Earth Day
40th Anniversary of Earth Day in April, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
No Impact Man by Colin Beavan
No Impact Man
discussion, April 22, 2010 Central Library
DVD
Going green may be trendy in the new millennium, but writer Colin Beavan takes this lifestyle to an admirable extreme in NO IMPACT MAN. In this documentary, Beavan decides that he wants to effect the environment in the smallest way possible for an entire year. This means no electricity, no transportation that doesn’t require his own feet, and no food from outside his local area. If only his wife and young daughter were as excited about his project...
Book Reviews
Booklist Reviews 2009 June #1
When it comes to saving the planet, can one person really make a difference? Define difference. For Beavan, his wife, and their infant daughter, it meant trying to live for a year in New York City without producing any trash, consuming any nonlocal foodstuffs, or traveling by any method other than footpower. It meant not buying anything new, giving up coffee, going off the grid. From their first baby steps (no takeout) to their giant leap (no toilet paper), the Beavans' experiment in ecological responsibility was a daunting escapade in going green to the extreme. Along with the frustrating practicalities of schlepping a two-year-old, a dog, and a bike up and down nine flights of stairs came the exhilarating rush of success as each new challenge was met and conquered. Yet throughout, Beavan experienced overwhelming crises of faith in both himself and his mission. So fervent as to make Al Gore look like a profligate wastrel, Beavan's commitment to the cause is, nonetheless, infectiously inspiring and uproariously entertaining. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.
LJ Reviews 2009 May #2
Website: http://www.libraryjournal.com
In case you missed the 2008 documentary, aired at Sundance, and Beavan's ongoing blog, Beavan decided to see whether he could find a way to live that would have no impact on the environment...no plastics, no air-conditioning.... Sure to be big. Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews 2009 July #2
Beavan (Operation Jedburgh: D-Day and America's First Shadow War, 2006, etc.) turns his life upside-down with sustainable living.In 2006, at the age of 42, the author was convinced he was no better than any finger-pointing liberal shucking his own guilt, overwhelmed and feeling helpless in his ability to stem consumerism and slow global warming. Consumption of "stuff," he writes, is inspired by ads that say, "You suck, but if you buy this, you won't, and then everyone will love you." Unfortunately, in the minds of American consumers, "We're too busy for love because we're working to get the stuff that the ads say will bring us love." In order to empower himself through action, Beavan decided to make a drastic change. Pitching his next book to his agent, he explained that he wanted to write about an experiment in which he came as close as possible to living a no-impact lifestyle—all with a wife, toddler and dog in New York City. The author stopped buying new products and started using the Yahoo! Freecycle Network and Craigslist to procure only secondhand goods. Also, television and air-conditioning were banned; disposable diapers were swapped out for cloth; water was conserved by the entire family sharing the same bathwater "on bath day"; baking soda was employed for deodorant and toothpaste. All the while, the author continued to ask himself tough questions about whether or not his new living habits were actually effecting positive change. With thorough research, Beavan updates his blog (noimpactman.com) with convincing statistical evidence, while discovering new ways to reduce consumption and his family's environmental footprint. "It is time for people to take up the reins of government and business and force the change we want and need," he concludes after his one-year experiment. "We cannot wait for leaders. We are the leaders."An inspiring, persuasive argument that individuals are not helpless in the battle against environmental degradation and global warming.Agent: Eric Simonoff/Janklow & Nesbit Copyright Kirkus 2009 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.
PW Reviews 2009 May #4
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com
Beavan (Fingerprint) chronicles his yearlong effort to leave as little impact on the environment as possible. Realizing that he had erred in "thinking that condemning other people's misdeeds somehow made [him] virtuous," he makes a stab at genuine (and radical) virtue: forgoing toilet paper and electricity, relinquishing motorized transportation, becoming a locavore and volunteering with environmental organizations. Beavan captures his own shortcomings with candor and wit and offers surprising revelations: "lower resource use won't fill the empty spaces in my life, but it is just possible that a world in which we already suffer so much loss could be made a little bit better if husbands were kinder to their wives." While few readers will be tempted to go to Beavan's extremes, most will mull over his thought-provoking reflections and hopefully reconsider their own lifestyles. (Sept.)
LJ Express Reviews
Website: http://www.libraryjournal.com
Beavan details the roller coaster that was his family's experiment of low/no-impact living. The plot touches on all the main themes of the genre: consumerism and waste, struggles between idealism and self-righteousness, the value of time and the issue of necessity. Beavan has clearly done his homework with regard to the major writers on personal environmental issues and includes an appendix. But the book's best attribute is its honest emotion, as well as the chapter on local food. Verdict It's not a fresh story, but it's certainly aided by the fluid and admirably reflective narration, which might inspire readers to unplug their TVs. As Beavan says, just try. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/09; No Impact Man: The Documentary is currently playing in theaters.-Ed.]-Jaime Hammond, Naugatuck Valley Community Coll., Waterbury, CT Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
discussion, April 22, 2010 Central Library
Blog
DVD
Going green may be trendy in the new millennium, but writer Colin Beavan takes this lifestyle to an admirable extreme in NO IMPACT MAN. In this documentary, Beavan decides that he wants to effect the environment in the smallest way possible for an entire year. This means no electricity, no transportation that doesn’t require his own feet, and no food from outside his local area. If only his wife and young daughter were as excited about his project...
Book Reviews
Booklist Reviews 2009 June #1
When it comes to saving the planet, can one person really make a difference? Define difference. For Beavan, his wife, and their infant daughter, it meant trying to live for a year in New York City without producing any trash, consuming any nonlocal foodstuffs, or traveling by any method other than footpower. It meant not buying anything new, giving up coffee, going off the grid. From their first baby steps (no takeout) to their giant leap (no toilet paper), the Beavans' experiment in ecological responsibility was a daunting escapade in going green to the extreme. Along with the frustrating practicalities of schlepping a two-year-old, a dog, and a bike up and down nine flights of stairs came the exhilarating rush of success as each new challenge was met and conquered. Yet throughout, Beavan experienced overwhelming crises of faith in both himself and his mission. So fervent as to make Al Gore look like a profligate wastrel, Beavan's commitment to the cause is, nonetheless, infectiously inspiring and uproariously entertaining. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.
