Invasion? - Some context...

As preparations for the invasion of Iraq mount daily, we are buoyed up by the fact that opposition increases at the same pace. Demonstrations for peace during the Martin Luther King weekend in January took place throughout the U.S. and Canada, with hundreds of thousands of people emphasizing their disagreement with U.S. policy. Many other anti-war initiatives have tremendous public support.

We are shortly to release two books that provide invaluable context for the invasion of Baghdad. Somebodies and Nobodies, by citizen diplomat Robert Fuller, describes how we all make nobodies of others according to their rank or power in the world. And while this happens on an individual and societal level, it also happens on the global level as well: the world's most highly armed nation clearly feels it can be the world's bully with regard to others.

The second title of importance to these events is The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, by Richard Heinberg - due off press in late February. If you ever needed convincing that the planned invasion of Iraq was all about oil, Heinberg provides solid arguments. But he goes further, pointing out that the end of cheap oil is upon us, and raises the question of how industrial societies will do without it...

More resources for all of you wanting to voice your discontent over war, and to work on building alternatives:

The Nobody Revolution!

Due for release in February is Robert Fuller's long-awaited Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank. Already arousing considerable interest, the book focuses on a form of injustice that everyone knows but no one sees: discrimination based on rank. The book mostly focuses on the way in which rankism occurs on the individual and social levels, but given U.S. belligerence over Iraq, it is a timely analysis of how power-over is used on the international level as well. Check out the catalog copy http://www.newsociety.com/News/some.html and the amazing list of endorsements for the book. http://www.newsociety.com/News/some_end.html

The Party's Over - Grow Home!

Due off press in late February, The Party's Over is well titled. The world is at the end of an historic era of cheap oil, and there has been very little attention paid to how to substitute for oil when our fossil fuel party ends. Author Richard Heinberg outlines the problem, as well as the alternatives - that are not very encouraging - and recommends how we might approach this imminent transition with the least of harm to our families, our communities, our bioregions and the wider world. Of special importance at this time of would-be regime change, the foreword http://www.newsociety.com/News/tpo_for.html by ex-oil executive Collin Campbell outlines the full dimensions of its timeliness. More... http://www.newsociety.com/News/tpo.html

A NEW LOOK FOR AN ANCIENT BUILDING TECHNIQUE

We're excited to be adding another book to our expanding Natural Building series in February: Cordwood Building: The State of the Art, by 'Mister Cordwood' himself, Rob Roy. Rob founded and runs the Earthwood Building School with his wife Jaki, in New York state. He has written ten books on alternative building and has presented four videos - including two about cordwood masonry. Over the years, he has taught the cordwood technique all over the world, and this book represents the fruit of his experience - and that of 25 of the world's best cordwood practitioners. The Table of Contents http://www.newsociety.com/News/cord_toc.html reveals the full scope of this beautiful, well-illustrated book.

THE POWER OF STORYTELLING TO HEAL

Stories and storytelling can be used with great effect in many different spheres of life, as storytellers know only too well! Just last year, in fact, we brought back into print Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope: Stories, Storytelling and Activities for Peace, Justice and the Environment http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3764, edited by Ed Brody et al, because of its continuing popularity over the years. Now we are pleased to report that we are adding to NSP's penchant for storytelling by releasing two books whose aim is specifically that of healing.

The Healing Heart books [http://www.newsociety.com/News/hh_cat.html] are designed as a complementary pair, one focusing on the family - Storytelling to Encourage Caring and Healthy Families - and the other on communities - Storytelling to Build Strong and Healthy Communities. Gathering together the wisdom and experience of over 60 storytellers and health professionals, these books will be available in February.The Contents of both books demonstrates their full range. http://www.newsociety.com/News/heal_toc.html

AUTHORS ON THE AIR AND ON THE ROAD...

JOIN STARHAWK TO DISCUSS GLOBAL JUSTICE ACTIVISM

Starhawk, author of Webs of Power: Notes from the Global Uprising http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3771, is participating in an online discussion group about the book in January and February. More... http://www.newsociety.com/News/webs_dis.html

YES! Magazine (Winter 2003):
"Starhawk has made a place for herself as the literary voice of the anti-corporate globalization movement... She's not only a lifelong activist, but a novelist too, and it shows. Many of these essays originated as web postings, and yet they hold up. This is literature by Tom Wolfe's definition - news that has stayed news, poignant and compelling years after it is broadcast from the trenches."

Women's Review of Books (December 2002, full page review):
"Webs of Power serves as a valuable source for hose who already hold a world view contrary to the mainstream: that increasing globalization is not just destroying democracy, it is also threatening the lives of many economically disadvantaged people on the planet and the life of the planet itself... But what makes the book so engaging is not just the subject matter; it's the memoir-esque perspective Starhawk offers, sharing anecdotes and inner musings with as much ease as she describes how she implored thousands of fellow activists to sit down while confronted by a herd of police on horses so that the horses wouldn't trample them. There's a certain lack of pretense, not to mention some refreshing candor, that informs many of the stories."

