ONE EARTH

EARTH. There is only one. One small, but unique, blue water planet that we all share. But we are coming close to the point of no return on this cosmic paradise. The Earth has cancer and it's spreading. Global warming, air pollution, water pollution, climatic change, and the depletion of our natural resources are just a few of the challenges facing us today. If our intelligence makes us the stewards of the planet for all the other species we share it with, then we need to feel this sense of urgency. The time to act is now and all of us have to participate to achieve the goal of an inhabitable Earth for the generations to come.

This is the inspiration behind the Evergreen Project. We wanted to look at the question of how we could make a contribution to move in the right direction. Ancient cultures have been a source of inspiration as well. Many tribal and First Nations peoples continue the tradition of showing a deep respect for the Earth in the way that they appreciated the land and took only what was needed—no more—without waste and without the desire for the sheer accumulation of stuff which besets us like a mania. We need to revisit these ancestral beliefs and regain the practice of sustainable living, but without moving backward to some kind of Stone Age.

We are equally inspired by modern thinkers like Michael J. Sandell, the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University, where he has taught political philosophy since 1980. His position is that the responsibility of stewardship for the Earth not only includes a spirit of trusteeship in thinking about future generations and respect for the natural world, but preservation of natural resources and the web of life, and an ethics of conservation. New York Times’ award-winning journalist, Thomas L. Friedman, is an inspiration as an advocate of Green Revolution, especially in his recent best-selling book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded. One of the signs of our times is that there are inspiring individuals and organizations too numerous to mention--every day, we read, hear, and learn more about this expansive, critical Green Movement.

At the Evergreen Project, we believe that the key is to educate and transform awareness about the environment. We also believe that every individual has the opportunity to incorporate earth-changing consciousness in his everyday behaviors, one blade of grass at a time. We want to help individuals understand that even though the challenges are daunting, they can make a difference with small steps like a change in attitude and habits. The information and tools already exist that allow them to take action and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are made accessible to all.

With this impulse in mind, I set out on a mission to set up an effective non-profit organization in order to create programs and curriculum that will make a difference. Our mission is to change the way people think about industrial power and their own personal power to have a positive impact on the planet. We welcome the participation of our growing readership and look forward to benefiting from your energy, insight, and contributions to helping us grow. Join us in what we call the , Evergreen Effect—the power of each part to impact the whole.