GreenTOpia: Towards a Sustainable Toronto, uTOpia volume three

GreenTOpia: Towards a Sustainable Toronto, uTOpia volume three
Edited by Alana Wilcox, Christina Palassio, Jonny Dovercourt
Coach House Books, 2007
ISBN 1-55245-194-1
Reviewed By: Amy Law

OUTLINE

GreenTOpia: Towards a Sustainable Toronto is the third volume in the uTOpia series. It is printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled, chlorine-free paper and is edited by Alana Wilcox, Christina Palassio, and Jonny Dovercourt. It comprise of a collection of essays by Torontonians for Torontonians, answering the question, what would make our city a greener place? The proposals from environmental groups, progressive university faculties, city councilors, eco-friendly developers, science-fiction authors, grassroots activist, civic leaders and guerrilla gardeners resulted in twenty-three full-length essays and nineteen one-to-two page ideas.

The goal of the first two books in the series, uTOpia: Towards a New Toronto and The State of the Arts: Living with the Culture of Toronto, is to ask Torontoians to imagine a better city for ourselves. This fits perfectly with the ever-more pressing need to make it more sustainable. The green movement is talked about everywhere but the key to repair is local. The focus of this volume is on the solutions that are unique to our city reminding us that doing something about it involves better decisions made in our day-to-day lives.

RELEVANCE
Useless to relevant, 1 to 5: 4

GreenTOpia focuses on solutions that prove that it is possible to live in a city and still make choices that put the environment first. In addition to the essays, it also features photos, maps and a 56-page green directory of useful resources, organizations, incentives and programs promoting sustainability in the GTA. Although it tackles big ideas such as watersheds and activism, it stresses that it is the small, individual choices that ultimately have the greatest effect.

OPINION
Awful to fabulous, 1 to 5: 4

I would recommend this book. The global issue of sustaining our environment for a greener future can often overwhelm us to the point of becoming discouraged to take action. GreenTOpia reminds us that the key is to repair it on a local level and starts us off with the ideas and solutions. It assures us that it is possible to make a difference starting from our city. ‘Think globally, act locally’ is definitely the catch phrase for this book.