Cynthia Barstow - author of The Eco-Foods Guide, http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3805

March 7-10
Expo West Anaheim CA

March
Lecture and Book-signing, 2 pm
Stroudswater Books
898 Central Ave.
Dover NH 03820
Contact: Anna Keim
207-384-2915
annarkeim@aol.com

March 30
Lecture and Book-signing, joint event with The Food Project, 3:00 pm
Concord Bookshop
65 Main Street
Concord, MA 01742
Contact: Ellen Jarrett
978-369-2405
ellen@concordbookshop.com

Ross Klein - author of Cruise Ship Blues http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3808

Roberta Maisel - author of All Grown Up http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3761
Roberta Maisel, All Grown Up: Living Happily Ever After with Your Adult Children will be participating in the following events in the new year:

Chellis Glendinning - author of Off The Map http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3798

Clamor Magazine:
Excerpt in Dec. 2002 issue,
Review in Feb/Mar 2003 issue

SUSTAINABLE CAREERS INSTITUTE

Melissa Everett, author of Making a Living While Making a Difference: The Expanded Guide to Creating Careers with a Conscience [http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3690], has established a new nonprofit organization to help the next generation find or create work that helps their communities and the planet. The Sustainable Careers Institute (http://www.sustainablecareers.com/) works with career development centers in colleges and universities to identify concrete opportunities, educate and train counseling staff, and develop special programs such as Public Interest Career Fairs. More... http://www.newsociety.com/News/sci.html

Robert Fuller, - author of SOMEBODIES AND NOBODIES: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank http://www.newsociety.com/News/some.html, will be featured prominently in the April 2003 issue of "O" Magazine ("O" as in Oprah), and in an article in Fast Company in March.

Wayne Grytting - author of American Newspeak http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3804 Wayne has just started doing a biweekly commentary on KEXP-FM in Seattle on Sunday mornings.

Linda Hill - author of Connecting Kids http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3710 will be speaking at the following events:

March 16-19: Exploring A World of Differences Inclusive Leadership Adventure for Youth and Adults Who Care About Youth to be held at Cowichan Lake Education Centre, Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island, BC

April 28-May 2: Advanced Training in Inclusive Leadership for leaders and educators who work with diverse groups of children, youth and/or families in settings such as schools, camps, recreation, leadership training, therapy and support groups and other programs to held at Camp Pringle, Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Island, BC

May 5: Connecting Kids presentation at Vancouver Public Library co-sponsored by Necessary Voices and NSP

July 3-5: Connecting Kids presentation at La Leche League International Conference San Francisco

KUDOS

The Natural Child, by Jan Hunt
http://www.naturalchild.org/
http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3762

Has been approved by La Leche League International for Group Libraries. LLL will carry the book in their next catalogue.

Has also been included in the Nurture by Nature Network Approved Library List, in the "Parenting" section. Check out: http://www.nurturebynature.org/books.html

Read NNN's review of The Natural Child - a passionate and poignant book. http://www.newsociety.com/News/nnn_review.html

ACTIVIST CORNER

Environmental Leadership Initiative
May 1-8, May 2003 Hollyhock, Cortes Island
The Hollyhock Leadership Institute

The Hollyhock Leadership Institute provides training and strategic support for people working for social and environmental change. Our objective is to build skilled, sustainable, unified and inspired social movements. We currently offer a range of training and strategy sessions at Hollyhock Centre on Cortes Island, Vancouver and other places throughout British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.

Applications / Nominations are now being accepted for our 9th annual residential Leadership experience. More... http://www.newsociety.com/News/hh_leader.html

BioGems Defense
Saving Endangered Wild Places
from Robert Redford

Americans voted for many things this past Election Day, but one thing we did not vote for was a sweeping attack on our environment. Yet President Bush is already acting as if we did.

If you don't have time to read my letter, then please go straight to the BioGems website at http://www.savebiogems.org/takeaction.asp and send messages to your U.S. senators and representative telling them to stand up in defense of our environment. More... http://www.newsociety.com/News/biogems.html

TURTLE ISLAND

The Bizarre Gets More Bizarre...

This month we include two items guaranteed to make you wonder from Wayne Grytting, author of American Newspeak: The Mangling of Meaning for Power and Profit. http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3804

1. The Great American Newspeak Quiz http://www.newsociety.com/News/qwiz.html
2. American Newspeak: Empire As a Lifestyle http://www.newsociety.com/News/empire.html

Dennis Weaver Drives Across Country with Green Fueled Vehicles http://www.newsociety.com/News/weaver.html

THE NETWORK

Peace as a Civil Right
MLK Day Speech
by U.S. Representative Dennis J. Kucinich

The following speech was made at Lakewood Presbyterian Church's Martin Luther King Day Celebration, in Lakewood, Ohio, Sunday, January 19, 2003. http://www.newsociety.com/News/mlkday.html

Rooting Out Evil
Canadians to lead weapons inspection team into USA

A Canadian group is inviting people to join them in challenging rogue states run by military fanatics who produce and conceal weapons of mass destruction. Rooting Out Evil is sending a weapons inspection team to the United States to inspect the chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons produced and concealed by the Bush regime. More... http://www.newsociety.com/News/root_evil.html

"Hello America!" campaign launched in Oslo, Norway http://www.newsociety.com/News/hello.html

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