A new book of Flux by the Danish Paulo Coelho is going green with Eco-Libris!

We're happy to announce on a new book that was released yesterday by our partner, the Norwegian publisher Flux. The book is the Norwegian translation of The Seer of Andalusia, the first book in a special trilogy written by Lars Muhl, who is often compared with Paulo Coelho.

Like always with Flux, this is a green celebration - we're proud to announce that this book, as well as all the other books published by Flux is going green with Eco-Libris, and 2000 trees are being planted to balance out this great book!

Here's more about 'The Seer of Andalusia', or as it is called in Norwegian 'Seeren fra Andalusia':

Like Paulo Coelho, Lars Muhl was for many years a successful singer/songwriter who, concurrently with his music, studied the world's religions and esoteric knowledge. Then in 1996, he was struck down by an unexplained illness, which neither doctors nor alternative therapists could diagnose. For three years he lay in bed without being able to move or think straight. Through a close friend's intervention, Lars was put in touch with a seer who, via the telephone, brought him back to life. That was the start of a completely new existence and the beginning of that quest he so grippingly describes in The O Manuscript trilogy.

About the book:
The Seer takes as its starting point Lars’ illness, his meeting with the Seer and their work on the holy mountain of Montsegur in the southern French Pyrenees. The book is not only a spell-binding introduction to the ancient gnosis of everything’s interconnectedness, but also a critical evaluation of a long list of limiting new age dogmas. When Lars and the Seer part, the latter hands an old manuscript into the author’s care; a manuscript that, surprisingly, turns out to be a doorway to the events that take place in the following two books of the trilogy.

About the author:
Lars Muhl was born in Aarhus on November the 14th, 1950. In 1967 he was a member of the band "Dragon Five". From 1968 to 1974 he was a member of the band "Daisy". He attended The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, from 1974 to 1976. He was a member of the band "Warm Guns" from 1979 to 1984. And he worked as a solo artist from 1986 to 1999. He accepted the Price of Honour from DJBFA in 1990 and WCM's Songwriters Million Certificate in 1996.

Lars Muhl has had a great interest in spirituality since he was very young. And concurrently with his music, he studied the world's religions and esoteric knowledge. In 1999 Lars Muhl decided to stop as an active musician to concentrate fully on his spiritual interest.

Lars Muhl is now working as a healer, lecturer and writer with speciality in spirituality and alternative treatment. In 2003 Muhl took the initiative at starting "Hearts and Hands", an apolitical aid organization based on the voluntary work of various therapists. The aim is to help people who are suffering from life crisis such as cancer and stress related illnesses.

Click here for a video clip of Lars Muhl speaking about the O Manuscript.

More books from Flux:
The Living Universe

Turning to One Another

Leadership and Self-Deception

The 100-years' Targets

The 5th Step

The Integral Vision

Dyp glede (Deep Joy): Arne Næss on deep ecology

TearSoup - A Recipe For Healing After Loss


Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

Flux is releasing today a new book "The Living Universe" that is going green with Eco-Libris

We're happy to announce on a new book released today by our partner, the Norwegian publisher Flux. The book is the Norwegian version of The Living Universe: Where are We? Who are we? Where are we going?, an exciting exploration of the living universe that is our home, By Duane Elgin (Deepak Chopra, Foreword).

As usual with Flux, this is a green celebration - we're proud to announce that this book, as well as all the other books published by Flux is going green with Eco-Libris, and 1,500 trees are being planted to balance out the Norwegian edition of this title!

Here's more about 'The Living Universe: Where are We? Who are we? Where are we going?', or as it is called in Norwegian 'Det levende universet' (from Amazon's webpage):

In The Living Universe, Duane Elgin marshals evidence from cosmology, biology, physics, even his participation in NASA-sponsored psychic experiments to show that the universe is actually a living field of existence and that we are always in communion with that field of aliveness whether we are conscious of it or not.

