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| ABOVE ALL, BE KIND : Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times [Zoe Weil] Teaches parents how to raise their children to be humane in the broadest sense -- to become not only more compassionate in their interactions with family and friends, but to grow up to make life choices that demonstrate respect for the environment, other species, and all people. The book includes chapters for early, middle, teenage, and young adult years, as well as activities, issue sidebars, cases, tips, and profiles. { 258pp, 155x230mm, October 2003; PB, £15.99, 0865714932:9780865714939 , New Society Publishers } |
| ALLIANCES, COALITIONS & PARTNERSHIPS : Building Collaborative Organizations [Joan M Roberts] Multi-stakeholder processes are now recognised as crucial public participation tools in a variety of fields including health, housing, community economic development, transportation and more. Nonprofits in these fields are frequently being asked to collaborate with community and government, but lack guidance for doing so. This book -- outlining why and how to develop such organisations, how they can be most effective, and the special nature of power and leadership involved -- is the only book available to facilitate this process. { 164pp, 155x230mm, November 2004; PB, £14.99, 0865715165:9780865715165 , New Society Publishers } |
| AND THE SKYLARK SINGS WITH ME : Adventures in Homeschooling & Community-Based Education [David H Alber; Foreword by Joseph Chilton Pearce] Acting on their conviction that to educate a child well is to enable her to find her destiny, David Albert and his partner Ellen listened carefully, with respect and with love, to how their children expressed their own learning needs. Leaving traditional home schooling methods behind, they followed their daughters' unique knowledge quests -- from astronomy and botany, to opera and mythology -- and then went about finding the resources and opportunities to meet those needs within their community. Gracefully written, And the Skylark Sings with Me passionately illustrates that real learning is much richer and more mysterious than any school can encompass. { 220pp, 140x215mm, September 2003; PB, £11.99, 0865714010:9780865714014 , New Society Publishers } |
| ART OF FOCUSED CONVERSATION : 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in the Workplace [R Brian Stanfield] Communication within many organisations has been reduced to e-mail, electronic file transfer, and hasty sound bytes at hurried meetings. More and more, people appear to have forgotten the value of wisdom gained by ordinary conversations. This book convincingly restores this most human of attributes to prime place within businesses and organisations, and demonstrates what can be accomplished through the medium of focused conversation. Developed, tested, and extensively used by professionals in the field of organisational development, 'The Art of Focused Conversation' is an invaluable resource for all those working to improve communications in firms and organisations. { 222pp, 180x230mm, September 2003; PB, £15.50, 0865714169:9780865714168 , New Society Publishers } |
| ART OF FOCUSED CONVERSATION FOR SCHOOLS : Over 100 Ways to Guide Clear Thinking & Promote Learning [Jo Nelson] Why can't students do higher order thinking? Why do educators have endless staff meetings with few results? How can parents and teachers communicate better? This book demonstrates how the Focused Conversation method, widely used in organisations and businesses, can effectively be used in K-12 educational setting. Each section deals with interactions among students, staff, and parents and elaborates with 100 sample conversations designed to make learning more meaningful, prevent and solve problems, and make communications in meetings more effective. Appendices showcase integrated curriculum examples where conversations have been used in unique combinations and list sample questions for each level of the conversation method. A bibliography and index are also included. { 266pp, 180x230mm, September 2003; PB, £18.99, 0865714355:9780865714359 , New Society Publishers } |
| ART OF NATURAL BUILDING : Design, Construction, Resources [Joseph E Kennedy, Michael G Smith & Catherine Wanek (eds)] The search for housing that is healthy, affordable, and environmentally responsible is leading a growing number of people to take a fresh look at building techniques long shunned by the modern construction industry. Recently, books on specific techniques such as straw-bale construction, cob or rammed earth have become available, but there has been little to introduce the reader to the entire field. The Art of Natural Building fills that void wholly by being a complete and user-friendly introduction to natural building for non-professionals as well as architects and designers. From straw bale and cob to recycled concrete and salvaged materials, this anthology of articles from leaders in the field focuses on both the practical and the aesthetic concerns of ecological building designs and techniques. Above all, this empowering guide demonstrates that anyone can design and build a home from natural materials that is beautiful, low-cost, and environmentally-sensible. Profusely illustrated, The Art of Natural Building is divided into five sections. The first provides an overview of the natural building movement from the various perspectives of sustainability, lifestyle, and health. The second section looks at planning and design, followed by a section that focuses on specific techniques and the vast variety of materials used in natural building. Next, examples of diverse natural dwellings are shared -- from a Hybrid Hobbit House to a thatched studio and a cob office. Finally, complementary systems, such as solar appliances, composting toilets, and alternative power systems are covered. Packed with additional resources and a bibliography, this is the encyclopaedia of natural building! { 292pp, 205x230mm, September 2003; PB, £21.99, 0865714339:9780865714335 , New Society Publishers } |
| BE THE DIFFERENCE : A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World [Danny Seo] When Danny Seo was 12 years old, he inspired more than 25,000 teenagers across the USA to join him in a conservation effort called Earth 2000, attracting the support of respected figures like Dr Jane Goodall and many prestigious journals. Now, 22 years old, he delivers his third book. In BE THE DIFFERENCE, which features a foreword by Deepak Chopra, he outlines grassroots activism from soup to nuts. Whether the reader wants to start a new organisation, join an already active one or revive one that's floundering, Seo shares countless examples of how he managed the various roles required (e.g. fund-raising, attracting national media attention). His target audience is teens, college students and young adults, but in reality, this book is a winner for anyone with the passion to make a difference. { 174pp, 140x215mm, January 2001; PB, £11.50, 0865714320:9780865714328 , New Society Publishers } |
| BECOMING THE KIND FATHER : A Son's Journey [Calvin Sandborn] The macho society that held John Wayne as a role model has created an emotional wasteland where eighty percent of men are unable to accurately express their feelings, and where that same percentage feel estranged from their fathers. The stifled male, disconnected and out of touch, fills the void with apathy or anger and the toll is staggering: short unhealthy lives, ruined relationships and damaged children. This destructive behaviour repeats itself in the next generation as the sins of the father continue the cycle. In "Becoming the Kind Father", Calvin Sandborn aims to break that cycle. His intensely personal story is heart-searing and inspirational. Brought up to fear his father's alcohol-fuelled fury and hateful put-downs, the author buried his feelings and fine-tuned his own rage. His father's early death and the collapse of the author's marriage provided catalysts for change. Interspersing clever literary references with painful childhood memories, intense self-examination and astute observations, Sandborn provides well-researched psychological findings and self-help tips, including how to: identify and share feelings; treat yourself as a kind father would; form trusting male friendships; break the anger habit; forgive the world, and yourself. This guide offers helpful insight for the millions of men who want to become kinder human beings. A "must-read" for every woman who loves an angry or emotionally distant man. { 176pp, 140x215mm, April 2007; PB, £9.50, 0865715823:9780865715820 , New Society Publishers } |
| BETTER WORLD HANDBOOK, REVISED EDITION : Small Changes That Make A Big Difference [Ellis Jones, Ross Haenfler & Brett Johnson] Specifically designed to reach people who normally would not consider themselves activists, "The Better World Handbook" is directed toward those who care about creating a more just, sustainable and socially responsible world but don't know where to begin. Substantially updated, this revised best-seller now contains more recent information on global problems, more effective actions, and many new resources. { 304pp, 155x230mm, February 2007; PB, £11.50, 0865715750:9780865715752 , New Society Publishers } |
| BETTER WORLD SHOPPING GUIDE : Every Dollar Makes a Difference [Ellis Jones] This is the only comprehensive guide for socially and environmentally responsible consumers. It contains comprehensive research distilled into a pocket-sized, user-friendly format, along with rankings for different company's products -- turning a grocery list into the most powerful tool to change the world. { 169pp, 100x150mm, January 2006; PB, £5.99, 0865715769:9780865715769 , New Society Publishers } |
| BIODIESEL POWER : The Passion, the People, & the Politics of the New Renewable Fuel [Lyle Estill] Biodiesel in North America is in its infancy. As air quality deteriorates in major centres, governments are scrambling for ways to reduce emissions and are embracing biodiesel in their fleets. Conferences on biodiesel are often 'inaugural', as society begins discussing this fuel in earnest. Lightly touching on the technical aspects of the fuel, its qualities and specifications, the book is largely about the people and stories of the biodiesel movement. It explores the tensions between grassroots activists and their altruistic co-ops the profit minded commercial producers and the voices of agribusiness, and the current administration -- or 'the coalition of the drilling'. Compelling and timely, Biodiesel Power is the history of biodiesel in the making. It will appeal to a wide audience including farmers, truckers, backyarders and commercial producers, investors, politicians and all those concerned about the end of oil. { 272pp, 140x215mm, October 2005; PB, £11.99, 0865715416:9780865715417 , New Society Publishers } |
| BOAT GREEN : 50 Steps Boaters Can Take to Save Our Waters [Clyde W Ford] This book encourages recreational boaters to adopt environmentally sound boating practices by providing practical, cost-effective solutions ranging from vessel maintenance and operation to alternative fuels, making sure those solutions are best for boaters and for the marine environment. { 228pp, 155x230mm, January 2008; PB, £11.99, 0865715904:9780865715905 , New Society Publishers } |
| BOUNDARIES OF HOME : Mapping for Local Empowerment [Doug Aberley (ed)] Whether opposing a clearcut or toxic dump, participating in local planning or zoning, or trying to learn more about your own region, Boundaries of Home will help you find, use and create the maps that are right for you. Using overlays, tapestries and stories, communities can map what's crucial to them: water and air flows, commuting patterns, distribution of species, local history. Includes a step-by-step description of how to use accessible sources to compile truly empowering images of one's home. { 138pp, 155x230mm, January 1993; PB, £7.50, 0865712727:9780865712720 , New Society Publishers } |
