One chapter and less than thirty-six hours to go before the inaugural meeting of Eco Biblio Chicago (You can call it EBC.) and so I figured the time is more than ripe to finally put some cyber-structure to this endeavor. As the motto indicates, EBC is intended as a forum for educating oneself on matters of sustainability, environmentalism and various methods and means of verdancy. It's also about having some accompaniment as you undertake this particular brand of book-learning.
The Structure:
The structure of each EBC meeting (which is subject to change at any time) is currently as follows:
1. Each month we read a book about environmental matters. The reading list (also subject to change but not without ample warning) is to your right. This month's selection is "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson; next month's book will be "The Ecology of Commerce" by Paul Hawken, and so forth and so on.
2. Once a month, we come together and try to answer "The Big Questions" (also to your right!), which are intended as a context within which to discuss each book. I may throw in an extra question or modify one of The Big Questions slightly here or there if I'm feeling all whimsical. We'll start with question 1 and give everyone a chance to respond, then go to questions 2, 3 and 4 in the same how-do-you-eat-an-elephant manner. If you don't want to say anything, you don't have to so don't let that stop you from coming to an EBC meeting. However, if you do want to say something that has nothing to do with the topic at hand, you will not be able to do so until we are finished with The Big Questions and the dance floor has been officially opened. WARNING: I plan to needle felt one of those big long canes that were so handily used when Vaudevillians overstayed their welcome on the stage, and will use it on anyone who goes off topic. Don't be too afraid, though. It will be brandished as kindly as is possible, and it will be made of wool so, though it might be a little itchy, no lasting damage will likely befall your physical or psychic being at an EBC meeting.
3. And then we dance—at least eventually we will, once I find a good place to meet to discuss books and then promptly thereafter cut a rug. (If you know of any such place in Chicago
What Does a Dance Club Have To Do With Sustainability?
As we all know, sustainability is a serious business. The intent of EBC is to facilitate thoughtful discussion using the ideas and information we glean from the books we read and The Big Questions as a launch pad to our discussions, in the hope that together we may gain clarity about environmental problems (on both micro and macro levels), and about how to most capably effect positive responses to those problems. And then we must dance. OK, I guess I should admit here that I do have a bit of a mad scientist bent to me and so somewhere in the future of EBC I foresee the creation of some sort of communal battery—may be actual, may be metaphorical—by which we can capture, store and then later release where needed the energy created by our learning, discussing, sharing and dancing, and, in so doing, make the world a better place. Until that time, it just seems like a good idea to have some fun after having some serious discussion.
But the First Meeting Is Tomorrow and I Haven't Read "Silent Spring"!
Then come to the meeting to chide me about my poor planning skills. But remember that you can't do that until the dance floor is officially opened! But seriously folks, if you are interested in learning more about sustainability and engaging in meaningful discussion about the environment, I strongly encourage you to come and be a part of the discussion, whether you have read the subject book or not. Also remember that there is no communication without listening. Perhaps you will hear something that plants a seed in your heart or your head, each of which are venerable gardens capable of affecting our environment (or at least your environment) in magnificent ways. So please, come grow with me!
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