Many environmentalists live in a quandry. How do we respond in a positive manner to Peak Oil combined with every threatening prospects of Global Warming. We could just be all doom and gloom and preach that message to a public that is turned off by negativity. Or we can band with our neighbors and concentrate on building community that is resilient, and works to meet in a positive manner these prospects.
This is one of the best books I've read that brings the heart into the environmental movement. Author Rob Hopkins, who is also founder of the world-wide Transition Movement, covers all angles in his book. He actually convinces many of his readers that Peak Oil and Global Warming will actually force us to create a more pleasant and less hectic world right in our neighborhoods.
Consider the setting. Hopkins, who with his community of Totnes, UK, goes step-by-step in educating other communities about moving forward to meet the challenges of the time, such as growing food locally, eating local foods, bringing back skills that our grandparents used, depending on our neighbors for companionship, support and encouragement. This book isn't about Big Box stores, jet-setting around the world or plugging in all the electronic toys on which we have all learned to depend on. Instead, he makes it sound like fun to lead a simpler life.
One small weakness of this book is that the first two chapters are depressing. The reader is educated about the seriousness of the two elephants in the room, Peak Oil and Global Warming. But once we enter the third chapter, the reader begins to see that we can all respond in responsible ways that will not only save our planet, but will also enliven our communities.
