Fuel Freedom – Oil Addiction is killing America

My selection of the best videos from the Fuel Freedom campaign competition. Fuel Freedom is an organization that advocates the use of flex fuels (alternatives to regular gas) to break the oil monopoly. More info at Fuelfreedom.org.

The short one with the cute girl in it

This is mine. We made it in a weekend to get it done by the original deadline of 18 June. Pretty proud of what we managed to do in that time. It focuses on the per-person consumption of oil (directly or indirectly, though transport and excluding frying oil).

The one with the cute dogs in it

This is actually the solo work of the guy who shot mine (see above). He’s one of the best Cinematographers at the school.
 

The arty one with the drugs in it

One of the most talented directors at Chapman, Rochan Redelinghuys, made this one.

The others I thought worked, worked, but were mostly the standard info-graphic driven fare – informative, sure, but more powerpoint presentations than films. I have an aversion to those history channel doccies with the drawings and the old guys talking about stuff. One exception was a video shot in various locations worldwide, but I’m not sure the maker has the rights the footage he used… it’s grey area for me. Sure, being on film is great. Then again, Americans can sue but Africans and Indians and anyone with brown skin is fair game in cameraland it seems. Still, a good ad.

Anyhow, back to the point: While I acknowledge that continuing to heat up the planet in new and cheaper ways isn’t the solution to our problem globally, and wasting less and buying local will also have a positive effect, I still feel that breaking the dependency on oil will have good consequences politically, and open up the energy market to more competition, which will give the oil people less political control and allow America and other big consumers to make better political decisions. Also, other sources are just cleaner than oil is.

So if you liked my video, share it please, and help me win this. I need the money to fund my next short film and pay my crew for this one!

Oil is the world’s heroin

Ya, you knew that already. And I love my car as much as the next man, so I’m not pointing fingers here. The thing is, there are other ways to fuel your car, to get you that great coffee you need, and to keep your computer running.

As you can see, most of the oil is used for getting around. This mostly means moving goods around. In our import-export economy, transport of goods, people and information drives oil consumption. This would explain the black grime that coats my balcony in California, where the air is relatively clean by US standards. Image source: http://www.beodom.com

I recently discovered an organisation called Fuel Freedom which focuses on alternative energy sources, rather than lifestyle changes. This is probably a smart move – Americans don’t want to stop using a plastic spoon every time they stir their coffee. Some fellow-students and I made a #psa video (that’s public service announcement) for their campaign. It’s kinda fun, and only 1 minute long. Take a look.

 

Personally? I think America should stop disposing of everything. What’s so hard about washing cups, Starbucks? Why must every motel guest throw away their plate, cup, spoon and water glass in the morning? It’s ridiculous, how personal “health” and convenience needs have created a sense of entitlement, to destroy the world while going on about freedom and the children and saving the animals. By which they mean the plague of poodles and other small, cute, useless dogs that pet stores have unleashed upon the planet. And don’t even get me started on smokers who toss their butts no matter where they are. I have ended relationships for less. You may as well piss on my bathroom floor… (but don’t) because one day I’ll be swimming in the sea and one of those things will float past me.

I haven’t forgotten Ken Saro-Wiwa, who Shell’s lawyers had murdered by the Nigerian Government for the crime of protecting his people from big oil. Big oil will kill. And it will keep killing, in Afganistan, in Iran (coming soon to a TV near you, now featuring Israel as America’s bitch) and in probably in Egypt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Saro-Wiwa

 
All I wish is that I’d had a couple of extra days to work on the music for my film. It’s kinda rushed and the deadline was firm: The 18th.