Many awareness campaigns begin with the very sincere but unfortunately naïve sentiment, “If only people knew the truth…” Armed with little more than that, they spend millions of dollars on celebrity-endorsed commercials, speaking tours, and marketing campaigns that does little more than leave people disempowe(RED).

That’s the sad end to the second half of the sentence that people never finish. “If only people knew the truth, they’d be even more scared than they already are and feel even more powerless than they already do.”

I’m not speaking from a high horse. Consider the tragedy going on, as we speak, in Darfur. I’m aware that it’s going on, I even have friends intimately involved in the struggle. Throw it into a blender along with the perpetual occupation of Iraq, our Constitution being shredded by an outlaw Executive Branch, corporations scrambling to make money from climate change instead of fight it… hit purée and try to drink that concoction. Anyone who claims to be truly aware of what’s going on it our world and not clinically depressed is lying. So I turn away and try to concentrate on the things I have some control over. Let me be clear, awareness-raising efforts on the Darfur issue have made me less inspired to take action.

To eat my own medicine, let me end the ranting about how activism is screwing the proverbial pooch by encouraging blissful ignorance over action and start offering some solutions. Similar to “the only thing we have to fear“, solutions are the solution. However, most of the solutions that organizations offer are signing my name to a declaration, spreading the word, and giving money. Of these, giving money is the only action that actually affects an outcome. Sure, spreading the word might indirectly—but only by encouraging more people to give money.

The solutions that get me really excited are the ones that openly share campaign strategy with me. MoveOn.org’s emails typically, even when asking for money, lay out a clear plan for how I help. Maybe they want to hire more on-the-ground organizers for an upcoming primary, maybe they want lots of lawyers to email Alberto Gonzalez, either way I can see their strategy and—by taking part—I see how my actions are part of something larger that needs me.

The core of this is that those people enlightened to the point where they feel responsibility for the world and want to take action won’t feel satisfied with activism that strips them of that responsibility. Which is a good thing, because “absolution activism” is a false solution anyway.

Back to the signs that have gone up in my neighborhood. They are a clear example of taking the “If only people knew the truth…” to an illogical extreme. Being a big city with nice weather, San Francisco has more than it’s share of homeless out on the streets. My neighborhood is not the worst in the city in that regard, but the only that I’ve noticed to try to address the problem by putting up infographics about what is and is not acceptable behavior.

There’s a lot more to say on this topic and, like many of my posts, this one has seemed to get away from me without my feeling like I’ve reached any sort of clarity. I expect this will not be my last word on the current disempowering nature of activism. Comments are welcome from those who both seek inspiration and to inspire.

Stan is currently in the desert of Nevada and “robo-blogging” while he’s gone. He wrote this last week and set it to publish today.

Working in the communications department of an environmental non-profit, a film about the disinformation campaigns staged by energy companies about global warming probably wasn’t going to contain a truckload of surprises for me. In fact, I cover such things all the time on this blog. It did surprise me how the filmmakers managed to make a potentially bleak subject pretty funny (they describe it as a “toxic comedy”) while leaving the issue its deserved respect.

Before the showing, writer/director Daniel Gold addressed the crowd. The film had began years ago and, after months and months of researching for a film about whether or not global warming was real, it became absolutely clear to everyone that what was really needed was a film about why there’s still any doubt—they name it the “global warming gap”, or the difference between what scientists know to be true and what the public thinks. Journalist Ross Gelbspan puts it plainly in the film, “they’ve stolen our reality.”

Ross is but one of many heroes and villains interviewed in the film, I couldn’t help but think of him as the star. Years ago, he co-wrote an article about climate change and disease; skeptics immediately attacked it. His first reaction, as a journalist, was to research their side of the argument. Thinking the jury was still out in the scientific community, he backed off and even felt guilty. Later he discovered that these skeptics were all funded by the coal industry. He gets pissed and becomes determined to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. A decade later and Ross has retired because it’s too damn depressing. He shrugs to the camera, admitting that article after article has made no dent and that—his daughter sitting not three feet from him on the couch—we’re probably fucked. Another few years later and we see him pulled out of retirement by Katrina and traveling all over the nation speaking with high schools, colleges, the next generation. His is an irrepressible heroism.