This is a worldview that, as Elgin explains, is shared by virtually every spiritual tradition, and the implications of it are vast and deep. In a living system each part is integral to the whole, so each of us is intimately connected to the entire universe. Elgin eloquently demonstrates how that identity manifests itself on a whole series of levels, from subatomic to galactic. We are, he writes, far more than biological beings; we are beings of cosmic connection and dimension.

About the author: Duane Elgin is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and social visionary who looks beneath the surface turbulence of our times to explore the deeper trends that are transforming our world. In 2005, Duane received the Japanese “Goi International Peace Award” in recognition of his contribution to a global “vision, consciousness, and lifestyle” that fosters a “more sustainable and spiritual culture.”

To learn more about the book, please check this video, where Author and visionary, Duane Elgin talks about "The Living Universe":

More books from Flux:
Turning to One Another

Leadership and Self-Deception

The 100-years' Targets

The 5th Step

The Integral Vision

Dyp glede (Deep Joy): Arne Næss on deep ecology

TearSoup - A Recipe For Healing After Loss


Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

A new book from Flux, "TearSoup – A recipe for healing after loss", is going green with Eco-Libris

We're happy to open Earth Day with news on a new book released by our partner, the Norwegian publisher Flux. The book is the Norwegian version of 'TearSoup – A Recipe For Healing After Loss' by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen. It is beautifully illustrated by Taylor Bills.

As usual with Flux, this is a green celebration - we're proud to announce that this book, as well as all the other books published by Flux is going green with Eco-Libris, and 2,000 trees are being planted to balance out the Norwegian edition of this title!

Here's more about 'TearSoup - A Recipe For Healing After Loss', or as it is called in Norwegian 'Tåresuppe – En oppskrift på heling etter tap' (from the book's English version website):

This is a family story book that centers around an old and somewhat wise woman, Grandy. Grandy has just suffered a big loss in her life and so she is headed to the kitchen to make a special batch of Tear Soup.

There she chooses the size pot that is right for her loss, and she puts on her apron because she knows it's going to be messy. And then Grandy starts to cry. At first she weeps, then she sobs, eventually she wails.

Slowly the pot is filled with tears as the old woman steeps away. To season her soup Grandy adds memories like the good times and the bad times, the silly and the sad times. She does not want to forget even one precious memory of her loss.

Tear Soup recognizes and reinforces the fact that every member of the family from the youngest to the oldest will grieve in their own way. Taking their own time and in doing so, find those things which help them best. Essentially, we each make our own batch of Tear Soup when we grieve the loss of someone we love or for any major change in our lives. We make Tear Soup when we move far away from the ones we love, or lose our job.

Tear Soup is Universal. No one is left out. Because we never learn exactly who or what Grandy lost and why she is making Tear Soup, the story remains open to countless situations of bereavement and family members. By emphasizing the individual process of bereavement by making soup, Grandy's brings a warm and comfortable feeling to an otherwise difficult subject matter for many individuals.

More books from Flux:
Turning to One Another

Leadership and Self-Deception

The 100-years' Targets

The 5th Step

The Integral Vision

Dyp glede (Deep Joy): Arne Næss on deep ecology

Happy Earth Day!
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

Flux is publishing a new edition of "Bridges to Ourselves" and is collaborating with Eco-Libris to green it up!

The Norwegian publisher Flux is releasing an updated edition of a very interesting book about dream interpenetration - "Bridges to Ourselves" by Astri Hognestad. And it's going green with Eco-Libris!

Flux is partnering with Eco-Libris to plant trees to balance out the wonderful books they're publishing and "Bridges to Ourselves" is no different. We're proud to announce that this book, as well as all the other books published by Flux is going green with Eco-Libris, and 325 trees are being planted to balance out this new Norwegian edition of the book.

So what is "Bridges to Ourselves" (or as the book is called in Norwegian: Broer til oss selv) about? Here's a description of the book:
When we are prevented from living fully, it's often because the life energy is shut down by acquired and ingrained attitudes, with narrow boundaries. We get different kinds of symptoms and reactions that either paralyze us or that are outside of our control. Inner conflict determine patterns of thought and hard feelings that are expressed in our dreams. Understanding dreams may turn out to create a new perspective on the situation and show the way forward.

