Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis, a new book by Al Gore

Anybody besides me feeling a bit overwhelmed by news about our planetary crisis and the impact of pollution on air, land & water and the many other issues being reported on? If so, I strongly encourage you to buy a new book, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis and withhold judgment until you have read it. There is a fascinating chapter explaining scientifically why our brains become paralyzed by the overwhelming nature of what is happening and why we then look away in denial or despair. Yet it also shares great examples of times when we as a nation and people rose up against huge odds and achieved the impossible, again and again. It is a book filled with hope and possibility.

If you care about the health of the planet and how our current life style will impact our grandchildren and their grandchildren, (and I know each of you do) I strongly encourage you to read, Our Choice. Make it a gift to your whole family. It brings us up to date on all the issues regarding how humans are impacting the health of our planet and what we can do.

Instead of beginning at the beginning, I encourage you to start with Chapter 17, The Power of Information. It is fascinating to learn how the web and technology are rapidly changing how we think and leveraging the power of information for good and for bad. It gave me great hope and I could see choices I want to make about increasing my learning curve as a participant and user of technology.

I was glad to read every chapter as each focuses on a different aspect of our planetary crisis, including: Our Sources of Energy, Living Systems, How We Use Energy, The Obstacles We Need to Overcome and Going Far Quickly. It is very thoroughly researched and presents all sides of each issue. But by far my favorite chapter is the final chapter where the author describes two possible futures, one if we continue the status quo and remain in denial. The other is a very, very hopeful vision of what could be. And as you get to the end, you will be totally convinced that we can choose to change and save our planet. He reminds us of our greatness and how many times we have faced overwhelming threats and turned a problem into an opportunity. For example, Pearl Harbor and WWII where every man, woman & child pitched in. I was 5 years old. I helped with our victory garden, recycled tin foil, knitted squares for blankets for soldiers and saved money for Victory Bonds. The Marshall Plan brought renewed hope to all of Europe and rebuilt the infrastructure which brought economic prosperity and good will.

This nation has a history of rising up to face huge threats and finding the courage and innovation to do whatever it takes. If you long to do the right thing for future generations, please do read this book. It transformed my sense of hope and provided the background on each issue so I can make choices as an informed citizen. I am convinced that we must find our collective will and act now. If not us, who? If not now, when? We are the ones given this challenge.