READ THIS BOOK!

Read it and be inspired

I've read a lot of books on social change, activism, politics of all flavors, and on down the line.

And in this blog I try and recommend reading materials that inform and "fire up." I'm reading a book right now that I feel is very well worth recommending for a few reasons: 1/ It's easy to read; 2/ It introduces the reader to real activists doing practical things about real problems; 3/ It's inspiring -- instead of weighing you down it makes you think, "Yeah, there is real hope and I can make a difference."

The book is "Global Uprising: Confronting the Tyrannies of the 21st Century -- Stories from a New Generation of Activists." Basically, the book is a series of short -- a few pages -- profiles of activists doing great things on all kinds of issues. It's co-authored by Neva Welton and Linda Wolf but many of the words come straight from the activists themselves.

It's entertaining, uplifting, practical and motivating. Sure, there are some stark realities contained between the covers, but this book is all about hope and the reality that change can happen.

The book is published by New Society Publishers. They have some great books on their site but this one is out of print. It was published in 2001.

You can buy it here or do a Google search for it and buy it from wherever you wish.

So don't just sit there and feel overwhelmed -- we've all done that at times. Get this book and give yourself a real lift.

Of "Global Uprising," the wonderful historian and activist, the late Howard Zinn, said: "For anyone despairing of the rule of money ... here is a testament to the spirit of resistance."

And remember the words of Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men [and women] do nothing."

Happy reading, happy life,
Adrian

IF YOU FOUND THIS BLOG POST INTERESTING you might also like THIS IS HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD or EDMUND BURKE'S ETERNAL TRUISM.

EDMUND BURKE'S ETERNAL TRUISM

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

That quote is precious to me.

And sometimes very hard to live by. But make no mistake, it is the cornerstone of progress... of humanity.

Edmund Burke was an 18th century, Irish-born political philosopher. His eloquence carried a poetry long lost to political leaders and writers. The beauty in his words reflect the beauty of his sentiment.

It seems we have lost much with all our progress.

Nevertheless, say it how you will, the burden of guilt does rest heavily with those who do nothing when so much clearly needs to be done. We are all very practiced at being kind to ourselves. To spoiling ourselves a little here; indulging a little there.

Okay.

But what of the vast numbers on the planet who have so little and continue to be battered by the tides of the super economies, super war machines, super polluters, super self-interests?

And what of the planet itself? If we don't care enough -- or lack the courage -- to act, then we will get exactly what we deserve. Or, worse still, our children will.

This isn't fear mongering. No no. Put away that tired old complaint. The best minds on the planet -- those without an agenda to peddle -- will tell you we might be burning a fuse as short as 50 years. Either environment calamity (well underway) or nuclear disaster (intentional or accidental) could do us in.

There is no way to put a tight deadline to it, but we could very well be talking decades.

Do a little research. I have. You'll see that this is all very possible.

And it is not enough to simply decry the perpetrators: the politicians, the corporate elites, the media owners, the PR institutions. We have to act. We have to use our numbers. Numbers will almost always win the day. But the clock is ticking. Louder and louder.

So what are you going to do? Do you know where to begin? You should. You can operate a computer and move about the Internet. So you can at least start by making your voice heard.

Then you might decide to turn off your computer. Turn off your TV. Turn off your techno hypnotism and walk out of your house and meet face to face with other actual people who share similar concerns. And talk. And assemble. And protest. And help.

It's up to you to work out your course of action. But if you take none, then that is your vote and you must live with it. Or maybe perish with it.

One more quote from Mr. Burke, to give you impetus: "No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little."

Among my most firmly held goals in life is to not be a silent partner to the greed and exploitation that is destroying our world, bit by bit.

I'm determined to stick with it.

And I'm asking you to join me.

Take care and get cracking,
Adrian Zupp

IF YOU FOUND THIS POST INTERESTING you might like to take a look at "WHAT CAN I DO?"