Choosing a Sustainable Future
Ideas and Inspiration from Ithaca, NY
by Liz Walker
Softcover, 288 pages, 6 x 9", Social Science
ISBN 978-0-86571-675-9
US$19.95
WE ALL WANT a sustainable future, but what does it look like, and how do we get there? In Ithaca, NY a new culture is blossoming — one that values cooperation, local production, environmental stewardship, social justice and creativity. Ithaca is showing the way to meet the challenges of the day with a wide variety of prac- tical, real-world solutions.
Filled with inspiring examples, Choosing a Sustainable Future provides readers with a remarkable sense of possibility. Explore Ithaca’s:
- Bustling, vibrant farmers markets, overflowing with fresh, local produce
- Award-winning community credit union that triples the savings of low-income people
- Flagship college sustainability programs
- Pioneering alternative transportation programs, such as Ithaca Carshare
- Innovative efforts by coalitions of local business, university, government and activists to create transformation in areas as diverse as green build- ing, city planning, health and wellness, and honoring cultural diversity.
Taken together, these examples of citizen engagement are a taste of what life could be like in a sustainable city of the future. In a time of overwhelming economic, social and environmental crises, Choosing a Sustainable Future provides a quiet, authoritative voice of hope.
Liz Walker is the author of EcoVillage at Ithaca and the co-founder and executive director of the award-winning project of the same name. She is a leading authority on cohousing and sustainable communities, a founding board member of Gaia Education and a lifelong grassroots organizer for peace and environmental groups.