As I write, America's midwestern breadbasket is barely out from underwater, much of California is burning (smoke continues to blanket our woods), oil is hitting near-daily record prices, and inflation and a credit meltdown rock the economy. Global climate change is making loud and clear that the old paradigm of using up the planet fast, is breaking down along with the planet's ecosystems.
But new paradigms are emerging: Building local self-reliance and resilience. Simplifying and preparing. That's the heart of our Peak Moment programs: grounded perspectives and practical projects for these times.These are no longer the "coming times." They're here now, and the changes are accelerating. Below you'll find:
New to view: DVDs, online Conversations, Janaia's blog, and getting notified when new shows are online
Behind-the-scenes news particularly about our upcoming Taping Road Trip
Launching a Friend-Raising
We've changed our schedule: Our shake-down taping trip will be on the west coast this October or November. The cross-country trip is planned for early in 2009, going from the southwest to the east coast, and back via a northerly route.
We're getting prepared: Found our Toad (a small car to tow behind the mobile studio) who doubles as our low-mileage around-town vehicle. Robyn has been securing cellular internet (no mean feat). Preparations are moving along for our DVDs to be fulfilled while we're gone. And thanks to many local folks who've donated to keep Peak Moment on their local community-access TV station. And now...
We're looking for Friends in North America:
1. Friends to suggest people, topics and projects to videotape for our shows
2. Friends where we can park safely for a brief stopping point (and maybe refill water and electricity)
3. Friends to help coordinate tapings in their region (orient us to their community, etc.)
4. Friends to organize having us present "Going Local" Peak Moment videos and/or meeting with their group(s)
Will you befriend Peak Moment with connections? Email janaia@peakmoment.tv.
. . . And Fund-Raising to meet you, friends We need Friends to contribute money to cover travel expenses. If you value these programs, if you think we're doing important work, if you love us, if we're doing the work on your behalf — whatever the reason, give us your financial support. We're aiming to raise $10,000 for the fall 2008 shakedown, and $50,000 for the 2009 six-month or longer trip. Donate some now, pledge some for year's end. Give a little, a lot, whatever you can ...
Because wha-zam!...Whatever you give, gives double! A Peak Moment Angel has pledged to match donations up to $5000, so your gift makes an even BIGGER difference!
You can contribute now or make a pledge to contribute in the coming year.
Will you befriend Peak Moment financially? (Or should we say "befund"?) Do it online here.
"Kiss Your Gas Goodbye" Richard Heinberg presentation (DVD)
(June 2008) Richard Heinberg paints our picture of declining energy and other natural sources with accelerating demand. Noting previous civlizations' collapse, he lays out possible scenarios for how global industrial civilization will contract, and local strategies for an energy transition. DVDs $20 plus shipping. Order here. Quantity discounts available.
Watch Janaia's conversation with Richard earlier that day on "Calm Before the Storm."
"A Renaissance of Local" September 2007conference. Illustrated presentations by Richard Heinberg on Peak Everything, Steve Andrews on Peak Oil, Julian Darley on Relocalizing, Daniel Lerch on Post Carbon Cities, Janaia Donaldson showing a Peak Moment video sampler, Michael Brownlee on Localizing challenges, Bill Wilson on Permaculture, Judy Wicks on Local Business, and many more.
6-DVD set or individual DVDs.
Plug-In Hybrids Power the Grid (#107) and Next Generation Hybrids (#113-114)
Collapse of Earlier Societies (#112)
Protecting Your Money in a Declining Economy (#118)
An Ecologically-Sensible Home (#103)
Watch. You can watch or hear all 120 Peak Moment Conversations online at www.peakmoment.tv.
Share. DVDs are available of all the Peak Moment Conversations. Share with friends, donate to your library. Or help us bring Peak Moment weekly Conversations to your local community-access television station. Email us.
Blog. Join the dialogue on Janaia's Journal (blog), including reflections after her chat with Richard Heinberg and financial analyst Marc Cuniberti. Watch her touching autobiographical short, "Stories for the Locker Room."
Stay current. You can subscribe to be notified weekly as each show goes online both at YouTube (emails) and on the Peak Moment site (RSS feed), where you can also be notified of Janaia's new journal entries.
We're now at 830,000 viewings for the 120 programs!
"Your work is truly inspirational. It is great to see such optimistic, forward thinking productions and even better that you showcase real people actually doing it; trying to live a sustainable lifestyle."
— Bella, U.K.
"You are on a mission of significant importance. I want to see you succeed. You have to be funded, or you will burn out and go do something else... And it’s not like my little donation is going to fund some extravagant lifestyle for you... There are plenty of folks who can afford to donate, and share the belief that your work is important." —Greg, Mt. Shasta, California