Clear, concise, compelling. These are descriptors that came to mind even as I was still reading Ellen Moyer's treatise on sustainability. Dr. Moyer covers a broad array of global issues in a manner one would expect of an engineer. She describes complex, interrelated problems of sustainability, economics, and personal health and well-being with a declarative style and vernacular that bring them to our attention vividly and sharply. For example: “Westerners believe that ‘survival of the fittest’ means duking it out – between or among species, with the victor surviving and the loser dying. Yet this ignores countless real-life examples in which cooperation makes species fittest.” (p.43) The species that fit best with Nature and other species will thrive. This is an important concept in the global sustainability narrative that we have misunderstood for generations but must now urgently grasp.
Dr. Moyer moves through many such issues with both brevity and clarity. Her style and pace allow the reader to maintain interest in the current topic and curiosity about the next. Certainly no stranger to data and scientific notation, she deftly avoids these so as not to confound the reader but rather stick to the heart of the message.
In her section on Health and Happiness, the matter-of-fact scientist/engineer surprises with: “Love is absolutely required for the survival of our species…human survival depends on once again loving future human generations. Our current course involves sticking them with a big environmental mess…” (p.113) This elegant phrasing is typical of her calling-us-out in a calm but powerful manner. These strong but non-judgmental calls to action are ubiquitous throughout the second-half, solutions phase of the book. She brings home essence with a simple sentence: “Effects of climate change warn us to stop burning things – period.” (p.151) It is noteworthy that more of the book is dedicated to solutions than to problems. Too many writers go into great depth describing the problems facing current and future generations then seem to run out of gas, leaving a scant few pages for overly-broad, often-fuzzy solutions. Not so Dr. Moyer. Her solutions are numerous and practical, real calls to action for both individuals and organizations, corporations and governments. She summarizes these as “five major actions: get money out of politics, green our way of life, green our economies, strengthen our democracies, and create social equality.” (p.204) Then in characteristic style, she provides several bullet points to expand each action and light the path to accomplishment.
Dr. Moyer’s book is extremely well-referenced. She deftly utilizes relevant quotes to reinforce her points while sticking to topic and context. She calls on philosopher Kathleen Dean Moore to weigh in on “How We Can Each Help”: “‘We’ve got to remember that the next generation will have to live in whatever is left of the world after we get done with it.’ “(p.118, note 392)
While not intended to be joyful, the book is nonetheless uplifting as a hopeful and useful guide to sustainability. Dr. Moyer’s call to action is firm and urgent, but compassionate and encouraging at the same time. Thank you Dr. Moyer, and well done.
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An invigorating read in three parts that will fire you up: part rebuke; part self-development; and part "take action" handbook.
Our Earth, Our Species, Our Selves is an invigorating read with wide-ranging thoughts about the scourge we humans have wrought on our earth and what we can do about it—that is, if we act now. This book made me angry; it also gave me hope, and energized me to re-imagine the changes I can make for the health and well-being of our planet and all of her inhabitants.The author, Ellen Moyer, is a Ph.D. civil engineer, a personal-development devotee, and a self-described generalist. She sees and makes connections across disciplines, and thus, has served up an integrated three-part book.Part One, “World Out of Whack,” is an accounting our of current, dire, doom and gloom situation. Moyer incites and depresses us with the frightening reality of our catastrophic, eco-system-disruptive practices: from ecological degradation due to massive deforestations; to agricultural practices that rob the earth of topsoil and nutrients; to water that is contaminated with pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, fertilizers and other known toxins; to the rise in obesity, diabetes, and diabetes-related disease; to gross economic inequities leading to malnutrition and violence; to the glut of stuff we buy—designed for obsolescence, that ends up choking our landfills or floating like super-sized plastic mattresses in our oceans; to, of course, global climate change caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases “that threatens just about everything we depend on.” The list is long and daunting. “We will either get with the program or Earth will get rid of us pesky humans,” Moyer writes.Part One concludes with the promise that the rest of the book will be devoted to “how humans can create upward spirals necessary to survive and thrive, both as individuals and as a species.” Moyer delivers on that promise.Part Two, “Our Selves,” is what I would call the Self Help section of the book. I found myself highlighting many passages I’ll refer back to when my courage needs bolstering or my activist batteries need recharging.Moyer uses personal narrative and, also, recounts the wisdom of eminent thought-leaders to make the case that we—the human species, would be healthier and happier if we weren’t compromising the future of our planet, if we were living sustainably. The chapter titles of Part Two give you an idea about the sustainable practices Moyer advocates: Organic Agriculture, Cleaner Energy, Intelligent Water Management, Forest Protection, Contraception, Green Chemistry, Health Care, Conservation and Efficiency, and Information Sharing and Learning.In an interview Moyer conducted with environmental champion Marion Stoddart, Stoddart—who has seen a lot in her long life of advocacy, said, “Most action, unfortunately, takes place only when things reach a critical stage.” We are at that stage.Part Three of Our Earth, Our Species, Our Selves provides concrete examples of actions we can take as individuals and collectively to mitigate the problems we humans have created.Moyer concludes her book with this summary: “Time is our scarcest resource. We absolutely can succeed if we accelerate the positive changes already underway, starting right now. What’s more, you and I can thrive in the process.” I like Moyer’s optimism. I feel skeptically hopeful.The author, Ellen Moyer, gave me an advance review copy and asked for my honest opinion. I live in a cabin in the woods and am engaged in the love, care, and protection of people and our planet.
