Books

Introduction:

Looking Within to Seed an Enduring Vision for the Future

What’s needed now is neither fatalism nor utopianism, but a suite of practical pathways for families and communities that lead to a real and sustainable renewable future …. We need inspiring examples, engaging stories, and opportunities for learning in depth.
-- Richard Heinberg

We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.
-- Thich Nhat Hanh

Faith is not about finding meaning in the world, there may be no such thing -- Faith is the belief in our capacity to create meaningful lives.
-- Terry Tempest Williams

This book completes an exploration of the three main facets of the sustainability movement. The Sustainability Revolution examined the principles and bedrock values of sustainability, describing the aspiration of the world community to create a life in harmony with the Earth’s living systems. Then Thriving Beyond Sustainability investigated the individuals and organizations implementing these ideas through large and small initiatives in rural villages and urban centers throughout the world. Now The Heart of Sustainability considers the personal aspects of sustainability, with insights into how we can maximize our positive impact on the economic, social, and environmental challenges we face.

Two of the most significant factors shaping our well-being today are the consciousness and the technological revolutions. They affect us individually on a daily basis and call on us to make choices that can either enhance or diminish our well-being. We see the consciousness revolution in the scientific advancements in neuroscience, which have led to a widespread interest in topics ranging from brain research to meditation, mindfulness, positive psychology, yoga, qigong and other martial arts, and awareness exercises. The technological revolution is changing how we check in with ourselves and communicate with our family, friends, colleagues, and the world at large. The expansion of social media though Internet software platforms such as Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and a plethora of other applications, blogs, and email programs has transformed the way we interact. While our ubiquitous devices have made it simple for us to stay “in touch” and share our experiences, this hyperconnectivity has taken its toll on our connection to nature.

At the confluence of the consciousness and technological streams, we stand as individuals attempting to adapt to an increasingly rapid pace of life and make the best choices for ourselves and our loved ones. Three insights may guide us as we navigate the future: (1) we are part of nature, not separate from it; (2) we will benefit from taking a regenerative approach to the challenges we face; and (3) now is the time for us to step up and take leadership roles on behalf of all beings and the planet.

Bridging the separation from the natural world that many of us feel begins by reconnecting to ourselves and to where we live. Mindfulness often yields clarity in our interdependence with all natural systems. By going within, we sense our connection to the web of life, beginning with our backyard.

A regenerative approach builds on our connection to nature by integrating nature’s abundance, resiliency, and adaptability into our perspective of the world. The glass is not half full but is overflowing with possibilities. The mindset is one of abundance rather than scarcity, possibility rather than limits, and embracing the unknown rather than fearing it. Using a regenerative approach allows us to create conditions where the goal is to thrive rather than merely to minimize our negative impact. So our homes are built to produce more renewable energy than they use; we improve the biodiversity of places previously destroyed by development; and we give back to others many times what we have received.

Taking a leadership role means that we look no farther than ourselves to see what is needed and to act. We are the leaders we have been waiting for. Instead of looking for “heroes” to solve the problems we face at the local, national, and global levels, we must look at our own gifts and talents and take the leap to gather our friends and neighbors and take action on issues important to us.

The exponential rate of technological advancement will undoubtedly continue. Indeed, many environmental and social solutions have already emerged. Our challenge lies in reaching our own personal potential to live a life in which we demonstrate our highest selves – first to tap deep within ourselves to discover what we are called to do in our lifetime and then to manifest this calling with the enthusiasm, care, and compassion that are in us, yearning to be shared. For this shift in awareness to occur, we need to be still and listen quietly to what stirs us, as a wildlife photographer stands still and observes the beauty of nature emerging. Subtle light changes during a sunrise, the wing flaps of a dragonfly, the majestic breaching of a whale -- these moments arise sometimes dramatically and other times gradually, but we are able to capture and integrate their essence after opening our hearts to the beauty and awe of life in all its forms.

The journey of discovery in The Heart of Sustainability begins with the significance of our cultural narrative and how we are currently between stories. The old story of dominating nature and turning her resources into material possessions is quickly reaching a dead end. Since the new story of living a balanced, conscious, and compassionate life in harmony with the planet’s living systems has not yet taken root, we find ourselves with only glimpses of the future.

Personal myths, such as “I’m not good enough” and “I’m only one person with limited power,” often stunt the ways we can create meaningful change. These myths emphasize that we are separate from nature rather than an integral part of it; that we are ruled by a scarcity mindset rather than one of abundance; and that fear rather than assurance has become an essential motivating force.