| BRANDED! : How the 'Certification Revolution' is Transforming Global Corporations [Michael E Conroy] Making responsible social and environmental choices has not always been a first priority for many corporations, but recent history has changed all that. Small but mighty NGOs, using 21st Century global communications, are nipping at the heels of corporations caught in unethical and irresponsible practices. NGO "market campaigns" are moving these companies toward the higher standard now demanded by their clients, their consumers, and society as a whole. The lever that moves these giants is the risk of destroying their carefully built "brands" if they fail to recognise their "moral liability" and clean up their practices. "Branded!" outlines the ability of NGOs to affect corporate markets. It shows how the development of certification systems for corporate social and environmental practices has created some intriguing questions: Why are retail giants paying premiums for ethically-produced products and not overcharging their customers? How have NGOs gained such power and credibility? What are the challenges of these new modes of corporate accountability for both NGOs and corporations? What are the unexpected opportunities for newly accountable corporations? This is a "must-read" book for corporate executives, NGOs and concerned consumers. It is rich with vignettes of firms, NGOs, campaigns, failures, successes, memorable personalities and hard-fought battles. { 354pp, 155x230mm, September 2007; PB, £11.99, 0865715793:9780865715790 , New Society Publishers } |
| BUILDING AN ARK : 101 Solutions to Animal Suffering [Ethan Smith & Guy Dauncey] "Building an Ark" is a first-of-its-kind, inspiring look at practical solutions to the impact humans have on animals and the natural world. Factory farms, habitat destruction, animal product testing, the abuse and neglect of companion animals, the illegal trade in endangered species, unsustainable fishing and climate change all create unnecessary suffering for animals. For several decades there has been a global movement building; an ever-increasing consciousness that will soon affect animal welfare and the future of life on Earth -- if it's given time to do so. "Building an Ark" is the story of this movement. Extensively researched and drawing on practical examples from around the world, it provides a voice for both the animals and the humans who have dedicated their lives to building a sustainable future for all species. The Ark is ready for all to board. Individuals, action groups, schools, businesses, governments, farmers, fishers, developing nations -- there's a role for everyone on this journey. This book offers a host of solutions that -- if adopted -- will ensure that animals will suffer less today, and that humans and animals will share a more sustainable planet tomorrow. { 270pp, 160x235mm, November 2007; PB, £16.50, 0865715661:9780865715660 , New Society Publishers } |
| BUILDING WITH AWARENESS DVD & GUIDE : The Construction of a Hybrid Home [Ted Owens] A DVD/book combination that includes the award-winning DVD on building a green, straw bale, solar home. On video, watch the construction of one home from start to finish. In the guidebook, see diagrams, photographs and additional methods of building. { 151pp, 140x190mm, October 2006; PB, £24.99, 0977334317:9780977334315 , New Society Publishers } |
| BUILDING WITHOUT BORDERS : Sustainable Construction for the Global Village [Joseph F Kennedy (ed)] 'Building Without Borders' describes pioneering efforts to create sustainable shelter for billions currently under-housed. It surveys projects around the world that are housing the homeless without destroying natural habitats to do so, by drawing upon local traditions such as bamboo, straw bale and earthen construction. Highly illustrated and popular in style, it includes case studies, technical information, and the latest thinking on truly sustainable construction, and advocates education and training as the means to empower local peoples to create houses for themselves. { 254pp, 205x230mm, February 2004; PB, £21.50, 0865714819:9780865714816 , New Society Publishers } |
| BUSINESS CASE FOR SUSTAINABILITY DVD [Bob Willard] Global climate and energy crises have focused corporate attention on sustainability. The time is right to help business leaders connect the dots between doing well and doing good. This DVD presents a compelling case for corporate responsibility, framing sustainability arguments so they are relevant to executives concerned with minimising risks while maximising profits. It is essential viewing for anyone interested in how to engage business leaders in sustainability -- as well as for business leaders themselves. Approximate running time: 55 minutes. { April 2008; DV, £23.50, 0978414004:9780978414009 , New Society Publishers } |
| CANCER : 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic [Guy Dauncey, Liz Armstrong & Anne Wordsworth] Cancer -- the word strikes fear in people's hearts. With more people getting cancer every year, the big question must be: How can we prevent this epidemic? This book offers solid evidence that many cancers are preventable, since their causes lie with the contamination of our bodies by pollution from the air we breathe, the products we use, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It is not being caused by just diet, smoking, and the noon-day sun! The book takes a positive, solutions-based approach to this unwanted disease. Its pages are filled with practical advice and success stories that will inspire you to act to protect your family, your neighbours, your fellow workers, and future generations. Each solution is laid out on two pages, with websites for follow-up. It includes solutions for individuals, parents, youth, action groups, healthcare agencies, cities, labour, businesses, governments, and the world as a whole. It provides clear information about ways to prevent cancer, and should eliminate forever the mistaken belief that we don't know how to stop this terrible epidemic. The book will appeal to anyone whose life has been touched by cancer, and everyone who wants to stop it. { 318pp, 185x230mm, May 2007; PB, £16.50, 0865715424:9780865715424 , New Society Publishers } |
| CARBON BUSTER'S HOME ENERGY HANDBOOK : Slowing Climate Change & Saving Money [Godo Stoyke] Most people are unaware that environmental problems such as climate change can be easily avoided, at a profit, through the intelligent application of appropriate technology. The handbook describes how to achieve this goal in the residential field. The first book in North America to provide a detailed carbon accounting of a family's carbon emissions and how to reduce them, it systematically analyses energy costs and evaluates which measures yield the highest returns for the environment and the pocketbook. It provides answers to questions such as: Which measure is more effective: putting solar panels on your roof, or buying a hybrid car? Where do I need to invest first: in high-efficiency shower-heads, or solar tubes? Is a $500 fridge that uses 800 kWh of power per year a good buy? The book allows individuals to quickly and accurately assess which products are a good deal and which aren't. It systematically analyses residential carbon emissions and energy costs and prioritises solutions based on highest carbon reductions and monetary returns, yielding results that are often surprising. The book enables readers to dramatically reduce their carbon emissions - far below the levels targeted under the Kyoto Protocol. At the same time, readers implementing the recommendations will save an average of $15,000 in energy costs over the next five years. { 170pp, 155x230mm, February 2007; PB, £7.99, 0865715696:9780865715691 , New Society Publishers } |
| CHASING THE SUN : Solar Adventures Around the World [Neville Williams] If millions of people in the developing world can use solar power, why can't the people in North America? The question immediately arises from this fascinating account of the author's twelve year quest to bring solar power and light to people in the developing world who have no electricity. A green-energy development narrative that is fun and eye-opening, the book is also part autobiography. Filled with colourful characters, the book also features the enthusiasm of maverick devotees to the renewable energy boom of the '80s and '90s and their interplay with staid DC-based development institutions, as well as their unique perspective on global solutions to 'energy poverty'. It will be illuminating to all interested in the environment, development, renewable energy, socially responsible business, and our future at the end of the age of oil. { 302pp, 150x230mm, October 2005; PB, £13.50, 0865715378:9780865715370 , New Society Publishers } |
| CHIVA : A Village Takes on the Global Heroin Trade [Chellis Glendinning] 'Chiva' is street slang for heroin -- and heroin is a hot topic. This book uses creative non-fiction to merge the global epic of heroin trafficking with the human-scale story of its presence in the small desert town that boasts the most per-capita overdose deaths in the US. Compelling, disturbing yet hopeful, the book is both personal and political, revealing the relationship between colonisation and drug abuse, and the importance of reclaiming sustainable culture as a key to recovery. REVIEW: "...instantly political and deeply personal..." -- Robert Allen, WWW.BLUEGREENEARTH.COM, April 2005. { 245pp, 155x230mm, March 2005; PB, £12.99, 0865715130:9780865715134 , New Society Publishers } |
| CHOOSING GREEN : The Home Buyer's Guide to Good Green Homes [Jerry Yudelson] Energy efficient, non-toxic, healthy homes are the hottest trend in the building industry. Homebuilders are constructing green homes in astonishing numbers -- nearly 200,000 in the U.S. alone in 2006. How does a home buyer who wants a green home know what to look for, what questions to ask a builder, which green home rating systems to trust, and what homes are on the market? Nationally recognised green-building expert Jerry Yudelson provides answers to some common areas of concern, including: Energy-efficient home features; Water conservation fixtures; Non-toxic finishes; Green products; Healthy indoor air. Drawing from the expertise of dozens of homebuilders, government officials and green-home experts, this book deftly takes the reader through these considerations with easy-to-use tables, charts, maps, score sheets and checklists. The book includes a glossary of green building terms, an extensive resource section and a list of homebuilders, green-rating programs and financial incentives. This comprehensive book provides homebuyers with everything they will need to make a successful search for their own green home. { 236pp, 155x230mm, May 2008; PB, £11.50, 0865716102:9780865716100 , New Society Publishers } |
| CLASS MATTERS : Cross-Class Alliance Building for Middle-Class Activists [Betsy Leondar-Wright] Movements for social change could be more powerful it they had more class diversity -- a factor that has limited their size and clout in the past. But attempting to cross class barriers has frequently left middle-class activists frustrated, with few resources to turn to for help. Based on interviews with 40 diverse activists and thinkers, this book fills this gap by demystifying this taboo topic. A guide to building bridges across class lines and collaborating more effectively in mixed-class social change efforts, it is designed in lively, highly readable short 'bites', full of stories, ideas, quotations, tips and resources. { 176pp, 190x230mm, April 2005; PB, £15.50, 0865715238:9780865715233 , New Society Publishers } |
| COHOUSING HANDBOOK : Building a Place for Community, Revised Edition [Kelly ScottHanson & Chris ScottHanson] As pioneers in the development of cohousing in North America, Chris and Kelly ScottHanson offer individuals and new groups a wealth of information and practical hints on how the process work. The handbook covers every element that goes into the creation of a cohousing project, including group processes, land acquisition, finance and budgets, construction, development professionals, design consideration, permits, approvals and membership. This revised and updated edition includes an expanded marketing chapter as well as a foreword by Gifford Pinchot. { 291pp, 190x230mm, November 2004; PB, £21.50, 0865715173:9780865715172 , New Society Publishers } |
