Choices for Our Future: A Generation Rising for Life on Earth

Discusses how individuals can pursuade U.S. industry to adopt more environmentally sound practices

Gr. 7^-12. Robbins and Solomon believe that young people, who have the most to lose if our world continues to slide toward environmental ruin, can influence both other teens and adults to adopt more ecologically responsible lifestyles. As founders of the national youth-run organization YES! (Youth for Environmental Sanity), both young men (Robbins is 20; Solomon, 21) believe that poor environmental decisions are made because people do not realize how these decisions impact the earth. Adding some new information to what many would consider common knowledge, the two offer a reasoned rather than extremist argument. They illustrate the power of boycotts, letter-writing campaigns, and negative publicity on U.S. industry. They explain how simple choices, such as buying in bulk and setting the thermostat higher (or lower), make real differences in energy consumption. The book's information is carefully documented, though naysayers will be quick to point out the environmental perspective of most of its sources. Readers will have a difficult time avoiding at least cursory thought before they discard their aluminum drink can, scarf down their next hamburger, or even contemplate our nation's most recent wars. Frances Bradburn