LJ Reviews 2009 May #2
Website: http://www.libraryjournal.com
In case you missed the 2008 documentary, aired at Sundance, and Beavan's ongoing blog, Beavan decided to see whether he could find a way to live that would have no impact on the environment...no plastics, no air-conditioning.... Sure to be big. Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews 2009 July #2
Beavan (Operation Jedburgh: D-Day and America's First Shadow War, 2006, etc.) turns his life upside-down with sustainable living.In 2006, at the age of 42, the author was convinced he was no better than any finger-pointing liberal shucking his own guilt, overwhelmed and feeling helpless in his ability to stem consumerism and slow global warming. Consumption of "stuff," he writes, is inspired by ads that say, "You suck, but if you buy this, you won't, and then everyone will love you." Unfortunately, in the minds of American consumers, "We're too busy for love because we're working to get the stuff that the ads say will bring us love." In order to empower himself through action, Beavan decided to make a drastic change. Pitching his next book to his agent, he explained that he wanted to write about an experiment in which he came as close as possible to living a no-impact lifestyle—all with a wife, toddler and dog in New York City. The author stopped buying new products and started using the Yahoo! Freecycle Network and Craigslist to procure only secondhand goods. Also, television and air-conditioning were banned; disposable diapers were swapped out for cloth; water was conserved by the entire family sharing the same bathwater "on bath day"; baking soda was employed for deodorant and toothpaste. All the while, the author continued to ask himself tough questions about whether or not his new living habits were actually effecting positive change. With thorough research, Beavan updates his blog (noimpactman.com) with convincing statistical evidence, while discovering new ways to reduce consumption and his family's environmental footprint. "It is time for people to take up the reins of government and business and force the change we want and need," he concludes after his one-year experiment. "We cannot wait for leaders. We are the leaders."An inspiring, persuasive argument that individuals are not helpless in the battle against environmental degradation and global warming.Agent: Eric Simonoff/Janklow & Nesbit Copyright Kirkus 2009 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.
PW Reviews 2009 May #4
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com
Beavan (Fingerprint) chronicles his yearlong effort to leave as little impact on the environment as possible. Realizing that he had erred in "thinking that condemning other people's misdeeds somehow made [him] virtuous," he makes a stab at genuine (and radical) virtue: forgoing toilet paper and electricity, relinquishing motorized transportation, becoming a locavore and volunteering with environmental organizations. Beavan captures his own shortcomings with candor and wit and offers surprising revelations: "lower resource use won't fill the empty spaces in my life, but it is just possible that a world in which we already suffer so much loss could be made a little bit better if husbands were kinder to their wives." While few readers will be tempted to go to Beavan's extremes, most will mull over his thought-provoking reflections and hopefully reconsider their own lifestyles. (Sept.)
LJ Express Reviews
Website: http://www.libraryjournal.com
Beavan details the roller coaster that was his family's experiment of low/no-impact living. The plot touches on all the main themes of the genre: consumerism and waste, struggles between idealism and self-righteousness, the value of time and the issue of necessity. Beavan has clearly done his homework with regard to the major writers on personal environmental issues and includes an appendix. But the book's best attribute is its honest emotion, as well as the chapter on local food. Verdict It's not a fresh story, but it's certainly aided by the fluid and admirably reflective narration, which might inspire readers to unplug their TVs. As Beavan says, just try. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/09; No Impact Man: The Documentary is currently playing in theaters.-Ed.]-Jaime Hammond, Naugatuck Valley Community Coll., Waterbury, CT Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough
Choice Reviews 2002 October
Website: http://www.choicereviews.org
The play on words in the title is the key to understanding the environmentalist authors' point of view and inspiring approach toward intelligent design for products and processes, leaving the biosphere a little better than it was for our grandchildren. Their pitch is to be good, not less bad, in our designs. American architect McDonough and German chemist Braungart are partners in a company they founded that advises corporations and institutions on eco-effective practices requiring no postmanufacturing and postconsumer problem-solving because there will be no problems. This important and likely controversial book needs to be read and discussed, not only by movers and shakers, but by young people trying to understand the biosphere and anthropogenic impacts. However, this book is not unblemished, either in content or execution. The content is far too fuzzy and lacking in concrete ideas of wide applicability on sustainable growth, making it easy for critics to dismiss. The execution is maddening for its lack of suitable references, a substantive bibliography, and most frustratingly, a working index, all of which this reviewer suspects would add more value to the book than the too-cute-for-words curved corners and the "paper" it is printed on. Everyone should read this! All levels. Copyright 2002 American Library Association
Kirkus Reviews 2002 February #1
Noted eco-designers suggest a paradigm shift in human habits of manufacture and consumption.American architect/industrial engineer McDonough and German chemist Braungart collaborated at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit on a proposal for eliminating the concept of waste in industrial design. Here, they elaborate on their theory, explaining that even environment-friendly policies such as recycling and waste-reduction still fall short of achieving for humankind the kind of balance and harmony that other living entities have employed for millennia. The authors, who now run a design consulting firm, examine reigning industrial design practices and our basic misconceptions about waste, arguing against the idea that "less bad is good" and offering several points for future thought about putting their principles of "eco-effectiveness" to work. The emphasis here is on moving beyond traditional thinking about the relationship between nature and humanity to consider instead how to make humanity itself a better-functioning natural system. Despite the awakening of environmentalism over the past three decades, McDonough and Braungart assert, we are still largely stuck with the Industrial Revolution precept of "cradle to grave" consumer goods that become waste. They offer several examples of how industrial processes and thoughtful changes in the design of habitat and work environment might create true self-nourishing systems. Environmental regulations, the authors believe, are needed stopgaps but ultimately exemplify a major design flaw in the way we think about making things. For instance, instead of a more fuel-efficient car, why not a mode of transportation that would not simply be less polluting but would actually nourish the atmosphere? Moving past both the planned obsolescence that is the cornerstone of much industry, as well as the control and command structure of environmental regulation, McDonough and Braungart encourage humanity to begin thinking of itself as a self-sustaining entity that does not necessarily need to take a toll on its surroundings.A readable, provocative treatise that "gets outside the box" in a huge way. Timely and inspiring. Copyright Kirkus 2002 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved
PW Reviews 2002 February #2
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com