Even fairytales can show us possible development paths. Fairytales are often symbolic stories of inner emotional processes. They create recognition and help us further. Based on the Titanic disaster as a symbol of a crisis in our time, the author sheds light on how the dreams, fairytales and other stories can open a new understanding of some central themes in life and to help create greater freedom and a deeper meaning in the individual's life.

The book aims to help us to understand our response patterns, so that we can live more in harmony with our own personality. Professionals who work with people can also benefit from the book.

More books from Flux:
Turning to One Another
Leadership and Self-Deception
The 100-years' Targets
The 5th Step
The Integral Vision
Dyp glede (Deep Joy): Arne Næss on deep ecology

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

A new book from Flux, "Turning to One Another", is going green with Eco-Libris

Another great book is being released today by the Norwegian publisher Flux - "Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future" by Margaret J. Wheatley. And as usual this is a green celebration - we're proud to announce that this book, as well as all the other books published by Flux is going green with Eco-Libris, and 1,000 trees are being planted to balance out the Norwegian edition of this title.

Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future (or as the book is called in Norwegian: Å møte hverandre - Enkle samtaler for en bedre fremtid) shows how the simple but long neglected act of conversation-of thoughtfully talking and listening to one another-has the power to change lives and offers insightful advice on how to conduct conversations that will help us to genuinely connect with each other and restore hope to our individual lives.

Here's more about this book (from the Book's English version website):

"I believe we can change the world if we start talking to one another again." With this simple declaration, Margaret Wheatley proposes that people band together with their colleagues and friends to create the solutions for real social change, both locally and globally, that are so badly needed. Such change will not come from governments or corporations, she argues, but from the ageless process of thinking together in conversation.

Turning to One Another encourages this process. Part I explores the power of conversation and the conditions-simplicity, personal courage, real listening, and diversity-that support it. Part II contains quotes and images to encourage the reader to pause and reflect, and to prepare for the work ahead-convening truly meaningful conversations. Part III provides ten "conversation starters"-questions that in Wheatley's experience have led people to share their deepest beliefs, fears, and hopes.

More books from Flux:
Leadership and Self-Deception

The 100-years' Targets

The 5th Step

The Integral Vision

Dyp glede (Deep Joy): Arne Næss on deep ecology

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

A new book from Flux, "Leadership and Self-Deception" is going green with Eco-Libris

Every new title that is being released by the Norwegian publishing house Flux is a reason for celebration as you can see from their catalog. The new title that is being released today is no different.

Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by the Arbinger Institute (or as the book is called in Norwegian: Lederskap og selvbedrag - Kom deg ut av boksen) presents a revolutionary new understanding of the nature of successful leadership. Christian Valentiner, Publisher at Flux describes it as “one of the books on his list of titles that hold the potential change the world for the better”.

And of course we're proud to announce that this book, as well as all the other books published by Flux is going green with Eco-Libris, and 1,000 trees are being planted to balance out the Norwegian edition.

Here's more about this book (from the Book's English version website):

The authors show that the key to successful leadership lies deeper than a particular technique, behavior or skill. This is why so many leadership development initiatives end up failing, and why so many leaders, no matter how hard they try, are ultimately unsuccessful. The key to successful leadership lies not in what we do, but in who we are.

Leadership and Self-Deception shows how self-betrayal going against one's innate sense of what he or she should be doing for others leads to self-deception, the central player in all leadership breakdowns, relationship issues, and performance problems in organizations.

The book follows the progress of a new executive at the fictional Zagrum Corporation as he sheds his old ways of acting and learns a new, better way to lead. Leadership and Self-Deception uses vivid examples to show what self-deception is, how it operates, and, most importantly, how it can be overcome. While other books cover useful people skills, techniques, and systems of leadership, this one goes deeper, fully illuminating the source of what makes truly effective leadership.

