Sex, lies and celluloid: doctors hit out at Hollywood

It probably comes down to the old trade-off between escapism on the one hand and realism on the other with an added frisson of moral censorship or outrage on the side. The Royal Society of Medecine have reviewed Hollywood's output over the last 20 years and expressed concern at what appears to be the irresponsibility of showing sex and drug-taking as if it is virtually medical-consequence-free, when in fact, during those 20 years, the risks have become greater, arguably.

None of the top 200 films promoted safe sex, and nobody ended up with an unwanted pregnancy or any infection. The doctors, writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, say filmmakers should reflect the real consequences of unsafe sex and illicit drug use in their work.
I think they have a point. And let's not get into the issue of whether Hollywood should be paying towards mitigating the effects of what 'they' have been touting; in effect acting as product placement and lifestyle advertising for things that we as 'society' have to pick up the tab for either in health care costs, policing, emotional consequences of caring for the victims and perpetrators of this stuff and so on.

Now I take the point about fantasy, escapism and storytelling. But perhaps we should try to see a bigger picture and note that what we fill our heads with tends to reinforce [or challenge] dominent myths of our culture. What we ask of Hollywood is what we ask of any media or even advertising: that the truth be told, particularly when it is a matter of life and death.
I pray that this report has a marked and positive effect.

Guardian Unlimited Film | News | Sex, lies and celluloid: doctors hit out at Hollywood:

Technorati tags: film, sex, drugs, medical advice, social responsibility

Conservation, Alternative Energy and Green Construction

A link worth bookmarking

Michael’s Conservation, Alternative Energy and Green Construction Jump Page

Monolithic Domes

"What if you eliminated 50 to 75 percent of a building's need for energy? With its superior insulation, that's exactly what a Monolithic Dome does."

I've only just come across this as a design concept, but it seems to have a lot to commend it in energy savings, I wonder if it could be an earthship design too in the sense of being covered in grass etc.

Monolithic Dome Institute

Hydrokinetic Energy in Scotland

WorldChanging: Another World Is Here: Hydrokinetic Energy in Scotland:

Ultimately, Scotland could get 10% of its energy production from ocean power -- and intends to do so

Technorati tags: Scotland, wave-power, renewable, grid, policy

USA Bicycle Sales Are Exploding

Not since the 1970's oil crisis has this happened, and I find it strangely hopefula "'Some 87 million people [in the US] have climbed on a bike in the past 12 months,' "
And as one commenter points out, that isn't including the people getting on used bikes. Of course we should also recognise the 'fad factor', those who will try it and for various reasons not stick with it. But still ...
Treehugger: Bicycle Sales Are Exploding:

Shadows of sexual frustration?

Matt Stone picks up an intriguing suggestion;

many of the men being drawn into terroist factions are young and single, living in a society that places a very high value on chastity, and are just as vulnerable to sexual frustration as the rest of humanity. He contents that some Muslim men who see their situation as hopeless are being attracted to radical Islam as a way of working out frustrations, some of which are sexual.

Now, leaving a certain schadenfreud in that suggestion, actually, I also wonder if there is sometihing in it. I have vague recollections of there being some historical evidence that would favour the explanation ... anyone else any thoughts?
Ekstasis: Shadows of sexual frustration?:

Technorati tags: Islam, jidadis, sex, chastity, reformation

oil, Africa, aid and debt

Meanwhile, it is sad and ironic that after all the sterling efforts by the chancellor, Gordon Brown, and many others, the debt forgiveness package finally sown up in Washington should be accompanied by cries from many African countries that the financial benefit will be dwarfed by - you've guessed it - higher oil prices

Guardian Unlimited | Economic dispatch | Essential oil:

Technorati tags: peak oil, debt, opec, economy