Environmentalists are normally the last people to be called shortsighted, yet that's essentially what architect McDonough and chemist Braungart contend in this clarion call for a new kind of ecological consciousness. The authors are partners in an industrial design firm that devises environmentally sound buildings, equipment and products. They argue that conventional, expensive eco-efficiency measures things like recycling or emissions reduction are inadequate for protecting the long-term health of the planet. Our industrial products are simply not designed with environmental safety in mind; there's no way to reclaim the natural resources they use or fully prevent ecosystem damage, and mitigating the damage is at best a stop-gap measure. What the authors propose in this clear, accessible manifesto is a new approach they've dubbed "eco-effectiveness": designing from the ground up for both eco-safety and cost efficiency. They cite examples from their own work, like rooftops covered with soil and plants that serve as natural insulation; nontoxic dyes and fabrics; their current overhaul of Ford's legendary River Rouge factory; and the book itself, which will be printed on a synthetic "paper" that doesn't use trees. Because profitability is a requirement of the designs, the thinking goes, they appeal to business owners and obviate the need for regulatory apparatus. These shimmery visions can sound too good to be true, and the book is sometimes frustratingly short on specifics, particularly when it comes to questions of public policy and the political interests that might oppose widespread implementation of these designs. Still, the authors' original concepts are an inspiring reminder that humans are capable of much more elegant environmental solutions than the ones we've settled for in the last half-century. (Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Website: http://www.choicereviews.org
The play on words in the title is the key to understanding the environmentalist authors' point of view and inspiring approach toward intelligent design for products and processes, leaving the biosphere a little better than it was for our grandchildren. Their pitch is to be good, not less bad, in our designs. American architect McDonough and German chemist Braungart are partners in a company they founded that advises corporations and institutions on eco-effective practices requiring no postmanufacturing and postconsumer problem-solving because there will be no problems. This important and likely controversial book needs to be read and discussed, not only by movers and shakers, but by young people trying to understand the biosphere and anthropogenic impacts. However, this book is not unblemished, either in content or execution. The content is far too fuzzy and lacking in concrete ideas of wide applicability on sustainable growth, making it easy for critics to dismiss. The execution is maddening for its lack of suitable references, a substantive bibliography, and most frustratingly, a working index, all of which this reviewer suspects would add more value to the book than the too-cute-for-words curved corners and the "paper" it is printed on. Everyone should read this! All levels. Copyright 2002 American Library Association
Kirkus Reviews 2002 February #1
Noted eco-designers suggest a paradigm shift in human habits of manufacture and consumption.American architect/industrial engineer McDonough and German chemist Braungart collaborated at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit on a proposal for eliminating the concept of waste in industrial design. Here, they elaborate on their theory, explaining that even environment-friendly policies such as recycling and waste-reduction still fall short of achieving for humankind the kind of balance and harmony that other living entities have employed for millennia. The authors, who now run a design consulting firm, examine reigning industrial design practices and our basic misconceptions about waste, arguing against the idea that "less bad is good" and offering several points for future thought about putting their principles of "eco-effectiveness" to work. The emphasis here is on moving beyond traditional thinking about the relationship between nature and humanity to consider instead how to make humanity itself a better-functioning natural system. Despite the awakening of environmentalism over the past three decades, McDonough and Braungart assert, we are still largely stuck with the Industrial Revolution precept of "cradle to grave" consumer goods that become waste. They offer several examples of how industrial processes and thoughtful changes in the design of habitat and work environment might create true self-nourishing systems. Environmental regulations, the authors believe, are needed stopgaps but ultimately exemplify a major design flaw in the way we think about making things. For instance, instead of a more fuel-efficient car, why not a mode of transportation that would not simply be less polluting but would actually nourish the atmosphere? Moving past both the planned obsolescence that is the cornerstone of much industry, as well as the control and command structure of environmental regulation, McDonough and Braungart encourage humanity to begin thinking of itself as a self-sustaining entity that does not necessarily need to take a toll on its surroundings.A readable, provocative treatise that "gets outside the box" in a huge way. Timely and inspiring. Copyright Kirkus 2002 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved
PW Reviews 2002 February #2
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com
Environmentalists are normally the last people to be called shortsighted, yet that's essentially what architect McDonough and chemist Braungart contend in this clarion call for a new kind of ecological consciousness. The authors are partners in an industrial design firm that devises environmentally sound buildings, equipment and products. They argue that conventional, expensive eco-efficiency measures things like recycling or emissions reduction are inadequate for protecting the long-term health of the planet. Our industrial products are simply not designed with environmental safety in mind; there's no way to reclaim the natural resources they use or fully prevent ecosystem damage, and mitigating the damage is at best a stop-gap measure. What the authors propose in this clear, accessible manifesto is a new approach they've dubbed "eco-effectiveness": designing from the ground up for both eco-safety and cost efficiency. They cite examples from their own work, like rooftops covered with soil and plants that serve as natural insulation; nontoxic dyes and fabrics; their current overhaul of Ford's legendary River Rouge factory; and the book itself, which will be printed on a synthetic "paper" that doesn't use trees. Because profitability is a requirement of the designs, the thinking goes, they appeal to business owners and obviate the need for regulatory apparatus. These shimmery visions can sound too good to be true, and the book is sometimes frustratingly short on specifics, particularly when it comes to questions of public policy and the political interests that might oppose widespread implementation of these designs. Still, the authors' original concepts are an inspiring reminder that humans are capable of much more elegant environmental solutions than the ones we've settled for in the last half-century. (Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Getting Green Done by Auden Schendler
Booklist Reviews 2009 February #2
Kermit the Frog said it best: It s not easy being green. If it were, amends Schendler, we d already be doing it—as he has been, and in the most unlikely of places. As director of Community and Environmental Responsibility for the Aspen Skiing Company, Schendler was challenged with bringing green practices to a place where the clientele were more interested in the sustainability of their perfect tans than of the planet. The concept of renewable energy and the reality of climate change were anathema to a hospitality corporation that spared no expense when it came to guest comfort; even compact fluorescent bulbs were a hard sell. But if the paradigm can be shifted in Aspen, it can be changed in Altoona. Frankly chronicling how an internationally renowned resort found both innovative and pragmatic ways to make recycling, biofuels, and other earth-friendly applications profitable, Schendler frames his environmentally sound arguments in practical terms every business executive, home owner, and government official can relate to. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Prius drivers and recyclers take note: according to debut author Schendler, your efforts to be environmentally correct are admirable, but are hardly the kind of urgent, unified action we need to really make an impact on global climate change. In fact, he says, by focusing on small individual actions, you may be actually harming the environmental movement. A pioneer in the sustainability movement, Schendler points out that "there is a hangover from the 1970s that continues to hamper the environmental movement today." Using examples from his own consulting work as the executive director of Community and Environmental Responsibility at Aspen Skiing Company, he asserts that real change can only come from tough decisions by big businesses and through legislation. Rather than sacrificing ROI to integrate green practices, Schendler says that companies must make profit-driven decisions that complement their business models in order to carry out meaningful and lasting environmental change. By challenging status quo thinking about sustainability and taking the point of view of the business executive and the worker in the field, Schendler offers a perspective that is refreshingly realistic and pragmatic. (Mar.)
