The Earth is Our Planet

TRIBE
A Reality Television Series

Agents of culture, ecology, social justice, and appropriate technologies.

A weekly hour-long reality television series, TRIBE will explore real problems (racism, voter apathy, environmental degradation, etc.) and reveal real solutions, while taking viewers on a wild ride across the United State of America. The TV series reveals the personal and group challenges faced by a multinational cast, cultural luminaries, and celebrity guests, as they embark on exciting adventures and direct action stunts.

Viewers will be invited to take part in grassroots media events in selected cities. These TRIBE gatherings are part classroom and part concert/festival. Each week: new cities, new celebrations, new lessons, and another step towards a better world.

"Tribe" is Registered with the WGA

TRIBE Season 1 Proposed Episodes

Each episode of TRIBE will focus on a different problem facing our culture. Visiting the people and organizations working toward solutions; the show will also document outrageous activist media stunts. These are proposed episodes, none of the celebrities listed have yet agreed to appear, though all are active in the support of the issues in these episodes.

Episode 1: “ URBAN TREE-SITTING”

PROBLEM: Deforestation

SOLUTION: Protect old growth and plant new trees

GUEST: Julia Butterfly

ORGANIZATION: Circle of Life Foundation www.circleoflife.org

Julia Butterfly joins the TRIBE. The show explores the consequences of deforestation and logging, the protection of old growth and personal empowerment. The team learns about tree sitting by constructing a giant tripod platform in a public urban place. By demonstrating in the city, TRIBE brings the message of conservation to the place it is needed most: where the people are. Highlighting the work of the Circle of Life Foundation, the show investigates what can be done to co-create a better world

Episode 2: “WAR ECONOMY”

PROBLEM: Excessive military spending resulting in a lack

of funds for health care and education.

SOLUTION: Changes in government spending

GUESTS: Woody Harrelson & Joel Andreas

ORGANIZATION: Voice Yourself - www.voiceyourself.com

TRIBE connects with Woody Harrelson and Joel Andreas (the author of Addicted to War) and explores the history of U.S. Foreign and Corporate Policy. TRIBE visits a park and asks everyday citizens how they believe tax money should be allocated for military, education, and healthcare. By stacking blocks representing the entirety of annual government spending, we can see how tax money is really being spent, with a large group of volunteers carrying giant blocks to create a public display. Learn how to make your voice heard at Woody’s online activism site: www.voiceyourself.com

Episode 3: “A WAR ON FREEDOM”

PROBLEM: The PATRIOT Act’s threats to civil liberties

SOLUTION: Repeal parts of the legislation.

GUEST: Michael Franti & Spearhead.

ORGANIZATION: American Civil Liberties Union www.aclu.org

The TRIBE meets up with Michael Franti and Spearhead. Michael and the gang talk about the erosions of civil liberties in the US, and the targeting of activists by the government for surveillance and investigation. What does the Patriot Act 1 really mean for freedom in the U.S.? TRIBE sets up a free internet station and lets people surf. Meanwhile the users’ images are projected onto a giant screen alongside what they are browsing online in our mock “FBI control center”. When the users leave their web stations and enter the center they are deputized into our mock FBI. It is then revealed to them that they have just been spied on and now have the power to do the same. Watch as people learn first-hand what is happening under Patriot Act 1 and the possible ramifications of Patriot Act 2.

“Just 45 days after the September 11 attacks, with virtually no debate, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act. Many parts of this sweeping legislation take away checks on law enforcement and threaten the very rights and freedoms that we are struggling to protect. For example, without a warrant and without probable cause, the FBI now has the power to access your most private medical records, your library records, and your student records... and can prevent anyone from telling you it was done.

“The Department of Justice is expected to introduce a sequel, dubbed PATRIOT II, that would further erode key freedoms and liberties of every American.”

- http://www.aclu.org/news/NewsPrint.cfm?ID=12126&c=207

Episode 4: “A COMPUTER ATE MY VOTE”

PROBLEM: Un-auditable and flawed electronic voting systems

SOLUTION: Require systems to have voter-confirmed paper-printout audit trail.

