“Walking” by Henry David Thoreau

In this inspiring and thought-provoking essay, Thoreau beautifully articulates how Man derives his sustenance, his physical and spiritual well-being, his imagination and inspirations,  from Nature, the Wild. Thoreau’s essays are always delightful, refreshing and stimulating, but above all, he urges readers to action, to adventure into the wild and seek the springs of life. On Walking If you would get exercise, go in search of the springs of life. Think […]

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“Blessed Unrest” by Paul Hawken

In this book Paul Hawken not only provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental movement, but also reveals the connection between the environmental movement, the civil rights and indigenous movements. They are all defending the rights of life. When people all over the world are threatened by forces that destroy their livelihoods, such as poverty, corruption, pollution and injustice, they rise up and organize themselves to defend their rights. Man […]

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“Cradle to Cradle” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart

Eco-Efficiency vs. Eco-Effectiveness The authors pointed out the ineffectiveness of the “eco-efficiency” movement, as characterized by the Four R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Regulate). Eco-efficiency does not halt depletion and destruction, it simply slows them down. They propose a new system in which designs are modeled on nature, specifically, the cycles of materials in nature and services provided by the self-sustaining, self-generating ecosystems. “Imagine a building like a tree, a […]

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“The Geography of Hope: A Tour of the World We Need” by Chris Turner

A comprehensive overview of the environment movement, both the ideology and practice, technologies and techniques, peoples and policies. It goes way beyond recycle bins, solar panels and hybrid cars, and introduces the readers to a whole new way of defining economic growth, our relationship with and responsibility for the environment. It is not only sustainable energy, but sustainable communities and lifestyle. The author travels around the world to interview pioneers […]

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