Yes, censorship is still here and it even can be used against one of the most interesting and successful green books - The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.
Thanks to Tom Laskawy of Grist I learned that it seems like The Omnivore's Dilemma is being censored at Washington State University (WSU). The story is that WSU officials decided to cancel Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma as the common reading assignment for freshman orientation next year, with hints that pressure from Washington agribusiness interests may have been behind the cancellation.
As reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education, "an explanation on the university's Web site is vague and implies the withdrawal of the book was due to budget constraints. But some people on the campus say that the university, which has a prominent agriculture college, bowed to pressure from agribusiness interests. They also question the budget argument, noting that the university has already purchased more than 4,000 copies of the book."
But is it really about money? The Chronicle also reports that "In an e-mail message to The Chronicle, Patricia Freitag Ericsson, an assistant professor of rhetoric and professional writing who also sits on the implementation committee, said that in a meeting on May 4, an administrator told panel members that the common-reading program would be canceled, in large part because of political pressure arising from this year's book choice."
If the cancellation is really due to such a pressure of local powerful agribusiness this is really a shame, given the importance of the book and the fact that many members of Congress were carrying copies of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma" as recently reported on the New York Times. Maybe the agribusiness weren't acting fast enough in the Capitol..
In any event, it looks to me that like in many other cases, these efforts will eventually fail and only push more students at WSU to read this great book to learn what is this book that the university doesn't want them to read.
BookExpo America (BEA) will begin next Thursday (May 28) in NYC. This is the largest book industry event in North America with over 1,500 exhibitors from 37 countries, and one of the largest gatherings of English language publishers in the world. We'll be there as well! The BEA will also have special industry and author events, including some green content. But this year the green content is much more limited in comparison with last year, and we're wondering why is that? is going green only a luxury of the (relatively) good days? is no longer relevant during economic recession?
If you recall Eylon's reports from last the 2008 BEA in Los Angeles, there were several panels about green issues, including Buying, Packaging & Publishing Green Books: The Publishers' Perspective, Environmental Trends: Where Does the U.S. Book Industry Stand Today?,Investing in a Sustainable World: How the Green Revolution will Create New Industries, Opportunities, Economies and Fortunes, and so on.
This year there's only one - Publishing Green: A Recipe for Success in Tough Times. This panel will be held on Saturday, May 30 between 9:30-10:30. The participants will be Todd Pollak, Program Manager, Green Press Initiative (moderator), Steve Geck, Exec Editor, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, Charles Melcher, founder, Melcher Media and Pete Datos, Vice President, Strategic Planning & Publishing Operations, Hachette Book Group.
So why we see a reduction in the number of the panels? what happened to the green spirit that we thought was ruling last year's BEA? my guestimation is that in times where the industry is struggling to keep its head above the water, discussions on green issues look a little bit less relevant or maybe even unrealistic, as going green may be associated with increased costs.
BUT, is it true?
Well I guess the participants in the panel will provide some answers from their own experience, so it would definitely be worthwhile to attend the panel. Other than that the book industry in many ways is no different than most of the industries, and therefore the basics of how going green can benefit a business apply here.
And these benefits include: 1. Driving revenues up
2. Enhancing intangible value
3. Cutting costs
4. Reducing risk
It actually looks like in times like these, such benefits are actually more important and more attractive. Who wouldn't like now to drive revenues up of cut costs? and if it helps the environment at the same time, creating win-win solutions that's even better! That's I guess the same logic President Obama sees in his policy to promote green solutions.
So in all, it seems like going green can be the remedy or at least a significant part of it. And with the upcoming regulation that will put price tag on carbon emissions, it looks like there will be even more economic reasoning why going green and reducing your carbon footprint is the right thing to do. Some in the industry already move forward in this direction.
But general observation is not enough and the burden of proof is still on our shoulders - can you do well by doing good? can you create shared value benefiting both your business and the environment/society? we think the answers are YES and following the BEA we intend to get more into the benefits we presented above and provide you with more specifics on how you can gain them by going green.
We will start with bringing you updates and news from the BEA and of course from the green panel we mentioned. So stay tuned and let us know what you think about this issue. We'll be happy to receive your feedback!
We're very proud of our planting partners and always happy to share the news about them. Today we have an article recently released at OurWorld 2.0, a UN webzine, about our planting partner AIR.
The writer, Adam Darragh, is a recent graduate of Stetson University who majored in Religious Studies. He went last summer to Guatemala with four other Stetson University students, to volunteer for a month with the Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR), accompanied by AIR's founder, political science professor Dr. Anne Hallum from Stetson University.
Darragh helped with tree planting, is describing in the article the work he done with his colleauges and AIR's staff, planting trees , building four fuel-efficient stoves for community leaders, planting vegetables, and working alongside students and teachers to build improvements to schools that partner with AIR.
Here's a part where he speaks about his tree planting experience:
"We arrived in June during Guatemala’s rainy season, months after community-operated tree nurseries started by AIR had planted and raised thousands of seedlings of pine, peach, and other kinds of trees. Our average day was spent hopping into pickup trucks, heading to the tree nursery, then riding with the villagers to farmlands, deforested hillsides, or post-landslide slopes. Under the direction of AIR staff and village farmers, we planted as many trees as we could before the monsoon-like rains arrived."
