Our environmental handprints
Recover the land,reverse global warming, reclaim the future
Jon Biemer shows how both our personal and collective Handprints create a better world. Handprint Opportunities range from planting trees to reviving rivers, from bicycles to electric cars, from introducing children to nature to majoring in marine science, from eco-remodeling our house to partnering with your earth-friendly grocer. 178 in all. "Handprints are not about guilt. They are about love, creativity and being called to serve."
One of the "Top Ten Books on the Environment and Sustainability: 2022," according to Donna Seaman, editor of Booklist for the American Library Association. Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield (May 5, 2021) Available through: Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Indiebound, Powell's Books, and Amazon |
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HANDPRINTS
"This is a heartfelt entreaty from a retired energy conservation consultant to do something, anything, to alleviate the environmental damage wrought by previous generations. Thoroughly grounded in reality, author Biemer's exhortations come across as reassuring, emphasizing the differences even tiny gestures make. He uses the metaphors of handprints, intentional, corrective actions, and footprints, measures of energy consumption and waste production, as ways to help readers develop a climate neutral life plan. As chapters progress, so do his easily achievable, specific, everyday handprint suggestions, going beyond planting trees and wearing vintage clothing to creating neighborhood eco-villages, observing socially responsive investing and sustainable development, and getting kids outdoors, into nature. This ends up almost as a how-to manual, with every chapter ending with a challenge: "How will you honor the soil?"; "How ill you become a steward of our oceans?". The multiple solutions make the lessons go down easily, and the concluding sections highlight international economic and political initiatives and individuals who are effecting change. Biemer's final message is that success is within our grasp. Readers should be inspired, informed, and ready to go."
--Booklist, March 1, 2021 issue
Young Adults: "Teens will appreciate the relatable anecdotes, practical suggestions, and copious notes nd backmatter that will help with reports. "
--Booklist, March 1, 2021 issue
“The Handprint—what a beautiful and elegant metaphor and example for respectfully and lovingly saving our planet from the ravages of climate change and environmental degradation!”
—Thom Hartmann, author of “The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight” and "Unequal Protection"
“Jon Biemer celebrates people’s ability and creativity. It is not just our amazing brains, but even more so our hands that turn ideas into reality. We can leave a positive legacy with our hands, and reverse our massive overuse of Earth’s ecosystems. While inevitably we have an ecological footprint, our handprints can help us, our neighbors, our cities, and our countries not only to find ways to manage our own resource use, but also to build also to build pathways for a world where all can thrive within the means of our planet Earth. Jon’s practical guidance is most welcome inspiration.”
—Mathis Wackernagel, author of “Our Ecological Footprint” and president of Global Footprint Network
“This book is for all of us who think that we are doing all that we can to help heal the planet. It is a relief to learn that there are always more ways we can work together to take better care of the precious environment that sustains us all.”
—Judith A. Ramaley, president emerita, Portland State University
"The most important thing an individual can do in the fight against global warming is join in the movements reshaping our politics and economies--but many people have creativity to spare, and this volume is a perfect guide to all the personal things that can make a difference too."
—Bill McKibben, author of “Deep Economy” and co-founder of 350.org
--Booklist, March 1, 2021 issue
Young Adults: "Teens will appreciate the relatable anecdotes, practical suggestions, and copious notes nd backmatter that will help with reports. "
--Booklist, March 1, 2021 issue
“The Handprint—what a beautiful and elegant metaphor and example for respectfully and lovingly saving our planet from the ravages of climate change and environmental degradation!”
—Thom Hartmann, author of “The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight” and "Unequal Protection"
“Jon Biemer celebrates people’s ability and creativity. It is not just our amazing brains, but even more so our hands that turn ideas into reality. We can leave a positive legacy with our hands, and reverse our massive overuse of Earth’s ecosystems. While inevitably we have an ecological footprint, our handprints can help us, our neighbors, our cities, and our countries not only to find ways to manage our own resource use, but also to build also to build pathways for a world where all can thrive within the means of our planet Earth. Jon’s practical guidance is most welcome inspiration.”
—Mathis Wackernagel, author of “Our Ecological Footprint” and president of Global Footprint Network
“This book is for all of us who think that we are doing all that we can to help heal the planet. It is a relief to learn that there are always more ways we can work together to take better care of the precious environment that sustains us all.”
—Judith A. Ramaley, president emerita, Portland State University
"The most important thing an individual can do in the fight against global warming is join in the movements reshaping our politics and economies--but many people have creativity to spare, and this volume is a perfect guide to all the personal things that can make a difference too."
—Bill McKibben, author of “Deep Economy” and co-founder of 350.org