Ellis Jones - The Better World Handbook: Small Changes That Make A Big Difference

Advance Praise for
The Better World Handbook

Wow! What an incredible resource! It reminds me that what people really want out of life is to make a difference and have some fun and this book tells you how to do both at the same time. We in the Simplicity movement encourage people to buy less stuff, but books are exempt particularly books like this!

Cecile Andrews, author of Slow is Beautiful: New Visions of Community, Leisure and Joie de Vivre

Cynicism is the social disease of our age. Cynicism is what passes for insight when courage and vision are lacking. If there is such a thing as a single cure for cynicism, this book is it. The Better World Handbook gives us a step-by-step blueprint for creating conscious global citizens. Its a manual for better living that you will find yourself using over and over again.
Kevin Danaher, Cofounder, Global Exchange, and co-author of Insurrection: Citizen Challenges to Corporate Power

This handbook helps you answer that age-old question, What can I do? With the help of the handbook, it turns out you can easily do a lot. Buy it, share it or get it from the library. But, most of all, use it to change our world for the better. This is an impressive resource for people who want their everyday actions to reflect caring and compassion for the environment and others.

Betsy Taylor, Executive Director, Center for a New American Dream

An excellent look at issues we face and concrete actions small and large that we can take to address them. The book also includes a large collection of useful resources.

Paul Loeb, author of Soul of a Citizen:
Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time

This is exactly the resource consumers need to help create a sustainable world.
The extensive background information and action steps are great tools for anyone looking for ways to make change happen now!

Alisa Gravitz, Executive Director, Co-op America

People everywhere are hungry for meaning and purpose, wanting to make a difference, and be of service to something larger than themselves. The Better World Handbook provides valuable information and resources to manifest these intentions into practical reality.

Keep a copy on your desk or reference shelf, and use it!

Michael Toms, CEO, New Dimensions Radio, and co-author of True Work: Doing What You Love and Loving What You Do

We can make the world a better place and this book shows you how easy it is to really make a difference. I highly recommend that you buy it, use it and enjoy what you can do to help create positive change.
Jeffrey Hollender, President, Seventh Generation, and author of Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guideto Safe and Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning

The Better World Handbook provides a wealth of practical ideas for transforming our everyday activities of shopping, living, and working into an artful way of life that is more sustainable, just, and meaningful.
Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Wayof Life That is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich and Promise Ahead: A Vision of Hope and Action for Humanitys Future

The Revolution is not just around the corner, its around every corner. I love this old saying because it captures the important truth highlighted in this inspiring book: The world can be changed through action in our everyday lives where we spend our money, how we help out in our community, the ways we travel. This practical, enjoyable handbook shows how small improvements can add up to a big difference in the world.

Jay Walljasper, editor Ode Magazine and co-author of Visionaries: People and Ideas to Change Your Life andThe GreatNeighborhood Book: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Placemaking

the
better
world
HANDBOOK

SMALL CHANGES THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

the
better
world
HANDBOOK

Ellis Jones Ross Haenfler Brett Johnson

REVISED and
UPDATED

Cataloging in Publication Data:

A catalog record for this publication is available from the National Library of Canada.

Copyright 2007 by Ellis Jones, Ross Haenfler and Brett Johnson.

All rights reserved.

The authors will use their profits from the sale of this book to help maintain and develop The Better World Network, a nonprofit organization created to carry on the work this book has begun. Contact the authors by visiting: www.betterworldhandbook.com or www.betterworldnetwork.org.

Cover concept: Ellis Jones. Design: Diane McIntosh.
Image: iStock, Jan Stadelmyer.
Printed in Canada.
First printing January 2007.

Paperback ISBN 13: 978-086571-575-2

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of The Better World Handbook should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.

To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order online at: www.newsociety.com

Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:
New Society Publishers
P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
1-800-567-6772

New Society Publishers mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision. We are committed to doing this not just through education, but through action. We are acting on our commitment to the worlds remaining ancient forests by phasing out our paper supply from ancient forests worldwide. This book is one step toward ending global deforestation and climate change. It is printed on acid-free paper that is 100% old growth forest-free (100% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine free, and printed with vegetable-based, low-VOC inks. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and purchase securely, visit our website at: www.newsociety.com

NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS

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CONTENTS

Actions For A Better World

PREFACE TO
THE SECOND EDITION

S INCE THE FIRST EDITION of The Better World Handbook came out in 2001, weve been on a book tour, spoken to university students, community groups, and churches, participated in the Better World Handbook Festival, and read hundreds of supportive emails from people all over the world. Through each of these wonderful interactions, one consistent theme emerges again and again: people are hungry for ways to make a real difference in the world while leading meaningful, fulfilling lives. Many of you have inspired us with stories of how you and others in your communities are taking positive steps toward a more just and sustainable world your feedback, commitment, and hopeful vision has driven us to write an updated and improved Better World Handbook. Thank you.

Your optimism, creativity, and passion are needed now more than ever. In the five years since the first edition, weve faced challenging times: the 9/11 attacks, the invasion of Iraq, the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, and Hurricane Katrina and the bungled relief effort that followed. We know how difficult it can be to maintain hope when so much seems to be heading in the wrong direction, so heres something you should know. A growing body of evidence points to the recent emergence of what could be called a Better World Movement. Millions of people in the US and around the world are starting to see the profound connections between their own daily choices and the potential for social change spanning a wide spectrum of global issues. They are taking action in their everyday lives, and making their collective impact felt across the social, economic, cultural, and political spheres. Many of the participants in this movement are not formally organized, nor does it seem likely that they will ever meet. But they are a powerful force to be reckoned with. So we are here to tell you that you are not alone. And to thank you, though we may never meet, for the incredible contribution you are making to the world.