Building the Green Economy: Success Stories from the Grassroots

This book was an excellent compendium of stories and interviews that provide a baseline of hope for the Green movement. But it is more -- it illustrates the limits of our current political system and shows how the needs of our citizens are constantly sacrificed for the benefit of multi-national corporations. Although the subtitle is "success stories from the grassroots", it really is as much a call to grassroots political activism as it is a celebration of it. Basically, the message is that people have to get to work, starting in their own neighborhoods and working outward and upward because positive change is very unlikely to come down to us from the top. One of the most significant issues this book addresses is the fact that corporations have become entities that enjoy all the benefits that "people" do, but have none of the burdens of accountability that people have. Corporations were originally entities formed on a temporary basis and their charters had to be reviewed and re-approved, and would get "re-approval" if what they did benefited their communities. Now corporations operate like armies without countries, able to impose their laws on cities, states and nations. Thus companies are free to poison our ground, water and air, and in some cases literally kill people, with impunity. As a result, cities, towns and so on around the nation have been amending their charters to assert their sovereignity over their own communities. The lesson there is that many efforts need to be multi-pronged - the political problem needs to be addressed before the environmental problem can be solved. Also of note is the theme of empowerment - teaching citizens that they can effect change, and how they can do it. There was really a lot packed into this book and I highly recommend it.

This was one of my favorite books of 2007. The book offers a variety of accessible, engaging tales from the front lines. From worm poop to the Boston Tea Party, the authors do a great job of telling stories that leave the reader feeling refreshed, educated, and heartened. Whether you're a seasoned activist or just getting involved, this book offers a variety of resources and success stories. It's time that we start celebrating what works in our communities, and this book shows how.