[MPWG] Film release: Numen: The Healing Power of Plants

Thu Jul 11 12:49:48 CDT 2013

I have not seen it yet but plan to. Point so well taken about the disconnect .  It is the root of all our problems. In 1973 the movie Soylent Green  addressed this  in a way.  Of course for those who have not seen it the point is visually made at the end.  We are now in 2013 and still heading down this road.  Thank you to all of you for keeping up the work.
Blessings
Rabiah

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 13:39:54 -0400
From: moonbranch at earthlink.net
To: patricia_deangelis at fws.gov; mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: Re: [MPWG] Film release: Numen: The Healing Power of Plants

Hello All. 

As someone who has seen the original version of "Numen" I would like to offer the following observation. In my mind, the biggest hurdle we face in addressing the challenges in the conservation of species, be they plant or animal, as well as total biodiversity is humanity's ever increasing lack of connection and interaction with the natural world.

Especially in the West and in most developed nations around the globe much of the population lives in a "bubble" of man-made technology, structures and contrived streetscapes. Most of their respective population's sensory stimulation is provided by traffic, video games, IMAX theaters, and 32" flat screen televisions. They live within and identify themselves by geopolitical boundaries and are subject to "law" enacted by the whimsy of politicians. This is their world, albeit a world of illusion, nothing more. 

Simply put, much of humanity has lost touch with the natural world that sustains us and indeed has sustained us for hundreds of thousands of years. People do not, can not, value what they do not know. And as a consequence, they do not treasure and protect what they do not value.

To me that was what the film "Numen" was all about, reestablishing that connection.

- Robin
-----Original Message-----

From: "De Angelis, Patricia" 

Sent: Jul 11, 2013 8:52 AM

To: mpwg 

Subject: Re: [MPWG] Film release: Numen: The Healing Power of Plants

A listserve member posed this very important question to me in a follow-up to my post yesterday about the new film, Numen: The Healing Power of Plants. 
THE QUESTION:  How is plant conservation addressed in the film?

THE ANSWER, FROM THE CO-PRODUCER OF THE FILM, Ann Armbrecht: 
"There is a longer version of the film that focuses on the business of herbs, key questions to ask in purchasing herbal products, and the importance of being aware of where they come from, how they are grown and harvested and that leads into a discussion of United Plant Savers. We have removed that section in this version mostly because the film was just too long. But also because we no longer felt we could do justice to the business of herbal products, which is a huge, complex and extremely mixed industry in a 10 min section of a longer film. We chose to focus more on the relationship with plants, emphasis on growing your own medicine, etc and not the herbal industry/products per se. I know that doesn't really address the question, except that that would be an entirely different film. We are going to add this section from the original film w/business of herbs and the section on UpS as stand alone sections on our website as soon as we can get around to it."

I WOULD ADD: 
The Numen website points you toward additional information on sustainability. On the page titled, the "Business of Herbalism," see the section on Social and Ecological Sustainability with a link to the International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (http://www.numenfilm.com/issues-business-of-herbalism.php). 

The ISSC Map was developed by a cadre of excellent medicinal plant experts from across the world, including the IUCN-Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the World Wildlife Fund Germany and TRAFFIC, and Traditional Medicinals (http://www.floraweb.de/map-pro/decisionboard.html).

The ISSC-MAP was adopted by the FairWild Foundation, created in 2008, which certifies that products with the FairWild label are legally and sustainably sourced and fairly traded (http://www.fairwild.org/).

I hope this helps. Thank you for the question.

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.Botanist, Division of Scientific Authority-US Fish & Wildlife Service-International Affairs
Chair, Medicinal Plant Working Group-Plant Conservation Alliance4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110Arlington, VA  22203703-358-1708 x1753FAX: 703-358-2276

Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants. <www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>
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> on Twitter  http://twitter.com/USFWSInternatl> on Facebook   http://www.facebook.com/USFWS_InternationalAffairs

On Wed, Jul 10, 2013 at 1:54 PM, De Angelis, Patricia <patricia_deangelis at fws.gov> wrote:

Please see the message below about a gorgeous film that is being released called, Numen: The Healing Power of Plants.  It is a welcome arrival for those of us who believe in the power of plants, highlighting several
major concepts that demonstrate the relevance of medicinal plants to our
everyday lives and to our future.  It features an array of
our best known and most beloved medicinal plant experts. The producers have indicated that all sales are currently slated to
support the further dissemination of the film so that they may bring the information to
wider audiences.  
Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.Botanist, Division of Scientific Authority-US Fish & Wildlife Service-International Affairs

Chair, Medicinal Plant Working Group-Plant Conservation Alliance4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110Arlington, VA  22203703-358-1708 x1753FAX: 703-358-2276

Robin Alton Suggs
MoonBranch Botanicals
5294 Yellow Creek Road
Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771 
USA

Telephone: 828.479.2788
Email: moonbranch at earthlink.net
Websites:
www.moonbranch.com  &  www.localharvest.org/store/M16074

Member:
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; Farm Partner
Green Products Alliance 
North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicines 
North Carolina Goodness Grows/NCDA&CS 
United Plant Savers

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. - Henry David Thoreau

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