More books from Flux:

The 100-years' Targets

The 5th Step

The Integral Vision

Dyp glede (Deep Joy): Arne Næss on deep ecology

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

"Beyond the Cold" by Michael Kleiner receives first place in Beach Book Festival

We're always happy to update you with prizes and awards that books we're working with are receiving.

This time it's "Beyond the Cold: An American’s Warm Portrait of Norway" by Michael Kleiner that received receive first prize in the autobiography/biography category of The Beach Book Festival.

Michael is a fellow SBN member and he plants a tree with every copy sold of his book, which chronicles Kleiner’s year living in Norway with his family at age 11, attending a Norwegian school, learning a different language, new sports and about Norwegian culture. He has returned five times as an adult, and he develops an affinity and passion for the country, its culture and people although he is not of Norwegian descent. Not only does he find a second home and family, but a country that is more than cold weather and that these intercultural experiences contributed to the person he has become.

You could read more about the prize here at http://www.beyondthecold.com/pressroom.htm

The book is available through his web site – http://www.beyondthecold.com – which also has blogcasts of his appearances; Infinity Publishing’s web site store – http://www.buybooksontheweb, as well as Amazon and barnesandnoble.com.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Will the new Climate Bill help protecting forests or become a source of income for timber companies?

The Climate bill passed in the House last Friday. It might not be only a new era in fighting climate change, but also the first time when it is worthwhile to keep trees alive instead of cutting them down.

The Huffington Post reported last Friday that trees will be part of the credits scheme that is presented in the bill, and this time it means not only reforestation projects, but also protection of existing forestlands.

The article explains the mechanism:

"Say an acre of forestland sucks up two additional metric tons of carbon after a landowner plants more trees on his land or promises to rotate the way he cuts them down so more are standing at once. If the pollution market created by the legislation is currently trading at $20 a ton, then the landowner could stand to make $40 per acre if he qualifies for the program"

The legislation, according to the article. would also extend to international forests, promising to pay some countries that agree to slow their harvesting of trees abroad. We mentioned this idea in the past (see links below) and we're definitely in favor of giving economic incentives to preserve the forests and to make it worthwhile to keep them alive, avoid logging and prevent further deforestation.

This idea was discussed in the U.N.’s Bali meeting in December last year, and though it is not approved yet, there's a good chance it will be part of the post-Kyoto protocol that will be discussed in Copenhagen in December. It also enjoys the support of many international parties, such as Prince Charles, Norway, Al Gore and Wangari Maathai.

So we should be happy as forest protection finally becomes part of the carbon market, right? well, we are but it seems that the way it was integrated in the Bill is a little bit problematic..

Well, there are of course concerns about measurement, monitoring and making sure carbon capturing is actually taking place (especially outside the U.S.), but in all these concerns are no different really from the concerns you have with every other component in the "trade" part of the cap and trade scheme under the Bill. The more significant issue here might be who is eligible to take part in it in the first place.

The article on the Huffington Post mentions that owners of large swaths of forestland, such as timber companies and large farms can benefit from it. Frank O'Donnell of the advocacy group Clean Air Watch is quoted saying "In effect, the public is going to pay polluters to plant trees. Does that really lead to a major improvement in global warming? I don't know and I'm not sure anybody knows."

The fact that the Agriculture Department, which includes the U.S. Forest Service, will oversee the domestic program and develop regulations for verifying whether a forest owner's particular tract of land is actually capturing carbon, brings up questions like will they make tree farms eligible as well and how much will they will take sustainability into account?

If eventually we'll have timber companies being paid for having single-species tree farms that have replaced highly diverse forests (you can see that in the Southeast U.S. for example), then we're very far from what the idea of forests protection was meant to achieve in the first place.

So how it can be prevented? here is just one idea - how about limiting forest protection to highly-diverse forests and/or forests that have FSC certification. I believe that these kind of restrictions can provide a better chance that this measure of forests protection will truly help fighting climate change and not just become another way for land owners to make money without making any significant impact on the environment.

What do you think? I'll be happy to hear your thoughts about it so feel free to add your comments.