What is necessary for living a fulfilling life in harmony with natural systems? Our well-being is integrated with the well-being of the Earth. A focus on the environmental, economic, and social elements of sustainability is insufficient without an accompanying focus on our own characteristics: our capacity for being conscious of our activities, creative in our endeavors, compassionate toward others, and connected to ourselves and all life forms.

Our current geologic period is described as the Anthropocene -- anthropo, or human, and cene, or epoch.  This time in Earth’s history is marked by the tremendous ecological devastation caused by humans and our failure to recognize our interdependence with all life. What we do to the benefit or detriment of other species comes right back to affect our own well-being. Although we are playing a “leading role” in shaping the Anthropocene, we are not the only “actors” on the world’s stage and are continuously co-evolving with other life forms. Perhaps sharing the stage with more grace and humility will allow the flourishing of other species and benefit us all. As Richard Heinberg reminds us, “In the end, the deepest insight of the Anthropocene will probably be a very simple one: we live in a world of millions of interdependent species with which we have co-evolved. We sunder this web of life at our peril. Earth’s story is fascinating, rich in detail, and continually self-revealing. And it’s not all about us.” [1]

What is our role and how do we leave a legacy that will inspire our children and grandchildren and support their well-being and the health of the planet? As biologist Janine Benyus writes, life creates conditions conducive to life. As humans who aspire to reconnect to the web of life, we can turn to nature to help us reconnect to our hearts. We can then move toward understanding the impact of our actions in an interconnected world.

Implementing positive change in the world requires leadership, and there are a variety of leadership styles. Numerous forms of activism complement various temperaments and personalities. Understanding our own strengths and weaknesses helps us see how we may work to inspire others with our passion for reaching a common goal. What motivates us? What will get us to change course? What are the values that will guide us toward the compelling future we all long for?

To answer these questions, we need compassion, openness, understanding, regeneration, action, gratitude, and empathy. The encouraging news is that these qualities are already seeding initiatives worldwide. Now is the time for all of us to join in and help these initiatives grow.

---------------------------

Notes

1. Richard Heinberg. “The Anthropocene: It’s Not All About Us.” Earth Island Journal, May 7, 2014. Also Earth Island Institute. The Anthropocene: It’s Not All About Us [Cited December 17, 2014]

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION: Looking Within to Seed an Enduring Vision for the Future

CHAPTER 1: A New Story
Anatomy of a Story | Our Role in the Hero’s Journey | Living Between Stories Themes of the New Story | Visions of the New Story

CHAPTER 2: Changing the Old Story
From Separate to Aligned with Nature | From Scarcity to Abundance | From Fear to Assurance | Reframing the Ecological Crisis

CHAPTER 3: Purpose, Meaning, and Happiness
Quality of Life | Nature and Well-being | Social Ecotones | Gathering in Public Places | Personal and Global Happiness

CHAPTER 4: Reconnecting to Ourselves and to Nature 
Ecology | Economy | Equity | Education | The External Es and Internal Cs | Consciousness | Creativity | Compassion | Connection

CHAPTER 5: Leading from the Heart
Leadership Styles | Being of Service | Supporting Positive Qualities Through Conversations | Leading from Within

CHAPTER 6: Activism with Heart
Types of Activists | Mental Models and What Motivates Us | Spiritual Activism | Sacred Activism and Networks of Grace | Giftivism | Activism and Faith Communities

CHAPTER 7: Finding and Connecting the Dots
System Shifts | Places to Intervene in a System | The Lisbon Principles | Holistic Education | Conservation Psychology | Ecological Intelligence and Related Quotients | Empathy and Nature

CHAPTER 8: Envisioning a Compelling Future
The Future We Want | The Sharing Economy | Future Paths | The COURAGE Framework | Looking Within

Resources
Notes
Index 
About the Author

With The Heart of Sustainability Andres Edwards has made the crucial link between the subjective inward quest for consciousness development and the objective outward movement for environmental sustainability. Although the ability to think holistically is a well-recognized attribute of heightened consciousness, the capacity and motivation for action is not normally associated with such consciousness.  Edwards shows us, however, that expanded (i.e., non-dual )  consciousness is precisely at the heart of and driving the largest mass movement in human history, the global movement for environmental sustainability.     
-- Raz Ingrasci, Chairman of Hoffman Institute International

If we are to successfully address the social and environmental challenges that confront us, we’ll need to bring our complete selves, both head and heart, to the task. Andres Edwards provides a clear and concise guide, showing how each of us — as business people, educators, and concerned citizens — can contribute to fundamental change. This is an indispensable road map to creating a better world. 

-- Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group, and author, Strategies for the Green Economy

This book is for anyone experiencing the tension that our culture creates between the way we actually treat our natural world and each other, and the way we, deep in our hearts, know we should. It’s both inspiring and informative, and beautifully written. Well done!
-- Kathleen O'Brien, LEED AP, CSBA, Cascadia Fellow, Executive Director: The EMERGE Leadership Project (ELP)

The Heart of Sustainability eloquently delves into the personal journey associated with a life well lived at this moment in history.  Andres shows how love and service are essential elements of transformation: for individuals, communities and our planet. 
-- Jib Ellison, CEO, Blu Skye

Creating a just and sustainable society will require changing how we live. And, as Andres Edwards passionately argues, that will mean changing how we think, and changing the stories that shape our identities and motives. This is an essential addition to the sustainability literature, tethering environmental policy to our very souls.
-- Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute, author, Afterburn and The End of Growth

A compelling compilation of emerging thought, backed by real examples and resources. The Heart of Sustainability focuses on the idea that sustainability can and must go beyond "doing less harm," and beyond the idea that the problem is "them, out there."  Instead, Edwards challenges us to look within for solutions - to cultivate the capacity within each of us to create abundance, balance and goodness in the world. 

-- Josie Plaut LEED AP BD+C, Associate Director Institute for the Built Environment 

Andres Edwards continues his compelling narrative on sustainability in the third book of his trilogy, The Heart of Sustainability, giving insight into how each of us can maximize our positive impact. A tour de force demonstrating how to live a balanced, conscious and compassionate life in the face of an exponential rate of technological advancement. Compelling, thoughtful and inspiring.
 -- James R. Doty, M.D., Founder and Director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University and author of Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeons Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart

FOREWORD
by David W. Orr

At the end of his life, science-fiction writer and historian H. G. Wells was no optimist. Surveying things from his vantage point at the close of World War II and not long before his own death he wrote: "The end of everything we call life is close at hand and cannot be evaded" (H. G. Wells, 1946, p. 1). And 58 years later, Martin Rees, England's Astronomer Royal and professor at Cambridge University, was no more optimistic, giving humankind 50-50 odds of making it to the year 2100 (Rees, 2003, p. 8). Indeed, any moderately well-informed high-school student could easily assemble a list of dozens of ways things could all come undone, ranging from whimpers to bangs. Gamblers at some intergalactic casino would not likely bet much on us. And what can be said for such a violent bunch that seems so intent on mutilating its own earthly home? We are a long shot, but so, too, were those small, unimpressive mammals scurrying about amidst the invincible dinosaurs of their time. If such intergalactic bets are being placed, there are a perceptive few who might see a modern-day equivalent to that earlier time when the long shot paid off. The small, vulnerable and unimpressive mammals won for many reasons, including their agility, resilience, adaptability and intelligence-to-body-mass ratio.

All informed citizens know about the perils ahead, including rapid climate destabilization, species extinction, pollution, terrorism and ecological unraveling in its many forms, and the human, political and economic consequences. But fewer have stopped to look at the wider topography, where something quite remarkable is occurring. Below the radar screen and outside the cultural buzz, a revolution is beginning to gather steam at the grassroots and in out-of-the-way places around the world. While the headlines report one military excursion or another on the chessboard of geopolitics, or yet another "triumph" for the juggernaut of globalization, people and small organizations with long names and short budgets are beginning to construct a different world. As unimpressive as those small furry mammals were relative to the giants of a distant time, the outline of something far better is beginning to emerge in communities and organizations around the world.

It is happening first at the periphery of power and wealth, where revolutions often start. It is evident in farmers beginning to mimic natural systems in order to preserve their soil and land. It is evident in a new attitude emerging everywhere about the value of biological diversity and species protection. It is evident in the rapid development of technologies that harness sunlight and wind. It is evident in the burgeoning interest in green building, green architecture, green engineering and green communities. It is evident in a growing number of businesses selling "products of service" and preserving natural capital as a matter of conscience and profit. It is evident in a new religious sensibility across the full spectrum of faith traditions that regards stewardship of the Earth as obligatory. It is evident in education and the emergence of new ways to think about the human role in nature that stretch our perspective to whole systems and out to the far horizon of imagination.

The "it" is often called "sustainability," an indefinite term. But by whatever name, this revolution is more sweeping by far than that which we associate with the Enlightenment of the 18th century. The sustainability revolution is nothing less than a rethinking and remaking of our role in the natural world. It is a recalibration of human intentions to coincide with the way the biophysical world works. It is a slowing down to the rhythms of our bodies, convivial association and nature. The concern for our longevity as a species represents a maturing of our kind to consider ourselves first as "plain members and citizens" of an ecological community, and second as trustees of all that is past with all that is yet to come — a mystic chain of gratitude, obligation, compassion and hope.

