Green Consumer

How Much Is Enough? : The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth (The Worldwatch Environmental Alert Series)
by Alan Durning
[Buy this book from FirstandSecond.com]

Consuming goods and services has become a central goal of life in industrial lands the world over. In this book, Alan Durning of the Worldwatch Institute explores the roots of the consumer society, exposes the toll that our appetites have taken on the earth's natural systems, and suggests that there are other paths to fulfillment.

Our Stolen Future : Are We Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence, and Survival? - A Scientific Detective Story
by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, John Peterson Myers, Albert Gore Jr
[Buy this book from FirstandSecond.com]

A book about the health and environmental threats created by man-made chemical contaminants that intefere with hormones in humans and wildlife. Endocrine disrupting chemicals alter development of the fetus in the womb by interfering with the natural hormonal signals directing fetal growth. Their impacts, sometimes not detectable until years or decades after exposure, include reduced disease resistance, diminished fertility and compromised intelligence and behavior. Our Stolen Future tells the story of how endocrine disruption was discovered, how it works what it means, and how families can protect themselves and their communities, all in clear, simple language intended for a general audience.

The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists
by Michael Brower, Union of Concerned Scientists, Warren Leon
[Buy this book from FirstandSecond.com]

Paper or plastic? Cloth or disposable? Regular or organic? Every day, environmentally conscious consumers are faced with the overwhelming catch-22 of a capitalist society--reconciling the harm we do by consuming, while still providing ourselves and our families with the goods and services we need. It's enough to make a city dweller crazy. Fret no more! The Union of Concerned Scientists has put together a well-researched and eminently practical guide to the decisions that matter. The authors hope that the book will help you set priorities, stop worrying about insignificant things, and understand the real environmental impacts of household decisions. For instance, you may be surprised to learn that buying and eating meat and poultry is much more harmful to the environment than the packaging the meat is wrapped in, even if it's Styrofoam. This guide takes on both sides of the consumer-impact argument, goring sacred cows of the environmentalist movement (like the strident emphasis on recycling) and the industrialist perspective (like the relentless message to buy more, more, more). If you're confused and overwhelmed by all the environmental decision-making in the modern world, you'll find new inspiration in this book. --Therese Littleton

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saving the Environment
by Pahl, Greg
[Buy this book from FirstandSecond.com]

Book Description: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saving the Environment" is a comprehensive guide to the ways an average citizen can make every day Earth Day. We learn how the environment got in this condition and how we can improve it by reducing, reusing, and recycling at home, at work, and everywhere else. The book suggests groups and organizations to join or to go to for information.

"This book lives up to its "bible" title. Consumer advocate Green tackles the entire gamut of expenses you're likely to face in life ... and in death ... covering everything from infertility treatments to funerals. Whether you're looking for child care, problem-free moving, or the best airfares -- this book has it all!" Reviewer: Marc Eisenson (marc@investinyourself.com) from Elizaville, NY

Amazon.com:"In Seven Wonders, John C. Ryan recommends a few simple things that could have a substantial positive impact on the planet's natural resources. The benefits of some of his "wonders" are obvious: condoms are a valuable tool in both birth control and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, while using a clothesline instead of a dryer saves energy and money. But did you know that Pad Thai dishes, which rely heavily on rice and vegetables, are not only healthy but environmentally sound? (Leaving aside the question of animal cruelty, livestock production in the United States accounts for almost half the energy used in American agriculture and generates 130 times more manure than the entire human population of the world.) And if more people used their public libraries instead of buying books, what might that do for the global level of paper consumption (not to mention the other community benefits a library has to offer)? Ryan's other three wonders are the bicycle, the ceiling fan, and the ladybug; his short essays on each of these items mix a presentation of their benefits with a thoughtful consideration of the social changes that would have to take place in our culture of consumption to make these wonders more mainstream. Seven Wonders is an intelligent reflection on the possibilities of a simpler lifestyle that combines material comfort with environmental sustainability."

Place orders at: orders@vikas.gobookshopping.com
Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd

Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less-Toxic Living
by Berthold-Bond, Annie

[Buy this book from FirstandSecond.com]

A compendium of practical information--recipes, tips, and guidelines--for building a simple, comfortable, healthy, environmentally safer lifestyle.

Synopsis: "An easy-to-use guide to planet-friendly housekeeping provides simple recipes for nontoxic cleaners made from inexpensive, common ingredients, and offers tips on how to clean a home safely."

Synopsis: "A guide to creating herbal, non-toxic cleaning formulas for the home includes easy-to-follow instructions for laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, bathroom cleaners, air and carpet fresheners, insect repellents, and much more. Original."

Garbage Magazine, March/April 1991: "The result of her years of experimentation is not only an encyclopedia for environmental cleanliness, but also a laundry list of solutions of solutions for everyday puzzlers."

The authors list thousands of household products, personal care products, foods, and beverages--from car wax to mascara to soup and flea powder--by brand names, rating them for both short-term and long-term health hazards. Charts provide recommendations for the safest foods, toiletries, and everday household purchases.

Toxins in the home can be the cause of unexplained headaches, fatigue, and depression. It is also widely believed that there is a definite link between the increased use of toxins and the rising rate of cancer. In this book, the author of "Nontoxic, Natural & Earthwise" and "The Nontoxic Home & Office" presents more than 400 tips, including do-it-yourself formulas for inexpensive, safe products to replace harmful substances found in the home.

Mother Jones, September/October 1997: "Documenting a day in the life of the average North American consumer, Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday Things deconstructs the American Dream by unraveling the hidden costs behind the objects around us. From our morning cup of Columbian coffee to our South Korean-made sneakers, the book traces the environmental impact of the consumer decisions most of us make without thinking. Authors John C. Ryan and Alan Thein Durning of Seattle's Northwest Environment Watch tell us greenhouse gases produced in making one burger are equivalent to those emitted in a six-mile drive to the burger joint. Only occasionally verging on preachiness, this readable 88-page book is definitely worth the paper it's printed on."

Synopsis: "Plants are the lungs of the earth. This revolutionary guide, based on 25 years of research by NASA, shows how common houseplants can combat sick building syndrome and cleanse the home or office of common pollutants."

The Green Travel Sourcebook: A Guide for the Physically Active, the Intellectually Curious, or the Socially Aware
by Daniel Grotta, Sally Wiener Grotta
[Buy this book from FirstandSecond.com]

Home Ecology : Simple and Practical Ways to Green Your_ Home
by Karen Christensen, Judy Strafford
The publisher, fulcrum@fulcrum-books.com , April 22, 1999: "A guide to improving your way of life, step by step! Many environmentalists have reservations about the role the individual can play in saving the earth. Christenson agrees that corporate pollution and government policies are mostly to blame, but she maintains that personal change is an essential part of changing public attitudes, and it is public attitudes that will force the necessary changes in industry and technology."

Green Earth Resource Guide : A Comprehensive Guide About Environmentally-Friendly Services and Products : Books, Clean Air, Clean Water, Eco-Tourism
by Cheryl Gorder

More Publications:
The PANNA shop - Publications on Pesticides and their alternatives