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

Thu Jul 11 16:15:54 CDT 2013

Kia Ora All,

I agree with Robin, the disconnection and non-participation in the natural
world is the biggest hurdle.

Reconnection is now the focus of workshops I offer, 'Plant Immersion,
Incubation and Inspiration' and will be a part of an on-line course I am
preparing called 'The Traditions, Art and Science' 

of Herbal Medicine'.

Contact me off the list if interested in more information.

Warm regards, Isla

Isla Burgess

Medical Herbalist

Member Global Participatory Science Network

Viriditas, Centre for Plant Directed Learning and Participatory Science

Director, Intl College of Herbal Medicine

Convenor, Intl Research Group for the Conservation of Medicinal Plants

P.O. Box 103, Wanaka 9343, New Zealand, #6434431201

 <http://www.herbcollege.com/> www.HerbCollege.com

 <blocked::mailto:isla at HerbCollege.com> isla at HerbCollege.com 

 <http://www.viriditas.co.nz> www.viriditas.co.nz 

www.islasite.wordpress.com

  _____  

From: MPWG [mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of
MoonBranch Botanicals
Sent: Friday, 12 July 2013 5:40 a.m.
To: De Angelis,Patricia; mpwg
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 Alliance

4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110

Arlington, VA  22203

703-358-1708 x1753

FAX: 703-358-2276

Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants. 

<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

Follow International Affairs

> 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 Alliance

4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110

Arlington, VA  22203

703-358-1708 x1753

FAX: 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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