More related posts:

How investors can save the forests? check out the Ethical Corporation Magazine

Al Gore and Wangari Maathai calls the U.N. General Assemby to support protection of forests

Merrill Lynch is investing in forest protection

How to deal with the growing deforestation in the Amazon rain forest?

Prince Charles wants to team up with Norway to save forests

Preserving forests to fight global warming

Yours, Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing

A new book from Flux about a unique sociopolitical experiment is going green with Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris is collaborating with Flux (http://www.flux.no), the Norwegian publishing house, to plant trees for the books they publish. We love Flux not only because of their commitment to the environment, but also because this is one of the publishers that succeed to surprise you every time with a new, unique and interesting book.

Today we're happy to update you on a new book published by Flux that we're working on with them to plant 1,000 trees for the printed copies. The book, presenting an unusual sociopolitical experiment that is taking place in Norway (with lessons to many other societies), is entitled "100-årsmålene", or in English: "The 100-years' Targets".

Here are some more details about the book:

A remarkable sociopolitical experiment is taking place in Norway. A group of concerned citizens has formed “100-årsmålene” (literally “the 100-years’ targets”) and engaged a number of institutions and organizations as well as school children, politicians and others to think through what kind of society we want to have 100 years into the future. Not as a prophecy, but minted out as what we actually want to see achieved. What kind of society do we need and want? What do we aim for, collectively and individually? The initiative is, in other words, a strong invitation to start thinking proactively instead of reactively, which is what we seem to do most of the time. Taking this imaginary jump into a future 100 years ahead of today frees our imagination from the quagmire of contemporary social and political practice and hang-ups.

A lot of enthusiasm and a number of inspired ideas for the next society – “the next generation democracy”, as it is labeled – was raised, and the need for overarching visions was quickly taken up by the public involved, while politicians, not surprisingly, are more reluctant. Initially the group’s aim was to influence the political parties prior to the general elections to be held in Norway in September 2009, but so far it has been a challenge to mount a significant and visible impact among leading politicians and to some extent leading media. Leaders in this respect seem to be a breed rather deeply immersed in day to day conflict and chatter, no matter where it may lead. A number of interesting results, however, have emerged from the polls and workshops throughout the country, showing that seeds can be sown for a different future and a sound democracy.

Here are some of the results:

94 % think that politicians should get together and start solving the big challenges, rather than spend their time and energies fighting each other.

80 % wish to go for a stable and reliable zero waste economy (with recirculation and renewable energy.

66 % would support a long-term non-fractional leadership (although only 16 % deem it realistic).

65 % wish for a doubling of quality of life (rather than increased traditional standard of living).

There is also a generally strong consensus that we will be able to find ways and means to accomplish such goals.

More posts related to Flux:

The 5th Step

The Norwegian translation of "The Integral Vision" by Ken Wilber

Dyp glede (Deep Joy): Arne Næss on deep ecology

Summer Reading with Christian Valentiner of Flux

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing

A new great book from Flux, 'The 5th Step' is going green with Eco-Libris

We are a proud partner of the Norwegian publisher Flux and already worked with them on couple of great books, including the Norwegian translation of Ken Wilber's "The Integral Vision" and "Deep Joy: Arne Næss on deep ecology."

Today we're happy to update you on a new book published by Flux that we're working on with them to plant trees for the printed copies. And it's not just a book, but one that its reading experience is described (by John Peter Collett, Professor in modern history, University of Oslo ) as "an overwhelming experience."

This book is "The 5th Step" by Dag Andersen. Here are some more details about the book:

Dag Andersen has written a spectacular, controversial and eye-opening book about our way to the future, discovering the laws of emotionality. The contents of this book may change the world.

Emotional energy is the driving force of history

Sooner or later, the content of this book will change the world. Whether the time is now, or whether subsequent books will lead to a breakthrough, remains to be seen.

The book about the 5th Step is an optimistic vision of the future. It points to new, positive goals and opportunities towards which we can all work. This is to do with science and technology but, most of all, it is to do with increased consciousness in each and every one of us.

