Copyrights 1999 – 2008
Maria Terezinha Vaz.
All rights reserved.

This site was designed by:
DM web design

http://www.goodvibrationsradio.com/Guest_Page.htm

  Ecocity World Summit 2008

Please scroll down to read VIDEO REVIEW

Jan. 29, 2008

Dear friends of urban solutions and BRT!

My friend and ecocity colleague, Maria Terezinha Vaz, has created a

truly remarkable film about the city of Curitiba Brazil called

"A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil."

We are helping to promote the film at Ecocity World Summit April 22-26, 2008.

In order for the film to be considered by KQED and other media outlets, they need to add close captioning for the hard of hearing. They want to have Spanish subtitles finished and develop an educational bi-language program. They have a matching grant to work on this from The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County a recommendation of David E. Kaun Fund, sponsored by Ecology Action a 501 c 3 organization, but they need $3,000 to match. The donations are tax deductible.

If you could help, please let me know, or if you know of an organization

or individual who would be interested, could you please pass this along?

Needless to say, we'll throw in the conference for free if you can help

us out with getting this film positioned for mass marketing.

You Tube promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swQTTG3NcYY

Web site: http://www.mariavazphoto.com/curitiba_pages/curitiba_dvd.html

Here is the summary of the film:

Cities should be a solution not a problem for human beings. The city of

Curitiba has demonstrated for the past 40 years how to transform

problems into cost-effective solutions that can be applied in most

cities around the world. The documentary focuses on innovations in

transportation, recycling, social benefits including affordable

housing, seasonal parks, and the processes that transformed Curitiba

into one of the most livable cities in the world. It includes exclusive

interviews from world renowned Curitiba's Mayors Jaime Lerner and

Cassio Tanigushi, as well as other brilliant minds who transformed Curitiba on a

world class model.

Thanks for your consideration! Please call me if you have questions.

Kirstin Miller

Ecocity Builders

510-419-0850

Conference Director

Ecocity World Summit

http://www.ecocityworldsummit.org

 VIDEO REVIEWS

 ISSUES | LOCAL MEMBERS | CALGARY NEWS & EVENTS | RESOURCES Hollywood vs. RealityJanuary 2008 Blog this:Digg it del.icio.us TechnoratiFilm Review:

The 11th Hour and A Convenient Truth

By Stephanie Jackman

The 11th Hour, produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, is a gorgeous film. The cinematography, particularly the aerial footage of our blue-green planet, is stunning. If Leo’s goal was to inspire appreciation for the environment, he succeeded. Beautiful scenery, however, is not enough to elicit behavioural change, and surely that was the film’s intent. Instead of guiding me toward responsible action, it belaboured the reasons I should be concerned while relentlessly assaulting me with images of the tsunami in Thailand, Hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters. Enough already. I felt genuine panic but learned little about how to avert the grim fate awaiting humanity. In that respect, it was typical of the environmental genre. It spent too much time scaring the wits out of me and not enough time proposing solutions. It didn’t offer enough tools to help me “Turn mankind’s darkest hour into its finest.”Irrefutable evidence that climate change is the problem of the 21st century has long been mounting. I don’t need filmmakers to further convince me that global warming is real. I know there’s a problem. I believe I’m part of the solution. I left the theatre wondering if anyone could tell me what that solution is.

Then I saw A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil. I was moved, inspired, filled with hope.Compared to the storm cloud of The 11th Hour, this documentary is a ray of sunshine. Give us more films and books like this, and maybe we’ll solve the problem after all.A Convenient Truth is narrated by Giovanni Vaz Del Bello and produced by Maria Terezinha Vaz. It shows how Curitiba has become one of the world’s most sustainable cities by building affordable housing, revamping public transportation, creating park land, and getting serious about recycling.Interviews with city officials reveal the obstacles, costs and timelines associated with Curitiba’s sustainability renaissance. Interviews with citizens demonstrate how the resulting changes have benefited the city and its people. If you want beautiful scenery spiced with celebrity watch The 11th Hour and listen to Leo’s pleas for change. If you want to learn how to begin making the necessary changes, watch A Convenient Truth. It’s only half as long. I count it among the most valuable 53 minutes I’ve recently spent.

TAKE ACTION:

. Visit The 11th Hour website. It suggests how kids, students, adults, business leaders, and elected officials can make a difference. The film provides little practical advice, but the website is surprisingly helpful.

. Watch A Convenient Truth and be inspired by how simple and inexpensive it is to create systemic change. Visit Maria’s website to buy the DVD. Write to your alderman. Urge him or her to watch A Convenient Truth. Ask what he or she is doing to advance recycling programs, increase access to public transportation, and provide affordable housing in Calgary.

. Start an action group, or join an existing one. Connect with others around the world seeking to stem the effects of global warming. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Join The Conversation - Leave A Comment: Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website Books Business Community Energy & Fuels Environment Events Films Food & Drink Home & Garden Housing Money Products Transportation Travel Volunteer / Activism Websites Wellness RSS FEED | LEGAL | PRIVACY POLICY | COPYRIGHT