Technology is Only Part of the Answer
In his book Spiritual Ecology: A Quiet Revolution, Dr. Leslie Sponsel highlighted a quote from Thich Nhat Hahn, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who said,
“Scientists tell us that we have enough technology to save our planet…Yet, we don’t take advantage of this new technology….The technological has to work hand-in-hand with the spiritual. Our spiritual life is the element that can bring about the energies of peace, calm, brotherhood, understanding and compassion. Without that, our planet doesn’t stand a chance.”
This quote is an apt way of summing up what we’ll be exploring in the film, The Book of Tree.
In the month since our Kickstarter campaign ended, we’re happy to announce that nearly a third of our Kickstarter backers have decided to stick with us and re-commit their support right here on the official film website. Thank you so much for that support!!
On the right side of this page, you’ll find that we’ve launched a secure plug-in that allows us to continue raising the budget we’ll need to produce The Book of Tree. While it looks a lot like Kickstarter, this funding method is not an all-or-nothing system, and the money you pledge helps us immediately. It is backed by PayPal and is 100% secure. You can even use a credit card if you don’t have a PayPal account.
Take a look at the Thank You reward levels and choose something for yourself. We offer digital downloads, DVDs, posters, tickets to the world premiere, even a trip into the field with us! When you pledge your support, you’re not only helping to produce this important film, you are actually getting something back!
We are in the midst of finishing up pre-production research and plan to be in the field as soon as mid-February. We’ve set March 1 as our preliminary funding goal with the idea that if we can be totally funded as we go into the field, we can devote all our energy to production rather than having to switch gears between fundraising and filming throughout the process.
But, however it works out, we’re committed to doing everything it takes to make this important film. You’re invited to join the effort by pledging your support. Just click the green Support Now button below on the right. You’ll be taken first to a page to select your pledge level, then directed to the secure PayPal site to enter your payment details. Thank You!
Peace,
Rob Whitehair & Pam Voth
Why THE BOOK OF TREE is an important message for our times
The media has been dragging us down with negativity for too long. It's no wonder that many people across the globe have felt overwhelmed and lost hope that something can be done about the greed and short-sightedness that continue to destroy our environment.
Sure, there are major, pressing environmental issues that we need to deal with. Yes, they are directly related to the long term survival of the human species. And no, they are not going away if we simply choose to ignore them. But, they are not insurmountable.
Across the globe, human ingenuity and the human spirit are alive and well. But they are not in the media spotlight.
THE BOOK OF TREE will counter the negative messages with stories of real people who are examples of the practical and positive ways to affect change in the world.
"Why do we continue to destroy our home even when science tells us the repercussions of our actions? Could it be we've lost our spiritual connection to nature? Is there a way back?"
My name is Rob Whitehair. Please join me on a yearlong journey to document the stories of people who have a profound spiritual connection to their landscape, and to record the dialogue and wisdom of scientific, spiritual and creative visionaries who believe that in order for humans to survive, we must reconnect spiritually to the natural world.
This is an intensely personal journey for me. Some 25 years ago, at the end of the Cold War, I was on a submarine in the US Navy when we ran a simulated nuclear strike against an enemy. Instead of triumph, I felt an immense sense of guilt and remorse for having taken part in what amounted to a wanton and mass destruction of life on Earth. Sure, it was not real, but the intention of it was. The realization of the power humans have to destroy life on this planet, and the ability to rationalize it, was something I could not live with.
The course of my life changed at that moment and set me on a path of deep exploration of how we, as humans, connect to the Earth. I spent many years making wildlife films, thinking that if I could just show people the beauty of life and the intricacies of how everything works together, they would care about it and move to save it. But, that has not been the case. The destruction of the natural world is increasing at an exponential pace.
There must be another reason. I believe it is because we have simply lost our spiritual connection to the world around us. And, I want to help humanity regain that before it's too late.
That is why I am embarking on the most important documentary film of my career. THE BOOK OF TREE will be a cinematic adventure, rich in storytelling, to record the dialogue and wisdom of some of the greatest spiritual, scientific, environmental and creative visionaries on this planet.
Please join me in helping to create this epic film. As in life, in physics, ecology and even in the realm of spirituality, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Let's do this together.
Thank you!
– Rob Whitehair
+The Project FAQ's
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No. Only you and the project creator will be able to see the pledge amount.
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