If this revolution grows and matures as I believe that it will, it will do one other thing: it will improve our worthiness to be sustained. Imagine a tribunal of all species sitting in judgment over Homo sapiens charged to rule on our fitness to remain on Earth based on our behavior over the past ten thousand years. How would we be judged? Other than the votes of cockroaches, crows and any number of viruses, the motion to evict us would win by a large margin. Even to raise the question, however, would be taken as a sign of misanthropy or worse. But failure to do so rests on the fatal assumption that we live outside the community of life and beyond the call to a larger duty than that of human dominion. The revolution described here, in other words, is not simply about making ourselves physically sustainable at whatever cost, but rather about something akin to a species maturing into its fullest stature -- one worthy of being sustained — a revolution of charity, magnanimity and spirit.

In the pages that follow, educator, designer and consultant Andrés Edwards paints what he calls a portrait of this revolution. His description crosses national boundaries as well as the divisions between academic disciplines and sectors of the economy. The sustainability revolution is steadily reshaping our lives and our place in the larger fabric of life for the better. But there is nothing inevitable about any revolution or about any good thing. Ultimately these are matters of choice and fate. But this book helps us put the odds in perspective and clarify the point that despair can be overcome by a revolution of hope, competence and intelligence underlain by wisdom.

David W. Orr is Paul Sears Distinguished Professor, Oberlin College, and is the author of Ecological Literacy, Earth in Mind, The Nature of Design, and The Last Refuge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments 

Foreword by David W. Orr

Introduction: Portrait of the Sustainability Revolution 
Anatomy of Social Revolutions 
Movements and Revolutions 
The Five Characteristics of the Sustainability Revolution 
A Revolution of Interconnections 

Chapter 1: The Birth of Sustainability 
The Context 
Environmentalism: The Precursor to Modern Sustainability 
Contemporary Environmentalism: The Roots of Sustainability 
The Emergence of Sustainability: Brundtland (1987) and Rio (1992) 
The Core of Contemporary Sustainability: The Three Es 
The Three Es Plus One: Education 
The Methodology: Fundamental Principles 
Criteria for Selecting Principles 
Principles as Songlines 

Chapter 2: Sustainability and Community
Interdependence at All Levels 
Ontario Round Table on Environment and Economy (ORTEE) Model Principles 
Principles of Sustainable Development for Minnesota 
The Netherlands National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP) 
The Earth Charter 
International Council of Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) 
Integrating Sustainability Values at All Community Levels 

Chapter 3: Sustainability and Commerce
Beyond “Business as Usual” 
Adopting Sustainable Strategies 
The Precautionary Principle 
The Natural Step 
The Houston Principles 
The CERES Principles 
The ICC Charter and ISO 14000 
Environmental Assessments and Green Taxes 
A New Business Model 

Chapter 4: Sustainability and Natural Resources 
The Contradictions of Resource Extraction American Petroleum Institute (API) Environmental, Health and Safety Principles 
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Principles and Criteria of Forest Stewardship 
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing 
The Asilomar Declaration for Sustainable Agriculture 
Natural Resources at a Crossroads 

Chapter 5: Sustainability and Ecological Design
Designing with Nature 
The Hannover Principles 
The Five Principles of Ecological Design 
The Todds’ Principles of Ecological Design 
The Sanborn Principles 
US and World Green Building Councils: The LEEDing Edge 
An Interdependent Perspective 

Chapter 6: Sustainability and the Biosphere
Our Role in the Biosphere 
Deep Ecology's Basic Principles 
Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for the Environment 
Biomimicry Principles 
Permaculture Principles 
A Biocentric Perspective 

Chapter 7: Future Pathways
Principles: Scopes, Sectors and Types 
Seven Common Themes 
Hopeful Signs 
Our General Predicament 
Seeking an Alternative Path 
Beyond Green: A New Vision of the Future 

Resources 
Organizations 
Online Publications/Newsletters/List Servers 
Additional Principles 
Annotated Bibliography 
Notes 
Index

Reviews and Endorsements 

Like a father penciling his kids' height marks on a door jamb, Andrés Edwards has lovingly taken the measure of the sustainability movement's leaps-and-bounds growth. Seeing our collective wisdom arrayed in a single book is powerful medicine for long-time solution seekers, and an irresistible invitation to a new generation wondering "How Shall We Live Here?"

-- Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired By Nature and Co-founder, Biomimicry Guild

The Sustainability Revolution presents a clear, concise, straightforward articulation of the most powerful force sweeping the world. This book is a great source of inspiration, showing us just how much is going on behind the scenes all over the world.

-- Spencer B. Beebe, founder, Ecotrust

In The Sustainability Revolution, Andrés Edwards has written a compelling, practical guide to the rapidly evolving field of sustainability. Whether you're a business person, journalist, educator or citizen activist, this book illustrates dozens of ways the environment can be restored while at the same time opening up new economic opportunities.

