By Maggie Romuld

Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller - Oil and the End of Globalization

By Jeff Rubin

Why is our world about to get a whole lot smaller? If you believe Jeff Rubin, former Chief Economist at CIBC World Markets, oil scarcity will inevitably lead to higher transportation costs, global trade and travel will thus be curtailed, and the world will re-divide into inwardly-focused regions as we buy, eat and work locally. Hence, our world will shrink.

Well-written and easy to read, this book will be a pleasant surprise for those skittish about reading a book written by an economist. Rubin presents a clear picture of how the global economy runs on oil and the direct consequences of expensive oil. As he weaves together theories of Peak Oil, Peak Food and Peak Gross Domestic Product, he presents convincing arguments that the entire global economy has been sustained by an apparently endless source of cheap oil, and he suggests that global economics is about to be redefined. Without cheap oil, he states, globalization doesn't work and "change is coming whether we like it or not" as we are forced to turn our backs on global trade and return to local economic roots.

While some of this has been written before, the take-home message for most readers will be two points Rubin reiterates time and time again through the book: everything is connected to the price of oil, and distance costs money. If he is correct that the price of oil is the single most important factor in maintaining both globalization and our high-consumption lifestyle, and his arguments are compelling, we had better brace ourselves for some radical lifestyle adjustments.

The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift

By Andres. R. Edwards

In The Sustainability Revolution, Andres Edwards proposes that we are in the early stages of a global Sustainability Revolution no less significant than the great Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions that shaped human history.

After discussing what he believes is a profound, worldwide shift happening in how we think about sustainability, Edwards reviews the development of sustainability from its early roots in environmentalism and provides a comprehensive overview of its core philosophies and tools. He then turns his focus to the more recent past and discusses the principles, theories and concepts established by various elements of the movement, providing examples of how they are currently being applied. Within this exploration of all things sustainable, he also chronicles numerous initiatives taking place throughout the world, details current challenges and predicts future trends.

Edwards' in-depth coverage of the philosophy of the sustainability movement will probably be of most use as a primer for those new to the subject; however, this book will also be of some use as a purpose-driven desk reference for those already working in the field. The annotated bibliography and comprehensive resource section of organizations and web sites in the final chapters of the book provide valuable shortcuts to further information. The Sustainability Revolution is not an easy read but it does provide a way to navigate the rapidly evolving field of sustainability, and you finish the book with your fingers crossed, hoping Edwards is right - that the sustainability movement is gaining momentum - and big things are just around the corner.

The Geography of Hope: A Tour of the World We Need

By Chris Turner

For over 2000 years, geography has defined itself as the science that looks at things from a spatial perspective - how things are arranged and how they fit together - including human life and the effects of human activity, and in The Geography of Hope, Chris Turner has done geography proud. While he trotted the globe in search of a sustainable future, Turner discovered countless examples of individual and community action dedicated to new practices and new ways of thinking. In Hope, he pieces together a mosaic of the projects he found scattered far and wide: different scales, different countries, different cultures, all dedicated to sustainable solutions and tailored to the needs of local people and geography. By introducing us to individuals, communities, companies and governments committed to reducing the human footprint, the book does, indeed, confirm that hope is widespread, and likewise instils hope in the reader through its optimistic view of the future.

Parts of this book are more easily read than others but it is worth slogging through the tough bits because there is value in Turner's message. As you read, you realize that if you are committed to sustainability, you are not alone; there are mothers and fathers, farmers, builders, business owners and government leaders throughout the world who are actively trying to change the way we live our lives. A welcome respite from ubiquitous environmental fear-mongering, The Geography of Hope shows us what has been done, what is being done, and perhaps, more subtly, gives us just a little nudge towards what should be done.