If you have seen the currently existing three Zeitgeist movies then you know most of the story. I say most because there is some interesting information in the beginning that seems to connect ancient cultures which surprised me. I also don't want to leave out the ideas of Jacque Fresco and their relevance. The quick summary is really no more than:

• There are some good indications that we have been diverted from a path of freedom and self-sufficiency.
• We are enslaved by governments and corporations.
• Following the money shows us who/why.
• We can do something about it.

Familiar story? Yes, it is. Do I believe it? Of course, long before I saw this particular movie. It may make you ask if this movie is needed. That is, hasn't the Zeitgeist series, The Venus Project and so many others already covered the material? To me, the answer is the same as asking why we need more than one daily newspaper in the US or even Nicaragua. While we may be hearing the truth, what we understand will be different depending on how it is presented.

In Zeitgeist, my feeling is that if you didn't think something was wrong then you would not be interested in the message. That is, you would tune out long before you saw something concrete enough to get drawn in. Thrive starts out with a look at this good stuff/interesting coincidences approach that, I think, will draw in a different group of people. To support this conclusion, I was watching a 13 year old's reaction. During this first part her eyes were glued to the screen. Everything from UFOs to free energy seemed to presented in a way that got her attention.

She did watch the whole movie. Clearly, she was less interested in the discussion of fractional reserve banking and such but more interested in recognizing that today's world is not fair. While the movie shows that there are solutions, I think something else is needed to get 13 year old's involved in that solution. I don't see Zeitgeist or The Venus Project as that alternative but I do really think something that involves children is the way to move forward.

Ana slept through probably the last half of the movie but, this morning, she said that she felt her younger brother Douglas would be very interested in seeing it. Her biggest objection to what was presented was that the idea of UFOs and other inhabited planets conflicts with her religion. This is not a new discussion and my response is always the same—the bible talked about ETs but has been sanitized/re-interpreted to create the current model which is more convenient for the current religious sales force. (For anyone interested in looking at a scientific interpretation of the bible which shows these ET references, I recommend Heirs of the Gods. Out of print but you may be able to find a used copy. I have a copy and have scanned it. I could make a copy available.)

So, now what? For me, it is one more reason I want to continue to investigate free energy, non-GMO food, and such. And one more reason I am happy to not being living in a First World country. Unfortunately, those First World countries has treated the rest of the world as their garbage dump, source cheap food and labor and place to sell all the bad stuff—from agro-chemicals to cigarettes—in order to preserve that division.

There is some hope. Some countries are saying no to GMO, for example. Cochabamba Bolivia throwing out Bechtel is yet another example. It does seem like a lot of people, such as John Perkins, are coming forward to show us what is wrong. But, as I said above, I think we need to get the youth involved if we want a real change and I don't yet see the right tools to make that happen. I talked to Margarita a bit this morning. The good news is that she sees the issues. She immediately responded with the idea that agrochemicals are damaging the planet and we need to stop using them.

That's the good news. I then asked what she and people like her could do to effect the necessary changes. She didn't have an idea. I mentioned the ideal of a social networking site for basically kids with concerns along these lines but she didn't get excited about it. I will keep thinking/talking to her. If you have any ideas, please speak up as I think getting the kids involved is the key.