KingGarbageWarrior

=Garbage Warrior= (2007) Director: Oliver Hodge

Central Argument/Narrative
This film follows architect Michael Reynolds as he makes experimental homes, known as earthships, a viable option for all. Building communities of off-the-grid homes, Reynolds eventually gets into a fight withe Taos County Planning Board, which results in the loss of his license. Next, he attempts to no avail to pass a bill in the New Mexico Legislature allowing experimental housing to be testing in some areas.

When the tsunami of 2004 the coastline of the Indian Ocean, Reynolds and his team responded and spent 2 weeks building an earthship as a model. Then, Reynolds continues his battle in the New Mexico Legislature to no avail. The documentary closes as his team once again provides aid, this time in Mexico to those effected by Hurricane Katrina.

Matrix of Sustainability Problems
Reynolds makes the point that the profession of architecture is "not taking us where we need to go to." Architecture, at the time of his studies and much so still today, doesn't meet the needs of people and the environment. Professional architecture boards believe there is only one way of doing architecture; this mindset led to lose of Reynolds' license.

Experimentation is stifled by "the rulebook." We have lost our freedom to fail. This is exemplified as Reynolds lobbies the New Mexican legislature advocating experimental homes. Reynolds' struggle to pass the bill also highlights how politics is too long of a process. The inability of most lawmakers to understand the language of the bill illustrates how government is over populated with lawyers and isn't composed of a diversity of professionals.

Persuasive and Compelling
Reynolds' eureka moment regarding the properties of thermal mass is compelling. The fact that no preparation is needed to weather negative 35 degree weather is startling. It takes burden off the homeowner and the planet.

Comparing the testing of the atomic bomb to testing houses seems outlandish at first glance. Although Reynolds makes a persuasive argument: If we test bombs, cars, and planes, why not test houses?

When, Reynolds' team visits the Andaman Islands, they are impressed about how easy it is for them to build an earthship as a model home. He comments, "When you go to a place that's been devastated, there are no barriers." It's great to see how willing locals are to learn and to help build; it's not dissimilar to the early communities Reynolds started in Taos.

Environmental Education Value
This film has fantastic environmental education value. It breaks paradigms about what architecture should be and what it can be.

Points of Intervention
Michael Reynolds: "A disaster has to happen to get the rest of the world to prepare [and by then it may be too late]." The shift in mindsets needs to happen now; time is not in excess.

Seek Out New Information
Disaster Relief in Haiti <@http://earthship.com/haiti-disaster-relief.html> Sustainable Development Testing Site Act