Avatar: Not quite a revolution.

Avatar.
(Note: I give the story away, so please don’t read if you want to see the film…)

I’ve got to say…for Hollywood, this film comes very, very close to the revolutionary borderline – thought it definitely does not cross. It’s inspiring to see the essence of indigenous life painted so poetically and in 3D! The spirit and the landscape of Pandora, the Na’vi people, the language, the animals, the flora and fauna…all of it is just miraculous. It looks and feels like how life should be here on earth – at least how it exists in the minds of fantasists like myself. Avatar succeeds in honorably relaying the heart of life and love as it exists in Indigenous people. For the first half of the film, I was totally in love.
The critique of American military, big business and even scientific research is keen – a sigh of relief from the Michael Beys of the world. I’m glad the film was so clear (without being too on the nose) about dissecting the imperial process by using language contemporaries understand. Redefining the word “terrorist” from an Indigenous-sensitive lens on a blockbuster major motion picture event platform is a noble step. Throughout the film, we were rooting for the Na’vi. The big bad USA was a cruel tyrant. An evil and sick, mindless, heartless dictator of the worst kind of philosophy.
But in the end… the story was Dances With Wolves and The Last Samurai all over again. Meet these rich Indigenous people. Love them. Enter White man, give him a couple of months to get the hang of things, and bOoM! He’s running thangs, emasculating the Indigenous male characers – who consequently, all die – leaving him to, of course, become leader of these hopeless people.

It reminds me of the many wars that are going on in our world today – born of greed by way of a desire to deplete the world’s natural resources – imperialists plotting and planning an attack – sexual warfare (sleeping with the chief’s daughter) – sympathy – white guilt – NGOs and human rights organizations – the dilemma – “being the voice for the people” vs. being a microphone…

Stream of consciousness…let me explain:

I’ve seen the work of “Western” people who attempt to fight for the protection of Indigenous people. They are around, doing the hard work, and I give them much credit. But oftentimes, I’ve also seen people get on their own high horses, wanting to become saviors and Jake Sullys. They become so self righteous that they loose sight of the very people they are fighting for, and in essence, they become subtle machines of the cultural genocide they think they are trying to cure. They cannot deny the blood-work of their fathers in destroying God’s people and enforcing Eurocentrism the world over. This war is great and has been going on for a long, long time. It is simply white supremacy. In 3D.

The question I would ask Jim Cameron is: Once you recognized that you were following the formula of “white man leads the natives”, were you comfortable with the decision to stick to that theme? Are you comfortable now?

here’s a great article that goes a little deeper.

People of Color Circle – Boston

Bringing ancient tradition into our everyday lives. Once circle at a time. Boston. Brooklyn.

This video is of my first participation in circle. In Boston. People often ask, “what is circle?” It’s one of those things that is both very easy and very difficult to explain. Simply, circle is a gathering of people who sit – in a circle – and discuss. Traditionally, three questions/topics are posed to the group, and one by one, every person in the circle speaks. We pass around a talking piece. Whomever holds the talking piece can hold it for as long or as short as they’d like. And while they hold the talking piece, everyone else listens actively. It’s that simple.

To go a little further, imagine a clock. From 12 to 3 o’clock is the first quarter of circle, during which time the focus is on introductions. From 3 to 6 o’clock, trust is built. From 6 to 9 o’clock we share issues of interest. From 9 to 12 o’clock is time for action. The key here is that each quarter is equally timed. A quarter can be 3 months, or it can be 3 years. The key is not to rush and to fully flesh out each stage honestly, openly and with love and hope for an ideal continuous present.
In “western” culture, when it comes to work and the workplace, we spend 12 to 1 o’clock introducing ourselves then immediately get to work from 1 all the way to 12 o’clock again. But we haven’t built any trust. We don’t even know what issues are of importance to our co-workers. We’ve barely even introduced ourselves properly.
The method of circle can be found among indigenous cultures throughout the Americas and in Africa and parts of Asia. It has maintained its place among people of color throughout the world – and is a way of life from which we all can benefit.
I’ve been part of the Brooklyn People of Color Circle since we started in October of ’07. Circle has a way of reminding me of my connectedness to the goodness of our collective spirit. It brings me closer to the flow. Sacred space. I look forward every month.

Update on Botswana’s San Bushman – Diamond Conflict

SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE

10 December 2008

BOTSWANA: DIAMOND MINE ON BUSHMAN LAND GETS GOVERNMENT APPROVAL – ON CONDITION BUSHMEN RECEIVE NO WATER

The Botswana government has given its approval to a controversial diamond mine on the land of the Kalahari Bushmen – on the condition that the mining company Gem Diamonds does not provide the Bushmen with water. The government has, however, reserved the right to use water boreholes drilled by Gem for wildlife.

The government has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment presented by Gem Diamonds for its proposed mine.

The Bushmen living in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve face severe water shortages. The government has banned them from operating a disused borehole which was their main source of water before the government unlawfully evicted them from their land.

Gem Diamonds claims that the Bushmen are in favour of the mine, but the Bushmen have had no independent advice on its probable impact.

A consulting firm visited the Bushmen earlier this year, supposedly to obtain their views on diamond mining on their land. The company’s project manager joined the board of Gem Diamonds soon after the project ended, calling the impartiality of the consultation process into serious question.

Survival’s director Stephen Corry said today, ‘It’s absolutely scandalous that the Botswana government is insisting that Gem Diamonds does not provide the Bushmen with water. The government is clearly determined to go to any lengths to keep the Bushmen off their land. As to whether the Bushmen are in favour of the mine – the lack of information provided to them means they are in no position to be able to say. It is likely that they don’t even know they will not be able to access water from the mine site.’