-- Christopher Flavin, President, The Worldwatch Institute

No need to reinvent the sustainability wheel! In The Sustainability Revolution, Andrés Edwards collects a comprehensive set of sustainability principles into the definitive desk reference. The principles are complemented with an excellent overview of social movements and the evolution from environmentalism to sustainability. This book is a fundamental tool for those building a better world -- a must for your library!

-- Randy Hayes, founder of Rainforest Action Network, director of sustainability for the City of Oakland

The Sustainability Revolution is an immensely useful book. Edwards provides an impressive guide to the future by examining pathbreaking actions and innovative ideas already moving ahead in today's world. The Sustainability Revolution is at once practical and visionary.

-- James Gustave Speth, Dean, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

The Sustainability Revolution is a compelling reminder of the power each of us has to make this world a better place through our everyday actions. Indeed, if we are to survive we must recognize our place in the natural world and make a concerted effort to leave lighter ecological footprints. The Sustainability Revolution shines light on the path that we all must follow to make this world a more sustainable and peaceful place for all living things.

-- Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute, UN Messenger of Peace

As Andrés Edwards clearly demonstrates, we are indeed in the early stage of a global sustainability revolution, and yet few of us can see it. The Sustainability Revolution gathers together accounts of the underlying dynamics, global visions, definitions and effective models of this quiet revolution, and informs us of the most important societal movement ever; one that will not only change the essence and metrics of business, but will determine our future.

-- David A. Gottfried, founder, US and World Green Building Councils and author of Greed to Green

The Sustainability Revolution is a key reference for environmentalists -- the kind of reference that will fuel good work and good thinking in the years to come.

-- Bill McKibben, author of Wandering Home, Enough and The End of Nature

Andrés Edwards has done society a great service with The Sustainability Revolution. He has helped us envision a sustainable world and given all of us hope about the future by illuminating the thousands of positive efforts worldwide that are helping move toward this vision. The book is both an inspiration and a testimony to the programs that are hardly ever addressed by the mainstream media. It is a much-needed shot in the arm for the sustainability movement.

-- Anthony D. Cortese, president of Second Nature, leader in the Education for Sustainability movement in higher education

Andrés Edwards maps one of the most significant yet least understood landscapes: the landscape with the paths to the place where all people can flourish, within the means of one generous, but ultimately limited planet. His map brings clarity to the formerly confusing mountains and valleys of sustainability principles, ideas, concepts, and indicators. I wish this book becomes everybody's "Rand McNally Atlas" to guide us on the rally to sustainability. This is the best rally since we can all win. Andrés' brilliant book shows us how.

-- Mathis Wackernagel, Executive Director, Global Footprint Network

Andrés Edwards has written a much-needed book - a comprehensive, extremely readable guidebook to the Sustainability Movement, its history, principles, and applications. At a time when so many people feel the bad guys are winning, Edwards shows us the quiet good news that doesn't get headlines, yet is changing the world for the better as "business as usual" unravels. We and the planet have a chance. The Sustainability Revolutionshows why and how in this carefully researched, passionate book.

-- Sim Van der Ryn, architect, author of Ecological Design and Design For Life

The Sustainability Revolution is a passionate, hopeful account of the shift in thinking that's happening worldwide. Andrés Edwards provides a profoundly encouraging confidence booster -- definitely required reading for anyone thinking about or working within the sustainability movement.

-- L. Hunter Lovins, president, Natural Capitalism Inc., and co-author of Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution

The Sustainability Revolution provides a brilliant synthesis of the multiple braids of sustainability. Its comprehensive analysis of sustainability principles and frameworks is particularly valuable.

-- Stuart Cowan, co-author of Ecological Design

What is ecological sustainability, and is it one consistent thing? And can we protect the children of the future and still make a good living today? Andrés Edwards has given us an elegant and concise way to say 'Yes!' to both questions. He shows just how coherent is the worldview of the sustainability movement, and that its principles and practices are moving steadily from grand ideas, and statements of alarm, toward actual, everyday practicality. Today dozens of industries, hundreds of communities and thousands of companies have found that what is practical for everyday economic activities can be redesigned to be very good for the environment and our long-term future. So the more concrete and practical are those big sustainability principles, the more they spread around the planet as actual green practices. It's not just that "a better world is possible." It's happening. It's real.

-- Paul H. Ray, co-author of The Cultural Creatives

Sustainability is more than a buzzword; it is a concept that defines what is needed for our civilization to survive. The discussion about sustainability is therefore the most important one now occurring on the planet. Andrés Edwards has summarized the current state of this discussion in a thorough, upbeat, and understandable way. The Sustainability Revolutionhighlights not only the ideas, but the courageous efforts of people around the world who are creating a way of life that is not only more survivable, but more just and satisfying as well.

