Political Media Review

Ron Mann
Reviewed by Jennifer Berube
Reprinted with Permission

In 2001, Hollywood actor and hemp activist Woody Harrelson and a group of friends set out on a tour of the West Coast to raise awareness about sustainable living. Traveling in a bio-fueled bus and on bicycles, Harrelson and his entourage headed down the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at university campuses to promote natural, organic living.

Harrelson and the New Merry Pranksters

While Harrelson spent much of his time on his bike, a few of his friends accompanied him in a psychedelically painted bus that ran on hemp seed oil. The new eco-friendly vehicle was inspired by the original “Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” bus of the 60s, in which author Ken Kesey traveled through the States with a group of young hippies called the Merry Pranksters. Kesey and the Pranksters were also on tour to promote a different way of living, although their solution involved the drug acid. Kesey’s vision, however, was the same as Harrelson’s, as the destination displayed on the psychedelic 60s bus always read “Furthur.”

The newest travelers included a yoga-teacher, a hemp-activist, a junk-food addict, a raw food chef and a college student who was persuaded to put her life on hold to join the tour.

Simple Organic Living Tour

Covering a wide range of topics, such as organic food, alternative energy and political activism, Harrelson and pals created the SOL (Simple Organic Living) Tour. Along the way, the group made many stops to spread the word about living a happier, healthier life.

They met various interesting characters, including an entrepreneur who makes treeless paper, an organic farmer, and even Ken Kesey himself.

One of the purposes of the tour was to demonstrate that hemp is a viable alternative to gasoline. Hemp is a renewable source of energy and can easily be grown and used in a variety of products, including paper and fuel.

Woody Allen Takes on the Lumber Industry

Along the way, Harrelson and group stop at an unwelcoming logging company and are humorously met with the announcement that Woody Allen is on the premises. Normally the outspoken advocate on green issues, Harrelson makes a point to tell the defensive security guard he has no hard feelings toward him for working for the tree-killing company. Harrelson is trying to better the world, which means fighting for the cause, not against people.

Some good points about consumer responsibility are made throughout Go Further. The argument in favour of a raw-food diet and hemp as clothing lifestyle is convincing. Also, we see Harrelson test his belief that the transformation of our planet begins with the small personal transformations that are within the grasp of each and every one of us.