The “next generation” is full of cameos of people I know. While climate crusader Bill McKibben inspires a crowd, we see Billy Parish listening intently. Billy has done his fair share of inspiring others as founder of the Climate Campaign and co-founder of Energy Action, the nation’s largest youth climate coalition. Another next-genner can be seen as the dastardly Competitive Enterprise Institute counter-protests a climate action shouting, “Greenpeace kills! Greenpeace kills!” Campaigner Dan Firger smiles at the camera, “uhm, we’re not even Greenpeace.”

I had mentioned before that I was worried that Nordhaus and Shellenberger, co-authors of “The Death of Environmentalism” didn’t come off as heroes. I’ve only met Nordhaus in person but followed the whole debate from a few years ago quite closely (just google “death of environmentalism“). The film gets them just right: smart as hell, a tad reckless, and more than a tad completely full of themselves.

Unfortunately, mine was the last screening at SFIFF, but you can learn more, get involved, and pre-order the DVD on the official website. It’s got more laughs than Inconvenient Truth, that’s for sure.

Last year I managed to make it to three films:

“Who Killed the Electric Car?”

I describe this movie, whenever I get a chance, as the Schindler’s List of Electric Vehicles. To watch the amazing EV1 get shredded to bits because some fat cat is trying to hide that they’re better than the stuff GM currently makes is absolutely heart-wrenching. Well, it wrenched my heart at least. Plus, I’m dating one of the supporting actresses.

“American Blackout”

I acknowledge that Cynthia McKinney is a little batty, if not very batty. But the House of Representatives is supposed to represent America and I know plenty of people who share both her politics and her penchant for conspiracy theories. Ignoring her controversial ego, the much stronger part of this film was the rigorous documentation of how systematic the campaign to suppress the black vote has become. The Republicans have quite an impressive playbook for that game.

“The DaVinci Code”

Okay, so I didn’t quite make it to three. Embarrassing, I realize. Given that both of the above films are the kind you can’t just walk into a theater in Middle America and watch, it’s truly a crime not to take better advantage of this festival.

Keeping with that sentiment, here are the ones I’m planning to catch this year, alphabeticalish:

“The Deal”

The writer/director combo of “The Queen” swings their attention to Prime Minister Tony Blair and shady backroom wheeling and dealing among Labour Party. Intrigue! World politics! British accents!

“Everything’s Cool”

As I work for an environmental non-profit, this one’s hard to miss. Promising to be a vaguely comedic send up of what my girlfriend calls (only quasi-ironically) the “Non-profit/Industrial Complex”, the film follows the re-explosion of environmentalism thanks to climate change going mainstream. My only hope is that Nordhaus and Shellenberger aren’t framed as the heroes.

“Paprika”

It’s only got one show time, which I’m going to miss, but someone really should see this just to make sure it’s as wonderful as it looks. I’ve been an anime fan for a long time and very pleased that the genre has grown up with me (Thundercats, on the other hand, is completely unwatchable now).

“Reprise”

A group of 20-somethings determined to stick together whose careers take them in different directions. Considering that very well describes the last year of my life, I’m treating this one as a documentary—and praying that it doesn’t with the death of the main character or something suitably tragic.

“When the Levees Broke”

Spike Lee. Katrina. Documentary. Should be intense.

“Aria”

I have a feeling that this one’s going to be very Murakami-esque. Maybe because it takes place in Hokkaido, a place inextricably linked in my mind with magical sheep and a seemingly perfect destination for vaguely surreal character-driven drama. Of course, I might be off.

I’m planning on going fully Ebert (sans the missing jaw) this year and posting reviews as I cross the above off my list. You may have to sit tight for a bit though, as I mentioned before, I’ll be in Mexico next week.

I really will be in Mexico next week, but if I wasn’t, that would be a great way to end every post, eh? “Thanks for reading and, before I forget, I’m going to be in Mexico next week.” Kind of like, “Most likely kill you in the morning…“

Sure, there are claims that his self-aggrandizement (the hubris of suggesting that climate change is caused by humans!) has all been to bolster his name recognition for a presidential bid. However, couldn’t he have made an equally interesting movie about the dangers of proprietary data formats? The answer: yes.