At the same time, it gives a clear and profound analysis of our own age. It suggests a diagnosis for modernity’s final phase.

The book is controversial as it is meant to be. However, the basic analysis on which the vision of the future and contemporary diagnosis is founded, is both clear and verifiable. Dag Andersen does not ask us to believe in anything now or in the future. He invites us to join in the discovery of understanding and builds on this. The new, wider picture of reality is verifiable for everyone willing to accept the effort involved in investigating something new.

The book spans most of the 10,000-year history of western culture and ranges across every subject. However, as the writer points out in his foreword, the major systems are often simpler than the lesser ones. As a system, NATO is less complex than the brain of one of its soldiers. Historically, cultural trends lasting thousands of years have been easier to extrapolate than short-term economic cycles.

What is most surprising about the book is the discovery for which it shall be remembered: the discovery of the laws of emotion. They are just as important as the laws of physics. It is emotional energy that is the driving force of history - energy that builds families, wealth and empires – and which then breaks them up. It is emotional energies that get us to start wars and make peace. The first ones to consciously use these energies will soon leave the rest standing – and most people will rush to follow.

The 5th Step is a big book, and a rich one too. After it was first published in Norwegian, many people read it two or three times. Company bosses used it as a basis for developing their companies. Professor in Modern History, John Peter Collett, writes that, “Seldom in Norway has such an expansive and intellectually inclined reasoning been put forward in such a lively and fascinating way.”

The book is translated to English Neil Howard.

Flux website: www.flux.no

Happy Earth Day!

Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

The Norwegian version of Ken Wilber's "The Integral Vision" is going green with Eco-Libris

Last October we announced on our collaboration with the Norwegian publisher Flux to plant trees for their publications. It started then with a wonderful book, "Dyp glede (Deep Joy): Arne Næss on deep ecology", and it is continuing now with another great book: The Norwegian Version of "The Integral Vision" by Ken Wilber.

Ken Wilber is a great philosopher and writer and for us it's a great honor to be involved with it. 625 trees will be planted with our planting partners for the first edition of the book and our logo can be found on the book's back cover.

What this book is about? here's a description of "The Integral Vision" (or in its full name: The Integral Vision: A Very Short Introduction to the Revolutionary Integral Approach to Life, God, the Universe, and Everything) from Shambala Publications' website:

Suppose we took everything that all the various world cultures have to tell us about human potential—about psychological, spiritual, and social growth—and identified the basic patterns that connect these pieces of knowledge. What if we attempted to create an all-inclusive map that touches the most important factors from all of the world's great traditions?

Ken Wilber's Integral Vision provides such a map. Using all the known systems and models of human growth—from the ancient sages to the latest breakthroughs in cognitive science—it distills their major components into five simple elements, and, moreover, ones that readers can verify in their own experience right now.

In any field of interest, such as business, law, science, psychology, health, art, or everyday living and learning—the Integral Vision ensures that we are utilizing the full range of resources for the situation, leading to a greater likelihood of success and fulfillment. With easily understood explanations, exercises, and familiar examples, The Integral Vision shows how we can accelerate growth and development to higher, wider, deeper ways of being, embodied in self, shared in community, and connected to the planet, which can literally help with everything from spiritual enlightenment to business success to personal relationships.

The Norwegian version can be found on Flux' website at: http://www.flux.no/default.pl?showProduct=361&pageId=204

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Michael Kleiner to promote Beyond the Cold at Norsk Høstfest in North Dakota

Michael Kliener is an author and SBN fellow member. He's working with Eco-Libris to green up his new book "Beyond the Cold: An American's Warm Portrait of Norway", and this week he will be participating and promoting his book at Norsk Høstfest, Norwegian Fall Festival, the largest Scandinavian festival in North America!

Here are the details:

Høstfest, Norwegian Fall Festival, the largest Scandinavian festival in North America, will take place on Oct. 1-Oct. 4 in Minot, North Dakota. The annual event, now in its 31st year, draws 60,000 people, including from Norway and the other Scandinavian countries.