Kermit the Frog said it best: It s not easy being green. If it were, amends Schendler, we d already be doing it—as he has been, and in the most unlikely of places. As director of Community and Environmental Responsibility for the Aspen Skiing Company, Schendler was challenged with bringing green practices to a place where the clientele were more interested in the sustainability of their perfect tans than of the planet. The concept of renewable energy and the reality of climate change were anathema to a hospitality corporation that spared no expense when it came to guest comfort; even compact fluorescent bulbs were a hard sell. But if the paradigm can be shifted in Aspen, it can be changed in Altoona. Frankly chronicling how an internationally renowned resort found both innovative and pragmatic ways to make recycling, biofuels, and other earth-friendly applications profitable, Schendler frames his environmentally sound arguments in practical terms every business executive, home owner, and government official can relate to. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Prius drivers and recyclers take note: according to debut author Schendler, your efforts to be environmentally correct are admirable, but are hardly the kind of urgent, unified action we need to really make an impact on global climate change. In fact, he says, by focusing on small individual actions, you may be actually harming the environmental movement. A pioneer in the sustainability movement, Schendler points out that "there is a hangover from the 1970s that continues to hamper the environmental movement today." Using examples from his own consulting work as the executive director of Community and Environmental Responsibility at Aspen Skiing Company, he asserts that real change can only come from tough decisions by big businesses and through legislation. Rather than sacrificing ROI to integrate green practices, Schendler says that companies must make profit-driven decisions that complement their business models in order to carry out meaningful and lasting environmental change. By challenging status quo thinking about sustainability and taking the point of view of the business executive and the worker in the field, Schendler offers a perspective that is refreshingly realistic and pragmatic. (Mar.)
Green Collar Economy by Van Jones
LJ Reviews 2008 October #2
Website: http://www.libraryjournal.com
With climate change, skyrocketing energy costs, and a bad economy on everyone's minds, these two books offer different takes on these circumstances and consequently quite different solutions. While in The Green Collar Economy , Jones (founder & president, Green for All) addresses ongoing issues of social inequality as well as the environment and arrives at large-scale solutions aimed at both, Makower (executive editor, GreenBiz.com) in Strategies for the Green Economy focuses more on improving the "greenness" of individual corporations. By examining case studies of companies' green initiatives and their effects on marketing and consumers, he demonstrates how going green can be a win-win for both the bottom line and the environment.
In looking at the bigger picture, Jones provides ideas for rebuilding infrastructure and creating alternative energy sources, which would have the double bonus of boosting the economy through increased employment and higher wages while decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. With a blurb by Al Gore and a foreword by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this is a much more forward-thinking and far-reaching work that considers concrete ways to improve our current situation, rather than offering only rhetoric. Action items and a resource list at the end of the book provide ways for individuals to get involved immediately.
Makower's is a more typical "business" book, looking at specific companies and their approaches to environmentalism. It focuses on corporate success and how to use the environment as a marketing tool rather than on strategies to save the country and the planet. While both books are highly readable and very timely, the big picture presented in The Green Collar Economy seems more optimistic and useful than the marketing techniques outlined in Strategies . The Green Collar Economy is recommended for all libraries, while Strategies is recommended more specifically for business collections.—Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. of Ohio Libs., Oxford
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com
As the "ecological crisis nears the boiling point," human rights activist and environmental leader Jones (president of the national organization Green For All) lays out a visionary, meticulous and practical explanation of the two major challenges the U.S. currently faces-massive socioeconomic inequality and imminent ecological catastrophe-and how the current third wave of environmentalism, the "investment" wave, can solve both. If industry players want to take advantage of growing consumer demand for green solutions, they'll have to follow principles of inclusiveness as well as conservation and inventiveness to create "broad opportunity and shared prosperity" for citizens at all levels of society. Rife with statistics, facts and history lessons, Jones introduces a "Green New Deal," a re-imagining of FDR's original New Deal that makes the government "a partner" (as opposed to a "nanny" or "bully") of the people, and sets about defining the principles of a "smart, supportive, reliable" partnership. Jones examines success stories from around the world (included close looks at Chicago and Milwaukee), defines government priorities at national and local levels and offers concrete solutions; one major positive step for any "significant [U.S.] metropolis" is to "invest massively in constructing buses, light rail cars, and mass-transit projects," creating good jobs while cutting greenhouse gases. With both caution and hope, Jones concludes that "tens of thousands of heroes at every level of human society" will be needed to carry off this third, and perhaps ultimate, green initiative. (Oct.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Website: http://www.libraryjournal.com
With climate change, skyrocketing energy costs, and a bad economy on everyone's minds, these two books offer different takes on these circumstances and consequently quite different solutions. While in The Green Collar Economy , Jones (founder & president, Green for All) addresses ongoing issues of social inequality as well as the environment and arrives at large-scale solutions aimed at both, Makower (executive editor, GreenBiz.com) in Strategies for the Green Economy focuses more on improving the "greenness" of individual corporations. By examining case studies of companies' green initiatives and their effects on marketing and consumers, he demonstrates how going green can be a win-win for both the bottom line and the environment.
In looking at the bigger picture, Jones provides ideas for rebuilding infrastructure and creating alternative energy sources, which would have the double bonus of boosting the economy through increased employment and higher wages while decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. With a blurb by Al Gore and a foreword by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this is a much more forward-thinking and far-reaching work that considers concrete ways to improve our current situation, rather than offering only rhetoric. Action items and a resource list at the end of the book provide ways for individuals to get involved immediately.
