Comments on: The Age of Stupid Premiere at the Eden Project http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/ An Evolving Exploration into the Head, Heart and Hands of Energy Descent Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:35:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gently Breathing » Blog Archive » End of Suburbia http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-62056 Gently Breathing » Blog Archive » End of Suburbia Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:51:58 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-62056 [...] So, this film warns us what might happen if we don’t do something and tries to frighten us into action. The latest film in this genre is ‘The Age of Stupid’ which presumes that we ignored all the warnings that The End of Suburbia is trying to give us and shows the consequences. I have not yet seen this, I believe quite depressing film, but for a couple of different and interesting reviews see here and here. [...] [...] So, this film warns us what might happen if we don’t do something and tries to frighten us into action. The latest film in this genre is ‘The Age of Stupid’ which presumes that we ignored all the warnings that The End of Suburbia is trying to give us and shows the consequences. I have not yet seen this, I believe quite depressing film, but for a couple of different and interesting reviews see here and here. [...]

]]> By: Shane Hughes http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-62040 Shane Hughes Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:03:08 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-62040 in response to the Age of Stupid "Some very naughty people calling themselves the Clever Crew have been up to all sorts of photogenic shenanigans involving petrol stations, RBS, train stations and wind" turbines: http://clevercrew.wordpress.com/ in response to the Age of Stupid “Some very naughty people calling themselves the Clever Crew have been up to all sorts of photogenic shenanigans involving petrol stations, RBS, train stations and wind” turbines: http://clevercrew.wordpress.com/

]]> By: Topics about Travel » The Age of Stupid Premiere at the Eden Project http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-62011 Topics about Travel » The Age of Stupid Premiere at the Eden Project Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:34:01 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-62011 [...] Green Blog created an interesting post today on The Age of Stupid Premiere at the Eden ProjectHere’s a short outlineIt is the tale of those who discovered that the world beyond air travel, traffic jams, the April strawberry and the paraffin heater was… [...] [...] Green Blog created an interesting post today on The Age of Stupid Premiere at the Eden ProjectHere’s a short outlineIt is the tale of those who discovered that the world beyond air travel, traffic jams, the April strawberry and the paraffin heater was… [...]

]]> By: DaveDann http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-62003 DaveDann Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:55:05 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-62003 Now I realise why I feel uneasy about the post showing debate in London! This Age of Stupid/Not Stupid thing is a 'CAMPAIGN' - isn't it? It's like a military campaign with ardent campaigner foot-soldiers. It has celeb leaders. It focuses on what other people should do. It thinks that the promises of politicians are important. It lays great emphasis on how it manipulates the media. The great attraction of Transition was, for me, a supposed absence of leader/led divide, an emphasis on direct action at community level and an idea that politicians and media would be made to follow the activists, rather than lead them. I suspect I'm in a big minority here but am I seriously supposed to get excited about ANOTHER politician's emissions promise made at an international conference. What's it worth? I was a 'campaigner' in the 70's - sitting on a derelict street corner in Stapleton Rd Bristol on Sat morning campaigning for allotments or running through the streets of some depressing northern town on a anti-nazi thing shouting 'the workers united will never be defeated!' and dozens of other similar things. I consider that part of my life largely a waste of time. Now I realise why I feel uneasy about the post showing debate in London! This Age of Stupid/Not Stupid thing is a ‘CAMPAIGN’ – isn’t it? It’s like a military campaign with ardent campaigner foot-soldiers. It has celeb leaders. It focuses on what other people should do. It thinks that the promises of politicians are important. It lays great emphasis on how it manipulates the media. The great attraction of Transition was, for me, a supposed absence of leader/led divide, an emphasis on direct action at community level and an idea that politicians and media would be made to follow the activists, rather than lead them. I suspect I’m in a big minority here but am I seriously supposed to get excited about ANOTHER politician’s emissions promise made at an international conference. What’s it worth?
I was a ‘campaigner’ in the 70′s – sitting on a derelict street corner in Stapleton Rd Bristol on Sat morning campaigning for allotments or running through the streets of some depressing northern town on a anti-nazi thing shouting ‘the workers united will never be defeated!’ and dozens of other similar things. I consider that part of my life largely a waste of time.