-- Richard Heinberg, professor of human ecology, New College of California, and author of The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies and Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World

By the simple act of gathering in one place dozens of lists of "sustainability principles," Andrés Edwards has sketched the landscape -- and given us a glimpse of the trajectory -- of the sustainability revolution.

-- Gil Friend, President & CEO, Natural Logic Inc., and author of A Declaration of Leadership

"This book is a compelling reminder of the power each of us has to make the world a better place."

-- Resurgence Magazine

"This is an excellent summary of how the idea of sustainability came to grip the ecology movement.

-- Philip Woodard, Planet Drum Pulse

In this book, Edwards, an educator and media designer who has specialized in sustainability topics for the last 15 years, briefly sketches a portrait of the sustainability revolution as a social movement that contains a “revolution of interconnections.” Summarily describing the birth of sustainability, he then applies sustainability thinking and practice to four areas: (1) community, (2) commerce, (3) natural resources, and (4) the biosphere.

Deftly summarizing in some 20 pages each the important developments in each area, Edwards adds a useful resources chapter of organizations, as well as online resources for each of those areas. His last chapter, “Future Pathways,” presents an original two-and-one-halfpage table that traces the development of the principles of sustainability, divided into scopes, sectors, and types, and argues that we must go “beyond green” towards a new vision of the future. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography.

The Sustainability Revolution is particularly useful for environmental educators, for it presents in clear, concise language a compelling, practical guide to the rapidly evolving field of sustainability. It shows how environmental education can transition into a “sustainability framework,” which would give EE greater depth and make it more effective in enhancing personal and organizational perspectives that match the urgent plight of people and planet.

Sustainability is more than a buzzword: It is a concept and a movement that defines what civilizations need to survive. Therefore, by seriously considering sustainability principles in their environmental education work, educators engage in perhaps their most important work to date. They would be critically applying their expertise in the articulation of this most powerful force that is today sweeping the world, for it is civilization that is at stake.

In other words, evaluating one’s work in terms of sustainability is a variant of the question: Are we doing the right thing or are we doing things right?

Frans C. Verhagen (gaia1@rcn.com) is a sustainability sociologist, the director of sustainability research and education at Earth and Peace Education Associates International (EPE), and adjunct associate professor of sustainable communities at Pace University in New York, NY..

-- NAAEE Communicator North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Spring 2006, Vol. 36/No. 2

After briefly sketching a portrait of the sustainability revolution as a social movement that contains a "revolution of interconnections," Edwards, an educator and media designer who has specialized in sustainability topics for the last 15 years, summarily describes the birth of sustainability. Then he applies sustainability thinking and practice to four areas: community, commerce, natural resources and the biosphere. He deftly summarizes in some twenty pages each the important developments in each area, adding a very useful resources chapter of organizations, online resources for each of those areas. His last chapter, entitled ÒFuture PathwaysÓ presents a very original two and half page table that traces the development of the principles of sustainability, divided into scopes, sectors and types and argues that we have to go "beyond green" towards a new vision of the future. The book of some 200 pages that sells for $16.95 concludes with an annotated bibliography.

This book is particularly useful for environmental educators, for it presents in clear, concise language a compelling, practical guide to the rapidly evolving field in sustainability. It shows how environmental education is to transition into a sustainability framework which would give it greater depth and make it more effective in enhancing personal and organizational perspectives that match the urgency of the plight of people and planet. Sustainability is more than buzzword: it is concept and movement that defines what is needed for civilizations to survive. Therefore, seriously considering sustainability principles in their environmental education work, educators are engaged in perhaps the most important evaluation of their work. They would be critically participating for their field of expertise in the articulation of this most powerful sustainability force that is sweeping the world. It is a variant of the question: Are we doing the right thing or are we doing things right?

-- Frans C. Verhagen, M.Div., M.I.A., Ph.D., a sustainability sociologist, is the director of sustainability research and education at Earth and Peace Education Associates International (EPE) and adjunct associate professor of sustainable communities at Pace University

Also published by New Society Publishers is a book authored by Andres Edwards, The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift - must reading for anyone who wants to understand the roots and development of our field. It traces its history, how it emerged, its core philosophies and tools.

It covers government and international institutions; corporate; forestry, farming and fisheries; architecture and ecological design; and biodiversity conservation. www.sustainabilityrevolution.com

Edwards is the founder of EduTracks, which creates educational exhibits for parks, towns and companies on green building and sustainability.

-- Sustainable Business.com

"As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble."

