if they attend their
local screening and write up a report after. Cunning.

Entertaining stuff is coming in so fast these days that I can't keep
up with it all in these mailing list messages. So we've added the
Twitter feed to the front of the website. Or follow us here: http://www.twitter.co...
. The Facebook page is also buzzing: http://www.facebook.c...

Here's what's happening in our small chunk of New York right now:
Lizzie - allocating seating on the sailing boat. Does the Environment
Minister of a medium-sized developed nation get precedence over a
minor character from a big TV show?
Rhiannon - updating the screening info on all 63 countries. Jordan:
"On a rooftop off Rainbow Street, Amman"
Jahlia - answering a million questions on Facebook. Most popular: "Why
is the cinema three hours from where I live?" and "Why is it not on in
Canada?"
Deirdre - Liasing with the secret service to arrange the President of
the Maldives' dash from his early evening cocktails
Tom - Trying to suck country names out of the database to make them
display on the webpage offering free internet screenings for people in
countries with no cinemas (it ain't working yet, before you ask)
Franny - Avoiding finalising the script for the tent by writing this
mailing list
Rachel (Lizzie's sister, now drafted in) - Hand-making 300 paper fans
for the tent guests as there will be no AC (for obvious emissions
reasons)
Susan - measuring short pieces of rope
Andy & Mike - role-playing their green carpet appearance, minus the
costumes
Nevette - Attempting to download the opening graphic which has been
uploaded by Rod in Australia
Laurel - Writing up cue cards with the host's script points (which
kind-of needs the finished script which I'm not finishing)
Alexandra - Choosing sustainable clothes from an eco-designer's
website for the four professional models who will be gracing the green
carpet catwalk
Tallane - Walking the streets of New York hand-delivering tickets to
celebs' homes and hotels
Stephanie - Painting info signs for the edible decor.

So that's our Saturday night. Hope yours is going equally well.

If you've still not booked your tickets or suddenly remembered a
friend in Pakistan who might just like to join the party, here's what
you need to know/tell them:
http://www.ageofstupi...

Till tomorrow (still pretending tomorrow is not already today),
Franny (Armstrong - director of Age of Stupid)

Also, on September 26 at 7pm
CarbonfreeDC http://www.meetup.com... is proud to host the Washington DC premiere of the celebrated documentary "No Impact Man." The film follows a young family living in NYC that goes to extremes to nix their environmental impact.
Join us at the E Street Cinema on Friday the 26th or Saturday night for the screening and a discussion lead by CarbonfreeDC sustainability experts.

Also, check out http://www.meetup.com... events every week, many at 733 Euclid St NE in DC
Second Tuesday is film night at 7:30pm

Also, October 10-11 Volunteer with the DC Green Festival
http://www.greenfesti...

Also, October 8-21 Volunteer with the Solar Decathlon - solar home competition between colleges from the USA and world
Volunteer at http://www.solardecat...
About Solar Decathlon
For three weeks in October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy will host the Solar Decathlon—a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The Solar Decathlon is also an event to which the public is invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design.
Exact dates of the 2009 event are:
* Oct. 8-16—Teams compete in 10 contests
* Oct. 9-13—Houses are open to the public
* Oct. 15-18—Houses are open to the public
* Oct. 19-21—Teams disassemble their houses.
The Solar Decathlon houses will be open for public tours 11 a.m.­–3 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that all homes will be closed Wed., Oct. 14.

Announcing a new Meetup for Maryland Suburbs Urbanism/Sustainable Development!
What: Celebrate Maryland's Climate Heroes - Benefit for CCAN
WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th from 7-9pm
WHERE: The award-winning Student Center at the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College
REFRESHMENTS: Hors d'oeuvres and drinks provided
TICKETS: Minimum donation of $50 and all the proceeds support CCAN's critical work. Purchase tickets below
ATTIRE: Cocktail attire
~About the Awardees~
U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-8th Dist) has achieved many clean energy successes in his six years in Congress. He is co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Efficiency Caucus. He led the fight for establishing a “Green Bank” within the recent economic stimulus package. And in April he introduced the historic and much-praised climate bill called “The Cap and Dividend Act of 2009.”
State Senator Paul Pinsky (Dist. 22) and Delegate Kumar Barve (Dist. 17), meanwhile, were lead sponsors this year of the strongest climate bill ever passed by a U.S. state: the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of Maryland.
Council Member George Leventhal has achieved many clean energy successes in his six years on the Montgomery County Council. He pioneered the campaign to switch county government buildings -- including schools -- to 10 percent wind power. He launched the "Clean Energy Reward" program for Montgomery County residential purchasers of clean energy. And he has been an unshakeable leader in the fight for the Purple Line light rail system in the county.
Betsy Taylor and Ted and Jennifer Stanley have dedicated much of their remarkable careers to advocating for social justice and environmental stewardship. Without their support, CCAN would never have achieved its landmark successes across the region.