| COMING BACK TO LIFE : Practices to Reconect Our Lives, Our World [Joanna Macy & Molly Young Brown] In this book the authors offer eloquent and compelling insight into the roots of our angst, then point the way forward out of apathy to 'the work that reconnects'. An aspiring and practical guide, this much sought-after update and expansion of Joanna Macy's earlier 'Repair and Personal Empowerment in the Nuclear Age' will be welcomed throughout the world by all those concerned with peace, spirit, eco-activism and education. { 223pp, 155x230mm, September 2003; PB, £11.99, 086571391X:9780865713918 , New Society Publishers } |
| CONNECTING KIDS : Exploring Diversity Together [Linda Hill; Foreword by Rick Scott] Offers an amazing number of games and activities for helping children explore differences in culture, language, heritage, religion, physical ability, and lifestyle. Focusing on 20 key skills, the book includes over 200 games and activities that teach social, 'connecting' behaviour -- some as simple as joining a circle, others as complex as learning a new language. Very well-illustrated, the book also includes 'case study' stories and artwork from around the world for each skill, a complete cross-referenced index, and further resources. { 180pp, 215x280mm, September 2003; PB, £15.50, 0865714312:9780865714311 , New Society Publishers } |
| CONSUMER GUIDE TO HOME ENERGY SAVINGS, 9TH EDITION : Save Money, Save the Earth [Jennifer Thorne Amann, Alex Wilson & Katie Ackerly] How efficient are front-load washing machines? When is it time to replace your old refrigerator? These questions and many more are answered in "The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings", a one-stop resource for consumers who want to improve their home's energy performance and reduce costs. Zeroing in on the most useful response can be a challenge -- this 9th edition guide cuts through the confusion. Well-organised and highly readable, this guide begins with an overview of the inter-relationships between energy use, economics and the environment. Chapters focus on specific areas in the home, such as electronics, lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, kitchen and laundry, and provide helpful explanations for each, including: describing energy use characteristics; drawing comparisons between the available technologies; outlining the most cost-effective repair and replacement options; providing step-by-step guidance for finding the right equipment; describing how the equipment operates, and summarising how much energy is used or lost. Included are tips on improving existing equipment, and guidance for when and why consumers should purchase new energy-efficient equipment, as well as a reminder to check local government and utility incentives for purchase or retrofit grants. This guide will be an invaluable resource to all consumers concerned about reducing both their energy bills and their environmental impact. { 240pp, 140x215mm, October 2007; PB, £11.99, 0865716021:9780865716025 , New Society Publishers } |
| CORDWOOD BUILDING : The State of the Art [Rob Roy] Cordwood masonry is an ancient building technique whereby walls are constructed from 'log ends' laid transversely in the wall. It is easy, economical, aesthetically striking, energy-efficient, and environmentally-sound. Cordwood Building collects the wisdom of over 25 of the world's best practitioners, detailing the long history of the method, and demonstrating how to build a cordwood home using the latest and most up-to-date techniques, with a special focus on building code issues. { 240pp, 205x230mm, September 2003; PB, £21.99, 0865714754:9780865714755 , New Society Publishers } |
| CREATING A LIFE TOGETHER : Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages & Intentional Communities [Diana Leafe Christian; Foreword by Patch Adams] An intentional community is a group of people who have chosen to live or work together in pursuit of a common ideal or vision. An ecovillage is a village-scale intentional community that intends to create, ecological, social, economic, and spiritual sustainability over several generations. The 90s saw a revitalised surge of interest in intentional communities and ecovillages in North America: the number of intentional communities listed in the Communities Directory increased 60 percent between 1990 and 1995. But only 10 percent of the actual number of forming-community groups actually succeeded. Ninety percent failed, often in conflict and heartbreak. After visiting and interviewing founders of dozens of successful and failed communities, along with her own forming-community experiences, the author concluded that 'the successful 10 percent' had all done the same five or six things right, and 'the unsuccessful 90 percent' had made the same handful of mistakes. Recognising that a wealth of wisdom were contained in these experiences, she set out to distil and capture them in one place. This is the only resource available that provides step-by-step, practical 'how-to' information on how to launch and sustain a successful ecovillage or intentional community. Through anecdotes, stories, and cautionary tales about real communities, and by profiling seven successful communities in depth, the book examines 'the successful 10 percent' and why 90 percent fail; the role of community founders; getting a group off to a good start; vision and vision documents; decision-making and governance; agreements; legal options; finding, financing, and developing land; structuring a community economy; selecting new members; and communication, process, and dealing well with conflict. Sample vision documents, community agreements, and visioning exercises are included, along with abundant resources for learning more. { 252pp, 180x230mm, September 2003; PB, £19.50, 0865714711:9780865714717 , New Society Publishers } |
| CROSSING THE RUBICON : The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil [Michael C Ruppert] The attacks of September 11, 2001 were accomplished through an amazing orchestration of logistics and personnel. 'Crossing the Rubicon' discovers and identifies key suspects -- finding some of them in the highest echelons of American government -- by showing how they acted in concert to guarantee that the attacks produced the desired result. Crossing the Rubicon is unique not only for its case-breaking examination of 9/11, but for the breadth and depth of its world picture -- an interdisciplinary analysis of petroleum, geopolitics, narco-traffic, intelligence and militarism -- without which 9/11 cannot be understood. The US manufacturing sector has been mostly replaced by speculation on financial data whose underlying economic reality is a dark secret. Hundreds of billions of dollars in laundered drug money flow through Wall Street each year from opium and coca fields maintained by CIA-sponsored warlords and US-backed covert paramilitary violence. America's global dominance depends on a continually turning mill of guns, drugs, oil and money. Oil and natural gas -- the fuels that make economic growth possible -- are subsidised by American military force and foreign lending. In reality, 9/11 and the resulting 'War on Terror' are parts of a massive authoritarian response to an emerging economic crisis of unprecedented scale. Peak Oil -- the beginning of the end for our industrial civilisation -- is driving the elites of American power to implement unthinkably draconian measures of repression, warfare and population control. This is more than a story. It is a map of the perilous terrain through which, together and alone, we are all now making our way. REVIEW: "Ruppert's hefty book is meant to make us think and inspire us all to be courageous against the forces that want us to live in fear" - Nexus, December 2004. { 674pp, 155x230mm, September 2004; PB, £17.99, 0865715408:9780865715400 , New Society Publishers } |
| CRUISE SHIP SQUEEZE : The New Pirates of the Seven Seas [Ross A Klein] This book is about modern pirates: those who sail huge cruise ships from one port to another, offloading thousands of visitors a day. While the industry rakes in billions of dollars a year, paying virtually no income tax, the ports that ships visit are left with relatively few crumbs. It exploits workers onboard ships; uses graft from its deep war chests to shape political decisions and influence media; and bullies administrations into accepting, for example, that Carnival's 50%-plus market dominance is not anti-competitive, or that its abysmal environmental and health practices are responsible. It represents capitalism at its worst. A detailed and alarming exposé of the injustices of cruise tourism, the book's concluding chapter examines social and political action that has been directed toward the cruise industry, identifies key organisations and groups that have been effective and that have maintained their integrity, and calls on readers to help contain the industry through grassroots activism so that it becomes environmentally, socially, economically, and politically viable. { 310pp, 140x215mm, October 2005; PB, £12.99, 086571522X:9780865715226 , New Society Publishers } |
| CUTTING YOUR CAR USE : Save Money, Be Healthy, Be Green! [Randall Howard Ghent & Anna Semlyen] This practical guide helps people who want to reduce their car use to evaluate alternatives to personal car ownership -- sharing or giving it up -- and to plan journeys using a mix of transportation modes and simple changes to their travel habits. { 120pp, 130x180mm, June 2006; PB, £7.50, 0865715580:9780865715585 , New Society Publishers } |
| DANCING WITH THE TIGER : Learning Sustainability Step by Natural Step [Brian Nattrass & Mary Altomare] Making social and ecological change happen is not easy. At both the planetary and organisational levels, it is a dance that is fraught with danger for both the change agents themselves and their organisations. It is like dancing with a tiger. For corporations, communities and other organisations, the choreography of the dance toward sustainability has been systematised by The Natural Step: a framework that provides the science, analysis, methodologies and tools to use in the quest for sustainability. This book presents the stories of individuals, teams and organisations learning about change and sustainability, and then acting on that learning. { 301pp, 155x230mm, September 2003; HB, £25.50, 086571455X:9780865714557 , New Society Publishers } |
| DESIGN FOR WATER : Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Catchment, & Alternate Water Reuse [Heather Kinkade-Levario] Water, once abundant and cheap, is poised to become the new oil as the entire world faces the reality of a decreasing supply of clean water. If we are to avert a devastating shortages, we must look at alternative water sources, both in our homes, and in the planning of new developments. Rainwater expert Heather Kinkade-Levario builds on her award-winning book, "Forgotten Rain with Design for Water". This accessible guide is the most up-to-date book on the market dealing with alternate water collection, with a special focus on rainwater harvesting in the urban environment. Aspects include: Passive and active systems set-up; Storage; Stormwater reuse; Distributional Purification; Analysis; Filtrations. Numerous case studies outline the process of water collection from landscape, residential, commercial, industrial, school, park and municipal systems. Other accessible (affordable) alternate sources include cooling tower bleed-off water, air conditioning condensate, graywater and fog collection. The book provides the necessary guidelines to set up passive harvesting techniques to anyone harvesting techniques to anyone making development decisions -- engineers, landscape architects, developers, policy-makers, planners and land-owners. { 235pp, 190x230mm, June 2007; PB, £14.99, 0865715807:9780865715806 , New Society Publishers } |
| DIABETES -- SUGAR COATED CRISIS : Who Gets It, Who Profits & How to Stop It [David Spero MD] This is the first book to outline effective social approaches to health, describing the social and environmental causes of chronic illness and reporting success stories of empowerment that are changing the environment, transforming the medical system and healing suffering communities. { 240pp, 155x230mm, November 2006; PB, £9.99, 086571567X:9780865715677 , New Society Publishers } |
