Earth Cinema Circle Films Inspire Our Members To Get Involved

The filmmakers whose work we feature on Earth Cinema Circle hope their films inspire people to get involved in the topics they have covered. One of our goals is to make it easy for you to do just that. Each DVD includes a special section that provides practical information on how to make a difference related to the subjects of each of the films. You can also find many more tips and advice on our exclusive members' online community. Below we've provided a few related to the films we are currently shipping. We hope you'll find these helpful hints and tips make it easy to affect positive change in the world.

POWER SHIFT
Wondering what you can do to bring about a POWER SHIFT and support clean, renewable energy?

Buy Green Power — If you have a choice of electricity supplier, you have the ability to choose a supplier who supports renewable energy generation. If you don't have a choice, ask your electric company whether they buy any of their energy from renewable generators. Buying electricity from renewable resources can help reduce pollution.
Teach Your Kids about Renewable Energy — kids are natural inventors, and learning about renewable energy can be fun for kids. Renewable energy is the way of the future and our children are the future!
Drive your car differently — or drive a different car altogether! Inefficient SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks now make up more than half of the cars on American roads. Driving a fuel-efficient or hybrid car is by far the best thing you can do, but not all of us can do that - at least, not right now. So, in the meantime, you can drive less, get your car tuned up, and slow down. All of these save on gas (saving you money) and have a big impact on burning gasoline. You can save gas by turning the engine off and restarting it again if you expect to idle for more than 30 seconds. (Ask your favorite drive-thru restaurants and banks to post a sign!)

LADIES OF THE LAND
Heartened by the inspiring LADIES OF THE LAND? There's never been a more critical time to support your farming neighbors and to use your purchase power to protect your health and the environment. With each local food purchase, you ensure that more of your money spent on food goes to the farmer and toward supporting sustainable agriculture.

Share with your friends and family our top ten reasons to buy local food: and post them on your fridge!

Local food tastes better — Food imported from far away is older, has traveled on trucks or planes, and sat in warehouses before it finally gets to you.
Local produce is better for you — The shorter the time between the farm and the table, the few nutrients will be lost.
Local food preserves genetic diversity — In the modern agricultural system, plant varieties are chosen for their ability to ripen uniformly, withstand harvesting, survive packing and last on the shelf so there is limited genetic diversity in large-scale production. Smaller local farms often grow many varieties in an array of colors and flavors.
Local food is safe — Local farmers aren’t anonymous and they take their responsibility to the consumer seriously.
Local food supports local families — Wholesale prices are low, often near the cost of production. Local farmers who sell directly to consumers cut out the middleman and get full retail price for their food, which helps farm families stay on the land.
Local food builds community — When you buy direct from a farmer, you’re engaging in a time-honored connection. Knowing farmers gives you insight into the seasons, the land, and your food. It gives you access to a place where your children and grandchildren can learn about nature and agriculture.
Local food preserves open space — When farmers get paid more, they’re less likely to sell their farmland for development. When you buy locally grown food, you’re doing something proactive to preserve our agricultural landscape.
Local food keeps taxes down — According to several studies, farms contribute more in taxes than they require in services, whereas most other kinds of development contribute less in taxes than the cost of the services they require.
Local food benefits the environment and wildlife — Well-managed farms conserve fertile soil and clean water in a patchwork of fields, meadows, woods, ponds, and buildings that provide habitat for wildlife.
Local food is an investment in the future — By supporting local farmers today, you help ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow.

SHARKS: STEWARDS OF THE REEF
Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems and they are in serious trouble... Here are 3 specific things each of us can do to help:

Make seafood choices that are good for you, sharks and the marine environment. For shopping guidelines, check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program Web site at http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp.
Avoid consuming shark meat and related products, such as shark-fin soup.
Do not purchase products for yourself or your pets containing shark ingredients, like cartilage, which are sometimes included in "medical" and diet preparations.

KILOWATT OURS
Concerned about the effects of coal-generated electricity in America? Consider these 3 things you can do right now to make a difference:

Conserve! Turn off lights, computers and electronics when not in use and unplug them from outlets. Setting the thermostat no higher than 68 degrees in winter, and no lower than 78 degrees in summer will result in big savings.
Change Your Lights! Replace incandescent light bulbs with efficient, compact fluorescent bulbs. Start with your five most frequently used lights, or upgrade your entire home.
Upgrade to Energy Star! When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models.

Watch movies, make a difference...