Sustainable Planet - by Juliet B Schor & Betsy Taylor (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Can we find ways of living that are sustainable and deeply satisfying, that ensure economic and political democracy, and are passionate about beauty, elegant design, and the wildness of nature? The contributors to Sustainable Planet say we can, and offer 16 remarkable visions of how to get from here to there, including:
* Specific proposals from citizen and labor coalitions that articulate a positive alternative to the free-trade model of globalization
* The emergence of local food systems that allow us to eat fresher, better tasting food while protecting family farms and conserving the environment
* New thinking about industrial design and engineering that is leading to production systems which generate no waste
* How we might create a fashion industry that weds aesthetic pleasure with social justice
* Five economic policy recommendations that could move us toward a sustainable economy
* What you can do to create a real sense of community where you live
* A road map for building the political will to change the system before it's too late.

This anthology grew out of the work of the Center for a New American Dream (CNAD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Americans change the way they consume to improve quality of life, protect the environment, and promote social justice.

Review Quotes

"The mission of the Center for a New American Dream (CNAD) is to "help people consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life and promote social justice." Schor, author of The Overworked American and a member of CNAD's advisory board, and CNAD executive director Taylor present 16 essays that contain case studies, illustrations, and examples in support of that mission. The diverse essayists, some better known than others, include a congresswoman (Nydia M. Velazquez, D-NY), a CEO (Jeffrey Hollender, Seventh Generation), an economist (John Cavanagh), and an author (Bill McKibben). But all have an abiding interest in the concept of sustainability, and practical action suggestions abound. Several of the articles will raise the awareness of those who are not fully alert to the impact of their consumer choices and how interwoven with environmental and social quality the purchase of a piece of clothing or an overly equipped car really is. This is a positive, informative, hopeful, and concrete anthology. Highly recommended for most environmental collections, public and academic, though those who might benefit the most may be those least likely to read it."

About the Author

Juliet Schor is author of the best-selling The Overworked American and Do Americans Shop Too Much?, and serves on the board of CNAD. Betsy Taylor is founder and president of CNAD and author of the forthcoming What Kids Really Want That Money Can't Buy.