As early as 2005, we had the idea of making our concepts practically tangible on Tahiti in a kind of model experiment. The attempt failed, among other things, because the political parties on the island felt exclusively committed to their own egoistic interests. There was a total lack of insight into the necessity of an ecological turnaround, as our contacts (politicians, the clergy, and other institutions) had no vision of how the languishing South Sea paradise could recover. Not even Tahiti’s biggest publishing house could decide to publish The Tahiti Project, although the book reads like a manual on how to break out of the perplexity in which we are trapped.

In the meantime, thirteen years have passed, during which we tried to inspire seven other islands and regions to take on a socio-ecological model experiment. Among them were Tahiti’s neighbouring islands Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, Tubai and recently Makatea, an island that plays a major role in The Tahiti Project. Our last attempt took place on an island in Nova Scotia off Canada’s east coast, where the neighbouring indigenous Indians had expressed great interest in working together.

All attempts have failed not only because of the mental inertia of the local authorities, but also because of our lack of financial and human resources. The effort to set up such an eco-lab and to run it against great resistance has not been manageable for us so far. For this reason, we have refrained from this attempt for the time being, unless those responsible, to whom we have painstakingly pointed out the advantages of a model project, suddenly change their minds, because it cannot remain hidden from them that conditions are changing extremely quickly for the worse.

Of course, we do not want to exclude the possibility that regions in other parts of the world are interested in such a serious ecological experiment and might want to get in touch with us. It would be in the interest of us all to do so.

Do you know the film trilogy Maze Runner? No? Then perhaps you know Divergent, another very successfully filmed trilogy. Not familiar either? But you certainly know The Hunger Games, the absolute blockbuster of all three-part futuristic thrillers. And soon, very soon, you and your children will be able to marvel at The Maeva Trilogy in the cinema, we can vouch for that.

Why are we so sure? Because the film industry has already shown interest. A well-known German director has already asked Piper Verlag for the rights, as has a major production company in Cologne. Our goal, however, is an international production. That is why we have contacted the French director and producer Luc Besson, who has regularly attracted attention with his Hollywood blockbusters (Nikita, Lucy, The Big Blue, The Fifth Element, The Lady). Besson seems to be the right person to contact because he has often shown civil courage recently. For example, after the terrorist attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, he published an open letter in the newspaper Le Monde to the young Muslims in his country who had been placed under general suspicion after the attack. In it, he writes that it pains him greatly that Islam is associated with the terrorist attacks. He begins his letter with the words “My brother”.

In our letter to Luc Besson, we quote Dennis Meadows (The Limits of Growth), with whom we are in good contact: “I am happy to learn that you are still involved in finding ways for people to imagine alternatives to the current disastrous course. I hope you will manage to make the film. I wish you a lot of success in that.”

HELP OUT!

We all know how difficult it is to get busy creatives like Luc Besson for a personal interview. And how long-term they plan. That’s why we would be grateful to anyone who can give us promising contacts to producers or directors. Because one thing is clear: the time is ripe to present solutions in cinematic form to a perplexed audience of millions hungry for alternatives, which they can relate to sensorially, from which they can draw strength and confidence for the future, instead of succumbing to depression and disinterest in social development. Perfectly suited for this, the Maeva trilogy fulfils all the criteria necessary for a successful film adaptation: set in changing exotic locations, it is exciting and fascinating with a touching love story, and awakens awareness without being didactic. One can identify with its protagonists in the most diverse ways.

The problem with the film trilogies mentioned at the beginning is very American: while they start strong, towards the end they are deformed into cheap entertainment for box office sales. This will not happen to the Maeva trilogy. And what did Luc Besson say in a recent interview? “Socially, especially in the upbringing of children, cinema can make a far greater difference than, for example, teachers and parents can.”

Like Luc Besson, we Equilibrists believe in the power of cinema. OK, people! “ACTION!”