| DIARY OF A COMPOST HOTLINE OPERATOR : Edible Essays on City Farming [Spring Gillard; Foreword by Michael Levenston] What do you do with Doggy-Doo? Can I put corks in my compost bin? Do worms have lungs? Why is my compost full of thousands of tiny white flies? Vital questions such as these are the lot of a Compost Hotline Operator, as Spring Gillard knows only too well. That really is her job description, and she fields calls like this all day long. She also meets a cast of characters curiously crazed by the garden bug. Like Ellen who wears worm earrings and belts out the 'Compost Rap' to unsuspecting participants in her vermi-composting class. Or Laurel, worm bin mural artist, Wet Coast Wes the Scarecrow, Scissor-happy Sally, and Mike their fearless leader, prone to tai-chi fits... The Diary of a Compost Hotline Operator began in 1996 as a series of entries on the web site of City Farmer, Vancouver's non-profit urban agriculture group that has been thriving for 25 years. It is packed with barely credible real-life tales from the trenches of the urban horticulture avant-garde, dealing with all manner of gardening lore. It is also a mine of useful resources -- perfect reading for garden fanatics, gift-givers, ag-academics and environmentalists, and all who like to laugh while they learn. { 204pp, 140x215mm, November 2003; PB, £13.50, 0865714924:9780865714922 , New Society Publishers } |
| DIVORCE YOUR CAR : Ending the Love Affair with the Automobile [Katie Alvor; Foreword by Stephanie Mills] Our romance with cars, begun with enthusiasm more than 100 years ago, has in fact become a very troubled entanglement. Today's relationship with the automobile inflicts upon us pollution, noise, congestion, sprawl, big expenses, injury, and even death. Yet we continue to live with cars at a continuing cost to ourselves and the environment. What can people do about this souring affair? Divorce your car! Re-meet your feet, board a bike, take a train, pull out of this dysfunctional relationship with the automobile! Divorcing your car can take many forms, from simply using it less to not owning one at all. This practical guide shows how divorcing a car can be fun, healthy, money-saving, and helpful to the planet in the process. Car-dependency is a serious problem, but this book is leavened with love-affair and self-help analogies in the text as well as cartoon illustrations. From commuters crazed by congestion and soccer moms sick of chauffeuring, to environmentalists looking for auto alternatives – this book provides all the reasons not to drive and the many alternative ways we can all get around without our cars. { 306pp, 155x230mm, September 2003; PB, £13.50, 0865714088:9780865714083 , New Society Publishers } |
| DOING DEMOCRACY : The MAP Model for Organizing Social Movements [Bill Moyer, JoAnne MacAllister, Mary Lou Finley & Steve Soifer] This activist tool offers a theoretical model for ensuring that social movements are successful in the long term. Beginning with an overview of social movement theory and the MAP (Movement Action Plan) model, this book outlines the eight stages of social movements, the four roles of activists, and case studies from the civil rights, anti-nuclear energy, Central America, gay/lesbian, women's health and globalisation movements. { 228pp, 155x230mm, April 2003; PB, £13.50, 0865714185:9780865714182 , New Society Publishers } |
| DUMBING US DOWN : The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling [John Taylor Gatto] This radical treatise on public education has been a best-seller for 10 years! Thirty years of award-winning teaching in New York City's public schools led John Gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory governmental schooling does little but teach young people to follow orders as cogs in the industrial machine. In celebration of the ten-year anniversary of 'Dumbing Us Down' and to keep this classic current, the publisher has renewed the cover art, added new material about John and the impact of the book, and a new Foreword. { 106pp, 155x230mm, September 2003; PB, £8.99, 0865714487:9780865714489 / HB, £19.99, 086571519X:9780865715196 , New Society Publishers } |
| EARTH-SHELTERED HOUSES : How to Build an Affordable Underground Home [Rob Roy] Earth-Sheltered Houses is a practical guide for those who want to build their own underground home at moderate cost. It covers all of the various construction techniques involved including details on planning, excavation, footings, floor, walls, framing, roofing, waterproofing, insulation and drainage. Specific methods appropriate for the inexperienced owner-builder are a particular focus and include: pouring one's own footings and/or floor the use of dry-stacked (surface-bonded) concrete block walls post-and-beam framing plank-and-beam roofing, and drainage methods and self-adhesive waterproofing membranes. The time-tested, easy-to-learn construction techniques described in Earth-Sheltered Houses will enable readers to embark upon their own building projects with confidence, backed up by a comprehensive resources section that lists all the latest products such as waterproofing membranes, types of rigid insulation and drainage products that will protect the building against water damage and heat loss. { 256pp, 190x230mm, July 2006; PB, £18.99, 0865715211:9780865715219 , New Society Publishers } |
| EARTHBAG BUILDING : The Tool, Tricks & Techniques [Kaki Hunter & Donald Kiffmeyer] This book is the first comprehensive guide to all the tools, tricks and techniques for building with bags filled with earth -- earthbags. Introduced to sandbag construction by the renowned Nader Khalili in 1993, the authors have developed this 'Flexible Form Rammed Earth Technique' over the last decade. A reliable method for constructing homes, outbuildings, garden walls and much more, this enduring, tree-free architecture can also be used to create arched or domed structures of great beauty -- in any climate, and at home, in developing countries, or in relief work. { 257pp, 225x255mm, June 2004; PB, £22.50, 0865715076:9780865715073 , New Society Publishers } |
| EARTHFUTURE : Stories from a Sustainable World [Guy Dauncey] This book presents over 40 provocative and inspiring glimpses into a world that people are managing to make sustainable. They are premised on the idea that, if we can visualise a paradise on Earth, then we can create it. Set in the early years of the new millennium, it is a world of ecovillages and self-organising city neighbourhoods, of near-zero garbage and climate-friendly cars, of work-sharing and social investment, of neighbourhood democracy and the 'syntropy revolution', of a world-wide sustainable trade and environment treaty, and the Earth Pledge. In short, it is a world where wealth is defined by peace, a healthy environment, and the high quality of our relationships. At the same time, it is not, of course, a world without its nightmares -- such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and genetic pollution. Nor is it without its difficult choices -- ecologically managed forests versus business-as-usual, or the free-flow of city traffic versus community gardens. . . With its mix of utopian fiction, and reportage of near-reality, Earthfuture sows the seeds of an alternative future with skill and obvious delight. Highly readable and accessible, it will appeal to a wide readership including social and environmental activists, progressive urban planners and local government officials, and students in environmental, social, and urban studies, and community economic development -- as well as the general reader tired of the doom and gloom. { 160pp, 140x215mm, September 2003; PB, £10.99, 086571407X:9780865714076 , New Society Publishers } |
| EATING FOSSIL FUELS : Oil, Food & the Coming Crisis in Agriculture [Dale Allen Pfeiffer] Every calorie of food produced in the U.S. required ten calories of hydrocarbons. Without oil, the U.S. can only sustain two thirds of its present population and world population should be around two billion. The solution: transition to a sustainable, localised agriculture. { 128pp, 140x215mm, October 2006; PB, £7.50, 0865715653:9780865715653 , New Society Publishers } |
| ECO-FOODS GUIDE : What's Good for the Earth is Good for You! [Cynthia Barstow] We are what we eat, as the saying goes. So it follows that if we want to be healthy, we should buy healthy foods. And for foods to be healthy, the earth they grow in also needs to be in good health. This might seem like Ecology 101, but it's what many supermarket shoppers are grappling with nowadays as they try to decide what to feed the family... This book offers a lively conversation with consumers that takes the gloom out of our grocery choices and empowers shoppers to vote with their food dollars for the environment and for a safe future for their grandchildren. Frankenfoods and more have made food shopping so frightening and complex that the result has often been paralysis or denial. But in this optimistic and even humorous jaunt through the topic, sustainable agriculture expert Cynthia Barstow encourages readers to walk away bubbling with opportunities to buy what's best -- most of the time -- and to even engage with the many others working to effect change in agriculture. In a straightforward style, The Eco-Foods Guide examines the down side: pesticides and growth hormones, biotechnology and processed foods, manufacturing concentration and animal husbandry, and the overuse of non-renewable resources. At the same time, it highlights alternatives and solutions, including: Eating seasonally; Buying local; Reforming school cafeteria menus; Shopping at farmer's markets; Eating at Chef's Collaborative restaurants; Supporting labelling, organic and IPM production methods; and Regarding our food again as sacred. { 274pp, 150x225mm, April 2003; PB, £14.50, 0865714606:9780865714601 , New Society Publishers } |
| ECOCITIES, REVISED EDITION : Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature [Richard Register] Most of the world's population now lives in cities. So if we are to address the problems of environmental deterioration and peak oil adequately, the city has to be a major focus of attention. "Ecocities" is about re-building cities and towns based on ecological principles for the long term sustainability, cultural vitality and health of the Earth's biosphere. Unique in the literature is the book's insight that the form of the city really matters -- and that it is within our ability to change it, and crucial that we do. Further, that the ecocity within its bio-region is comprehensible and do-able, and can produce a healthy and potentially happy future. The book describes the place of the city in evolution, nature and history. It pays special attention to the key question of accessibility and transportation, and outlines design principles for the ecocity. The reader is encouraged to plunge in to its economics and politics: the kinds of businesses, planning and leadership required. The book then outlines the tools by which a gradual transition to the ecocity could be accomplished. Throughout, this new edition is generously illustrated with the author's own inspired visions of what such rebuilt cities might actually look like. { 371pp, 190x230mm, June 2006; PB, £17.50, 0865715521:9780865715523 , New Society Publishers } |
| ECOFORESTRY : The Art & Science of Sustainable Forest Use [Alan Drengson & Duncan Taylor (eds)] Ecoforestry focuses on the new paradigm in forestry -- the philosophy, goals, policies, and practices of ecologically and economically sustainable forest use -- including ecoforestry principles and practices; forest ecosystem components and restoration; wood and forest products certification; and current ecoforestry practitioners and techniques. Contributors include James Agee, Herb Hammond, Chris Maser, Nancy Turner, Arne Naess and Gary Snyder. { 312pp, 200x230mm, September 2003; PB, £17.99, 0865713650:9780865713659 , New Society Publishers } |