Høstfest is consistently among the top 100 tourist destinations in the United States by the American Bus Association. Entertainment includes The Beach Boys, Charley Pride, Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, as well as Norwegian cultural music. Norwegian culinary treats will be available as well as clothing.

Congrats to Michael. He will also offer copies of his book for sale at the festival - each one of them with our sticker on, demonstrating the fact that one tree is planted for each copy. You are welcome to follow Michael's reports from the festival - he hopes to write a daily blog (subscribe to the RSS feed at http://podcast.beyondthecold.com). There will also be an ad in Norwegian-American Weekly this week and next week on their new Book section, indicating Michael will be at the Festival. The paper will be readily available at the Festival.

For information on the festival, visit the web site: http://www.hostfest.com

More relevant links

The book's website - http://www.beyondthecold.com

Michael Kleiner on Mt. Airy Authors Day - http://ecolibris.blogspot.com/2008/06/author-michael-kleiner-on-mt-airy.html

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Will the new international fund save the Amazon?

Interesting news from Brazil (Thanks to Treehugger for the update): yesterday President Lula has launched in Rio De Janeiro an international fund to fight deforestation of the Amazon and support conservation and sustainable development.

The fund will seek donations worldwide with the goal of raising 21 billion dollars by 2021. There's also a cap for contributions in the first year - 1 billion dollars. The first contribution was already made last September by Norway that pledged to donate 100 million dollars.

Is this good news? in a way it is. Firstly, as reported by the BBC, Greenpeace in Brazil said that the country was accepting the link between global warming and preserving the forest for the first time. "For a long time, Brazil was violently opposed to this, insisting fossil fuel was to blame," said Sergio Leitao, director of public policies for Greenpeace Brazil. "That's true, historically speaking, but today forests play an important role." I think it's important as even it's only on a declarative level, it indicates that Brazil understands it can no longer play the denial game. This era is over.

Also, I hope there's going to be a good use for the money. According to Yahoo! news, the fund will promote alternatives to forest-clearing for people living in the Amazon and will finance conservation and durable development projects proposed by the environment ministry. The donations will be administered and projects monitored by a state bank, the National Economic and Social Development Banks (BNDES).

What's not so good about this initiative? well, we talked a couple of times in the past about the situation in the Amazon and about the need in a new economic model that will give living trees a value and will make it worthwhile to keep them alive. This initiative is definitely looking for the right amount of money, but the question is: is this the right way to do it? my reply: I doubt.

How can you base the effort to save the Amazon, the green heart of planet earth, on donations? what will they do if other countries won't be as generous as Norway? and my guess is that they won't be, especially when Brazil asks for the money, but don't give donors the opportunity to be part of the decision making process regarding the uses of the money.

This is an important point - Brazil is very concerned about interference with what it sees as internal affairs and wants to make sure the world will know that it will accept the money but not interference. "Donations are voluntary and donors have no say over the use of the resources," BNDES environment director Eduardo de Mello told reporters. Roberto Mangabeira Unger, the minister for strategic affairs, added that "the fund is a vehicle by which foreign governments can help support our initiatives without exerting any influence over our national policy."

At the same time, Brazil understands that it can no longer ignore worldwide concerns about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, and it understands that it needs a lot of money to do something about it. The result is this fund, which is kind of compromise: We (the Brazilian government) admit there's a problem and will be willing to accept money to solve it, but it will be done the way we want to do it and there's nothing you can do about it.

I believe this compromise is not the worst solution, but it's definitely not the best one. You can't base it on donations and even if you agree that the Brazilians will have the final word about the use of the funds, I believe they must accept consultancy from other experts, and I also think there should be some measures of control to make sure the money is used properly.

I think the only way to do it right is by making the Amazon part of any post-Kyoto agreement that will be created, taking into consideration the urgent need for an action there, as well as the necessary funding and the issue of the Brazilian sovereignty.

