Heros Of The Environment

Heros of the Environment is about 12 real people, young and old, who are helping the planet.  Its an inspirational story of these individuals who collectively make a difference. 

These are some excerpts from Amazon:

Grade 5–9—The mantra of the environmental movement is "think globally, act locally," and this book offers examples of local heroes who are helping to save the planet. Maps, illustrations, and photographs are used to good effect. Each of the 12 chapters tells the story of a person doing his/her part to preserve our environment. Debby Tewa works to bring solar energy to Indian Country, and Sarah James speaks on behalf of the Gwich'in Indian Peoples of Alaska and Canada who want to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling. Judy Bonds, a community activist in West Virginia, works to bring an end to mountaintop removal mining; and Omar Freilla founded ReBuilders Source, a New York City-based company that recycles building materials. Stories come from all across America and include a diverse group of men and women, making this volume of interest to a broad audience. A final section offers information on how readers can get involved in their own communities.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL

Rather than featuring the usual roundup of environmental heroes, this title spotlights 12 contemporary conservationists who are working to fight pollution in cities, oceans, and wetlands, from Alaska to Mexico City. Many of the featured activists are young people. At age 11, Alex Lin started a campaign in Rhode Island for the safe disposal of electronic waste (“Today’s technology should not become tomorrow’s toxic trash”). Erica Fernandez, a teenage Mexican immigrant in California, led a successful fight to prevent a pipeline that would transport highly explosive gas through her neighborhood. Julia Bonds, a coal-miner’s daughter in Appalachia, is working to replace coal with wind power. The book’s format is lackluster, but the black-and-white photos do show the individuals at work in their communities. The powerful mix of personal stories with crucial environmental and social issues will be a call to action for young readers, who will want to move on to the final section: “How You Can Get Involved.” Grades 6-10. --Hazel Rochman

I would think that anyone who reads this book would be inspired by the actions of these "everyday" (many of them young) people and the way they have inspired others, and CHANGED their neighborhoods and others for the better.

This book stresses the "Majority of One" concept -- where a person with an idea can bring that idea to successful fruition, no matter how little they have to begin with, in the way of resources (money, tools, authority, prestige).

From a young Hopi woman comes the power of Solar electricity in her reservation -- and overseas, as she travels with her crew (some of them her fellow-students), teaching others about solar electricity and how to implement it in their own village(s).

A young student (11 years old) reads about electronic trash (e-waste) and out of his concern he creates a company that recycles computers and keeps them from polluting the ground water -- and this project too, has gone international.

A young lady (purloining her father's windshield wipers and using them as electrodes!!) discovers a way to clean polluted water.

A woman saves her beloved mountains in West Virginia.

A woman saves her community from fatally-filthy air.

A man posts "Fire your Boss" signs as a prelude to hiring eager young (and old) people to create and maintain self-sustaiing gardens "City Farms".

A famous wrestler in Mexico inspires his adoring fans, young kids, to go out there and keep their world clean and pollution-free. He teaches kids about flood control in their own villages and the importance of ensuring clean water for their familes and for future families in their village. People all over the world watch this huge formidable man on the news as he watches over a group of baby turtles making their way to the sea, and as he makes a plea to protect the birthing waters of endangered whales.

What one person can do!

There are so many other inspiring narratives about The Power of One in this book and the good it can do for ALL.

This is a great book for a young student who is becoming aware of environmental issues, who is signing up for required community projects, scouting projects -- and wants to do something to make a change in her or his world.

This is a great book to be read to pre-students-- little kids who are just becoming aware of their world and their place in it.

This is also a great book for adults (including parents, community leaders, scout masters, teachers, church leaders, anyone who inspires kids and who in turn is inspired by them) who are concerned about environmental issues and pollution.

A little book of this huge magnitude can make a positive impression all who read it and who are inspired to do likewise in their own neighborhoods, communities or villages -- no matter where they live. It tells us that nothing is impossible when you want to make a change for the betterment of all.

This book should be required reading and fodder for discussion groups in schools and clubs all over the world.