For some reason he chose climate change, despite being almost 60 years old—clearly beyond the reach of the majority of its devastation. He has kids, but their affluence will likely guard them as well. Why care about climate change? What’s the dark secret? What’s the nefarious, shadowy, wicked, dark, dark secret that has him so concerned about the future of our planet and its people?

Tuvalu.

That’s right. I know I probably just blew your mind. You may not even know what Tuvalu is. Follow the money and it becomes much more clear.

Fact: At some point during his Congressional service, Al Gore invents the internet.

Fact: After a failed bid for the presidency, Al Gore becomes Chairman of Current.tv, a progressive television channel/community.

Fact: The top-level domain extension .tv is the country code for the island nation of Tuvalu. Something that only the inventor of the internet (or residents of the Federation of Micronesia) could possibly know!

Fact: Due to climate change leading to rising sea level, Tuvalu is sinking. The entire country will likely disappear entirely if trends are not reversed.

Put the pieces together. Who has the most to gain from Tuvalu not sinking? Al Gore. Who has the most to gain from stopping climate change, thereby saving Tuvalu? Al Gore. Who has put up a $25 million bounty to the creator of a machine that sucks Greenhouse Gases out of the atmosphere, thereby slowing climate change without addressing root causes, thereby not necessarily saving Tuvalu? Al Gore.

I rest my case. The Norwegians must be told.

Over the last six years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have written the most authoritative study on Climate Change to date. It has been penned by over 800 scientists and reviewed by an additional 2500 from over 130 countries and represents the very best science we have on the subject. The Summary for Policymakers (pdf) is available online. In brief, the findings were:

1. “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.” (p.4)
2. There’s a 90% chance that humans have caused it. (p.3)
3. Emissions are so out-of-control that warming will “continue for centuries” even if they’re stabilized. (p.12)

I’ll let you take a moment to go through the fives stages of grief before we move on. By move on, I mean, introduce the other team. Yes, coming out on the other side—against the report—is a well-oiled machine of energy companies, PR hatchet men, and legislative puppets.

ExxonMobil (via one of their “unbiased third party” think tanks, American Enterprise Institute) has already gotten caught offering bribes to any scientist willing to dispute the report. No research required, just disagree. All they want is a climate of confusion (pun intended).

Next, PR hacks like self-appointed “Junkman” Steven Milloy (to whom I will not befoul myself by linking, but do read his profile on SourceWatch), have tried to deliberately misrepresent the report by accusing the media of deliberately misrepresenting it. Having long since given up trying to prove the contrary to any scientific findings, the best they can do is shed doubt on what knowledge real science has rendered. Nice try, but it turns out I can read.

Similarly, Senator James “At-least-I’m-not-Senator-Stevens” Inhofe (R-OK), has gone on record calling the report “a shining example of the corruption of science for political gain“. The statement is so ironic it attracts magnets.

I am not given to hyperbole. Phrases like “worst” and “best” I reserve for the actual “worst” and “best” subjects of a category. Similarly, if I say something like, “I love this movie,” I have often already considered marriage before someone taunts me with the suggestion. I note this because it will ground my following opinion as beyond a stereotypical enviro-exaggeration, but the truth as far as I am concerned. These people who would place their profits, their salary, or their kickbacks ahead of the health and safety of not only our natural world but the lives of every man, woman, and child on this planet cannot be called anything nicer than traitor to the human race. They’ve been deceiving, deluding, or dragging their heels for far too long. I search my heart for some scrap of compassion for them to forgive the terrible crime they’ve committed against all of us and find none.

Let’s leave them to their petty machinations and meddling and pay them no more mind. In the meantime, the rest of us will Step It Up and try to get Earth back on the right track before things get even worse. Hesitation is over and done. Do all you can, as soon as you can. We meet this challenge and our great-great-great-grandkids will sing the victory in their songs. We fail and no songs will be sung.