When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's
economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and
food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships
and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people
during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly
mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of
farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture
during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period."
The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our
history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to
decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the
massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope. The
Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil is a project of The Community
Solution, a non-profit organization that designs and teaches low-energy
solutions to the current unsustainable, fossil fuel based, industrialized, and
centralized way of living. (53 Minutes)
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After 7000 miles, and 25 hours of footage, "Sweet Misery" will reveal one of the most pervasive, insidious forms of corporate negligence in the history of the industrial revolution. This documentary is a close examination into what some consider to be a "hoax": aspartame toxicity. This documentary attempts to look at what is definitively known about aspartame and discovers that the label "hoax" in this case is a dangerous misconception. This controversial documentary is sure to open eyes to the possible dangers of what lurks in our food. (95 Minutes)
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Food for the Ancestors is a culinary-history exploration of Days of the Dead, Mexican traditions and ancient ways of life that still exist there. All of these seen through Mexican cuisine. The program is set in the state of Puebla because it is also a place where the contrasts between new and old are vividly seen. Puebla, also, might be Mexico's greatest culinary state, for it was here that the greatest of all Mexican dishes was born, mole poblano. It's also a place where some of the most ancient prehispanic foods are still eaten --- insects such as the much beloved chapulines (grasshoppers). (60 Minutes)
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Life has evolved on our planet for billions of years. Humans now have the technology to undo nature's wisdom and destroy the very blueprint of life. Genetic Engineering (GE) poses a serious threat to the health and safety of the human species and the entire planet. It may be one of the single most important issues we face due to the potential for massive long-term damage. (58 Minutes)
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