Eaarth

I've been reading a book this last while that both bothered, challenged, depressed and inspired me. Its called 'Eaarth', and basically it pulls no punchs to let us know exactly where we are with climate change, pollution, and carbon emissions. The reason its called 'Eaarth' with 2 A's, is the world we have now, is not the stable earth we have always known. Scientists are now saying we've passed the threshold, and the changes are WAY faster and farther reaching than we thought. Its not an easy book to read, but something I think we all desperately need to. I dont want to share the whole book, but one thing that stood out to me was how its the small, local groups that are affecting changes for the better, not our goverments that are so hooked on growth that they'll ride that horse to the ground, even to the detriment of our world. Its groups of neighbors learning to conserve energy, and going around the town to share this knowlege. Its small groups working together to eat more locally--shorten the food miles, encouraging local farmers. Its new ways of producing food--or perhaps I should say OLD ways with a new twist--small farms, not the massive mono-crops that are controlled by a few, and are poisoning us even as they grow, with chemicals and hormones and genetically modified crops And more personally, its small groups of diverse individuals coming together to help make the world better, to raise awareness by being examples, and not being afraid to be seen. Like I Ho Chaun. I'll be honest--this book scares me for my own future here on earth, not just my children and grandchildren. But perhaps by facing the fear, like we do in our demos and board breaks, and still being willing to do something--even if its just raising the awareness of those reading this--maybe we can make a difference in our physical world too. Perhaps this is a battle worthy of the martial arts; the battle for our earth. Its available at Chapters for $5, in their discount section or feel free to borrow my copy if you dare.