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The Challenge & the Opportunity

Humanity as a whole faces daunting challenges that put our own survival into question. We do have reason to believe we can turn things around, but time is short to do so.

It is a fact that those of us in the wealthy countries must share much responsibility for the crises, given our high per-capita consumption, and that those in poorer countries often bear the brunt of those excesses. Until we are willing to look squarely at our situation, we remain largely unmoved by its realities. Yet once we summon the courage to confront our predicament, we find that indeed there is much we can do on levels big and small, and many signs of hope and possibility that this book portrays in broad strokes.

According to current data, we are rapidly nearing a point of no return for saving much of what we know and love on our beautiful planet. There is no time to wait! Restoring balance and sustainability across the globe will take our best minds and a critical mass of citizens who are not just concerned but committed to making the changes required.

So where do we begin?

STEP 1: GET INFORMED. Find out about the issues both global and local, the proposed solutions, and how we as individuals can contribute to creating a healthy and just world.

STEP 2: GET ENGAGED. Open your heart. Engage your creativity, your passion, your dreams. Deepen your connections to the Earth and one another. Act on what you know and learn. Get involved with improving your community. Challenge your friends to do the same—we’re all in this together.
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From the Publisher's Preface by Vinit Allen,
Executive Director, Sustainable World Coalition
a project of Earth Island Institute