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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Making Money Like the Bee, May 23, 2002
In their first book together, "From Naked Ape to Super-Species," Suzuki and Dressel undermined all our traditional notions of progress. With hard facts, they critiqued humankind as a wreckless, out-of-control species carelessly teetering on self-(and btw, homo sapiens is the only species that kills itself) and eco-destruction. What they left out of the book, however, was a roadmap for the future. Well, here it is. "Good News" is the other half of the story - a story of how creative, ecologically-minded business is sprouting up all over the world. In this global tour de force, Suzuki and Dressel offer multiple signs of hope for the future, and uncover evidence of a veritble grass-roots ecological revolution. With this book, you will see how businesses (both big and small) can "make money like the bee." An example: Meet Judy Wicks, "a woman of about 50 with a mane of snow-white hair," owner and proprietor of White Dog Cafe and business revolutionary extraordinaire. White dog is a full-service restaurant in the university disctrict of Philadelphia that serves cruelty-free meats, organically raised produce, non-GE soy and corn oils, as well as Table Talks on the War on Drugs, the court decision to electe Bush, the GE debate, and much much more. White Dog Cafe is a $5 million grossing business cooperative (so you can bet the food is delicious), where the head cook makes the same salary as Wicks: about $65,000 a year, "a fine and comfortable living for a single parent with two college-age children." Instead of investing her extram money in expansion, Wicks choses to invest in her employees, her community, and the natural environment. White Dog runs mentoring programs, inner-city tours, holds community dances, buys local produce, offers jobs to struggling youth, provides scholarships for workers, and is active with many other local organizations, like the Chef's Collaborative 2000. In accord with her mission statement, Wicks runs her business for the benefit of her customers, the community, her employees, and the natural world. As she says, "small businesses are one of the plant's most wonderful means of *serving* and doing good." White Dog Cafe is but one of many of positive examples of people are beginning to live together harmoniously with themselves and the environment. This book will introduce to revolutionary loggers, farmers, and other local peoples from all over the planet who show "again and again that the people in the best position to know what will really work over the long term in a given area are locals committed to that area" - that is, the same people who have a long-term interest in making sure that the area remains healthy. This book is a must read for anybody, from parents to revolutionaries. Whether you are deep ecologist or quid chewing lumberjack, you will find a niche in this book. There is something for everyone. Personally, I found it to be an indispensible resource, filled with inspiring new ideas that I hope to incorporate into my life. Once again, Suzuki and Dressel have outdone themselves.
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