Two Worthwhile Pieces on Sustainability

Two pieces on sustainability for your consideration: 

1) I don’t know anyone who doesn’t admire the insight — not to mention the popularity — of best-selling business author and NY Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman.  Here’s a good article he wrote in 2009 on the importance of sustainability.

2) While Friedman is very bright, he colors within the lines of our conforming cultural viewpoints; this, in fact, is my only complaint of his work.  I’m reminded of the conclusion to his groundbreaking work The World Is Flat, which, in my mind, was a rather Pollyanna-ish reminder that Americans are creative souls, and thus the forecast of more Googles and Microsofts to lead us through the 21st Century.  I’m not so sure. 

So here’s a video made by a far more outspoken critic of our modern way of life, Annie Leonard, called “The Story of Stuff.” I wish I had the power to get everyone in the world — at least the US — to spend the 20 minutes required to take in this message, rendered to perfection by one of my true heroes.  She and I have been in touch, and I’m going to try to interview her for my next book; it will certainly be my honor.