GUEST: Ben Cohen

ORGANIZATION: True Majority - www.truemajority.org

TRIBE visits with Ben Cohen (Co-Founder of Ben&Jerry’s Ice Cream) and learns about computer voting systems in the US. Under the guise of a new product taste test, the cast sets up electronic voting stations and proceeds to ‘fix the election’. When the blatantly bad-tasting sample wins, the audience gets involved. They learn that some electronic voting systems are unstable, unverifiable, and manufactured by some very partisan companies using secret programming. There is a solution: other systems are made with voter-confirmed paper printouts.

http://www.truemajority.org/ComputerAteMyVote/index.cfm

Episode 5: “FOOTLOOSE 2004- You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party”

PROBLEM: New laws impinge on our rights to assemble and enjoy live music.

SOLUTION: Repeal existing and defeat proposed legislation

GUEST: Mike D of the Beastie Boys, Perry Ferrell, and Kevin Bacon

ORGANIZATION: The Drug Policy Alliance www.drugpolicy.org

It may sound crazy, but it’s true: dance parties could become virtually illegal in the U.S. TRIBE visits with Mike D of the Beastie Boys and learns about the shocking laws being enacted which seriously curtail personal liberties. They learn what the Drug Policy Alliance and others are doing to defend our right to party. The TRIBE then holds a “D.C. FUNDRASING” party where everyone waiting to enter the event is informed they will need to be strip searched to prove they are not concealing any drugs. How will the invited politicians, lobbyists, and guests react?

“Congress is considering legislation that could hold DJs, bands, bartenders, promoters, venue owners and others liable if a patron uses drugs at a nightclub or concert. If enacted, music lovers could soon be unable to see their favorite DJ or band live.”

“Congress passed the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (also known as the RAVE Act) last year, making promoters and venue owners liable for the drug offenses of their customers (for more information on this law see history of the rave act - link to history of rave act). Now Congress is considering two new bills that threaten to effectively ban live music and dancing while throwing innocent people in jail.”

http://www.protectlivemusic.org/rave_act.htm

Episode 6: “SILENCING DISSENT”

PROBLEM: Proposed Changes to FEC rules aimed at silencing nonprofits

SOLUTION: Defeat of proposed legislation and requirement of safeguards to protect Nonprofit Speech

GUEST: Al Franken

ORGANIZATION: Move On – www.moveon.org

TRIBE visits with Al Franken and explores recent moves by some politicians to silence political dissent by changing Federal Election Committee rules. Nonprofit organizations would be banned from sharing information critical of politicians. The TRIBE learns what moveon.org and others are doing to preserve nonprofit freedom of speech. Al Franken delivers a monologue on behalf of a nonprofit and then has his speech bleeped when he strays across the line and criticizes political policy or shares privileged information. The audience thinks they are coming just to hear Franken speak and must sit through the bleeping without explanation. The proposed rules will then be revealed to the audience and censored content played back.

“The Republican National Committee is pressing the Federal Election Commission ("FEC") to issue new rules that would shut down groups that dare to communicate with the public in any way critical of President Bush or members of Congress. Incredibly, the FEC has just issued -- for public comment -- proposed rules that would do just that. Any kind of non-profit -- conservative, progressive, labor, religious, secular, social service, charitable, educational, civic participation, issue-oriented, large, and small -- could be affected by these rules.”

- http://www.moveon.org/news/fec-gag.html

Episode 7: “CONTAMINATED FISH FRY”

PROBLEM: Oceans are being ruined at an unprecedented rate. In the last 10 years, an alarming amount of marine life diversity has been destroyed. Many types of remaining fish are no longer safe to eat.

SOLUTION: Spread awareness; demand international legislation that would more comprehensively protect our oceans.

GUEST: Jack Black

ORGANIZATION: www.shiftingbaselines.org

TRIBE visits with Jack Black and participates in a “Contaminated Fish Fry”. Jack shares some distressing information about the rapidly deteriorating health of the Ocean. The TRIBE sets up a public taping of “Jack’s New Cooking Show”. While cooking, the TRIBE cast and Jack talk about the peril the oceans are in. The audience is then fed the fried-up fish. As they begin to eat they are informed about the high levels of mercury and other toxins in fish. Pregnant woman and children are advised not to eat fish more than twice a week.

Episode 8: “VOTING WITH OUR DOLLARS”

PROBLEM: Rampant, uninformed consumerism is harming the environment and creating unsafe and unfair working conditions for millions of people worldwide.

SOLUTION: Raise awareness of how every purchase makes a difference and educate consumers on how to make informed and ethical purchases.

GUEST: Woody, Alicia Silverstone and Consumer Expert

ORGANIZATION: Organic Consumers - www.organicconsumers.org

The TRIBE and guests go to a mall and grocery store and show consumers coming out of stores exactly what goes into getting some of their purchases to them. One of the unsuspecting shoppers along with our consumer expert and a TRIBE cast member fly to the third world sweatshop where their purchase was manufactured.