| ECOKIDS : Raising Children Who Care for the Earth [Dan Chiras] Because schools cannot be relied upon to produce an Earth-friendly citizenry, the task falls to the parents. Yet even aware parents often lack the understanding and resources to take on such a task. This book addresses this gap by presenting a coherent plan that will help parents to foster love for nature, tack children the importance of environmental protection, and promote environmental values and inspire action -- actions that will last a lifetime. A hopeful and inspiring guide for parents, topics covered include ways to: avoid gloom and doom in favour of positive solutions; foster love and empathy for nature; develop environmental values; put values into action; help children to discover the roots of problems and be part of lasting solutions; walk the talk; counter the consumer culture, starting in your own home and community; generate hope and combat apathy. Each chapter includes an inspiring case study of a child who's making a difference, short pieces that highlight serious problems such as global warming, along with positive solutions that can be read aloud to children, and activities for children. A resource guide lists helpful books, articles, videos and organisations. { 231pp, 155x230mm, July 2005; PB, £14.99, 0865715335:9780865715332 , New Society Publishers } |
| ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS : Building Genuine Wealth [Mark Anielski] We all know that money can't buy you love -- or happiness, but we have been living our lives as though the accumulation of wealth is the key to our dreams. Why, in spite of increasing economic prosperity over the past 50 years, are many conditions of well-being in decline and rates of happiness largely unchanged since the 1950s? Why do our measures of economic progress not reflect the values that make us happy: supportive relationships, meaningful work, a healthy environment, and our spiritual well-being? Economist Mark Anielski developed a new and practical economic model called Genuine Wealth, to measure the real determinants of well-being and help redefine progress. The Economics of Happiness shows: How economics, capitalism, accounting and banking, which dominate our consciousness, can be reoriented towards the pursuit of genuine happiness; How to rediscover the original meaning of the language of economics; How to measure the five capitals of Genuine Wealth: human, social, natural, built and financial; How nations, governments, communities and businesses are using the Genuine Wealth model to build a new economy of well-being; How you and your family can apply the Genuine Wealth model in your lives. Anielski's road-map towards this vision of flourishing economies of well-being will resonate with individuals, communities and governments interested in issues of sustainability and quality of life. { 266pp, 155x230mm, October 2007; PB, £12.50, 0865715963:9780865715967 , New Society Publishers } |
| ECOPRENEURING : Putting Purpose & the Planet Before Profits [John Ivanko & Lisa Kivirist] Powerful social trends towards green living, relocalisation and self-sufficiency have fanned the fires of would-be ecopreneurs in North America, driving a shift towards prioritising purpose over profits, and building community over building market share. A nation of 9 to 5-ers is giving way to a spirited bunch of innovators, searching for ways to make a life, instead of simply making a living. This accessible and inspiring guide includes profiles of successful ecopreneurs and provides an in-depth exploration of: Eco-business basics; Purposeful management; Marketing in the green economy; Running a lifestyle business. "Ecopreneuring" shows how we can earn our daily bread on a local or regional level while saving money, strengthening the economy and helping restore the planet to ecological health and social stability. Part small business manifesto, part personal finance primer, this book is essential reading for small business owners, prospective entrepreneurs, and anyone who dreams of a livelihood based on independence, creativity, passion and a commitment to green practices and sustainability. { 214pp, 155x230mm, July 2008; PB, £10.99, 0865716056:9780865716056 , New Society Publishers } |
| ECOVILLAGE AT ITHACA : Pioneering a Sustainable Culture [Liz Walker] This book delves into the heart of the lived experience at this innovative community. It provides a warm, personal and reflective look at what it is like to create a sustainable culture. The book ells in-depth stories about an integrated way of life: running a family farm; creating 'invented celebrations'; the poignancy of a home birth, as well as a conscious death; community work parties; dramatic examples of personal transformation. Human scale, accessible and inspiring, the examples of EcoVillage at Ithaca, will help readers to imagine fresh alternatives to 'life as usual'. It will appeal to all who are hungry to learn about successful working models of a more sustainable approach to living with each other and the Earth. { 236pp, 155x230mm, May 2005; PB, £14.99, 0865715246:9780865715240 , New Society Publishers } |
| ELECTRIC WATER : The Emerging Revolution in Water & Energy [Christopher C Swan] What if it were possible to combine energy and water in a way that would contribute to the reversal of global warming and the restoration of the planet? What if it were possible to have a better quality of life, without having to give anything up? What if that plan made such economic sense that governments and large corporations would buy into it? As it turns out, it is possible to create an energy source by using key technologies that are already available. Most cities have enough rain and sun to meet their water and energy needs, by using simple technology. Building on current mainstream trends in solar energy and wind power, "Electric Water" offers a clear vision of how the world's energy and water infrastructure could be transformed. The book provides: an outline of the major issues that need addressing, including global warming; a fascinating explanation of key technologies in plain water; a vision of business and job opportunities in restoration; real-life examples, including the post-Katrina Louisiana Coastal Restoration program; websites for further information. Unlike many other books on this subject, "Electric Water" uses accessible language to propose a workable plan for a revolutionary integration of technology and quality of life that will be of special interest to planners, engineers and architects. { 224pp, 190x230mm, October 2007; PB, £11.99, 0865715858:9780865715851 , New Society Publishers } |
| ENERGY SWITCH : Proven Solutions for a Renewable Future [Craig Morris] Declining oil supplies dictate a switch to renewable energy sources for a sustainable future. The book outlines German's successes in doing this, how the transition to 100% renewables is possible, and how the US could become the world renewable leader. { 210pp, 155x230mm, September 2006; PB, £12.50, 0865715599:9780865715592 , New Society Publishers } |
| ENOUGH BLOOD SHED : 101 Solutions to Violence, Terror & War [Guy Dauncey] Addressing the roots of war and the heartening power of civil society's rejection of the war paradigm, this book collects strategies and success stories showing that war and terrorism are not inevitable -- that we already know how to prevent them. { 272pp, 185x230mm, August 2006; PB, £14.50, 0865715270:9780865715271 , New Society Publishers } |
| EVERYONE WINS!, NEW EDITION : Cooperative Games & Activities [Josette Luvmour & Ba Luvmour] This new edition of the best-selling Parent Choice Award winner Everyone Wins! is a handbook of over 150 co-operative games and activities for enhancing conflict resolution and communication skills and building self-esteem. Encouraging collaboration over competition, activities such as "Spaghetti", "Blanket Toss" and "Rhythm Learning" foster team-building and positive group dynamics. With a minimum of effort and a maximum of fun, children (and adults) learn to recognise and appreciate each other's special abilities and take pride in their own. All of the activities have been thoroughly tested and are graded according to appropriate age level (1+ to adult), size of group, indoor or outdoor location, and activity level, and include special hints and variations for group leaders. Where extra materials or props are called for, they are always simple, readily available and inexpensive. Brimming with ideas and written in a clear, easy-to-understand style, "Everyone Wins!" is perfect for educators, parents, group leaders, camp counselors and anyone who works with children. { 116pp, 140x215mm, April 2007; PB, £7.50, 0865715874:9780865715875 , New Society Publishers } |
| EVOLUTION'S EDGE : The Coming Collapse & Transformation of Our World [Graeme Taylor] It is now 5 minutes to midnight on the Doomsday Clock, reflecting the fact that we are closer to assuring the obliteration of our species than we have been at any time since the early eighties. We are rapidly approaching a tipping point, where we will either transform our violent, exploitative global system into a peaceful, co-operative one, or enter a catastrophic decline. "Evolution's Edge" shows that limitless economic expansion is impossible on a finite planet. Our growth-based global system will collapse as critical resources become scarce and major ecosystems fail. However, new ideas, values and technologies can help us avoid disaster and create a better world. Using evolutionary systems theory, the book explains how societies evolve and why rapid, non-linear change is not only possible but inevitable. It describes: Collapse -- how cascading crises will soon provoke system failure; Transformation - how emerging technologies, ideas, values and social organisations are supporting the evolution of a sustainable system; Analysis -- how societies evolve into increasingly complex and conscious systems; Action -- how a common, co-operative vision can accelerate constructive global change. This is a practical guide to a sustainable future and is vital reading for activists, educators, progressive thinkers and anyone concerned about the state of our world. { 320pp, 190x230mm, July 2008; PB, £14.99, 0865716080:9780865716087 , New Society Publishers } |
| EXTRA VEGANZA : Original Recipes From Phoenix Organic Farm [Laura Matthias] This book elevates vegan cuisine to the sumptuous level with over 200 tantalising savoury and sweet recipes -- some using natural dyes -- encourages organic, local eating and sustainable lifestyles, and the use of edible flowers and fresh herbs in presenting dishes. { 270pp, 205x230mm, August 2006; PB, £17.99, 0865715513:9780865715516 , New Society Publishers } |
| EXTREME WEATHER HITS HOME : Protecting Your Buildings From Climate Change [John C Banta] We know how to prepare our homes for each seasonal change, but do we know how to prepare for climate change? Violent weather events like floods, tornadoes, ice storms and hurricanes only tell part of the story. Climate change is frequently more subtle but its effects on our homes and properties can still be devastating. Nearly 50 percent of North America has a potential for structural damage from shifting moisture in expansive clay soils; a condition that is already costing billions of dollars each year. Humidity is projected to increase, trapping moisture in wall cavities and resulting in deterioration. As the climate changes and moisture levels adjust, there are a number of proactive steps that can be taken to prevent or lessen expensive repairs. "Extreme Weather" is the only book of its kind that shows how to protect your home or business from climate change, by focusing on the following areas: Risk and causal assessment, due to region and soil; Extreme weather's rapid and slow effects; Site, foundation, wall, and roof considerations and modifications; Insurance options; Anticipated changes for the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our homes are one of the most expensive investments we will ever make. They are also our refuge from the elements, and we must protect them so they can protect us. This book is a valuable resource for all property owners. { 235pp, 190x230mm, November 2007; PB, £16.50, 0865715939:9780865715936 , New Society Publishers } |
