Vancouver Area Relocalisation Network

Hello all.

I posted this on my blog already, but maybe I could reach more folks on this board. My group subMedia is sponsoring the Vancouver Premiere of "Escape from Suburbia" the follow up to "End of Suburbia". It will take place August 17th at the Ukrainian Hall at 154 East 10th Ave (10th @ Main).

For tickets and information go to http://submedia.tv/escape

In the following week we will be announcing speakers as they confirm. We just confirmed writer Rex Weyler (http://www.rexweyler.com) plus Conrad Schmidt author of "Workers of the World: Relax" (http://worklessparty.org) and Ifny LaChance of Freegeek Vancouver (http://www.freegeekvancouver.org/) will take part in a panel after the film, moderated by Justin Roller of the NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation. Below is our press release. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

For immediate release Contact: Franklin Lopez (604) 630-2441

escapesuburbia@gmail.com

Vancouver Premieres “Escape from Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream”
Peak oil and climate change take center stage in this important documentary

VANCOUVER (July 27, 2007) — “Escape from Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream” will premiere in Vancouver on Friday, August 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ukranian Orthodox Church, located at 154 East 10th Avenue. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with experts and community leaders. Advanced tickets are available for $10 at www.submedia.tv/escape. “Escape from Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream” is the second film in a trilogy by Toronto documentary filmmaker Gregory Greene.

In his award-winning 2004 film “The End of Suburbia,” Greene questioned prospects for the American way of life as global demand for fossil fuels begins to exceed supply. The film was the first to introduce thousands of viewers to the looming challenges of peak oil and helped spawn an international movement of citizens’ groups dedicated to relocalization—building greater community self-reliance in energy, food, and economy.

In the sequel, “Escape from Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream,” Greene takes a hard look at the imminent fuel crisis and explores how ordinary citizens and communities can respond to the situation. Expert research is balanced with personal stories and interviews to show how declining oil production has already begun to affect modern life in North America.

For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Director Gregory Greene please email escapesuburbia@gmail.com or call (604) 630-2441. For more information on the film or to view a trailer visit www.submedia.tv/escape.

Film Synopsis:

Suburbia, and all it promises, has become the American Dream. A lifestyle predicated on the availability of cheap, abundant oil. Led by some of the world’s most respected energy experts, economists and academics, a debate rages over when global demand for oil will outpace supply and what alternatives can be developed in time to prevent a massive energy crisis. ‘

“Escape from Suburbia,” moves from the realm of theory and despair to the real world, where practical solutions for a post-carbon age are explored and expert opinion from government and industry is balanced by on-the-street skepticism from an emerging movement of citizens’ groups confronting our addiction to oil. Peak oil and climate change take center stage in this irreverent yet intimate portrait of three characters and a small town preparing for the most dramatic transition in modern history:

“Escape from Suburbia” is a wake-up call that challenges the illusion of never-ending growth and provides viable alternatives for communities working at the local level to ensure the survival of a sustainable civilization in the 21st century and beyond.

Directed & written by Gregory Greene ; Produced by Dara Rowland; A feature length documentary film; Running time: 95 minutes; 1.78 Widescreen ; 2.0 Dolby

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