The Better World Handbook

by Jones, Ellis; Haenfler, Ross; Johnson, Brett; Klocke, Brian

• ISBN13: 9780865714427
• ISBN10: 0865714428
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-09-01
• Publisher: New Society Pub

Summary

It would be a perfect world if everyone could quit their jobs and devote themselves fully to the causes they believed in. Instead, The Better World Handbook shows caring, but busy people how to live out their progressive values and have a life! The principle behind this engaging guide is to incorporate everyday activism into even the most mundane areas of our lives-like grocery shopping, banking, eating, reading the newspaper, and working. The book begins with a concise summary of our society's most pressing problems that lead directly to seven foundations necessary for building a better world: economic fairness, comprehensive peace, ecological sustainability, deep democracy, social justice, a culture of simplicity, and revitalized community. Subsequent chapters are organized around intuitive topics such as Food, Money, Transportation, Work, and Media, focusing on activities that support the seven foundations for a better world. A purchase can allow a locally owned business to thrive; money invested in the right bank can create opportunities for poor communities; a vacation can contribute to preserving wilderness areas; tuning-in to public and alternative media can put readers back in control of their thoughts, feelings and values that mainstream media marginalize. Practical and extremely well researched by four university instructors who have synthesized knowledge from a wide variety of sources, The Better World Handbook provides readers with the essential information they need to take effective actions that will make a difference across the entire spectrum of the world's problems. Marketing National print advertising National print, radio, and web publicity Author events in Boulder and Denver Co-op available All four authors live in Boulder, Colorado where they are instructors at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Each author is deeply committed to activism.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	x
Introduction	xi
Building a Better World	1	(10)
The Seven Foundations of a Better World	11	(41)
Actions for a Better World	52	(227)
Money	53	(19)
Banking	54	(6)
Credit Cards	60	(2)
Saving	62	(2)
Investing	64	(8)
Shopping	72	(19)
What to Buy	74	(5)
Who to Buy in From	79	(5)
Buying guide	84	(7)
Food	91	(11)
Buying Groceries	92	(3)
Eating	95	(5)
Planting a Garden	100	(2)
Personal	102	(18)
Extraordinary Living	103	(6)
Emotional Well-Being	109	(1)
Spiritual Well-Being	110	(3)
Physical Well-Being	113	(2)
Reflection	115	(5)
Friends and Family	120	(16)
Building Strong Relationships	121	(2)
Giving Gifts	123	(3)
Children	126	(10)
Community	136	(13)
Neighborhood	137	(3)
Local Community	140	(5)
Community Issues	145	(4)
Home	149	(18)
Energy	150	(4)
Water	154	(3)
Trash	157	(4)
Lawn and Garden	161	(1)
Your Home	162	(5)
Work	167	(14)
Workplace Relationships	169	(2)
Socially Responsible Workplace	171	(4)
Finding Good Work	175	(6)
Media	181	(25)
Television	184	(3)
Radio	187	(3)
Magazines	190	(10)
Newspapers	200	(1)
Internet	201	(5)
Politics	206	(20)
Voting	207	(5)
Getting Involved	212	(9)
The Top Issues List	221	(5)
Transportation	226	(13)
Walking	227	(1)
Bicycling	227	(1)
Public Transport	228	(1)
Automobiles	229	(10)
Travel	239	(16)
Where to Go	240	(3)
Where to Stay	243	(1)
What to Do	244	(3)
Extraordinary Travel	247	(8)
Organizations	255	(24)
Getting Involved	256	(4)
Giving	260	(2)
Finding Organizations	262	(1)
Amazing Organizations	263	(12)
The Best of the Rest	275	(4)
The Top Ten Actions for a Better World	279	(1)
Notes	280	(8)
Action Index	288	(2)
About the Authors	290