Ecotopia - Softcover

Callenbach, Ernest

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0960432019 ISBN 13: 9780960432011

Publisher: Banyan Tree Books, 2004

Synopsis

Ecotopia embodies in concrete, practical form the new biology-conscious philosophy that has been evolving in recent years, especially on the West Coast.

The setting is the early 21st century. Ecotopia, made up of what was once Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, has been independent for several decades. At last, an official visitor from New York is admitted: Will Weston, top investigative reporter. Like a modern Gulliver, Weston is sometimes horrified sometimes impressed despite himself, and sometimes touched by the strange practices he encounters--which include ritual war games, collective ownership and operation of farms and factories, and an attention to trees and reforestation which borders on tree-worship.

With beautiful new cover art and a new introduction by the author, this thirtieth anniversary edition of Ecotopia will delight old fans and new, and make a perfect gift for anyone who has ever asked the question, ''How can I make a difference?''

About this title

From the Publisher

"Callenbach gives us a vivid, comprehensive, positive vision of an ecologically sustainable world. essential reading for all who care about the earth's future."--Fritjof Capra, author of the Tao Of Physics and the Tuming Point.

"A classic of earth consciousness."--Denis Hayes, Earth Day.

Ecotopia was founded when northern California, Oregon, and Washington seceded from the Union to create a "stable-state" ecosystem: the perfect balance between human beings and the environment. Now, twenty years later, the isolated, mysterious Ecotopia welcomes its first officially sanctioned American visitor: New York Times-Post reporter Will Weston. Like a modern Gulliver, the skeptical Weston is by turns impressed, horrified, and overwhelmed by Ecotopia's strange practices: employee ownership of farms and businesses, the twenty-hour work week, the fanatical elimination of pollution, "mini-cities" that defeat overcrowding, devotion to trees bordering on worship, a woman-dominated government, and bloody, ritual war games. Bombarded by innovative, unsettling ideas, set afire by a relationship with a sexually forthright Ecotopian woman, Weston's conflict of values intensifies-and leads to a startling climax.

"None of the happy conditions in Ecotopisa are beyond the technical or resource reach of our society."--Ralph Nader

From the Inside Flap

"Ecotopia was founded  when northern California, Oregon, and Washington  seceded from the Union to create a "stable-state"  ecosystem: the perfect balance between human  beings and the environment. Now, twenty years later,  the isolated, mysterious Ecotopia welcomes its first  officially sanctioned American visitor: New York  Times-Post reporter Will Weston.

Like a modern  Gulliver, the skeptical Weston is by turns impressed,  horrified, and overwhelmed by Ecotopia's strange  practices: employee ownership of farms and  businesses, the twenty-hour work week, the fanatical  elimination of pollution, "mini-cities" that  defeat overcrowding, devotion to trees bordering  on worship, a woman-dominated government, and  bloody, ritual war games. Bombarded by innovative,  unsettling ideas, set afire by a relationship with a  sexually forthright Ecotopian woman, Weston's  conflict of values intensifies-and leads to a startling  climax.

Edition details

• Publisher: Banyan Tree Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0960432019
• ISBN 13: 9780960432011
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 176