Makower's is a more typical "business" book, looking at specific companies and their approaches to environmentalism. It focuses on corporate success and how to use the environment as a marketing tool rather than on strategies to save the country and the planet. While both books are highly readable and very timely, the big picture presented in The Green Collar Economy seems more optimistic and useful than the marketing techniques outlined in Strategies . The Green Collar Economy is recommended for all libraries, while Strategies is recommended more specifically for business collections.—Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. of Ohio Libs., Oxford
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com
As the "ecological crisis nears the boiling point," human rights activist and environmental leader Jones (president of the national organization Green For All) lays out a visionary, meticulous and practical explanation of the two major challenges the U.S. currently faces-massive socioeconomic inequality and imminent ecological catastrophe-and how the current third wave of environmentalism, the "investment" wave, can solve both. If industry players want to take advantage of growing consumer demand for green solutions, they'll have to follow principles of inclusiveness as well as conservation and inventiveness to create "broad opportunity and shared prosperity" for citizens at all levels of society. Rife with statistics, facts and history lessons, Jones introduces a "Green New Deal," a re-imagining of FDR's original New Deal that makes the government "a partner" (as opposed to a "nanny" or "bully") of the people, and sets about defining the principles of a "smart, supportive, reliable" partnership. Jones examines success stories from around the world (included close looks at Chicago and Milwaukee), defines government priorities at national and local levels and offers concrete solutions; one major positive step for any "significant [U.S.] metropolis" is to "invest massively in constructing buses, light rail cars, and mass-transit projects," creating good jobs while cutting greenhouse gases. With both caution and hope, Jones concludes that "tens of thousands of heroes at every level of human society" will be needed to carry off this third, and perhaps ultimate, green initiative. (Oct.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Discussion Questions
Non-fiction book questions from Litlovers.com to think about for our discussion.
1. If your book offers a cultural portrait—of life in another country, or in a different region of your own country, start with questions a, b, and c ...
a. What does the author celebrate or criticize in the culture? Consider family traditions, economic and political structures, the arts, language, food, religious beliefs.
b. Does the author wish to preserve or reform the culture? If reform, what and how? Either way—by instigating change or by maintaining the status quo—what would be gained or what would be at risk?
c. How does the culture differ from yours? What was most surprising, intriguing, difficult to understand? After reading the book, have you gained a new perspective—or did the book affirm your prior views?
2. Does the book offer a central idea or premise?
What are the problems or issues raised? Are they personal, spiritual, societal, global, political, economic, medical, scientific?
3. Do the issues affect your life? How so—directly, on a daily basis, or more generally? Now or
sometime in the future?
4. What evidence does the author give to support the book's ideas? Does he/she use personal
observations and assessments? Facts? Statistics? Opinions? Historical documents? Scientific research?
Quotations from authorities?
5. Is the evidence convincing? Is it relevant or logical? Does it come from authoritative sources?
(Is the author an authority?) Is the evidence speculative...how speculative?
6. Some authors make assertions, only to walk away from them—without offering explanations. It's
maddening. Does the author use such unsupported claims?
7. What kind of language does the author use? Is it objective and dispassionate? Or passionate and earnest? Is it polemical, inflammatory, sarcastic? Does the language help or undercut the author's
premise?
8. Does the author—or can you—draw implications for the future? Are there long- or short-term
consequences to the problems or issues raised in the book? If so, are they positive or negative?
Affirming or frightening?
9. Does the author—or can you—offer solutions to the problems or issues raised in the book? Who
would implement those solutions? How probable is success?
10. Does the author make a call to action to readers—individually or collectively? Is that call
realistic? Idealistic? Achievable? Would readers be able to affect the desired outcome?
11. Are the book's issues controversial? How so? And who is aligned on which sides of the issues?
Where do you fall in that line-up?
12. Can you point to specific passages that struck you personally—as interesting, profound, silly or
shallow, incomprehensible, illuminating?
13. Did you learn something new reading this book? Did it broaden your perspective about a
difficult personal issue? Or a societal issue? About another culture in another country... or about an
ethnic / regional culture in your own country?
1. If your book offers a cultural portrait—of life in another country, or in a different region of your own country, start with questions a, b, and c ...
a. What does the author celebrate or criticize in the culture? Consider family traditions, economic and political structures, the arts, language, food, religious beliefs.
b. Does the author wish to preserve or reform the culture? If reform, what and how? Either way—by instigating change or by maintaining the status quo—what would be gained or what would be at risk?
c. How does the culture differ from yours? What was most surprising, intriguing, difficult to understand? After reading the book, have you gained a new perspective—or did the book affirm your prior views?
2. Does the book offer a central idea or premise?
What are the problems or issues raised? Are they personal, spiritual, societal, global, political, economic, medical, scientific?
3. Do the issues affect your life? How so—directly, on a daily basis, or more generally? Now or
sometime in the future?
4. What evidence does the author give to support the book's ideas? Does he/she use personal
observations and assessments? Facts? Statistics? Opinions? Historical documents? Scientific research?
Quotations from authorities?
5. Is the evidence convincing? Is it relevant or logical? Does it come from authoritative sources?
(Is the author an authority?) Is the evidence speculative...how speculative?
6. Some authors make assertions, only to walk away from them—without offering explanations. It's
maddening. Does the author use such unsupported claims?
7. What kind of language does the author use? Is it objective and dispassionate? Or passionate and earnest? Is it polemical, inflammatory, sarcastic? Does the language help or undercut the author's
premise?
8. Does the author—or can you—draw implications for the future? Are there long- or short-term
consequences to the problems or issues raised in the book? If so, are they positive or negative?
Affirming or frightening?
9. Does the author—or can you—offer solutions to the problems or issues raised in the book? Who
would implement those solutions? How probable is success?
10. Does the author make a call to action to readers—individually or collectively? Is that call
realistic? Idealistic? Achievable? Would readers be able to affect the desired outcome?
11. Are the book's issues controversial? How so? And who is aligned on which sides of the issues?
Where do you fall in that line-up?
12. Can you point to specific passages that struck you personally—as interesting, profound, silly or
shallow, incomprehensible, illuminating?
