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There are two categories of resources here: Books and Articles, Organizations and WebsitesBooks |
| Andrews, Cecile, The Circle of Simplicity: Return to the Good Life |
This book talks about how to bring people together to have conversations about how to bring simplicity into their lives |
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Durning, Alan, How Much Is Enough: The Consumer Society And The
Future Of The Earth |
Consuming goods and services has become a central goal of life in industrial lands the world over. In this book, Alan Durning of the Worldwatch Institute explores the roots of the consumer society, exposes the toll that our appetites have taken on the earth's natural systems, and suggests that there are other paths to fulfillment |
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Fodor, Eben V, Better, Not Bigger: How To Take Control Of Urban Growth And Improve Your Community
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In spite of widespread public concern about the consequences of ever-expanding urban growth (reduced livability, lost sense of community, traffic congestion, overcrowded schools, high housing costs, and degraded environmental quality), many state and local governments are actively promoting and subsidizing this growth with public resources in at least 10 different ways. These subsidies include free, or below cost, infrastructure (streets, schools, sewage plants, etc.), economic development programs, developer incentives, Federally-subsidized road building, tax increment financing, and others. We have our foot on the growth accelerator pedal and have it pushed to the floor. |
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Hartman, Thom, Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight |
Ecology
and spirituality are deftly intertwined in this well-written discussion
of how we can save and preserve life on earth. Vermont author Thom Hartman
offers a highly persuasive argument for adopting the spiritual values
of our ancient ancestors, which means living with a strong connection
to the earth as well as the sun that nourishes us all. Nowadays, humans
often perceive themselves as separate from nature and born to dominate
it, says Hartman who lays out some frightening, albeit thorough, research
on the destruction of the planet. But as the book progresses, he guides
readers into a convincing and intelligent vision for reversing our destructive
ways. |
| Ryan, John and Alan Durning, Stuff: The Secret Lives Of Everyday Things | Documenting a day in the life of the average North American consumer, Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday Things deconstructs the American Dream by unraveling the hidden costs behind the objects around us. From our morning cup of Columbian coffee to our South Korean-made sneakers, the book traces the environmental impact of the consumer decisions most of us make without thinking. |
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Shaffer, Carolyn and Anundsen, Kristin, Creating Community Anywhere |
Provides
examples of how to re-connect with people and create community at an interpersonal
and social level, regardless of the physical or economic constraints. |
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Shuman,
Michael Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities In A |
This
is a must-read for its excellent analysis and
de-mythologizing regarding specific mechanisms for community empowerment
and sustainable economic development |
| Wackernagel, Mathis And William Rees, Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact On The Earth. | Equipped with useful charts and thought-provoking illustrations, this book introduces a revolutionary new way to determine humanity's impact on the Earth and presents an exciting and powerful tool for measuring and visualizing the resources required to sustain households, communities, regions, and nations. |
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Weisman, Alan Gaviotas; A Village To Reinvent The World |
Documenting
the creation of a sustainable community from the ground-up (and bottoms-up,
not tops down as in Brasilia and New Town projects) in a arid, barren
area of Colombia. How the people figured out cooperative ways of
living and learned what trees would grow, etc. tells a story that is not
theory, but fully lived at the community, not the individual, level. |
Articles, Organizations and Websites |
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The Northwest Earth
Institute is a pioneer in taking earth-centered education programs to
people where they spend their time-in their neighborhoods, workplaces,
homes, schools, and centers of faith. These programs are organized around
three key principles: an ecocentric view of the earth, reflected in the
principles of deep ecology; the practice of simplicity to enrich life
& to reduce personal impact on the earth; a dedication to knowing
and protecting the unique place where you live. |
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A network and coalition whose mission is to
stimulate and encourage collaborative action and efficient use
of resources from multiple sectors and community systems. A primary focus
of the Coalition is to promote the initiation, development and sustainability
of initiatives that result in healthy people and healthy communities.
We promote these initiatives at the local, regional, state and national
levels-- particularly those with a focus on the well-being of families
and children. |
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Cooperative Extension Service |
In
your home town – or nearby. A wonderful resource for practical tips for living lightly
on the land.
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This site provides a wonderful array of readings in Deep Ecology. |
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We
encourage people around the world to think & act sustainably by providing
information & unique services. We assist all stakeholders of
watersheds, coastal zones, rural communities, & urban regions to integrate
their environmental, economic, and social equity issues toward sustainable
development actions. |
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If we were all part of one community, we’d have a community calendar,
right? This is a one place
creating that calendar. |
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Global
Action Plan was founded in 1989, is an environmental education, non-profit
organization that promotes and supports the development of environmentally
sustainable lifestyles in America. Over the past 10 years, GAP has developed
an effective neighborhood organizing model in its work with over 10,000
people and hundreds of neighborhood groups throughout the United States |
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| Global Living Project |
The GLP was conceived of in 1994 by Jim Merkel upon returning from a research expedition to Kerala, India. Jim received the Gaia fellowship to bring back "21st Century survival skills" from an area successfully implementing constraints on consumption and family size. Kerala shows that people can live healthy, meaningful lives at sixty times less the consumption level of North America. However, while the people of Kerala experience a high quality of living, the population density has seriously impacted natural systems. GLP explores the measurement of ecological footprint and supports the evolution of low-consumption lifestyles through their summer institutes and bicycle speaking tours. |
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This
site is one of the best overviews to the permaculture.
Permaculture is the art and science of designing human beings'
place in the environment. Permaculture design teaches you to understand
and mirror the patterns found in healthy natural environments. You can
then build profitable, productive, sustainable, cultivated ecosystems,
which include people, and have the diversity, stability, and resilience
of natural ecosystems. |
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An
interesting collection of links to organizations and projects promoting
“one earth” thinking. |
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| Permaculture International Journal Home Page | Permaculture is a practical concept applicable from the balcony to the farm, from the city to the wilderness. It enables people to establish productive environments providing for food, energy, shelter, material and non-material needs, as well as providing the social and economic infrastructures that support them. Permaculture means thinking carefully about our environment, our use of resources and how we supply our needs. It aims to create systems that will sustain not only the present, but future generations. |
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PROJECT
EARTH was conceived of with the clear understanding
that we are either conscious or unconscious participants in our
existence. We do not exist in isolation. We are not separate from the
totality of existence. The dynamic of Project Earth has always been based
on the healing of the grotesque concept of personal and societal isolation
through the reintegration of the human species. We reintegrate with one
another when we communicate. Then the warning signals can pass throughout humanity. |
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Worldwatch
is a nonprofit public policy research organization dedicated to informing
policymakers and the public about emerging global
problems and trends and the complex links between the world economy
and its environmental support systems.
It is perhaps the single most comprehensive source of facts, data
and research supporting the need to become better partners with the earth.
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