Michael Sosebee Somewhere in New Mexico Before the End of Time: a review by Kevin Moore To quote Robert Newman, British social commentator and comedian: where do you begin? For Robert Newman, 1609 was a good place to begin because that was when the Sea Venture sailed westward across the Atlantic with a cargo of ‘troublemakers’ to repopulate the failing colony at Jamestown. Four hundred years later Mike Sosebee made a film which documents some of the destruction that Industrial Civilization has wreaked upon the Earth, to a large extent as a consequence of the ‘success’ of Jamestown, and the subsequent colonization and industrialization of the land mass that eventually came to be known as the United States. ‘Somewhere in New Mexico Before the End of Time’ tells two narratives at once; one narrative portrays some of the insanity of Industrial Civilization and the culture of empire and consumerism which are in the process of rendering the Earth largely, or perhaps completely, uninhabitable for humans and other large mammals in a matter of a few decades as a consequence of escalating pollution and conversion of the natural world into stuff; the other narrative depicts the efforts of emeritus professor Guy McPherson to challenge to culture of empire and consumerism, and lead by example towards more sustainable ways of living. In this film, Mike focuses attention on a man who was so disgusted by what he saw Industrial Civilisation doing to the living planet, and could no longer be a part of it, he quit his secure and well-paid employment ‘at the pinnacle of empire’ to attempt to live a more normal way of life. The decision to leave the pinnacle of empire is described as ‘walking away from empire’ and ‘going back to the land’ (though Guy admitted that prior to locating to the thermally efficient straw bale house, referred to as ‘the mud hut’. his practical skills were severely limited; why would a successful university professor need to know how to use a screwdriver or a hammer? Why would a professor need to know how to grow vegetables, to keep bees or to milk a goat?) The response of the viewer will undoubtedly depend on the previous exposure to the concept of real sustainability and their knowledge of how the Earth works as a complex physical-chemical-biological system; those with little knowledge or understanding may well dismiss Guy’s efforts to bring the crucial issues of our times to the fore as misguided silliness; those who have known Guy for many years and have taken an interest in the progression of western society ‘towards, and eventually off the cliff’ are treated to behind-the-scenes revelations that demonstrate the determination of those in power to drive us all ‘off the cliff’, and know that to take a stand against looting and polluting incurs high personal costs. No intelligent, caring, connected person can view this film without being deeply moved, and probably deeply saddened that the real heroes in western societies are largely ignored. And I am certain that very soon a large number of people who are presently caught in the web of deceit that Industrial Empire spins are going to discover that they too will need to know how to grow vegetables, or keep bees or milk a goat. ‘Somewhere in New Mexico Before the End of Time’ may be the eye-opener that points them in the right direction. Thank you Mike and all those who supported you. Kevin Moore June 2013
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 02:52:56 +0000
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