Fields of Fuel (2008) Reviews

• Teachers Respond to Fields of Fuel: "This film should be screened in every U.S. School!"

  gdeborahdupre2008-05-26

  If one film this year has capacity to transform today's world to one where human rights are restored, it is "Fields of Fuel." As the film highlights, returning the power, both energy and political, to the common individual is what biodiesel and the father of diesel, Rudolph Diesel were all about. One of the best things about bio-diesel is the next generation food-free biodiesel creatively and economically produced. Non-foods such as algae, desert grass and Camelina grown where no food grows are major parts of the new, "next generation," food-free biodiesel. Keeping biodiesel but not the old way of making it with precious food source is the key. Throwing the baby out with the bath water has never been a humane solution. It seems that some groups are intent on causing the average person to think the contrary - about both biodiesel and babies. That's why "Fields of Fuel" needs to be seen by most Americans; the sooner the better for humanity. The film leaves no question about what is morally right. Not only that, it inspires and motivates with its compassionate and solution-driven demonstrations. Without seeing "Fields of Fuel," it seems too few Westerners, the "haves," realize the rich opportunities and the justified hope that the new generation of biodiesel offers to the world's poorest of the poor. Many of the poor, such as Australian Aborigines and Ni-Vanuatu islanders, both among Earth's oldest living cultures now living in Least Developing Conditions, could benefit enormously from biodiesel produced in their communities. We hear people complain of high fuel prices, but most of these people still go and do. Present oil prices for the poorest Peoples means they do not go or do. For such Peoples already experiencing high levels of suffering due to unemployment and associated disease, too expensive or no oil often means no transportation for services to survive. Locally produced biodiesel can help change this scenario of the poor and the hungry to one of hope and health. As a matter of fact, thanks to the leadership of "Fields of Fuel" producer and one man in the Least Developing island nation that followed him, Vanuatu, ni-Van buses run on coconut oil. The abundance of coconuts left to rot on the beaches there are now used for biodiesel. This generated employment and income to locals that had none, plus clean air to an overpopulated town - not to mention the streets' sweet scent similar to toasted coconut candy coming from the buses. After one "Fields of Fuel" screening, I met a small group of bio-diesel advocates that learned from and then followed in the footsteps of "Fields of Fuel" director; after which they created their own path. They now travel the world to marginalized Least Developing condition communities. They are teaching Indigenous tribal villagers to produce biodiesel so their villages have: fuel for their village tractor so they can grow their food more efficiently; fuel for their community generator for desperate needs; fuel for their village school bus so their children can learn; and fuel for emergency trips to their far-off hospital to save a life. We in "developed nation" communities would now do well learning sustainable living from these villagers. I've been privileged to view "Fields of Fuel" several times, appreciating it more each time. The theater has usually been understandably packed, and people were standing along the side walls. Roars of laughter, clapping and cheering DURING the show, wiping of heartfelt tears upon seeing the pain and suffering that we are complicit in committing when we fill our tanks with other than biodiesel ... all typically occur during this film's screenings. Standing ovation typically occurs after the show. These are well-deserved rewards of a special young man who experienced firsthand as a boy the suffering deliberately induced by Big Oil profiteers. He vowed to offer a better choice to all of society. The strong, favorable, audience responses to "Fields of Fuel" and this films' capacity to transform our unjust world today to one more humane are due to that young man's courageous determination to make a difference. Over twelve years, he demonstrated that focused determination to help halt suffering from petrochemical related injuries in his mother's home state, Louisiana, our great nation, America and the world. Those years of dedication and hard work are reflected in this amazing work of theater art. Perhaps the most favorable "Fields of Fuel" response of all is one that I've heard a few times after different screenings. Each time, it was a teacher speaking this to Joshua and the audience during the Q and A, in the theater following the screening: "This film should be screened in EVERY school in the United States!" Indeed, our nation and the world will likely be much better places for all to live when school children, their parents and teachers face and learn the truth about oil, and learn the joys of making a positive difference locally, nationally and globally. Seeing "Fields of Fuel" is empowering. It leaves the viewer knowing that this better standard of living is possible for all of humanity, the rich and the poor. It is right there at our fingertips to be harnessed, not only through biodiesel, but also whichever alternative sustainable energy sources most appropriately match each individual's and community's unique needs and resources. This is all explored in gripping edutainment of "Fields of Fuel." Congratulations to the over one hundred people that worked and are still working tirelessly to improve our world through "Fields of Fuel," especially to that special young man, one of my two great sons, Joshua Dupre' Tickell.

