The dawn of the twenty-first century has witnessed two remarkable developments in our history: the appearance of problems that are genuinely global in scope, and the growth of a worldwide movement that is determined to heal the wounds of the earth with the force of passion, dedication, and collective intelligence and wisdom. Across the planet groups ranging from ad hoc neighbourhood associations to well-funded international organizations are confronting issues like the destruction of the environment, the abuses of free-market fundamentalism, social justice, and the loss of indigenous cultures. They share no orthodoxy or unifying ideology; they follow no single charismatic leader; they remain supple enough to coalesce easily into larger networks to achieve their goals. While they are mostly unrecognized by politicians and the media, they are bringing about what may one day be judged the single most profound transformation of human society. Blessed Unrest is the story of what is going right in this world, an account of how people use imagination, conviction, and resilience to perform daily miracles of redefining our relationship to the environment and to one another.
346pp, 160mm x 242mm, hardback, 2007