13. Did you learn something new reading this book? Did it broaden your perspective about a
difficult personal issue? Or a societal issue? About another culture in another country... or about an
ethnic / regional culture in your own country?
Future Books??
Ecological Intelligence by Daniel Goldman http://www.danielgoleman.info/blog/topics/ecological-intelligence/ and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-goleman/ecological-intelligence_b_192437.html
The Truth About Green Business by Gil Friend
http://www.natlogic.com/approach/publications/the-truth-about-green-business/
Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman
http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/bookshelf/hot-flat-and-crowded
The Truth About Green Business by Gil Friend
http://www.natlogic.com/approach/publications/the-truth-about-green-business/
Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman
http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/bookshelf/hot-flat-and-crowded
Sara Snow's Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home
Website: http://www.bookpage.com
Close to home: Sara Snow's practical tips for greener living
Most of us had our share of candy, Coke and hot dogs when we were kids. Not so green lifestyle expert Sara Snow: her favorite snack was a whole wheat chappati chock-full of sprouts, hummus and sea kelp flakes. During my call to her home in Indianapolis, Snow spoke enthusiastically about the (dietary) quirks and graces of growing up green, her respect for family and her passion for a credo of organic living—a devotion that sparked her new book, Sara Snow's Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home.
How-to guides can be preachy, especially when addressing human morals and mores. Fresh Living is not: Snow's approach is friendly, her information is accessible and the book's "Green Bar Profiles," brief cameos of "people from inside the natural products industry and green movement," are inspiring. Snow walks readers through a typical American household, room by room, offering simple, easy and affordable ways to create a healthier, environmentally friendly home. "I didn't want to advise people to go out and buy all the latest green gadgets, throw out everything in their houses and start over," she says, "because that would do more damage than good." Instead, Snow has produced a reasonably priced, useful guide that folks can take shopping and "scribble in the margins." She wanted to reach everyone, wherever they were on their journey toward living a healthier, more eco-friendly life.
From kitchen to living room, bathroom to bedroom (how to make "natural whoopie"), nursery (the ecology of diapering) to laundry room and beyond to the Great Outdoors, Fresh Living helps us rethink what we put in, on and around our bodies. Did you know that green grocery shopping happens on the store's perimeter? That's where all the veggies and fruits are stashed. Do you have a spider plant on your counter? If so, you'll breathe easier. Do you know the top tips for greening your car? (First, check the air pressure on your tires.) Especially insightful are Snow's clear explanations of often confusing food labeling, hazardous pesticide use and the dangers of plastics.
Sara Snow's definition of green—what she likes to call "fresh"—living (she thinks "green" is overused) is not only about making a healthier home environment, but also about living at a slower, more aware pace—much like the way she was raised. Daughter of Tim Redmond (a green movement pioneer and co-founder of Eden Foods) and mother Pattie, Snow grew up in a unique household where measured, low-impact living ruled supreme. "I was aware that we did things differently in our home," she says, "and that we were part of a movement much bigger than our family. My dad and mom were involved in important work, and raised us in a very specific way."
Elders, too, played a crucial part in Snow's life. Though her parents swept the whole family along on the exciting green movement tide, she credits her grandparents for many of her sensibilities. "My grandparents were ahead of their times," she says. "They were environmentalists, but they weren't uppity about it. They would sit down in the dirt and explain the difference between a pea shoot and a weed, where food comes from and why it was important to eat food that has life still in it." Sadly, Snow believes that many kids today lack this basic knowledge and an understanding of the slower, more earth-connected way of life practiced by earlier generations. On a bright note, though, she says that many questions she answers and consultations she has are with parents, teachers and students who want access to programs, activities and curricula about eating well, establishing responsible carbon footprints and reducing environmental toxicity.
Since 2005, Snow, helped by her previous experience as a television producer, has created TV programs emphasizing an aware, organic lifestyle. She now hosts "Get Fresh with Sara Snow," carried by the Discovery Health channel, appears regularly on CNN and FitTV, and blogs at treehugger.com. She is an environmental activist who uses her platform to champion planet Earth. "I have a voice and I use that voice to positively encourage people who are trying to do some good. If we can simplify, buy less and start educating ourselves as consumers, we can help companies clean up their environmental practices," she says.
To make a difference, Snow believes people need to be aware of how their slightest actions can affect their well-being and the health of the environment. "It's about making that one small change so that you can be a little bit healthier, a little bit more environmentally conscious. Once that change becomes habit, then you add something else. One day you'll realize, hey, I'm living a really healthy life! And that's something you can be proud of."
Alison Hood recycles, re-uses and gardens organically in Marin County, California. Copyright 2009 BookPage Reviews.
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Writer, speaker and Discovery Channel television host Snow sweeps through each room of the house (and the yard) in this overview of effective green living strategies new and old-Snow grew up a sustainable lifestyle, so has deep roots in eating healthy, composting and recycling. In the kitchen, Snow reviews choices that protect health and the environment, from ingredients and labeling to water conservation and responsible shopping. In the living room, she advocates houseplants for clean air and energy conservation; outside, issues include green transportation options like bicycles, nontoxic lawn care and gardening. Snow tips off readers to products, like particleboard furniture, that release volatile organic compounds within the home, reviews an easy-to-assemble housecleaning tool kit and even touches on green funerals, but never gives readers specific brands to seek out or avoid-meaning they'll still need to research their own options (no websites are recommended either, aside from Snow's own). Though a thorough overview, Snow's guide offers little new, especially compared to similar offerings such as National Geographic's Green Guide; Neophytes may find this a good starting point, with plenty of easy-to-digest information, but a lack of specificity may frustrate. (Mar.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Close to home: Sara Snow's practical tips for greener living
Most of us had our share of candy, Coke and hot dogs when we were kids. Not so green lifestyle expert Sara Snow: her favorite snack was a whole wheat chappati chock-full of sprouts, hummus and sea kelp flakes. During my call to her home in Indianapolis, Snow spoke enthusiastically about the (dietary) quirks and graces of growing up green, her respect for family and her passion for a credo of organic living—a devotion that sparked her new book, Sara Snow's Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home.