| FERMENTING REVOLUTION : How to Drink Beer & Save the World [Christopher Mark O'Brien] Beer has fermented fundamental change in human society from gender roles to religious theologies. It helped established civilisation, sparked the Industrial Revolution, and triggered scientific theories. Today, "beer activists" are fermenting a revolution in social and environmental sustainability. REVIEW: "...if you’ve ever needed a good justification for your taste, get out and buy this book! Remember it’s a really good read - especially over a pint or two of the real stuff, I do assure you - and if you’re drinking the real ale, don’t forget, you’re helping to save the world too!" -- Peter Kiddle, News & Views (Magazine of the South Devon Branch of CAMRA), Spring 2007. { 274pp, 155x230mm, November 2006; PB, £10.99, 0865715564:9780865715561 , New Society Publishers } |
| FINDING COMMUNITY : How to Join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community [Diana Leafe Christian] Finding community is as critical as obtaining food and shelter, since the need to belong is what makes us human. The isolation and loneliness of modern life have led many people to search for deeper connection, which has resulted in a renewed interest in intentional communities. These intentional communities or ecovillages are an appealing choice for like-minded people who seek to create a family-oriented and ecologically sustainable lifestyle -- a lifestyle they are unlikely to find anywhere else. However, the notion of an intentional community can still be a tremendous leap for some -- deterred perhaps by a misguided vision of eking out a hardscrabble existence with little reward. In fact, successful ecovillages thrive because of the combined skills and resources of their members. "Finding Community" presents a thorough overview of ecovillages and intentional communities and offers solid advice on how to research thoroughly, visit thoughtfully, evaluate intelligently and join gracefully. Useful considerations include: important questions to ask (of members and of yourself); signs of a healthy (and not-so-healthy) community; cost of joining (and staying); common blunders to avoid. The book provides intriguing possibilities to readers who are seeking a more co-operative, sustainable and meaningful life. { 241pp, 190x230mm, May 2007; PB, £14.99, 0865715785:9780865715783 , New Society Publishers } |
| FIVE RING CIRCUS : Myths & Realities of the Olympic Games [Christopher A Shaw] The shiny rings of the Olympic Games have grown tarnished over the years as doping, corruption and other scandals rise to the surface. Those scandals are the tip of the iceberg, according to author Christopher Shaw, the lead spokesperson for several anti-Games groups. This book details the history of how Vancouver won the bid for the 2010 Games, who was involved, and what the real motives were. It describes the role of corporate media in promoting the Games, the machinations of government and business, and the opposition that emerged. Disturbing questions come to light: Why does the IOC pay no taxes? Who are the real estate developers behind the Vancouver bid? Why are mega projects paid for with tax dollars? What are the true costs of the Games? The Olympic Games, once considered the pinnacle of athleticism and fair play, have become a cesspool of greed, backroom deals and the wholesale trampling of civil liberties. In Vancouver, preparations for the 2010 Games have had a substantial negative impact on the environment and has resulted in the "economic cleansing" of the poor and homeless. This book is a cautionary tale for future Olympic bid cities, and will appeal to those concerned about the effects of globalization on many aspects of life. { 320pp, 150x230mm, July 2008; PB, £11.99, 0865715920:9780865715929 , New Society Publishers } |
| FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR : An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing [Doug Mckenzie-Mohr & William Smith] Our consumption patterns are threatening to outstrip Earth's ability to support humanity and other species. A sustainable future will require sweeping changes in public behaviour. While conventional marketing can help create public awareness, social marketing identifies and overcomes barriers to long-lasting behaviour change. This ground-breaking book is the primary resource for the emerging new field of community-based social marketing, and an invaluable guide for anyone involved in designing public education programs with the goal of promoting sustainable behaviour, from recycling and energy efficiency, to alternative transportation. { 160pp, 155x230mm, April 2003; PB, £10.99, 0865714061:9780865714069 , New Society Publishers } |
| FRIENDLY CLASSROOM FOR A SMALL PLANET : Children's Creative Response to Conflict Program [Priscilla Prutzman et al] This is a handy resource for teachers and parents working with children from six to twelve years of age. The book contains materials tested for over ten years which help children gain valuable insight into human feelings, capabilities, and strengths; enable them to develop open communication; and aid each child in developing self-confidence about her/his ability to think creatively about preventing and solving conflicts. { 134pp, 215x280mm, January 1988; PB, £11.50, 0865711291:9780865711297 , New Society Publishers } |
| FUTURES THAT WORK : Using Search Conferences to Revitalize Companies, Communities & Organizations [Robert Rehm et al] A search conference is a participative event that enables people to create a plan for the most desirable future of their community or organisation, a plan they carry out themselves. This book is a practical guide for using search conferences, including a description of what happens in a search conference, how to plan for one, and compelling stories from conferences around the world. { 196pp, 185x230mm, September 2003; PB, £23.50, 086571472X:9780865714724 , New Society Publishers } |
| GARDENING WHEN IT COUNTS : Growing Food in Hard Times [Steve Solomon] The book helps readers to rediscover traditional low-input North American gardening methods for growing highly productive and inexpensive food gardens. Designed for readers with no experience and for most areas in the English-speaking world, it focuses on minimising inputs and producing healthy food. { 340pp, 150x230mm, April 2006; PB, £14.50, 086571553X:9780865715530 , New Society Publishers } |
| GLOBAL PROFIT & GLOBAL JUSTICE : Using Your Money to Change the World [Deb Abbey et al] Although debate still rages about the merits of globalisation, the fact remains that it is inevitable. But instead of people expending their energies on fighting the global economy, we may be much better off trying to shape it. This book shows how you can use your money creatively to change the world for the better. It aims to empower people to leverage capital for progressive social and environmental change. Arguing that the marketplace is a viable forum for individuals to effect such change, it shows that consumers and investors already have many tools at their disposal to help ensure that the benefits of globalisation are distributed equitably. These tools include: Social Investing and Shareholder Advocacy: investors are not only raising their voices against irresponsible corporate behaviour, they are engaging corporations directly to force positive change; Consumer Power: impacting corporate behaviour through consumer choices; Investing on the Sustainability Frontier: new directions in portfolio design; Community-based Investing: the "Local" in "Think Globally . . ."; Becoming a Change Agent in your own company; Influencing your Pension Plan: mobilising retirement savings to create the world we want to live in when we retire; Venture Philanthropy: initiatives that go far beyond basic charitable giving. Packed with stories, ideas, models, examples and practices from around the world, the book also includes personal action items and buying tips. It will appeal as much to the individual Cultural Creative consumer as to investment advisors seeking strategies for their socially conscious investors. { 228pp, 155x230mm, January 2004; PB, £14.50, 0865715025:9780865715028 , New Society Publishers } |
| GLOBAL UPRISING : Confronting the Tyrannies of the 21st Century [Neva Welton & Linda Wolf] This visually and emotionally striking book reflects the new global youth movement for peace and justice. Told through compelling personal narratives, poster art, poetry, photographs, and interviews with new and seasoned activists, GLOBAL UPRISING captures the spirit of youth activism and honours young people's power to effect serious change. It highlights a wide-range of critical international issues and actions. { 274pp, 185x230mm, April 2003; PB, £16.50, 0865714460:9780865714465 , New Society Publishers } |
| GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD BOOK : A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Placemaking [Jay Walljasper] Abandoned lots and litter-strewn pathways, or rows of green beans and pockets of wildflowers? Graffiti-marked walls and desolate bus stops, or shady refuges and comfortable seating? What transforms a dingy, inhospitable area into a dynamic gathering place? How do individuals take back their neighbourhood? Neighbourhoods decline when the people who live there lose their connection and no longer feel part of their community. Recapturing that sense of belonging and pride of place can be as simple as planting a civic garden or placing some benches in a park. This book explains how most struggling communities can be revived, not by vast infusions of cash, not by government, but by the people who live there. The author addresses such challenges as traffic control, crime, comfort and safety, and developing economic vitality. Using a technique called "placemaking"-- the process of transforming public space -- this exciting guide offers inspiring real-life examples that show the magic that happens when individuals take small steps, and motivate others to make change. This book will motivate not only neighbourhood activists and concerned citizens but also urban planners, developers and policy-makers. { 174pp, 190x230mm, June 2007; PB, £11.99, 0865715815:9780865715813 , New Society Publishers } |
| GREEN ALTERNATIVE : Creating an Ecological Future [Brian Tokar] Green political groups are sprouting up everywhere, the Green Party is qualifying in state after state, but most people remain puzzled. What does it mean to be "Green"? What do Greens believe? What do they do? This book provides the answers. { 183pp, 140x215mm, January 1992; PB, £11.50, 0865713189:9780865713185 , New Society Publishers } |
| GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS, 2ND EDITION : The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials [Alex Wilson & Mark Piepkorn (eds)] Forty percent revised, this sourcebook for green building provides descriptions and manufacturer contact information for over 1,400 environmentally preferable products and materials for all phases of residential construction, grouped by function, including tips for what to look for in green products. { 338pp, 210x275mm, August 2006; PB, £20.99, 086571570X:9780865715707 , New Society Publishers } |
| GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS, 3RD EDITION : The GreenSpec(r) Guide to Residential Building Materials [Alex Wilson & Mark Piepkorn (eds). Foreword by Sarah Susanka] Interest in sustainable, green building practices is greater than ever. Whether concerned about allergies, energy costs, old-growth forests, or durability and long-term value, homeowners and builders are looking for ways to ensure that their homes are healthy, safe, beautiful and efficient. In these pages are descriptions and manufacturer contact information for more than 1,400 environmentally preferable products and materials. All phases of residential construction, from sitework to flooring to renewable energy, are covered. Products are grouped by function, and each chapter begins with a discussion of key environmental considerations, and what to look for in a green product. Over 40% revised, this updated edition includes over 120 new products. Categories of products include: Sitework and landscaping; Outdoor structures; Decking; Foundations, footers and slabs; Structural systems and components; Sheathing; Exterior finish and trim; Roofing; Doors and windows; Insulation; Flooring and floor coverings; Interior finish and trim; Caulks and adhesives; Paints and coatings; Mechanical systems/HVAC; Plumbing, electrical and lighting; Appliances; Furniture and furnishings; Renewable energy; Distributors and retailers. An index of products and manufacturers makes for easy navigation. There is no more comprehensive resource for both the engaged homeowner and those who design and build homes. { 370pp, 215x280mm, January 2008; PB, £24.99, 0865716005:9780865716001 , New Society Publishers } |