There's a brand new book on sustainability from New Society Publishers. The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift briefly introduces the birth of sustainability and then presents many sets of sustainability principles in five chapters: Sustainability and Community, Sustainability and Commerce, Sustainability and Natural Resources, Sustainability and Ecological Design and Sustainability and the Biosphere.

This is also a very comprehensive list of resources. It could be seen as a 'sustainability encyclopedia'. It is quite accessible: less than 20 pages long. A very good resource indeed and a good reference book on sustainability for those who don't know much about the concept.

-- The Watershed Sentinal

Andres R. Edwards' The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait Of A Paradigm Shift (0865715319, $16.95) tells of millions around the world who are undertaking the Sustainability Revolution, incorporating the values and foundations of sustainability into their lives, policies, and businesses. Chapters trace the origins and enactments of different principles, design values, and alliances with an eye to showing how these connections are made, fostered, and grow.

-- Midwest Book Review

The Sustainability Revolution is a thorough review of the evolution of sustainability. For a text loaded with facts and details, Andres wrote it so it would be understandable for those who are new to the history and principles of sustainability. The resources section is especially helpful because it lists organizations and contacts mentioned in the book along with brief descriptions about them. I'm sure that many of our customers -- for the DVD "Architecture to Zucchini: The people, companies and organizations pioneering sustainability" -- would be very interested in this book. I highly recommend it to higher education, consultants and business leaders.

-- Doug Freeman, Arnold Creek Productions

A comprehensive and readable distillation of the topic; a decent primer for understanding sustainability's many dimensions, and for sharing with colleagues.

-- The Green Business Letter

During the past two decades, "sustainability" has become a catchword, yet few people know exactly what it is supposed to mean. Most dictionaries don't even define it but rest content with a definition of the adjective "sustainable." Part of the problem is that the word can signify several things, depending on the context. Even David Orr, in his foreword to the present book, speaks of it as an "indefinite term," and yet in the context of ecology and economy, "sustainability" does in fact have a specific sense.

Edwards, who is an educator and environmental systems consultant, has written over 200 pages to explain what sustainability stands for and why it is such a vital concept today. Already millions of people have rallied around this notion, so that it is possible to speak of a "Sustainability Revolution"-an international social movement that emphasizes a mature, responsible approach to living, which is not detrimental to our Earth habitat nor our fellow beings (both human and nonhuman). This movement is made up of thousands of interest groups worldwide, each of which has its own concerns and agenda, but these synchronize with the concerns and agendas of other groups.

The present book is something of a manifesto for the Sustainability Revolution. After examining the movement's history, he analyzes its core concerns-the three "E's," namely ecology/environment, economy/employment, equity/equality, to which he adds education of the larger public. He then goes on to analyze sustainability in terms of community, commerce, natural resources, ecological design, and the biosphere-all key issues in the Sustainability Revolution and all related to each other.

Edwards's clear mind, formidable command of his material, and sharp eye for common principles make his book a remarkable and convincing document, which undoubtedly will become a classic reference work.

-- Georg Feuerstein, PhD

Recent intellectual stints into the Big Picture of Sustainability trying to place thoughts within the current destructive economic and industrial paradigms had me searching for some additional perspectives on the matter. Luckily a quick Amazon search led to me to this incredibly useful little book that details the history of Sustainability over the past 200 years focusing most intently on the past 20 years as momentum picked up. Of interest to many readers will be the incredibly detailed Resource Section that includes 28 pages of Organizations, followed by a 15 page annotated bibliography. A true Who’s Who of Sustainability today that is a great launching point for additional study.

Edwards traces the history of Sustainability back to the early 19th century and the Transcendentalist of America. Emerson’s essays on Nature and Self Reliance are as poignant today as ever, and where would we be without Thoreau’s Walden and Civil Disobedience? Of special importance to Edward’s was the Transcendentalist’s connection between Nature and human wisdom and spirituality through its symbolism and connection with the Divine. The role of Nature as teacher was further developed in the early 20th century Naturalists, of which John Muir is perhaps the most notable. Muir’s works Our National Parks and Yosemite focused more on the systemic nature of Nature and also laid out the basis for conservation by detailing the impacts of ranching on our wild lands. Aldo Leopold picked up the torch in the 1940’s by intimately tying ecosystems to our survival in The Sand County Almanac and was one of the clearest voices establishing Conservation as an ethical decision. Twenty years later, Rachael Carson’s Silent Spring roused a sleeping nation to the dangers of our New World Order and generated enough momentum to found the Environmental Movement culminating in Senator Gaylord Nelson’s first Earth Day in 1970. This movement reached critical mass with the passage of such landmark legislation as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the establishment of the EPA. All of this led up to the first landmark event on a Global scale in 1972 with the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Sweden. These notables all led up to what Edward’s considers the birth of Sustainability with the World Commission on Environment and Development report in 1987 which defined Sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Edward’s differentiates between the Environmental Movements of the 1960’s/70’s which were issue based and typically led by charismatic leaders like Carson and Nelson with the Sustainability Revolution that he sees today which is much broader and lacks one central figurehead. Edward’s identifies a Core of Sustainability with the following 3 categories:

Ecology/Environment This "E" is framed by three broad concepts: long term not short term thinking, a focus on the systemic understanding of ecosystems critical importance to human life, and finally the strongly held belief that there are limits to the amount of life that the ecosystems of the Earth can support.

Economy/Employment Here is where Edwards begin to grow beyond the traditional Environmental movement. Sustainability focuses on the critical importance of secure, employment and economies that do not overstretch their ecosystems. There isn't a community on Earth that can be truly sustainable if they cannot meet the needs of their citizens-impoverished Africans will harvest bushmeat and American farmers will turn more and more to industrial agriculture without a viable economic alternative to feed their families and pay their bills.

Equity/Equality Without going all socialist here, the world may not currently have a resource shortage, but it certainly has a distribution problem. Ok, I'll go a little socialist-moral issues such as famines and homelessness are all the more terrible because they are preventable if we could just redistribute the wealth/resources already in use in our society. Edwards also stresses community building in this "E" recognizing the inherent importance in concern and cooperation with ones neighbor. "At a fundamental level, members of a sustainable community understand that the well being of the individual and the larger community are interdependent."

The bulk of Edwards’ book is spent flushing out these 3 categories and providing actual organizations or conferences that address them specifically. Edward’s also spends a lot of time defining Principles for each category and looking for common themes. In Chapter 2 he delves into Sustainability and Community with great examples like the inspiring Netherlands National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP) and the Earth Charter. Further chapters devote time to Commerce, Ecological Design, Natural Resources, and the Biosphere. Subsequent chapters spend several pages each with an organization that is on the leading edge of driving change in their area of expertise providing fantastic examples of how we can all “be the change we wish to see in the world”.

Edwards concludes the book by identifying Seven Common Themes that all the detailed organizations have in common:
Stewardship
Respect for limits
Interdependance
Economic restructuring
Fair Distribution
Intergenerational perspective
Nature as a model and teacher

These themes can be seen at work in areas such as Curitiba, Brazil and Kerala, India where governments are literally changing the way that cities and regions are run to create ore sustainable paradigms. Edwards concludes that “Sustainability offers the possibility of brining social change values into the mainstream and pushing the mainstream toward sustainable practices.” I will leave you with a beautiful quote from the Netherlands’s Green Plan NEPP4:

“All humans seek to survive, to live healthily and to live meaningfully. This still does not add up to a sustainable life however. A sustainable life involves more: a realization, for example, that humans are not the only living creatures on the planet and must respect all life. And it involves, for example, the shouldering of responsibilities in a range of different roles: as citizens, as producer, as consumer or as citizen of the world. By bearing responsibility for the social, economic and ecological consequences of our actions both now and later… …we will bring sustainable development closer.”

Andres Edwards’ book is a great primer for anyone seeking to become more intimately aware of the myriad diverse initiatives in action across our globe as we try to dig ourselves out of this mess. The Doom and Gloom is easy, Edwards provides real proof that there are hundreds of thousands of intelligent, inspiring people fighting for a better way across the globe. Learning from them is a both a necessity and a pleasure.

Interested in learning more? Here are some great links and books included in the Resources section of the book:

The Earth Policy Insitute
The International Institute for Sustainable Development
Natural Capitalism Solutions
The Rocky Mountain Institute
The Global Footprint Network
The Natural Step
The Land Institute
US Green Building Council
The Permaculture Research Institute

Should Reads:
Natural Capitalism
Cradle to Cradle
Biomimicry
Permaculture: Pathways and Principles
The Natural Step for Communities

-- Groovy Green, written by Beo

EcoTalk Radio, Nationally Syndicated (11 min.) May 16, 2007

EcoTalk show host Betsy Rosenberg interviews Andres Edwards about his book, The Sustainability Revolution. Andres discusses the trend towards sustaiable practices and topics including Tibet, deep ecology and green building. 

Earthwatch Radio, Nationally Syndicated, Madison Wisconsin(4 min.)
October 14, 2005 

Earthwatch Radio show host Steve PumplunRathbun interviews Andres Edwards about his book, The Sustainability Revolution. Andres describes the emergence of awareness of sustainability ideas practices in communities, the business, building and non-profit sectors.