How-to guides can be preachy, especially when addressing human morals and mores. Fresh Living is not: Snow's approach is friendly, her information is accessible and the book's "Green Bar Profiles," brief cameos of "people from inside the natural products industry and green movement," are inspiring. Snow walks readers through a typical American household, room by room, offering simple, easy and affordable ways to create a healthier, environmentally friendly home. "I didn't want to advise people to go out and buy all the latest green gadgets, throw out everything in their houses and start over," she says, "because that would do more damage than good." Instead, Snow has produced a reasonably priced, useful guide that folks can take shopping and "scribble in the margins." She wanted to reach everyone, wherever they were on their journey toward living a healthier, more eco-friendly life.
From kitchen to living room, bathroom to bedroom (how to make "natural whoopie"), nursery (the ecology of diapering) to laundry room and beyond to the Great Outdoors, Fresh Living helps us rethink what we put in, on and around our bodies. Did you know that green grocery shopping happens on the store's perimeter? That's where all the veggies and fruits are stashed. Do you have a spider plant on your counter? If so, you'll breathe easier. Do you know the top tips for greening your car? (First, check the air pressure on your tires.) Especially insightful are Snow's clear explanations of often confusing food labeling, hazardous pesticide use and the dangers of plastics.
Sara Snow's definition of green—what she likes to call "fresh"—living (she thinks "green" is overused) is not only about making a healthier home environment, but also about living at a slower, more aware pace—much like the way she was raised. Daughter of Tim Redmond (a green movement pioneer and co-founder of Eden Foods) and mother Pattie, Snow grew up in a unique household where measured, low-impact living ruled supreme. "I was aware that we did things differently in our home," she says, "and that we were part of a movement much bigger than our family. My dad and mom were involved in important work, and raised us in a very specific way."
Elders, too, played a crucial part in Snow's life. Though her parents swept the whole family along on the exciting green movement tide, she credits her grandparents for many of her sensibilities. "My grandparents were ahead of their times," she says. "They were environmentalists, but they weren't uppity about it. They would sit down in the dirt and explain the difference between a pea shoot and a weed, where food comes from and why it was important to eat food that has life still in it." Sadly, Snow believes that many kids today lack this basic knowledge and an understanding of the slower, more earth-connected way of life practiced by earlier generations. On a bright note, though, she says that many questions she answers and consultations she has are with parents, teachers and students who want access to programs, activities and curricula about eating well, establishing responsible carbon footprints and reducing environmental toxicity.
Since 2005, Snow, helped by her previous experience as a television producer, has created TV programs emphasizing an aware, organic lifestyle. She now hosts "Get Fresh with Sara Snow," carried by the Discovery Health channel, appears regularly on CNN and FitTV, and blogs at treehugger.com. She is an environmental activist who uses her platform to champion planet Earth. "I have a voice and I use that voice to positively encourage people who are trying to do some good. If we can simplify, buy less and start educating ourselves as consumers, we can help companies clean up their environmental practices," she says.
To make a difference, Snow believes people need to be aware of how their slightest actions can affect their well-being and the health of the environment. "It's about making that one small change so that you can be a little bit healthier, a little bit more environmentally conscious. Once that change becomes habit, then you add something else. One day you'll realize, hey, I'm living a really healthy life! And that's something you can be proud of."
Alison Hood recycles, re-uses and gardens organically in Marin County, California. Copyright 2009 BookPage Reviews.
Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Writer, speaker and Discovery Channel television host Snow sweeps through each room of the house (and the yard) in this overview of effective green living strategies new and old-Snow grew up a sustainable lifestyle, so has deep roots in eating healthy, composting and recycling. In the kitchen, Snow reviews choices that protect health and the environment, from ingredients and labeling to water conservation and responsible shopping. In the living room, she advocates houseplants for clean air and energy conservation; outside, issues include green transportation options like bicycles, nontoxic lawn care and gardening. Snow tips off readers to products, like particleboard furniture, that release volatile organic compounds within the home, reviews an easy-to-assemble housecleaning tool kit and even touches on green funerals, but never gives readers specific brands to seek out or avoid-meaning they'll still need to research their own options (no websites are recommended either, aside from Snow's own). Though a thorough overview, Snow's guide offers little new, especially compared to similar offerings such as National Geographic's Green Guide; Neophytes may find this a good starting point, with plenty of easy-to-digest information, but a lack of specificity may frustrate. (Mar.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living
BookPage Reviews 2007 July
Website: http://www.bookpage.com
The environmental truth made just a little more convenient
If self-proclaimed "lazy environmentalist" Josh Dorfman isn't the Earth-friendly being of the future, he certainly is the eco-guy of the moment. Through his blog, his radio show (on LIME Radio and Sirius) and now his book—all sharing the "Lazy Environmentalist" tag—Dorfman aims to show that you don't have to give up life's pleasures in order to save the planet. He favors a friendlier approach, avoiding "gloom and doom" predictions and applying Madison Avenue techniques to the message instead. "You have to understand human emotions, how we make decisions," Dorfman says over lunch at a Nashville eatery. "Whatever the hooks are, that's what still works." For Dorfman, that means adding aesthetics and convenience to the environmental equation, as he does in his new book, The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living, a compendium of ideas, suppliers and options that take reusing, reducing and recycling to a whole new level.
In the book's 272 pages (which are printed on 100 percent post-consumer waste, as one would expect), Dorfman discusses the clever refashioning of leather miniskirts into shoulder bags; using organic, as opposed to conventionally grown, cotton, the latter being "one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world"; and making bamboo flooring selections. The good news for people who want to live green, but who may not have or want to spend a lot of, well, green, is that national chains and manufacturers—Macy's, Wal-Mart, Levi's and Nike among them—are increasingly turning to these sorts of materials.
Dorfman is a smart, funny guy with whom one could easily discuss any- and everything. However, one might also come away wondering how seriously he takes saving the planet. It was just this sort of questioning of Dorfman's environmental cred that led to the launching of the entire Lazy Environmentalist enterprise.