| GREEN BUILDING, A TO Z : Understanding the Language of Green Building [Jerry Yudelson] Green building is the fastest-growing trend to hit since the Internet, bringing with it an enormous range of new products, systems and technologies. "Green Building A to Z" is an informative, technically accurate and highly visual guide to green building, for both decision-makers and interested citizens. It begins with an introduction to the importance of green buildings and a brief history of the green building movement, outlines the benefits and costs of green buildings, and shows how you can influence the spread of green buildings. The book touches on key issues, such as enhancing water conservation, reducing energy use and creating a conservation economy. The book examines all aspects of green buildings from: Architecture 2030 to Locally sourced materials to Natural ventilation to Solar energy to Zero-net energy buildings. More than just a reference, this book emphasises the importance of green buildings and green developments for a sustainable future. It will be an invaluable resource for businesspeople, homeowners, product manufacturers, developers, building industry professionals and government officials. { 219pp, 140x215mm, October 2007; PB, £10.99, 0865715726:9780865715721 , New Society Publishers } |
| GREEN REMODELING : Changing the World One Room at a Time [David Johnston & Kim Master] This is a comprehensive guide. It first points out the advantages of remodelling. Buildings are responsible for 40% of world-wide energy flow and material use; so how you remodel can make a difference. Upgrading furnaces, cabinets and toilets means less fossil fuel pollution, reduced resource depletion, and fewer health risks. Green remodelling is more energy-efficient, more resource-conserving, healthier for occupants and more affordable to create, operate and maintain. The book then discusses simple green renovation for homeowners, focussing on key aspects of the building including foundations, framing, plumbing, windows, heating and finishes. Then, in an easy-to-read format complete with checklists, personal stories, expert insights and an extensive resource list, it concerns easy ways to save energy, conserve natural recourses, and protect the health of loved ones. REVIEW: "...a must-have book for anyone about to build a new home or remodel." -- Vancouver Sun, Saturday December 4th, 2004. { 382pp, 190x230mm, September 2004; PB, £23.50, 0865714983:9780865714984 , New Society Publishers } |
| GREENING SCHOOL GROUNDS : Creating Habitats for Learning [Tim Grant & Gail Littlejohn (eds)] Thousands of North American schools have begun to take a critical look at their grounds and realise the enormous potential for transforming barren expanses of asphalt into a diversity of exciting natural spaces for learning and playing. This compendium of articles from 'Green Teacher', North America's leading environmental education magazine, brings together the best strategies for school-ground renewal. The book provides an overview of the school grounds greening movement, complete project plans, and subject integration. From vegetable and butterfly gardens to an amphibian oasis and avian attractors, this comprehensive guide offers a trove of curriculum tie-ins, activities, and plans for educators, parents, and students. Includes extensive resources. { 136pp, 215x280mm, September 2003; PB, £12.99, 0865714363:9780865714366 , New Society Publishers } |
| GUERILLA GARDENING : A Manualfesto [David Tracey] The term "guerrilla" may bring to mind a small band of armed soldiers, moving in the dead of night on a stealth mission. In the case of guerrilla gardening, the soldiers are planters, the weapons are shovels, and the mission is to transform an abandoned lot into a thing of beauty. Once an environmentalist's non-violent direct action for inner-city renewal, this approach to urban beautification is spreading to all types of people in cities around the world. These modern-day Johnny Appleseeds perform random acts of gardening, often without the property owner's prior knowledge or permission. Typical targets are vacant lots, railway land, underused public squares, and back alleys. The concept is simple, whimsical and has the cheeky appeal of being a not-quite-legal call to action. Dig in some soil, plant a few seeds, or mend a sagging fence -- one good deed inspiring another, with win-win results all around. "Guerrilla Gardening" outlines the power-to-the-people campaign for greening our cities. Tips for effective involvement include: finding plants and seeds cheap (or free); handling city officials; getting the dirt on soil; planting to bring back the birds; knowing when to ask permission and when to seek forgiveness. Social activists, city dwellers and long-time gardeners will delight in this fast-paced and funny call to arms. { 230pp, 190x230mm, April 2007; PB, £11.99, 0865715831:9780865715837 , New Society Publishers } |
| HAVE FRIES -- WILL TRAVEL! : The Adventures of a Veggie-Powered Car & an Eco-Rap Star [Linda K Hempel; Illustrated by Kathy Dotson] For ages 9-12. An adventure story for children of all ages. It features 'Rock', an eco-rap singer, who buys 'Tiny', a smelly diesel car, at a used car lot. Rock converts Tiny to run on biodiesel, usually made from soybean oil. Soon, Tiny is powered by biodiesel, his exhaust smelling like yummy French fries. The two set off on a road trip to encourage others to use biodiesel in their cars and to meet Senator Slade Twist in Washington DC. They visit farmers growing soybeans especially for making biodiesel; They pick up a colourful assortment of biodiesel converts, including the one and only Ms Liza Merriweather; Rock performs rap songs about the need to stop global warming -- with biodiesel cars being a good idea since biodiesel is a very clean fuel. A parade of vehicles, including a biodiesel-fueled farm tractor and a big rig follow Tiny into DC where a surprise ending awaits. Children learn that using French fry oil for running vehicles helps the environment. They also learn specific ways to promote biodiesel -- from encouraging mom and dad, to rallying their school and community leaders, to getting trucks and buses converted to biodiesel. With an introduction by film star/activist Daryl Hannah and Grassolean Solutions founder Charris Ford -- who use and promote biodiesel themselves -- the book will find a home among teachers, parents, environmental organisations and a wide range of others. { 66pp, 190x190mm, September 2005; HB, £8.99, 0865715491:9780865715493 , New Society Publishers } |
| HEAL THE OCEAN : Solutions for Saving Our Seas [Rod Fujita] An oil tanker breaks up off the coast of Spain, contaminating beaches and killing over 100,000 birds. Colourful coral reefs turn a deathly white around the world. Six whales die in the Bahamas from bleeding near their ears after the Navy tests an active sonar system there. After so much bad news, people are thirsting for workable solutions to the oceans crisis. Heal the Ocean provides a refreshing change in the literature by emphasising success stories in the struggle to save the seas. The author -- a marine ecologist dedicated to protecting and restoring ocean ecosystems -- first describes the nature of ocean environments, and then discusses current and emerging threats, including pollution, over fishing, poor land use, deep sea mining, and the search for new energy sources. Heal the Ocean then urges that we build upon efforts that have successfully countered such threats. Upbeat and inspiring, Heal the Ocean will appeal to professional environmental advocates, community leaders, opinion-shapers and policymakers, as well as any citizen aspiring to protect the ocean. { 226pp, 155x230mm, November 2003; PB, £13.50, 0865715009:9780865715004 , New Society Publishers } |
| HEALING HEART -- COMMUNITIES : Storytelling to Build Strong & Healthy Communities [Allison M Cox & David H Alber (eds)] The Healing Heart provides powerful examples of the use of stories and storytelling in encouraging resiliency, empathy, respect, and healing. These engaging books contain stories, and narratives about the use of the stories in activities with different populations (children, teens, those with disabilities, seniors, inmates, etc.) or which address specific social or community problems (addictions, poverty, violence, racism, environmental degradation, homelessness, abuse). The books are a collective effort containing the expertise of over 60 storytellers and health professionals who illustrate the power of story in moving others to commitment and action, in building self-esteem and mutual respect. Included are folk tales, personal stories, articles, exercises, games, songs, and quotations, together with resource lists of stories, books and community agencies focused on similar themes. Essays include information on why storytelling works, approaches for sharing stories in various settings, how to encourage others to tell stories (involving the audience and creating a safe environment for others to storytell), and how to process the story through song, art, games, improvisational story plays, community projects, and discussion. 'The Healing Heart -- Communities' focuses on community-building, with sections on youth, violence prevention, poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and addiction, racism, elders, culture, environmental protection, homelessness, and community development. { 256pp, 185x230mm, September 2003; PB, £16.50, 0865714681:9780865714687 / HB, £35.50, 086571469X:9780865714694 , New Society Publishers } |
| HEALING HEART -- FAMILIES : Storytelling to Encourage Caring & Healthy Families [Alison M Cox & David H Albert (eds)] This book provides powerful examples of the use of stories and storytelling in encouraging resiliency, empathy, respect, and healing. These engaging books contain stories, and narratives about the use of the stories in activities with different populations (children, teens, those with disabilities, seniors, inmates, etc.) or which address specific social or community problems (addictions, poverty, violence, racism, environmental degradation, homelessness, abuse). The books are a collective effort containing the expertise of over 60 storytellers and health professionals who illustrate the power of story in moving others to commitment and action, in building self-esteem and mutual respect. Included are folk tales, personal stories, articles, exercises, games, songs, and quotations, together with resource lists of stories, books and community agencies focused on similar themes. Essays include information on why storytelling works, approaches for sharing stories in various settings, how to encourage others to tell stories (involving the audience and creating a safe environment for others to storytell), and how to process the story through song, art, games, improvisational story plays, community projects, and discussion. { 237pp, 185x230mm, September 2003; PB, £16.50, 0865714665:9780865714663 / HB, £35.50, 0865714673:9780865714670 , New Society Publishers } |
