Growing up in the pre-Internet era, I was always one of those children who frequently asked two dreaded questions: "Mommy, where did this come from?" or "Why is this this way and not that way?" To this day, these sorts of curiosities have continued to kindle my brain. This explains why I was overjoyed to read the book, Confessions of an Eco-Sinner, by Fred Pearce.
Mr. Pearce also suffers from the plight that racks my brain: Where does stuff come from? He explores in great detail the places from where many common items emerge, such as the gold in his wedding ring, the cotton in his socks, teddy bears, computer parts, and so much more. Now, most Westerners couldn't even be began to fathom all the processes and changing of hands stuff goes through. However, there are many other questions this book raises, especially since "Going Green" has made its way into mainstream society.
How can individuals actually pay a fair price for products that start in many impoverished countries? Is fair trade actually fair? Is there enough water for people and not just the crops? And if there isn't enough food or water to feed workers, how will migration be affected? Mr. Pearce addresses these questions with the growing concern that more people are unaware of their purchasing decisions and explains why knowledge is the true way to "Go Green."
---Avalon Lent
www.imagineatrium.com
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