Starting Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 8pm there will be a book study of the book Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman. It will be held at Highland United Methodist Church on Livingston Road just west of Highland Elementary School and it is open to the public. Books are available for purchase either at the meeting or at Costco, Borders, etc. Even if you cannot make the book study, I highly recommend reading this book. It is very interesting and packed with fascinating information about the steady deterioration of our planet due to a variety of factors. Foremost is the problem of climate change caused by use of fossil fuels, rise of the middle class in the world the exploding human population around the globe. Friedman explores myriad problems including the relationship between oil and global wealth and it's implications, the destructive habits of many of the world's people, loss of habitat, climate change and excessive buildup of CO2 (carbon dioxide). In the first half of the book, he paints a dark, disturbing picture of what is actually occurring in the U.S., China, and other countries around the world. In the second half, he poses some unusually creative ideas to start us on the road to alleviating climate change. I am three quarters of the way through this book, and what is most amazing to me is how Friedman has met with such a wide variety of people from sheiks, to presidents, to CEO’s to environmentalists. He has traveled the world and documents some of the most interesting innovations and activities being done today (or that could be). In a section I just read, he discusses how New York City made inroads into pollution and wasteful gas use by creating legislation to require all taxis to get 30 miles per gallon (i.e. be hybrids). He points out that as companies, individuals and governments move toward green actions, they may intend to correct one problem (i.e. cleaner air in NYC from use of hybrid taxis) yet gain additional benefits: happier drivers (saving gas money), a better image for the city, smaller vehicles on the roads and encouraging car companies to create a more innovative product. He also gives many fascinating examples of sensible solutions he and others pose as a result of his travels and meetings with some very bright, creative minds. In one chapter, he envisions a “smart” home with a monitoring box that could regulate how much electricity the appliances use based on ongoing feedback. At peak times, appliances would run at low power, electric cars could recharge during non-peak times, and you could “sell back” energy to the grid as needed.
In another chapter, he discusses the problem of rainforest deforestation and suggests a solution that takes a more local approach. He shares how a group of concerned conservationists who were attempting to protect the orangutan from extinction in Borneo, met with local tribes to teach them sustainable ways to protect their forests. It ended up being a win-win situation for the local people as well as the wildlife in Borneo. (It was a lot more involved than that but that was the gist of it). He points out the importance of protecting the incredible diversity of plants and animals in rainforests, in our oceans and elsewhere. Loss of biodiversity to monocultures opens up the door to catastrophic crop losses and destruction of entire species such as our own experiences with ash trees killed off by gypsy moths.
Finally, Friedman discusses strategies to protect and increase the earth’s biodiversity and ways to generate and use new kinds of renewable and sustainable energy. These are not “quick and easy” simple or naïve steps like just recycling or not using Styrofoam (which are still noble efforts). Rather, he challenges the reader to delve deeper into lifestyle changes and new ways of thinking. He suggests that America must take the lead in solving this worldwide crisis. I highly recommend you read this intriguing, provocative book. For more information on the book study, call Katheryn at 248-887-4643. For more information on the author, you can visit his website at: http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/
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