From www.endofsuburbia.com

Since World War II North Americans have invested much of their newfound wealth in suburbia. It has promised a sense of space, affordability, family life and upward mobility. As the population of suburban sprawl has exploded in the past 50 years, so too the suburban way of life has become embedded in the American consciousness.

Suburbia, and all it promises, has become the American Dream.

But as we enter the 21st century, serious questions are beginning to emerge about the sustainability of this way of life. With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, The End of Suburbia explores the American Way of Life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. World Oil Peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now, some scientists and policy makers argue in this documentary. The consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. What does Oil Peak mean for North America? As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today's suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid The End of Suburbia ?

Hosted by Barrie Zwicker. Featuring James Howard Kunstler, Peter Calthorpe, Michael Klare, Richard Heinberg, Matthew Simmons, Mike Ruppert, Julian Darley, Colin Campbell, Kenneth Deffeyes, Ali Samsam Bakhtiari and Steve Andrews. Directed by Gregory Greene. Produced by Barry Silverthorn.

DVD BONUS: Includes the vintage short films, In the Suburbs and Destination Earth. Also includes producer and director commentary and edited audio for audiences under 18 years.

Duration: 78 minutes

First Screening in Los Angeles - April 24th

After the discussion on peak oil in North Hollywood, CA (PeakOilAction.org), on April 24th, 10 of the 12 attendees went to a local residence to watch the "End of Suburbia" documentary. There was a consensus that the film was sucessful at portraying the basic realities of oil depletion and the end of modern industrial society. Though some felt that more could have been presented about some of the very serious consequences (such as the possiblity of mass starvation) or that a wider variety of possible actions to take could have been shown, we agreed this was a usefull tool for getting people thinking about this crisis. Some of the attendees suggested that it was probably a wise choice not to present the worst-case or most alarming scenarios because it may have the effect of being too much for many people to handle and put them into a state of denial. As is, this film is already alarming enough to have that effect.

Additional Screenings in the Los Angeles Area Being Planned

The twelve people that attended the peak oil discussion in the park are planning additional screenings. Anyone is welcome to host a screening. Good places for screenings include private residences (invite your friends and family), universities, public libraries and churches. Also, may organizations hold weekly or periodic screenings of important documentaries, and may wish to include this documentary in their schedule.

If you would like to host a screening of "End of Suburbia", please contact eric@peakoilaction.org. We can help you with the planning, promoting and hosting of the screening.

To keep informed on any upcoming screenings or related events, join the PeakOilAction.org newsletter, send an email to subscribe@peakoilaction.org and include your city, state and country.