1,001 Ways

A Review of 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth, by Joanna Yarrow

Put out by chroniclebooks.com, a San Francisco-based publisher, the soft-cover 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth is enticingly small in size (the format is 13 cm high and only 11 cm wide), yet hefty, containing 384 thick coloured pages, each one with its own unique graphic design. The cover art and illustrations are fun, representing various activities, objects, plants and outdoor spaces in a charmingly naïve style. This little book called out to me in Chapters, one of only two copies left in a prominent section of the store that was featuring new books with environmental themes. It had the title that tugged at my conscience, and the visual energy of a Labrador puppy, so I brought it home with me.

What the book does is give you 1,001 different suggestions to consider for ‘saving the Earth.’ That intimidated me, initially, and my way of coping was to start at the beginning and try to read it through to the end, page by page. I suppose I thought I was taking baby steps, but what that did was create pressure to complete the entire book, which didn't feel very good. As a result, I stopped picking it up entirely, which was a shame, because this book is an amazing resource. What got me to pick-up the book again after several months was starting this blog and needing to find specific topics to write about. My suggestion: if you get this book, don’t try to read it from cover to cover, and don’t expect to digest it all quickly.

Each of the 1,001 suggestions are numbered and concise, and it’s possible to breeze through four or five tips in a minute. They range from advice on reducing consumption and conserving natural resources to reducing pollution, replacing harmful chemicals with benign substances, gardening ecologically, advocating for change in commercial and political spheres, promoting health and enhancing beauty naturally, ecologically-friendly shopping, and new environmental technologies and community trends. Most, if not all, of the entries attempt to inspire lifestyle changes; some are just factoids. Some of the tips are indirect, yet support the overall aims of sustainability by offering a creative vision for a new way of living and experiencing the world. The author always explains the environmental benefits of taking a certain action, and points out any added personal or health benefits of trying the things that she suggests, which I think is very important.

Here are a few of my favourites.

# 55 A more seductive candlelight - Traditional paraffin-wax candles are petroleum-based. Once lit, they emit toxins such as acetone, benzene, lead, and mercury into the air. Beeswax and soy candles, by contrast, are toxin free. Not only do they provide a healthier atmosphere for romantic dinners for two , but the pleasant experience sill last longer, as these natural candles burn for 50 percent longer than synthetic ones.

#382 Use the right rocks - If you’re planning a rock garden, use local stone. Transporting stone from distant areas is a waste of energy, and local stone will look more natural in your garden anyway. Ideally, use rocks dug from your own land or rejects from local building sites. If you do need to purchase stones, make sure they haven’t been taken from an area where they’re in short supply. On a cumulative scale, such removal can damage rare habitats.

#385 Out in the cold - Write to refrigerator manufacturers to urge them to adopt “greenfreeze” technology, which cools using butane and propane rather than the ozone-munching CFCs HFCs, or HCFCs, and tends to be more energy-efficient. “Greenfreeze” fridges are popular in many parts of the world, but U.S. manufacturers have, so far, resisted making the change.

#416 Take great strides - Try strapping some springy “powerizer” stilts onto your calves to increase your stride length dramatically. Once you’ve mastered the rocking motion, you’ll be able to leap forward around 15 feet with a single bound, enabling you to make journeys on foot in a fraction of the usual time.

#606 Scald your weeds - Instead of using environmentally damaging herbicides or fungicides to keep weeds at bay, try pouring boiling water on them. The plants will shrivel and die, leaving no toxic residues. Just remember to boil only as much water as you need, and be careful not to pour it on your legs!

#930 Good tide-ings - The energy held in the oceans’ tides, waves, currents, and temperature differentials can be tapped for human use. Most such technologies are still at the experimental stage, but several sizeable and successful tidal-power installations are already in place, and Scotland and Australia are among a growing list of countries investing in ocean-energy technologies.

#986 The Great Warming - For a fast-track look at climate change and possible solutions, watch The Great Warming (2003). Filmed in eight countries on four continents, endorsed by dozens of the world’s leading scientists, this three-hour Canadian television series is one of the most factually accurate, visually stunning, and wide-ranging productions ever mounted on this complex, fascinating subject.

Most people probably wouldn’t have the time or motivation to track down as much information or as many ideas as this book contains - some of it likely isn’t even on the internet, but has come out of the author’s own work. I am mightily impressed and inspired by the passionate interest that Joanna Yarrow has exercised in the process of collecting and communicating these 1,001 suggestions for helping to save the Earth from ruin. I see them as being far more than useful, although the majority of them do indeed contribute to creating a more sustainable Earth. What comes across between tips is a practical philosophy, which argues for what I think of as cultural change on the individual level.

Do I believe cultural change alone can “save the Earth’? No; I don’t. However, I do believe that global cultural change is an important and necessary first step to slowing the rate of human development, because only an informed and empowered populace will have the will to hold the big business profiteers accountable for their unsustainable and environmentally damaging practices, which are striking body blows at the Earth’s ecosystem. That core belief is driving this blog, among other pursuits, in my own personal life. So, “thumbs up,” or “five stars,” or whatever. I recommend this book, and hope you get as much out of 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth as I am.

Icing on the Cake

In addition to it’s many textual charms, the book itself is an ‘Earth-saver.’ I was gratified and grateful to read this note by the publisher: “This book is printed using mineral oil-free vegetable-based inks on paper produced from pulp obtained from sustainably managed forests, and from paper mills that meet environmental standard ISO 14001. It is 100 percent recyclable."

Joanna Yarrow

I was intrigued about the author, whom I had not heard of. I wondered what had driven her to write such a book, and what her own lifestyle was like. She has also written another book, entitled How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint. She lives in the U.K. Her publisher describes her as “a leading expert on sustainable living and frequent media commentator on environmental issues. As a consultant, she helps individuals and corporations create action plans for eco-friendly living.” The company which she founded, Beyond Green, is impressive and has an excellent website which I’ve been looking at and will be ‘reviewing’ (if that’s the right word) in a future post.