Darragh not only describing the efforts of AIR to teach communities an alternative way to the slash and burn practices, but also the way AIR is working in general, collaborating with families and communities, putting an emphasis on education as well respect to the locals, to ensure the effectiveness of their programs. Darragh explains:
"My experience with AIR has shown me that the world’s reforestation issues can’t be top-down, enforced change, but rather must be the product of individuals, their families, and their communities. While much of AIR’s support comes from gracious donors, the actual work is done by a dedicated group of Guatemalans who partner with farmers, whole villages and schools in education and planting.
It’s a community-based effort, which remains effective because it tempers the goal — reforestation and community development — with respect for Guatemalan cultural heritage and area-specific needs."
In all, AIR has planted so far more than three million trees in Guatemala and Nicaragua, educated more than 1,600 families in sustainable, organic farming methods and built more than 700 fuel-efficient ovens have been built (only recently, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues granted AIR US $8,200 to build additional brick stoves in Guatemala).
Last week was our green books review week, where we had a new review every day and also three giveaways. The second giveaway was of a great book entitled 'Big Green Cookbook'.
We asked you to share with us no less than your favorite dish and got many great replies/dishes. And we have a winner!
The winner is Cherry Blossoms, who chose a great dish that made all of us very very hungry :) The chosen one was:
"My favorite dish is Shrimp and Lemon Oil over Linguine with Arugula and fresh parsley! Yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
We asked you to share with us what is your favorite organization and how it helps to build a better world. We got great replies and we have a winner!
The winner is Laureen, who chose Green America (formerly Co-Op America) and wrote the following:
"I am a big fan (and member) of Green America (formerly Co-Op America). This organization concerns itself with many issues that are critical to building a better world through improving social justice and environmental sustainability.
Green America co-sponsors the Green Festival in various cities each year (love the GF!) which is open to the public and offers a wide range of well-known speakers and eco-friendly company booths.
What this video is about? her here are some details from the authors' website:
The Green Beginnings Video is a unique, original-content eco-documentary that features the professional team who built the Green Beginnings House, an award-winning LEED Silver green and sustainable home. The team offers perspective as they explain the project and green homes in a new stand-alone educational film that can also be utilized as an adjunct teaching companion to the Green Beginnings Book that explains the project and green homes from the homeowner’s perspective.
Viewed together with the Green Beginnings book as a complete green homes educational package, viewers are offered a unique opportunity to learn about green homes from both the homeowners' point of view (consumer mindset) and the professionals' perspective.
Produced by Freeland Media in association with Amy Cornelius, LEED AP, Hugh Lofting Timber Frames, and directed by award winning cinematographer Erik Freeland, the film depicts the collaborative effort between the professional team and homeowners who designed and built the Green Beginnings house, a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Silver home. Shot on location amidst a picturesque backdrop of rolling farmlands in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, the film follows the true story of planning and building a state-of-the-art green and sustainable home.
Rebecca Lerwill is an author and a partner of Eco-Libris, as she plants a tree with us for every sold copy of her books. She has just released her second book 'The Acronym - White Nights of St. Petersburg', which got a great praise from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Tami Hoag, who wrote “Rebecca Lerwill is a fresh voice with a fresh angle on suspense, destined to keep readers happily turning the pages as fast as they can.”
We agree! We thought that with the release of this new book, it is a good time to interview Rebecca and hear more about the book, her experiences as an author and her thoughts about sustainable reading and the future of the industry.
Hello Rebecca and congrats on your new book 'The Acronym'! Can you tell us what is it about? Hi Raz, thanks so much for this interview. My latest thriller, The Acronym, just got published in April of 2009. It is a sequel to my award-winning debut, Relocating Mia, a romantic suspense. Although a sequel, The Acronym stands on its own and is a story of espionage with a romantic back drop.
It picks up where Relocating Mia left off: Our heroine, Mia Trentino now works for the Acronym, a clandestine agency consisting of former elite members of U.S government and international law enforcement institutions. Mia has to return to Russia to testify against Piotr Lagunov, an affiliation of the Russian Mafia which kidnapped Mia a year ago.
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Tami Hoag says, “Rebecca Lerwill is a fresh voice with a fresh angle on suspense, destined to keep readers happily turning the pages as fast as they can.”
This is your second book after 'Relocating Mia'. Is the second book easier than the first one? Like I said, The Acronym stands on its own, and I think it’s an easier read. The chapters are short and snappy and keep you on your toes. One reviewer compared reading The Acronym to a race in a luge. Great compliment! The Acronym was easier to write, as well. As an author, I definitely found my niche writing spy novels. Researching the tactics of clandestine operations is a riot. Although I might explore other genres, a great thriller of international crime is hard to beat.
You self-publish your books. Can you tell us a little bit about the process? Today’s market makes it almost impossible to break free as an indie author (Independent author), because with over 2000 books published weekly, nobody pays attention to written art when not promoted by a traditional publisher.