One thing that encouraged me while reading on the new fund was the new Brazilian Environment Minister Carlos Minc, who was quoted in the BBC report saying: "We are committed to reducing the destruction of the rainforest, to eliminating illegal burning and to guaranteeing a better quality of life for all. "Our war is not won by simply reducing illegal burning in one month, it will be won once this environmental model that is destroying our communities and biodiversity is history." Amen!

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

Norway presents: green vision and inspiring goals

Today I would like to praise Norway. Not only that it announced last week on a bold target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, but it also becomes one of the biggest supporters of forests' protection.

The Norwegian government announced last Thursday on a new target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, 20 years earlier than previously planned.

How will Norway get there? well, according to their plans, up to two-thirds of the emissions cuts will be made domestically and the other third will be offset by investing around 3 billion crowns ($553.1 million) per year to combat deforestation in developing countries (carbon credits).

I wrote here before about Norway's support of protecting forests as a tool to fight global warming. Norway announced its willingness to contribute about $500 million a year to projects aimed at protecting forests in developing countries at the U.N. climate conference last month In Bali. In this conference, as ENN reminds us, it was agreed to launch pilot projects to grant poor countries credits for slowing deforestation under a new long-term climate pact beyond 2012.

Now Norway is reinforcing its commitment - according to ENN, Norway's prime minister on Friday, a day after Norway set the new goal that "protecting forests and burying greenhouse gases are key ways of slowing world climate change."

So, I think Norway deserves kudos for three reasons:

1. Becoming carbon neutral by 2030 is a bold move and it's great to see a country that has the guts to do it and become a role model to all the other countries, especially the developed ones.

2. It's important that most of the CO2 reductions are based on cutting the total emissions by two-thirds domestically and only one third is based on carbon credits. This is a good balance that shows a real commitment to take steps and change what needs to be changed (although it's still very vague how these cuts will be made).

3. I'm happy to see that the carbon credits will be focused on protecting forests in developing countries. Deforestation accounts for about 20 percent of total greenhouse gases, and I think that protection of forests can definitely become an efficient and valuable tool in the fight against global warming. And not tom mention all the other environmental and social benefits that these forests have. It's good that these forests has a powerful reach ally such as Norway - they need it!

I hope to see many countries follow Norway. It's not only their future. It's our future.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

Prince Charles wants to team up with Norway to save forests

Reuters reported last week on a very interesting collaboration between Prince Charles and Norway. The goal: preventing deforestation in developing countries.

The article reports that Prince Charles, who is known as the Green Prince due to its extensive support of many green issues, offered to Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg to work together on saving forests in developing countries. The offer came after Norway's announcement earlier in December that it aimed to provide about 3 billion crowns ($541.2 million) per year to prevent deforestation in developing countries.

Both Prince Charles and the Norwegian government see prevention of deforestation as an effective . Prince Charles said in the past that "the world's rainforests is key to combating global warming" and Norway has said that "fighting deforestation is a quick and low-cost way to achieve cuts in greenhouse gas emissions blamed by scientists for global warming, in addition to maintaining biodiversity and securing people's livelihoods".

Prince Charles is very involved with efforts to save forests lately. Last October he launched a new organization called Reforestation Project that calls for a new green economics that recognises the world's rainforests are worth more alive than dead.

The Gurdian reported that "The Prince's Rainforests Project will bring together environmentalists, scientists and leaders from the developing world in an effort to halt mass deforestation - a bigger contributor to global warming than the world's entire transport sector, including aviation."

Norway want to see the fight in deforestation in developing countries becoming a global concern and not only a local initiative - it has said that commitments to reduce emissions from deforestation in developing nations should be included in a global climate change regime from 2012 and that it will work to develop funding and certification systems to promote the effort.

This is great news for everyone, and I hope the Norwegians and Prince Charles will succeed in their mission to prevent as much deforestation as possible. And let's not forget that some of these trees are cut down for paper, so less virgin paper used for printing books can definitely help to make Prince Charles and the Norwegians' job easier.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!