The World We Need

Stories and Lessons from America’s Unsung Environmental Movement

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Pub Date May 04 2021 | Archive Date May 21 2021

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Description

The inspiring people and grassroots organizations that are on the front lines of the battle to save the planet

As the world's scientists have come together and declared a "climate emergency," the fight to protect our planet's ecological resources and the people that depend on them is more urgent than ever. But the real battles for our future are taking place far from the headlines and international conferences, in mostly forgotten American communities where the brutal realities of industrial pollution and environmental degradation have long been playing out.

The World We Need provides a vivid introduction to America's largely unsung grassroots environmental groups—often led by activists of color and the poor—valiantly fighting back in America's so-called sacrifice zones against industries poisoning our skies and waterways and heating our planet. Through original reporting, profiles, artwork, and interviews, we learn how these activist groups, almost always working on shoestring budgets, are devising creative new tactics; building sustainable projects to transform local economies; and organizing people long overlooked by the environmental movement—changing its face along the way.

Capturing the riveting stories and hard-won strategies from a broad cross section of pivotal environmental actions—from Standing Rock to Puerto Rico—The World We Need offers a powerful new model for the larger environmental movement, and inspiration for concerned citizens everywhere.

The inspiring people and grassroots organizations that are on the front lines of the battle to save the planet

As the world's scientists have come together and declared a "climate emergency," the...


Advance Praise

"[An] illuminating anthology. . . . Lim crisscrosses the country and selects her profile subjects wisely, resulting in an invigorating survey that breaks down stereotypes about tree-hugging coastal elites and highlights just how much change can be achieved at the local level. Progressive policy makers and environmental activists should take note."

Publishers Weekly

 

"[An] illuminating anthology. . . . Lim crisscrosses the country and selects her profile subjects wisely, resulting in an invigorating survey that breaks down stereotypes about tree-hugging coastal...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781620975152
PRICE $19.99 (USD)
PAGES 256

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Featured Reviews

"The World We Need" was a complete eye-opener for me. I am sorry to admit that my environmentalism starts and ends at minimising waste and not using plastic bags, trying to shop at organic places. For me, as it is for the majority of general public, environmentalism and activism was Greenpeace (although, I was aware of criticism against it) and hipster college kids trying to do their best.

Apparently, it doesn't end there at all. "The World We Need" is focused on grassroots organisations, that consists of mainly underprivileged communities. These are mostly black, Native or immigrant communities, who have very few resources to defend themselves as some communities don't even have enough people that speak English. This book is full of many examples of how, with the right leadership, determination and most importantly by joint community effort, they were able to make changes on a local level and get back their basic rights to clean water, air and land. They didn't chain themselves to trees, instead they talked to people to see their problems, backed up what they said with the help of scientists and scholars, and were able to even change policies.

Environmental justice is a huge topic thats is usually behind other more louder issues. And for us living a privileged life, we think of climate change etc. like a future problem. It is not. Irresponsible policies are affecting and have been affecting people's daily life and health for as long as the U.S has been found.

In addition to these success stories of grassroots, Audrea Lim also highlights with many examples the importance of arts and culture in achieving awareness. There are some amazing examples of what people were able to achieve and influence children from Detroit to Hawaii by involving them in arts and cultures projects, as well as teaching them agriculture.

I have many great things to say about this book. I highly enjoyed learning about a topic that I didn't know much about, but a topic that I am OBLIGATED to know about. I am not American and I don't live in the U.S, so I am now curious to know how this system works in other countries.

Many thanks to the New Press and Netgalley for approving my copy.

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