]]> By: Rowena http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-62000 Rowena Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:01:00 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-62000 Maldives president an amazing man - heard him on the radio... he is putting aside a big share of tourist revenues to effectively buy land in another country so his people can move there when his country becomes flooded. I imagine that if you have thought that far ahead you understand the impact and contribution of flying. He also sounded like an incredible man in a personal sense - very strong principles and very grounded. Maldives president an amazing man – heard him on the radio… he is putting aside a big share of tourist revenues to effectively buy land in another country so his people can move there when his country becomes flooded. I imagine that if you have thought that far ahead you understand the impact and contribution of flying. He also sounded like an incredible man in a personal sense – very strong principles and very grounded.

]]> By: Carl http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61999 Carl Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:18 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61999 I hope the sequel is 'Age of Love' (or at least 'Age of Wisdom'). What sort of choice is 'stupid' or 'not stupid' - not very inspiring is it? I hope the sequel is ‘Age of Love’ (or at least ‘Age of Wisdom’).
What sort of choice is ‘stupid’ or ‘not stupid’ – not very inspiring is it?

]]> By: DaveDann http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61998 DaveDann Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:31:03 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61998 "the President of the Maldives announced that his country was going to go for zero emissions, as part of trying to nudge the rest of the world’s governments to do the same." Anyone got any more details on this? According to wikis the Maldives has 600,000 visitors per year, nearly all arriving by plane. If I were cynical then I'd guess that he won't include the emissions from foreign tourist aircraft.. “the President of the Maldives announced that his country was going to go for zero emissions, as part of trying to nudge the rest of the world’s governments to do the same.” Anyone got any more details on this? According to wikis the Maldives has 600,000 visitors per year, nearly all arriving by plane. If I were cynical then I’d guess that he won’t include the emissions from foreign tourist aircraft..

]]> By: Mike Grenville http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61996 Mike Grenville Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:58:58 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61996 The challenge is, as Rob has so elequently said many times before, is that the environmental movement has been painting doom laden future pictures for decades - 35 years as someone above has said. Added to that all the mainstream media plays the same game of describing a future of apocolypse. And the effect has been for most people is to go into denial. What we need is a film called the Age of Wake Up that perhaps has a doom scenario that we wake up from and engaged in a great turning. Hopefully The Transition Movie will be a step in this direction that will encourage others. In the meantime take a look at this film called The Green Beautiful' in English (La Belle Verte) which has both a positive vision and also playfully looks at the way we live now. Available in parts on YouTube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5CmMm_SRpM The challenge is, as Rob has so elequently said many times before, is that the environmental movement has been painting doom laden future pictures for decades – 35 years as someone above has said. Added to that all the mainstream media plays the same game of describing a future of apocolypse. And the effect has been for most people is to go into denial.

What we need is a film called the Age of Wake Up that perhaps has a doom scenario that we wake up from and engaged in a great turning. Hopefully The Transition Movie will be a step in this direction that will encourage others.

In the meantime take a look at this film called The Green Beautiful’ in English (La Belle Verte) which has both a positive vision and also playfully looks at the way we live now.
Available in parts on YouTube here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5CmMm_SRpM

]]> By: Shane Hughes http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61994 Shane Hughes Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:01:51 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61994 not all films have to paint the positive, in fact not all films should address a balanced perspective, if they did we'd end up with a watered down diversity. we need a balanced view of course but it was clearly the objective of this film to focus on the negative scenario. now we need another film painting the abundant and beautiful world that will manifest when we get it right. not all films have to paint the positive, in fact not all films should address a balanced perspective, if they did we’d end up with a watered down diversity. we need a balanced view of course but it was clearly the objective of this film to focus on the negative scenario. now we need another film painting the abundant and beautiful world that will manifest when we get it right.

]]> By: The Age of Stupid « The Littlest Bird http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61991 The Age of Stupid « The Littlest Bird Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:32:10 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61991 [...] here to read the [...] [...] here to read the [...]

]]> By: alex http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61987 alex Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:08:50 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61987 I was in Newcastle, which was packed out, fun and engaged with the film, with plenty of campaigners, including Transition Initiative Newcastle, handing out flyers. Oops...forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one. I was in Newcastle, which was packed out, fun and engaged with the film, with plenty of campaigners, including Transition Initiative Newcastle, handing out flyers.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.

