FloresJaredEnergy

Jared Flores Annotation 6: //Energy Crossroads//  1.  Title, director, and release year? // Energy Crossroads //, directed by Christophe Fauchere, released in 2007  2.  What is the central argument or narrative of the film? The main argument of this film centers on energy consumption. The film talks about how human energy consumption is at such a rate that the world itself cannot recover fast enough. The film also addresses how fossil fuels provide 85% of all energy consumed in the U.S., and that we are running out of these natural resources. The film also argues that our current economy is a problem, in that it assumes that the world has an endless amount of resources. The film argues that we need a plan, and we need one fast, as we are running out of natural resources, and our current lifestyles will not survive after the world is completely tapped out. It states that we cannot keep living the way we do if we want the world to be able to recover from our current overconsumption.  3.  What sustainability problems does the film draw out? One problem the film draws out is the economy as a sustainability problem. The current economy tries to get as much oil as possible from the Earth per day as possible in order to keep prices low enough to satisfy the consumer. The economy has gotten us used to a lifestyle where convenient things such as cars, processed foods, and heated homes are readily available at affordable prices, effectively spoiling the populous. The film argues that energy consumption is a big money grab, and that the current energy depletion rates are because the economy demands massive amounts of energy for production of goods. Another sustainability problem addressed in the film is cultural sustainability. Because we are so used to the current lifestyle provided by overconsumption, it is difficult for people to live with anything else. We live to such a ridiculously high standard that after the natural resources are all gone, we may never get back to the way things are today. The current standard of living is ridiculous compared to what it was before the Industrial Revolution. Basically, the film argues that most of the country is in too deep to change the way things are, and that living without all this energy will be difficult. One final sustainability problem that the film addressed is political sustainability. Sadly, there is little government intervention when it comes to overconsumption. Energy consumption has been a known problem since the 1970s, but little has been done about it by the government. Setting laws banning the use of certain materials or sources of energy would probably be a step in the right direction, which is why lack of government involvement is such a problem.  4.  What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why? One part of the film that I found persuasive was the part that talked about ways to solve the energy crisis. The film talked about ways to alter an automobile in order to make it more efficient, such as using carbon fiber materials to reduce the weight of a vehicle. Solutions like this are appealing to me because they seem like solutions that could be applied immediately. It’s simple for documentaries to list off solution that “require more research” or “will someday be feasible”. This country definitely needs more solutions that don’t have any wait time. Another part of the film that I found convincing was the part about the amount of energy required to prepare food. It’s hard to believe that 10 calories of energy are required for every 1 calorie of food that is prepared in this country. I’m sure in countries like China, where diets consist of mostly rice and vegetables, only a small amount of energy is consumed in food preparation. It’s very sobering to know that we as a country are so wasteful.  5.  What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? The part of the film that I was not convinced by was the beginning, where the film talked about the different ways that energy consumption is a problem. The film stated that we were consuming fossil fuels in about 100 years that took hundreds of millions of years to be made naturally. The film also talked about how the population continues to grow even though the oil resources will eventually peak and then begin to decline. However, I feel like this is the kind of information that has been told in every film about energy consumption. Though it is not the film’s fault that I have heard this sort of information before, it would have been compelling to hear bold new information.  6.  What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.? This film compels me to seek out information regarding energy consumption in other countries, like European countries, or China, or Japan or something like that. All these films ever talk about is how bad the United States are and how we are destroying the environment. I want to learn about how much energy other countries consume and what kind of lifestyles they have. I would also like to learn things I could do around my own home to reduce energy consumption in my household. It probably wouldn’t be much, but it would be a good place to start.  7.  What audience does this film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems? I think that this film best addresses people who are worried about the future of the country. The film makes it clear that we will not be able to rely on the same sources of energy forever. Everyone wants answers, and this film is a good one to watch in order to get some. I believe this film will change the way people think about overconsumption. The information regarding the problem is somewhat old hat, but the solutions are very well thought out. I believe that this film will instill hope in the viewers, and help them to realize that the problem is manageable if only we were to try.  8.  What kinds of action of points of intervention are suggested by the film? The film suggests alternative energy sources that are renewable and not harmful to the environment. These sources of energy include solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and bio fuels. Photovoltaic panels are even suggested, which can be placed on top of houses in order to constantly soak up solar energy. Another more reasonable point of action suggested is to use carbon fiber materials to lighten vehicles, or to use lithium ion batteries in hybrid cars to make them more efficient.  9.  What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value? I definitely think that the film could have added more information about how the energy consumption is affecting the environment. There was some mention about how humans are consuming more energy than the planet can naturally replenish, but I feel that the film should have focused more on the impact that using fossil fuels has on wildlife and natural habitats, or even the air. It would have been nice to see what effect overconsumption has on our world, as opposed to just our economy.