You see, he wasn't brought up sans electricity and red meat by hippie parents, though he jokes about throwing Saturday bake sales as a child in honor of his family's "cause of the day." And, OK, there was the time he was kicked off a kibbutz after only a week for organizing a labor protest. But, he also has a solid business background and his environmental epiphany came while he was selling bicycle locks in China (he had to be quite the salesman since, as he says, the locks were "a little more expensive than the bikes"). Contemplating the Chinese fascination with American lifestyles, Dorfman says he saw "a connection between a billion bikes and a billion cars . . . and starting thinking about, not necessarily a doomsday scenario, but about quality of life." Fast-forward a few years—after Dorfman earned an M.B.A. in international business; worked in Geneva, Paris and Hong Kong; took a stab at screenwriting in Los Angeles and dropped out of a Ph.D. program in D.C.—and he had figured out a way to combine his business acumen and his growing concern for the planet. The solution was Vivavi, a furniture and home-furnishings company launched in 2003 and whose motto, "Live Modern + Tread Lightly" reflects the philosophy of greener living through good design.
Along with water-conserving bathroom fixtures, paints low in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and electric cars—the products Dorfman talks about in The Lazy Environmentalist—he also praises Method's all-purpose cleaners. "It's the best-looking cleaning product ever—and it's cheap," he says. It's also available in places like Target and Costco. "I love that product for all those reasons." He gets practically rhapsodic talking about TerraCycle organic plant food. "Fast-food waste is fed to worms, the worms poop it out, then it's packaged in soda bottles," he explains. "Everything is recycled—it's waste and it's packaged in waste."
How could anyone question the commitment of someone who gets so excited about worm poop (especially while eating lunch)? Well, one of Dorfman's first Vivavi employees did. He says she was almost hyperventilating when she tearfully asked him whether he truly was an environmentalist. "You don't talk like an environmentalist, you don't act like an environmentalist," he quotes her as saying. Dorfman mulled things over and then blogged about how he didn't mind saving the planet, but he wasn't going to give up long, hot showers. The blog led to an offer for an Internet radio show, which led to a contract with Sirius. Now he's bringing his laidback environmental platform—"My voice is: I'm your pal, man; I'm with you," he says—to a new medium. Whatever the medium, his focus is the same, concentrating on what people are willing to do to take better care of the planet and mixing in a little style. Copyright 2007 BookPage Reviews.
Website: http://www.bookpage.com
The environmental truth made just a little more convenient
If self-proclaimed "lazy environmentalist" Josh Dorfman isn't the Earth-friendly being of the future, he certainly is the eco-guy of the moment. Through his blog, his radio show (on LIME Radio and Sirius) and now his book—all sharing the "Lazy Environmentalist" tag—Dorfman aims to show that you don't have to give up life's pleasures in order to save the planet. He favors a friendlier approach, avoiding "gloom and doom" predictions and applying Madison Avenue techniques to the message instead. "You have to understand human emotions, how we make decisions," Dorfman says over lunch at a Nashville eatery. "Whatever the hooks are, that's what still works." For Dorfman, that means adding aesthetics and convenience to the environmental equation, as he does in his new book, The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living, a compendium of ideas, suppliers and options that take reusing, reducing and recycling to a whole new level.
In the book's 272 pages (which are printed on 100 percent post-consumer waste, as one would expect), Dorfman discusses the clever refashioning of leather miniskirts into shoulder bags; using organic, as opposed to conventionally grown, cotton, the latter being "one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world"; and making bamboo flooring selections. The good news for people who want to live green, but who may not have or want to spend a lot of, well, green, is that national chains and manufacturers—Macy's, Wal-Mart, Levi's and Nike among them—are increasingly turning to these sorts of materials.
Dorfman is a smart, funny guy with whom one could easily discuss any- and everything. However, one might also come away wondering how seriously he takes saving the planet. It was just this sort of questioning of Dorfman's environmental cred that led to the launching of the entire Lazy Environmentalist enterprise.
You see, he wasn't brought up sans electricity and red meat by hippie parents, though he jokes about throwing Saturday bake sales as a child in honor of his family's "cause of the day." And, OK, there was the time he was kicked off a kibbutz after only a week for organizing a labor protest. But, he also has a solid business background and his environmental epiphany came while he was selling bicycle locks in China (he had to be quite the salesman since, as he says, the locks were "a little more expensive than the bikes"). Contemplating the Chinese fascination with American lifestyles, Dorfman says he saw "a connection between a billion bikes and a billion cars . . . and starting thinking about, not necessarily a doomsday scenario, but about quality of life." Fast-forward a few years—after Dorfman earned an M.B.A. in international business; worked in Geneva, Paris and Hong Kong; took a stab at screenwriting in Los Angeles and dropped out of a Ph.D. program in D.C.—and he had figured out a way to combine his business acumen and his growing concern for the planet. The solution was Vivavi, a furniture and home-furnishings company launched in 2003 and whose motto, "Live Modern + Tread Lightly" reflects the philosophy of greener living through good design.
Along with water-conserving bathroom fixtures, paints low in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and electric cars—the products Dorfman talks about in The Lazy Environmentalist—he also praises Method's all-purpose cleaners. "It's the best-looking cleaning product ever—and it's cheap," he says. It's also available in places like Target and Costco. "I love that product for all those reasons." He gets practically rhapsodic talking about TerraCycle organic plant food. "Fast-food waste is fed to worms, the worms poop it out, then it's packaged in soda bottles," he explains. "Everything is recycled—it's waste and it's packaged in waste."
How could anyone question the commitment of someone who gets so excited about worm poop (especially while eating lunch)? Well, one of Dorfman's first Vivavi employees did. He says she was almost hyperventilating when she tearfully asked him whether he truly was an environmentalist. "You don't talk like an environmentalist, you don't act like an environmentalist," he quotes her as saying. Dorfman mulled things over and then blogged about how he didn't mind saving the planet, but he wasn't going to give up long, hot showers. The blog led to an offer for an Internet radio show, which led to a contract with Sirius. Now he's bringing his laidback environmental platform—"My voice is: I'm your pal, man; I'm with you," he says—to a new medium. Whatever the medium, his focus is the same, concentrating on what people are willing to do to take better care of the planet and mixing in a little style. Copyright 2007 BookPage Reviews.
It's not easy being green
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 12:00 PM-1:00 PM.
PLAN B 4.0: MOBILIZING TO SAVE CIVILIZATION
you are able to view the ENTIRE book as a PDF by going to:
http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4book.pdf
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 12:00 PM-1:00 PM.
PLAN B 4.0: MOBILIZING TO SAVE CIVILIZATION
you are able to view the ENTIRE book as a PDF by going to:
http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4book.pdf
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