Greed to Green: Solving Climate Change and Remaking the Economy

by Derber,Charles

• ISBN13: 9781594518126
• ISBN10: 1594518122
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2010-02-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

While society turns to technology solutions to solve global warming, Charles Derber in this unique and uplifting book shows that the real and achievable solution is to be found...in society itself. "Why," Derber asks, "is society not taking the urgent actions needed to save itself when much of the technology already exists?" The answer lies in overcoming deep yet profound denial and hopelessness. In the first book to intensively explore the "denial regime" surrounding global warming Derber moves beyond the "science deniers" to explore the personal denial most of us feel, consciously and subconsciously. Global Warming-capitalism's time bomb-can and must be solved through both individual and institutional change. People have more power than they think. The solution requires individuals to release themselves from the bonds of hopelessness and denial; to transform themselves toward green lifestyles; and to pursue the pathways currently available to work with: national and local governments, schools, churches, corporations, and other institutions. Derber passionately describes and models these personally transforming changes from his own life and from the lives of neighbors, friends, and colleagues who have discovered the joys of becoming part of the solution and have learned to live powerful, democratic, change-minded lives.

Author Biography

Charles Derber is Professor of Sociology at Boston College. His op-eds, essays, and interviews have appeared in Newsday, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, BusinessWeek, Time, and other magazines. He speaks frequently on National Public Radio, on talk radio, and on television. His internationally acclaimed books have been reviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and many other media sources.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Capitalism's Time Bomb and the Fierce Urgency of Now	p. 1
Truth and Denial
Brain and Belly: Scientific, Popular, and Gut Truths	p. 14
Scientists United: The Climatic Consensus	p. 24
The X-Rated Truth: Tipping Points and Points of No Return	p. 34
The New Greening of America: Truth and Truth Gaps in an Awakening Public	p. 47
The New Denial of Death: The Psychology of Pale Green	p. 55
Boomers and Millennials: Generational Truth and Denial	p. 66
The Denial Regime: Exxon, the GOP, and the Official Doubting Thomases	p. 74
How to Green America
Good Timing: Economic Meltdown and Regime Change at Home (coauthored with Yale Magrass)	p. 90
Blind Markets: How Capitalism Creates Climate Change	p. 105
The 90 Percent Solution: How to Change Wall Street, Energy Firms, and the Corporate System	p. 116
The Green American Dream: Living More with Less	p. 135
Through and after Depression: How Long-Term Climate Change Solutions Are the Best Medicine for Our Four Other Biggest Short-Term Crises	p. 148
Green Globalization
The West and the Rest: One: Why It Takes a Global Village to Cool the World	p. 162
The West and the Rest: Two: Green Globalization and a Global New Deal	p. 172
When the Grass Roots Grow Green
And Along Came Obama: Yes, We Can!	p. 190
Blessed Unrest Revisited: Existential Threats and the Reinvention of Social Movements	p. 201
Making a Life and Making History: From Bowling Alone to Bowling Green	p. 217
Notes	p. 231
Index	p. 260
Acknowledgments	p. 267
About the Author	p. 268
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