| HOLLYHOCK COOKS : Food to Nourish Body, Mind & Soil [Moreka Jolar & Linda Solomon; Photographs by Maria Robledo] Imagine an educational retreat centre nestled in the tall forest of an island paradise where the sea laps at the beach below. Now add the most delicious food imaginable, created by a host of talented artist-cooks using vegetables and flowers gathered from the centre's lush gardens, and presented with delicate care. Then think of the most well-known names from the body, mind, and soul circuit who frequently teach here, and the guests who hail from the furthest reaches of the continent... This is Hollyhock. Located on Cortes Island in British Columbia's Georgia Strait, Hollyhock is about nourishing those who work to make the world a better place. It has been attracting visitors like bees to honey for the past twenty-five years -- partly because of its delicious food. Now, for the first time, Hollyhock Cooks showcases the best of its globally influenced cuisine, with over 200 recipes including everything from soups and salads to entrées, sauces and spreads, desserts, and drinks. Special chapters focus on how to combine garden with kitchen, and on secrets for cooking for a crowd. And interspersed throughout are comments from the famous Hollyhock presenters -- Ram Dass, Eckhart Tolle, Robert Bly, Joan Borysenko and more -- on their very favourite dishes. REVIEW: "Maharaji said that we should eat only food cooked with love. The food at Hollyhock is tasty, cooked with care and love. I take away a soft sweetness and a fat stomach!..." -- Ram Dass. { 240pp, 205x230mm, April 2003; PB, £17.99, 0865714886:9780865714885 , New Society Publishers } |
| HOME ENERGY DIET : How to Save Money by Making Your House Energy-Smart [Paul Scheckel] This book helps readers to take control of their personal energy use and costs so that they can save money, live more comfortably and help the environment. Energy auditor Paul Scheckel first explores energy literacy, and then describes how you home uses -- and loses -- energy you par for via: Electricity; Hot Water; Heating and air conditioning; Windows, walls and insulation. The book involves readers in learning about their own homes by measuring, metering, investigating and considering habits relate to household energy use, then learning how to quantify energy consumption and cost, and make informed decisions about cost-effective improvements and upgrades. { 308pp, 155x230mm, May 2005; PB, £15.50, 0865715300:9780865715301 , New Society Publishers } |
| HOMEOWNERS' GUIDE TO RENEWABLE ENERGY : Achieving Energy Independence through Solar, Wind, Biomass & Hydropower [Dan Chiras] The coming energy crisis caused by a peak in global oil and natural gas production will profoundly affect the lives of all North Americans. As the price of these vital fuels rises, homeowners will scramble to cut their fuel bills. Two options for meeting the upcoming challenge are dramatic improvements in home energy efficiency and efforts to tap into clean, affordable, renewable energy resources to heat and cool homes, to provide hot water and electricity, and even to cook. These measures can result in huge savings and a level of energy independence. The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy tells you how. It starts by outlining the likely impacts of fossil fuel shortages and some basic facts about energy. It then discusses energy conservation to slash energy bills and prepare for renewable energy options. Focusing carefully on specific strategies needed to replace specific fuels, the book then examines each practical energy option available to homeowners. The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy gives readers sufficient knowledge to hire and communicate effectively with contractors and, for those wanting do installations themselves, it recommends more detailed manuals. With a complete resource listing, this well-illustrated and accessible guide is a perfect companion for illuminating the coming dark age. { 334pp, 190x230mm, May 2006; PB, £19.50, 086571536X:9780865715363 , New Society Publishers } |
| HOMES THAT HEAL (AND THOSE THAT DON'T) : How Your Home Could Be Harming Your Family's Health [Athena Thompson] Media reports focus increasingly on the declining health of children in industrialised countries. Asthma, autism, learning and behaviour problems, and cancer are all on the rise. At the same time, there is consistent news about poor indoor air quality, mould, and how buildings can make people sick. The book addresses both of these development, revealing that our own homes can contribute to make of these health problems. A passionate examination of our environment and the alarming impact today's chemically polluted world is having on the health of present and future generations, this book is easy-to-read, solutions-oriented, and humourous, full of stories and advice that empower families to take back their health on a daily basis. REVIEW: "...a book that is useful not only for homeowners but for renters as well." -- Vancouver Sun, Saturday 4th December 2004. { 308pp, 190x230mm, October 2004; PB, £21.50, 0865715114:9780865715110 , New Society Publishers } |
| HOW GREEN IS YOUR CITY? : The SustainLane US City Rankings [Warren Karlenzig] In our peak oil, post-Katarina world, how do America's largest cities stack up in terms of sustainability? Which cities are self-sufficient and well-prepared for our uncertain future, and which cities are operating business-as-usual? This book examines the outcome of a sustainability study of the 50 largest US cities compiled by sustainlane.com. Sustainable Cities Ranking employed 15 standards to measure each city's performance and ranked them according to the cumulative results. Those standards are: Public Transit, Air and Tap Water Quality, Planning and Land Use, City Innovation, Affordability, Energy/Climate, Local Food/Agriculture, Green Economy. Portland, Oregon with its high quality of life and commitment to green building technology, leads the pack, while Columbus, Ohio with dependence on the car and poor public transport, ranks at the bottom. The book offers an in-depth analysis of each city's policies, strengths and challenges, as well as the emerging job and tax base expansion with the growth of clean technologies. { 206pp, 190x230mm, January 2007; PB, £16.50, 0865715955:9780865715950 , New Society Publishers } |
| HOW TO BUILD WITH GRID BEAM : A Fast, Easy & Affordable System for Constructing Almost Anything [Phil Jergenson, Richard Jergenson & Wilma Keppel] Grid beam is a modular, reusable building system that is fast, easy, affordable and virtually goof-proof. Ordinary people, with few skills and even fewer tools (all you need is a wrench!) can tackle projects ranging from furniture and shop benches to more ambitious projects such as wind turbines, truck racks, small buildings -- even electric vehicles. Grid beam's modular pieces and bolt-together construction make the system fast and straightforward to work with. It has all the advantages of an industrial building system: standard, modular sizes; uniform materials; and interchangeable parts. Projects knock flat and are easy to transport. Since the pieces can be used over and over again, grid beam is easy both on your wallet and on the environment -- the authors have been using some of their components for over 30 years. This book includes hundreds of photographs of real projects built over a 60-year period, showing the many uses of grid beam, from shelves for college students to projects involving alternative energy. The versatility of grid beam is inspiring for beginners, more experienced do-it-yourselfers, and innovators who will develop their own designs. Even school-age children can use grid beam to build simple projects. { 274pp, 210x300mm, June 2008; PB, £17.99, 0865716137:9780865716131 , New Society Publishers } |
| HOW TO RE-IMAGINE THE WORLD : A Pocket Guide for Practical Visionaries [Anthony Weston] This guide to creative thinking in service of radical social transformation highlights practical techniques and examples for revisioning our world, offered in the conviction that ordinary people, working together, can begin to re-envision the world in unexpected and dramatic ways. { 142pp, 115x180mm, October 2007; PB, £8.50, 0865715947:9780865715943 , New Society Publishers } |
| INVESTED IN THE COMMON GOOD [Susan Meeker-Lowry] Combining personal experiences with contributions by other activists, Meeker-Lowry outlines the destructive impact of industry and technological advancement on the world's natural resources. For readers convinced of the argument, Meeker-Lowry offers advice on making a difference from evaluating investment goals and finding companies that meet those goals to organising a boycott or simply writing an effective letter to a corporate executive. Finally, there are numerous case histories of projects from agricultural ventures to minority banks that are effectively working for the 'common good' and an extensive resource list of organisations involved in environmental, spiritual and social investments. { 258pp, 155x230mm, January 1995; PB, £13.50, 0865712921:9780865712928 , New Society Publishers } |
| IT'S A SPRAWL WORLD AFTER ALL : The Human Cost of Unplanned Growth -- & Visions of a Better Future [Douglas E Morris] Suburbia has twisted the American dream into a nightmare. The US now has the most rapes, assaults, murders and serial killings per capita, by a wider margin than any other first-world nation. It's a Sprawl World After All is the first book to link America's increase in violence and the corresponding breakdown in society with the post WWII development of suburban sprawl. Without small towns to bring people together, the unplanned growth of sprawl has left Americans isolated, alienated and afraid of the strangers that surround them. Suburbia has substituted cars for conversation, malls for main streets, and the artificial community of television for authentic social interaction. This has resulted in dramatically negative impacts on US society, including: the transformation of America's community-oriented small-town sensibilities into an isolated society of strangers burdened by isolation, loneliness and depression the emergence of a culture of incivility characterised by extreme individualism and a callous disregard for others, and levels of violence so rampant as to be proclaimed 'epidemic' by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advocating that urgent attention be paid to managing development by emulating the smart growth examples of European cities, the book's final section offers readers tools to rebuild community in their lives as well as in society at large. It offers practical solutions that can improve everyone's quality of life. Provocative and thoughtful, It's A Sprawl World After All also includes a helpful resource listing of organisations committed to making communities more sustainable. { 243pp, 155x230mm, September 2005; PB, £12.99, 0865715467:9780865715462 , New Society Publishers } |
| JOY OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION : Transforming Victims, Villains & Heroes in the Workplace & at Home [Gary Harper] The rapid rate of change in the workplace and among families often leads to conflict and confrontation which can undermine productivity and poison relationships. This book helps readers to understand conflict and why it arises through the lens of the 'drama triangle' of victims, villains and heroes. In an accessible, engaging and light-hearted style that uses stories and humour to explore potentially emotionally charged situations, it provides proven and practical skills to move beyond confrontation to resolve conflicts collaboratively. { 194pp, 155x230mm, September 2004; PB, £12.99, 0865715157:9780865715158 , New Society Publishers } |
| KEEPING THE PEACE : Practicing Cooperation & Conflict Resolution with Preschoolers [Susanne Wichert] This book is meant to help parents, teachers and other caregivers to create an environment in which the level of conflict is low enough so that the adults can guide the resolution process in such a way that it works for the child and can by used again by the child. Of course, this is easier said than done, and Susanne Wichert offers concrete, practical and innovative encouragement, insights and suggestions into creating a philosophical, physical and emotional environment that fosters creative conflict resolution, and into the actual process of guiding children to resolution. { 102pp, 215x280mm, September 2003; PB, £10.99, 0865711585:9780865711587 |