Author: Rex

Community Stewardship and Living

Ecoholic Home

Ecoholic Home
Adria Vasil
Adria Vasil will have you laughing all the way to the bank with this delightful book stuffed full of tips on green products and green living. As part of Vasil’s wildly successful Ecoholic series, the book offers a wide-ranging­ resource for green-minded homeowners – from the best green cleaning products to those that are no better than a “spit on a rag,” and from banks that provide green mortgages to bedding materials that may be bathed in harmful chemicals. With a specific focus on Canadian products and services, Ecoholic Home provides everything you’ll need to achieve a greener home and lifestyle. Continue reading Ecoholic Home

Energy

Ecotechnic Future

Ecotechnic Future
John Michael Greer

John Michael Greer’s Ecotechnic Future provides a sobering account of human society­ in the Industrial Age, and speculates on whether our culture can survive the coming peak-oil crunch. While predictions of a world lacking cheap and abundant energy may seem bleak, survivalists will appreciate the book’s outlook. But Greer perhaps relies too much on North American perspectives without focusing enough on some enlightened European nations that are actively working to decrease their oil dependence. Ecotechnic Future is a recommended­ read for survivalists­, politicians­ as well as any parents or teachers­ of our future generations. Continue reading Ecotechnic Future

Community Stewardship and Living

Social Change 2.0

Social Change 2.0
David Gershon
While a few readers may find David Gershon’s approach overly self-promoting – suggested resources all take you to his website’s order page – his experience­ in creating social transformation is authoritative­, and this book is a successful­ marriage of vision and pragmatism. Gershon balances principles and practices­, and highlights his ideas with stories of people­ in action. Social Change 2.0 emphasizes­ you, the reader, as the primary agent of change in the world. Each chapter ends with a useful set of questions that form a “practitioner’s guide” to further thinking. Continue reading Social Change 2.0

The Bridge at the End of the World
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The Bridge at the End of the World

The Bridge at the End of the World
James Gustave Speth.
At the end of his career as a litigator, academic and veritable environmental prophet, Gus Speth has reached a disturbing conclusion: “All we have to do to ruin the planet is to keep doing exactly what we’re doing today.” The environmental movement, he argues, is swimming upstream – limited by our cloistered approach to change and a failure to address the systemic failures of a myopic economic system. Passing the torch to the next generation, he offers a thoughtful analysis of these systemic challenges and outlines the necessary steps for transformative change. The Bridge at the Edge of the World is essential reading for those preparing to make the crossing. Continue reading The Bridge at the End of the World

Books and Resources

Beyond Green: Toward a Sustainable Art

“Beyond Green” is an art exhibition exploring sustainability through innovative art pieces that highlight eco-friendly practices and social justice links. Curated by Stephanie Smith, it features works provoking dialogue on sustainability, including practical projects like recycled shelters and solar bags. The accompanying catalog, with essays and artist interviews, underscores these themes. Continue reading Beyond Green: Toward a Sustainable Art

The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World
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The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World

The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World
Wade Davis, Toronto: Anansi Press, 2009, 240 pages.

The title chapter of The Wayfinders tells of Polynesian navigators’ ability to travel great distances in canoes by reading signs of the ocean, sky, animals and wind. Traversing cultures whose people, like the navigators, have an intimate knowledge of their environments, this book illustrates human brilliance and the capacity to be deeply attuned to our inner and outer worlds.
[Click here to read more!] Continue reading The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World

Community Stewardship and Living

Disposable Society?

At a dump site -- in a park
Image by Toban Black via Flickr

I can’t wrap my head around this idea. In a time where protecting the environment is everywhere you look, why are there more and more disposable items available? Have we become a disposable society that places more value on “convenience” and “saving time” then the environment? What is going to be the long-term impact of this shift? More waste, landfills filling up faster and more imported crap from other countries that no one really needs (I mean I love the Dollar Store and all but seriously do we need half the stuff in there?)

Continue reading “Disposable Society?”