Episode 9: “GET OUT AND VOTE!”

PROBLEM: Only half of eligible Americans vote

SOLUTION: Get out and vote this November

GUEST: Chuck D of Public Enemy (or Alicia Keys)

ORGANIZATION: www.rockthevote.org

Chuck D (co-chair of the Rap the Vote Advisory Board) and TRIBE explore the startling truths about voting. They touch on the exclusion of Black voters in the 2000 Florida election “fiasco”. They learn about how minorities are underrepresented in the ballot booth. The crew joins “Rap-The-Vote” for a poetry slam with brilliant young rappers. Members of the TRIBE Cast try their hand at slamin’ some social justice rhymes.

http://www.rockthevote.com/rapthevote/

Episode 10: “GMO-LICIOUS!”

PROBLEM: Pollution related to agro-chemicals, packaging, processing, and shipping food. GMO food may be dangerous to the population

SOLUTION: Grow your own food, and buy more local organic.

GUEST: Anthony Keidis and Flea from Red Hot Chili

• Peppers.

ORGANIZATION: http://www.organicconsumers.org

The TRIBE, with Anthony Keidis and Flea, explores how much pollution is being caused by the massive agro-industry, as well as the amount of energy expended to get our food to us. The TRIBE’s special “GMO Spotter Cam” takes a trip down an average supermarket aisle for a quick exploration of which items are genetically modified. A “GMO Taster Fiesta” completes this episode where guests are treated to an assortment of GMO treats as they are informed of which organisms have been spliced into their “Frankenfood”. They then learn how, using the techniques of Permaculture, to create home gardens that will produce an abundance of fresh, organic produce. For urban dwellers, TRIBE explores the option of community and windowsill gardens.

Episode 11: “ PRISONS & RACISM”

PROBLEM: The United States has 5 percent of the world's population and 25 percent of the world’s prisons

SOLUTION: Public awareness…

GUEST: Ice T, Saul Williams

ORGANIZATION: www.spitfiretour.org

According to a report dated December 31, 2002, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that 10.4 percent of the country's entire black male population between the ages of 25 and 29 were in prison. TRIBE, Ice T and Saul bring the cameras to an inner city neighborhood to explore gang violence and talk to local youths about law enforcement and how it affects their lives. TRIBE throws a party and throughout the evening 10% of the white participants are “arrested” and “incarcerated”. Over a loudspeaker, the reasons for their arrests are announced along with prison populations and crime statistics.

Episode 12: “THE SECRET EPISODE*

aka the BIO GASOLINE EPISODE” (LIVE SHOW)

PROBLEM: Petroleum-based fuels are unsustainable and highly destructive to our Earth’s ecosystems and atmosphere.

SOLUTION: Public awareness and a mass switch to fuels that are sustainable and come from renewable sources. TOP SECRET SURPRISE SOLUTION REVEALED

GUESTS: Neil Young, Leonardo DiCaprio and former guests are invited back for season finale.

ORGANIZATION: www.globalgreen.org

TRIBE throws a big party and hosts the first annual EARTHTRIBE FOUNDATION awards to celebrate and honor people and organizations working towards an informed global culture and a healthy environment. The TRIBE also unveils a bio-fuel solution that can power all gasoline-driven vehicles.

TRIBE on the web

Online video of the TRIBE’s explorations and adventures will be viewable on demand at our dynamic website. Users log on to find out how they can personally foster positive changes in the world and to discover opportunities for environmental and social connections at the local, regional, national and international levels. They can also view clips from TRIBE shows and learn sustainable living techniques like how to build a yurt or grow an organic garden out of an apartment window.

The TRIBE website will also feature interviews with experts, celebrity guests and cultural luminaries focused on environmental and social issues. Streaming music and web-only videos will offer fun and informational content. Chat and web forums will allow people around the world to communicate, and a robust directory of environmental and activism links will enable viewers to learn more and get involved.

Short video segments will allow TRIBE viewers around the world to follow the adventure as it is happening, providing a behind-the-scenes look into the crew's adventures of discovery and their real-life interactions with each other.

ON THE VEGGIE BUSES

The buses will be equipped with computers for video editing as well as a mobile satellite system for telecommunications. The group will upload edited segments for on demand viewing, and when possible do live broadcasts & webcasts from the road.