A/V Fridays - Without the King

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Allie

I don’t know about you, but I love a good documentary. I love the opportunity to see people and lifestyles I would never have any experience with otherwise. Without the King looks like a fantastic film, and I can’t wait to see it.

From IMDB:

“Swaziland is the last absolute monarchy in the world and one of the few African countries that has never faced a civil war. This portrait of a nation in transition juxtaposes the opulent life of the royal family to the bare subsistence of Swazi citizens who are poised to fight for a better life.”

Michael Skolnik, the director of Without the King, discussed how environmental issues are adding to the crisis in Swaziland.

“Swaziland has definitely been dealing with huge environmental issues, as the country has been in a SEVERE drought for 9 years. Because of that, the food production has been really hurt, and for the past 9 years they have been in a desperate situation. The Food Agriculture Organization (which is part of the UN) named on Monday Swaziland one of the 6th most vulnerable places in the world for food. And there seems no end in sight.”

Without the King is the winner of the 2007 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival Special Jury Prize, and opens on April 25th at the Quad Cinemas in New York City. Become a fan on Facebook to get updates on this film.

3 Comments +

  1. You need to get that Ragu ad off your blog! That stuff is full of corn syrup. Have you read the Omnivore’s Dilemma?

    April 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
    Comment by Think Twice
  2. I work with ad service, so I don’t personally choose the companies who advertise on my site. But if you go to Ragu’s website, you’ll notice that they have removed the corn syrup from most, if not all of their recipes. I was very happy to see that change.

    April 21st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
    Comment by Allie
  3. [...] To learn more about the film and see a preview, check out last week’s A/V Fridays selection. [...]

    April 25th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
    Pingback by Allie’s Answers » Blog Archive » Without The King Premieres This Weekend

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Tip of the Day

Bring Your Own Utensils

I carry a titanium backpacking spork around in my purse.  I know that sounds kind of weird, but it saves me from using disposable utensils when I eat out, and it’s so light, I never even notice that I’m carrying it.

Before the Industrail Revolution it was common for guests to be expected to bring their own utensils with them when invited to dine, because utensils were expensive, labor intensive items, and most people didn’t own extra sets.  Now, when it’s possible to buy a set of 1,000 plastic utensils for under $20, people don’t even think about bringing their own.

But think of the plastic waste that can be saved by slipping a fork from home in your purse on the way out the door.  You don’t need anything fancy.  Grab one from your kitchen drawer, or if you’re worried about loosing a piece of a set, pick up a few spare utensils the next time you hit a discount store, thrift shop, or yard sale.  It’s simple a simple way to cut down waste, and it’s always nicer to eat with real utensils anyway.

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