• we might have a chance with several different (smart ) fixes to oil

  preston-valerie2008-06-15

  We have a chance of turning the imported oil fiasco around with algae and marginal land oil seed products to get us back to our roots of being ahead of the world in smart solutions that make sense environmentally and economically we are the agriculture powerhouse if we get to work on alternative means like wind solar non corn based fuel that will work in diesels(originally designed to run on peanut oil a biofuel) when run on petroleum are the largest polluters (in trucks ships trains tractors) and can operate on camelina oil diesel like Montana is growing (68,000 acres) yielding 120 gallons per acre (irrigation fertilizer herbicides pesticides not required) on semi arid unproductive land and have had with no problems for 5 years get with it America there is a chance

• I'm absolutely sold

  kenmora2008-04-16

  This was the only film to inspire a standing ovation, to a packed screening, at the 2008 Beverly Hills International Film Festival. As a Hybrid owner I'm amazed that more manufacturers don't make alternative fuel cars. When this film illustrated the argument for Soy, Cane, and Algea based diesels fuels I determined right then and there my family's next car would run on bio-diesel. The film is funny, entertaining, very informative, and while it shows the dark side of how we got to our present state of petroleum dependence, it doesn't wallow in the negative, but instead cheers us on to seek fuel alternative that are already here, right now. For instance, I had no idea that any diesel engine could run on bio-diesel without any adaptation! Also, the amazing advances in Algea based bio-fuels can also produce plastics with a fraction of the environmental impact. If you see no other environmental documentary, you must see this one! I doesn't lament, it shows us the way.

• Inspirational story, good information, fun music, and a different perspective

  jjamesguy17822008-04-14

  Fields of Fuel shows the world what a small percentage of us have known for several years now: Biodiesel is available, works in any diesel vehicle, is made in America, and is better for the environment than petroleum fuels. The film goes from Josh Tickell's time on a farm in Germany where he learned that diesel fuel can be made from vegetable and animal products, to his journey across America in the Veggie Van, to the widespread production of biodiesel from used fryer oil, to the present where new biodiesel is being made from algae and new food stocks. The film answers the question on everyone's mind these days: Is biodiesel going to make food expensive and starve the poor? The answer is no. Biodiesel is made from oils, while the solids from the feed stock go on to be food for people and animals. The film does not suggest that biodiesel will supply all our food and energy needs, while pointing out the value of wind, solar, geothermal, and other clean, domestic energy sources. Audiences have been giving the film a standing ovation at film festivals around the country. The film has won awards at Sundance and Sedona.

• Not to be missed!

  mcomber-22008-04-19

  I met the director of the film last fall. His lecture and his book inspired me to buy a diesel Jeep Liberty for myself, and another for my girlfriend. I joined the biodiesel coop and bought a Mercedes diesel for a couple thousand dollars for friends to borrow when they go on trips. I've helped show the film at Sundance, Beverly Hills, and at numerous private showings as a volunteer. The film has become better and better as time goes on, and always gets a standing ovation. So far, the movie has been kept on a DVD instead of being printed to film so it can be updated as the biodiesel scene changes. Hundreds of people have given of their time and money to make sure the film continues to improve and continues to be shown. It makes every one of us involved with the film proud to be a part of something that can change the world and help us out of our dependence on oil, and it makes us proud when we win awards with the film everywhere we go.