Dimensions
155 x 233 x 20mm
A book for readers of THE REVENGE OF GAIA and THE END OF POVERTY, John Pontin's THE CONVERGING WORLD tells the incredible story of one community's attempt to change their world for the better. Faced with the challenge of making the small English village of Chew Magna a 'zero waste' society, Pontin developed a groundbreaking non-profit scheme that twinned his village with Tamil Nadu, a poor rural community in southern India. Using his contacts in the business world, he helped set up a system of wind turbines for Tamil Nadu that would not only reduce the Indian community's reliance on fossil fuels - 80% of India's electric power is generated from burning coal - but also provided a local source of sustainable income. The carbon credits produced through this scheme were then sold in Chew Magna to individuals and businesses to offset emissions they cannot yet reduce - all part of a larger local zero-waste effort. Pontin's story presents a model of action for any individual or community concerned about climate change, environmental damage, social inequality and the plight of the third world. If you really want to make a difference, THE CONVERGING WORLD is a book you must read.