]]> By: alex http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61985 alex Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:58:58 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61985 I was in <a href="http://www.greenjournalism.co.uk/2009/03/16/its-almost-paralysing-what-can-we-do/" rel="nofollow">Newcastle,</a> which was packed out, fun and engaged with the film, with plenty of campaigners, including Transition Initiative Newcastle, handing out flyers. I was in Newcastle, which was packed out, fun and engaged with the film, with plenty of campaigners, including Transition Initiative Newcastle, handing out flyers.

]]> By: Derek Wall http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61982 Derek Wall Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:26:14 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61982 excellent film and good on the economics, you can't have infinite growth on a finite planet...which sadly is how capitalism works. excellent film and good on the economics, you can’t have infinite growth on a finite planet…which sadly is how capitalism works.

]]> By: Shane Hughes http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61980 Shane Hughes Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:00:24 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61980 Sore the film in London.... best film on climate change so far (it's difficult to get past the feeling of, here's another film about climate change). couple of things that i liked; 1. the film made me realise that it's not necessarily bad people wanting to do bad things, it's too often good people just getting on with what they think is right but doing what ultimately is turning out to be damn stupid. 2. i think the "not stupid" campaign could have some legs and we should all add to it's momentum, i like it's focus on Copenhagen. 3. The live link ups were great and the future of low carbon events. an event of national relevance with a localised travel pattern. 4. how amazing watching PP pledge to give up his OBE!!! that'll get the ball rolling. Sore the film in London…. best film on climate change so far (it’s difficult to get past the feeling of, here’s another film about climate change). couple of things that i liked;
1. the film made me realise that it’s not necessarily bad people wanting to do bad things, it’s too often good people just getting on with what they think is right but doing what ultimately is turning out to be damn stupid.
2. i think the “not stupid” campaign could have some legs and we should all add to it’s momentum, i like it’s focus on Copenhagen.
3. The live link ups were great and the future of low carbon events. an event of national relevance with a localised travel pattern.
4. how amazing watching PP pledge to give up his OBE!!! that’ll get the ball rolling.

]]> By: Stuart Walker http://transitionculture.org/2009/03/16/the-age-of-stupid-premiere-at-the-eden-project/comment-page-1/#comment-61979 Stuart Walker Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:48:50 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/?p=2454#comment-61979 Watched the premiere in Plymouth. Rather more documentary and less drama than I expected, but the present day situation should strike home. The one image that will remain with me is the Nigerians having to wash their fish in detergent to remove the oil spilled by the multi-nationals in their river. As always, this film will be supported by those who know the problems of Peak Oil and climate change are fact not fiction, but the detractors will rubbish it as one-sided and politically motivated. Its success will be measured in how many views are changed, but don't be disappointed if the film fails to harness nations. At the end of the day, Transition will happen because communities want it to, not because they feel they are forced to do it. Stuart Walker Chair Transition Penwith NB: I was the person in the Plymouth 'Vue' cinema who had to leave early to get the train home, but urged everyone to join their local Transition group and write to the Devon and Cornwall Business Council and Western Morning News to say road and airport expansion is not the route to prosperity. I hope you all did. Watched the premiere in Plymouth. Rather more documentary and less drama than I expected, but the present day situation should strike home. The one image that will remain with me is the Nigerians having to wash their fish in detergent to remove the oil spilled by the multi-nationals in their river. As always, this film will be supported by those who know the problems of Peak Oil and climate change are fact not fiction, but the detractors will rubbish it as one-sided and politically motivated. Its success will be measured in how many views are changed, but don’t be disappointed if the film fails to harness nations. At the end of the day, Transition will happen because communities want it to, not because they feel they are forced to do it.

Stuart Walker
Chair Transition Penwith

NB: I was the person in the Plymouth ‘Vue’ cinema who had to leave early to get the train home, but urged everyone to join their local Transition group and write to the Devon and Cornwall Business Council and Western Morning News to say road and airport expansion is not the route to prosperity. I hope you all did.

]]>