~Host Committee~
Jamie Raskin, MD State Senator (District 20)
Bill McKibben, MIddlebury College
Bob Musil, Chairman, 2020 Vision
Gary Skulnik, Clean Currents
Lise Van Susteren, The Climate Project
Mark Cohen, Executive Producer, THE COFFEE HOUSE
Dallas Burtraw
Seth Goldman, Honest Tea
Charlotte Brewer
Peter Barnes
Betsy Cohn and Judy Appelbaum
Cleo Braver and Alfred Tyler
Charlie Garlow
Cindy and Ed Brandt
Cindy L. Parker, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Dave Blazer, Bluewater Wind
Dee Raff
Denny May
Ellen McGovern
Karen and Jim McManus
Kevin Rackstraw
Linda and Robert Pepper
Lisa Kiely, University of Maryland
M.A. Sheehan
Mel Raff
Pat DeLaquil, Clean Energy Commercialization LLC
Scott Nash, MOM’S Organic Market

BELOW IS UNRELATED TO ABOVE – except it is about Climate

From Franny Alexander, director of the movie, AgeofStupid.org, about looking back from climate destroyed world of 2055 at the destructive traits of the present day: Ha ha, AgeofStupid just got our worst review of all time - actually, maybe anybody's worst review of all time: http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/6359/

Green Movie Investors? Speaking of cash, if anyone would like to own a piece of the Stupid pie, we have 8.5 shares of 10K left from Round 4 (or is it 5?). Investing details here: http://www.ageofstupid.net/money

www.ageofstupid.org
www.notstupid.org

- Shell is in court in New York for complicity in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa. As you no doubt remember, Saro-Wiwa was the environmental activist and Ogoni leader who led a campaign against the environmental devastation wreaked upon the Niger Delta (as featured in Layefa's story in Age of Stupid) in the '90s, as a result of which he was hanged, along with eight of his colleagues, in 1995. For more info, including how you can get involved in various actions this week, see: www.shellguilty.org and http://remembersarowiwa.com/

Age of Stupid’s super-cool UK distributors, Dogwoof, are launching their new film about over-fishing, The End of the Line. Apparently there's going to be no fish by 2048, which is not just a wee problem for hungry humans but, obviously, for all the ocean's ecosystems (even before we get into climate change heating the water, killing the coral...).

http://www.dogwoof.com/indie/indietrailer/the-end-of-the-line-trailer/ - There's a whole radio show all about climate change, which is archived neatly online: www.climateradio.org

"Energy in the 21st Century:
Can Muir(environment), Patton(military), and Gandhi(peace) Agree?"
RSVP to:
http://energyconversation.eventbrite.com/
May 11th, 2009 - 5:30 to 8:15 pm
L’Enfant Plaza Hotel
480 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 20024
Metro L'Enfant Plaza - Blue & Orange and Green & Yellow
Inside Metro directions to Hotel.
Up escalator, through the glass doors.
First right. Look at overhead signs to hotel, brown doors on right with no signage. We will post a sign for the meeting. Up the stairs to hotel lobby
Free unless you want food, $10 buffet in the past.

As we make the decisions about what direction our society should take regarding energy -- we have to keep in mind that we need for it to be increasingly clean, secure, and affordable. What threats and problems should be at the center of our concerns, and what are some of the approaches that can help us deal with all three needs?

Jim Woolsey will help us look at these issues from the perspective of three very different and remarkable individuals of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who embody the struggles to preserve our natural world, defend our freedom, and lift the fortunes of the world's poor. Could John Muir (1838 – 1914, the Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of U.S. wilderness), General George S. Patton, and Mahatma Gandhi agree today on an energy policy for the future?

R. JAMES WOOLSEY, Venture Partner, VantagePoint Venture Partners

Mr. Woolsey is also the Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University; a Senior Executive Advisor to Booz Allen Hamilton; Of Counsel to the law firm of Goodwin Procter; and chairman of the Strategic Advisory Group of Paladin Capital Corporation. Before joining, VantagePoint in March 2008, He served five times in the federal government for a total of 12 years, holding Presidential appointments. Director of Central Intelligence (1993-95), Ambassador and Chief Negotiator for the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty in Vienna (1989-91), Delegate at Large (part-time) to the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks (START) and the Defense and Space Talks in Geneva (1983-86), Under Secretary of the Navy (1977-79), and General Counsel to the U.S. Senate committee on Armed Services (1970-73).

This is the DC 11th Hour pre-xmas meetup.
Please RSVP to"
http://11thhour.meetup.com/2/calendar/8871709/

Project Updates
- Web Development for Manual
- Free Lecture Series
- Legislative "litter" bill
- Local Shops/Restaurants incentive
- Solar Power for DC Residences

This is the DC 11th Hour pre-xmas meetup.
Please RSVP to"
http://11thhour.meetup.com/2/calendar/8871709/

Project Updates
- Web Development for Manual
- Free Lecture Series
- Legislative "litter" bill
- Local Shops/Restaurants incentive
- Solar Power for DC Residences