There are some real gems out there, written by indie-Authors which simply get drowned in the sea of books. I only began writing seriously in 2006. Impatient by nature, I didn’t take the time to submit my manuscript to a traditional house, or hunted for an agent. I did some research and chose to self-publish; meaning I paid a self-publishing company to get my book in print.
The opinions and pro and cons on those self-publishing companies is a wide-spread discussion. I’m glad they were available when my time to publish came, but I’m beyond needing help to self-publish. Any future work – if I don’t get picked up by a traditional publisher – will be published by my own pub house, Ivy Leaf Press, LLC.
My suggestion to any new author is: Do your homework before you choose a ‘vanity press’, and do as much as you can yourself but find a professional editor. I can’t stress enough how important it is to get your manuscript edited, and I don’t just mean dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. English is my second language, so I will always need a good editor. But that’s not the only reason; The Acronym was slashed by almost 10’000 words between editing rounds; something I had agreed to. The outcome is a brighter book without unnecessary details and without the change of my voice.
Do you do print on demand (POD)? I don’t. Although I’m proud to be an indie-author, I like my books to stand out. My covers are embossed which isn’t possible if you Print On Demand. My books are also readily available and since the individual cost is much lower than POD books, those off-set printed books are a lot less expensive -- in production and retail.
Of course printing 1000+ copies is an investment, but my royalties are much higher than a POD author’s paycheck and I’m able to sell books directly through my website for a discounted price.
I know that you were looking to print the book on recycled paper. How did your search go and did you eventually use recycled paper? After receiving several bits from different printers, McNaughton & Gunn did a fabulous job printing The Acronym on 50% recovered fiber and acid free paper. I believe this statement from their website says it all: “In ten years' time, while our company experienced 40% growth, we also successfully decreased our landfill waste from 1,660 cubic yards to 120 cubic yards. Our environmentally sound business practices have brought about cost savings to our company while helping reduce our carbon footprint.”
What do you think in general about the environmental footprint of books? how it can be reduced? Although I’m old-fashioned and like the feel of a book in my hands, electronic publishing is becoming very popular and very easy to do. Of course programs like yours are an important part in preserving our environment. I made Relocating Mia, as well as The Acronym ‘Eco-Libris’ books by purchasing stickers. Every book ordered through my website generally gets a cover enhancement with one of your stickers. As of today, I have my own little forest planted somewhere.
Is your book available on Kindle? what do you think of e-books in general? Relocating Mia is a Kindle book and The Acronym will follow as soon as I find the time re-formatting the text. I’m planning on releasing The Acronym on Kindle the end of May 2009. I don’t own a Kindle yet, but I have purchased e-books that aren’t available in print and read them on my laptop.
How do you see the future of the book industry? do you think we'll see more POD and self-published writers and less of the old-fashioned publishing houses? Tough question. As a relatively new author, I’m not sure if I’m qualified to answer this, Raz. My feeling is that the huge wave of self-published books might cease when people finally realize that there isn’t a quick buck or even fame made by publishing a book.
Of course we love those success stories and we always root for the underdog. But those stories of a self-made, self-published millionaire are rare, and an honest writer doesn’t plot for the fame – he/she writes for him/herself and the audience. Maybe I’m too naïve, but I would like to believe that the indie-authors of the future focus more on quality writing. Traditional houses won’t go away, and they shouldn’t. Their work preserves the integrity of literature.
What are your plans for the future? are you working on a new book? I keep telling myself that, after writing and self-publishing 2 novels within less than 2 years, I need a break. But I already started a third thriller and also am working on a non-fiction; Becoming American is my memoir and very dear to me. As a native of Germany, I have become very patriotic to this country over the last years. I have lived an interesting life here in the States since 1996. I think I’m ready to share my experiences in a memoir in essay form.
Thanks Rebecca for this interview. Is there anything else you would you like to add? I would like to invite your readers to visit my website and sign up for my newsletter. Once, sometimes twice a month, I share reviews of books I’ve read, reviews readers wrote about my books, poetry, recipes, and all kind of fun stuff. I give away 2 signed copies of Relocating Mia every month, and also hold poetry contests. Both my books, Relocating Mia and The Acronym, are offered to discounted prices, as well. Of course, they are also available at online book sellers or can be ordered in any brick and mortar store. Thanks for taking the time to conduct this interview, Raz. I hope your readers enjoyed it as much as I did.
Here's the book's trailer:
You can buy 'The Acronym' on Rebecca's website. It's also available on Amazon. We will also have a giveaway of one copy on our upcoming May newsletter this week. If you're not a subscriber yet, you're welcome to join our mailing list by adding your email on the 'Join Our Email List' box on the right column of the blog.
Founded in 2007, Eco-Libris is a green company working to green up the book industry in the digital age by promoting the adoption of green practices in the book industry, balancing out books by planting trees, and helping to make e-reading greener.
To achieve these goals Eco-Libris is working with book readers, publishers, authors, bookstores and others in the book industry worldwide. So far Eco-Libris balanced out over 179,500 books, which results in more than 200,000 new trees planted with its planting partners in developing countries.
Yes, censorship is still here and it even can be used against one of the most interesting and successful green books - The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.
