My Green Manifesto : Down the Charles River in Pursuit of a New Environmentalism

In My Green Manifesto, David Gessner embarks on a rough-and-tumble journey down Boston’s Charles River, searching for the soul of a new environmentalism. With a tragically leaky canoe, a broken cell phone, a cooler of beer, and the environmental planner Dan Driscoll in tow, Gessner grapples with the stereotype of the environmentalist as an overzealous, puritanical mess. But as Dan recounts his own story of transforming the famously polluted Charles into an urban haven for wildlife and wild people, the vision of a new sort of eco-champion begins to emerge: someone who falls in love with a forgotten space, and then fights like hell for it. Considering everything from Ed Abbey’s legacy to Jimmy Carter’s sweater, Gessner points toward a scrappy environmentalism that, despite all odds, just might change the world. All environmentalism is local: “A wonderfully readable book” about saving the planet by focusing first on our own habitats (The Boston Globe).Though environmental awareness is on the rise, our march toward ecological collapse continues. What was once a movement based primarily on land preservation, endangered species, and policy reform is now a fractured mess of back-to-the-landers, capitalist “green lifestyle” vendors, technology worshipers, and countless special interest groups.Inspired by a rough-and-tumble journey across country and down river, David Gessner, a John Burroughs Award winner, makes the case for a new environmentalism. In a frank, funny, and incisive call to arms that spans from the Cape Wind Project to the Monkey Wrench Gang, he considers why we do or do not fight to protect and restore wilderness, and reminds us why it's time to join the fray.Known as an environmental advocate “reminiscent of Edward Abbey” (Library Journal), Gessner rebels against this fragmented environmentalism and holier-than-thou posturing. He also suggests that global problems, though real, are disempowering. While introducing us to lovable, stubborn Dan Driscoll, “a regular guy fighting a local fight for a limited wilderness,” he argues for a movement focused on local issues and grounded in a more basic, more holistic—and ultimately more effective—defense of home.“Funny and inspiring.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) Inspired By A Rough-and-tumble Journey Across Country And Down River, David Gessner Makes The Case For A New Environmentalism. In A Frank, Funny, And Incisive Call To Arms That Spans From The Cape Wind Project To The Monkey Wrench Gang, He Considers Why We Do Or Do Not Fight To Protect And Restore Wilderness, And Reminds Us Why It's Time To Join The Fray. Though Environmental Awareness Is On The Rise, Our March Toward Ecological Collapse Continues. What Was Once A Movement Based Primarily On Land Preservation, Endangered Species, And Policy Reform Is Now A Fractured Mess Of Back-to-the-landers, Capitalist Green Lifestyle Vendors, Technology Worshipers, And Countless Special Interest Groups. Known As An Environmental Advocate Reminiscent Of Edward Abbey (library Journal), Gessner Rebels Against This Fragmented Environmentalism And Holier-than-thou Posturing. He Also Suggests That Global Problems, Though Real, Are Disempowering. While Introducing Us To Lovable, Stubborn Dan Driscoll, A Regular Guy Fighting A Local Fight For A Limited Wilderness, He Argues Instead For A Movement Focused On Local Issues And Grounded In A More Basic, More Holistic-and Ultimately More Effective-defense Of Home-- David Gessner. Includes Bibliographical References. "Inspired by a rough-and-tumble journey across country and down river, David Gessner makes the case for a new environmentalism. In a frank, funny, and incisive call to arms that spans from the Cape Wind Project to the Monkey Wrench Gang, he considers why we do or do not fight to protect and restore wilderness, and reminds us why it's time to join the fray. Though environmental awareness is on the rise, our march toward ecological collapse continues. What was once a movement based primarily on land preservation, endangered species, and policy reform is now a fractured mess of back-to-the-landers, capitalist green lifestyle" vendors, technology worshipers, and countless special interest groups. Known as an environmental advocate reminiscent of Edward Abbey" (Library Journal), Gessner rebels against this fragmented environmentalism and holier-than-thou posturing. He also suggests that global problems, though real, are disempowering. While introducing us to lovable, stubborn Dan Driscoll, a regular guy fighting a local fight for a limited wilderness," he argues instead for a movement focused on local issues and grounded in a more basic, more holistic-and ultimately more effective-defense of home"-- Provided by publisher In My Green Manifesto , David Gessner embarks on a rough-and-tumble journey down Bostons Charles River, searching for the soul of a new environmentalism. With a tragically leaky canoe, a broken cell phone, a cooler of beer, and environmental planner Dan Driscoll in tow, Gessner grapples with the stereotype of the environmentalist as an overzealous, puritanical mess. But as Dan recounts his own story of transforming the famously polluted Charles into an urban haven for wildlife and wild people, the vision of a new sort of eco-champion begins to someone who falls in love with a forgotten space, and then fights like hell for it. Considering everything from Edward Abbeys legacy to Jimmy Carters sweater, weaving his intellectual quest with real adventure, Gessner points toward a scrappy environmentalism that, despite all odds, just might change the world. Heartfelt and informed ( Boston Globe ), My Green Manifesto is a spirited call to arms by a major figure on the vanguard of a new environmentalism. My Green Manifesto......Page 10 PRELU DE: THE RIVER MAN......Page 16 I. THE SOURCE......Page 22 A Backyard Wilds......Page 24 A New Music......Page 32 The Fire This Time......Page 38 Fighting Words......Page 50 II. A Limited Wild......Page 64 Environmental Extremists......Page 66 The Myth of Dan......Page 78 A Larger Fight......Page 86 The Wild West......Page 96 The Irish AleHouse......Page 110 III. Transformation......Page 124 The Vision Thing......Page 126 Bird Men......Page 138 Antaeus......Page 150 Island Boys......Page 160 Dan’s River......Page 168 Flight......Page 176 IV. Independence Day......Page 186 Henry’s River......Page 188 Hey, Hey We’re the Monkeys......Page 200 Fireworks......Page 210 Beyond......Page 224 Postlude: The End of the World......Page 230 Endnotes......Page 234