I’ve been a big fan of Bill McKibben since the 2006 BALLE Conference in Burlington, VT – Bill inspired me to help start the now growing and successful BALLE chapter in Lowcountry South Carolina (www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org). I just heard him speak again this past week at a great day long seminar in Charleston put on by The Center for Humans and Nature (www.humansandnature.org).
Unless you’ve been under a rock (or hard place) for the past couple decades, then you’ve surely heard or know Bill’s work well by now, either way check out www.billmckibben.com – – what I loved about his latest installment is all the amazing things that have happened since I last saw him speak. Hearing the grass roots story about how Step it Up started and quickly grew into the largest environmental demonstration since the first Earth Day – check it out their latest news: http://stepitup2007.org/ .
His no nonsense, practical focus on where we’ve lost our moorings (globalization of everything) and took our eye off the ball as to what we really want/need/desire – which is local community and interaction – really adds a true social layer to the entire environmental debate. While he spoke of the acceleration of polar caps melting beyond even the most aggressive estimates, he intoned modest optimism as the sleeping giant in America has awoken for a political environmental dawn, and a return to community (farmers markets are the fastest growing segment of the food industry) combine to give hope to even the most ardent pessimist.
Make our leaders accountable and get out and start participating in your community through shopping, volunteering and good old fashioned socializing. These are two things we can do now – I am.
Hopefully Yours – Matt
Posted in: General Blog
