My birthday is coming up, and I have a wish. If you own a copy of my green book, Good Food, Healthy Planet, or perhaps you borrowed it from a friend or the library, attended a workshop, or watched my segments on TV, please, please drop me a review.
Order Now
Good Food, Healthy Planet is a Globe and Mail and National Post Top Cookbook of 2024
Get your copy:
🇨🇦 Amazon.ca | Indigo
🇺🇸 Amazon.com
"It's modern-day comfort when you want to nourish yourself and the planet." – Julie Van Rosendaal, The Globe and Mail
You can leave it on Amazon, Indigo, or wherever you prefer. While you’re doing this, if you’re active on Goodreads, drop this girl a review there too. Because online reviews matter.
Over the years, many of you have shared your feedback and affection via email, text and DM. It has been ABSOLUTELY WONDERFULLY INCREDIBLE to hear from you.
With algorithm-driven content, though, online reviews matter – today more than ever. So much so that they keep the lights on for independent publishers and authors like me on enormous platforms like Amazon and Google. Books and authors don’t even get seen unless people engage because reviews prioritize which content and products are shown on these platforms.
So here I am, turning 52 soon, flaunting the grey, feeling the feels and all the (climate) fatigue, asking the world – YOU – to drop a gal a review. Please 🙂
Here are the different ways you can do this. Drop me a note if I missed something; I’m constantly learning. For example, I didn’t know many local libraries accepted book reviews. They do, and it’s often online. Thank you to the friend who reviewed me on the Toronto Public Library website and started me off on this trajectory!
For all who have reviewed and referred me in real life – for your company workshop, community book club, interview panel, talk and TV segment – I see you. I am shook by your trust in me and my work. Thank you!
Here are the review links again:
About Climate Fatigue
I just got back from my summer travels visiting family in the UK and India, and I am struck by the evidence of climate change everywhere. It’s unavoidable. I am also struck by the “complacency, disinformation, and short-term thinking” that plagues almost every government around the world.
I am feeling anger at the denial and disinformation, and also feeling the fatigue. It has a name – climate fatigue. Don’t get me wrong, there is incredible work being done in every community; after all, the evidence is undeniable, and people are stepping up. Mostly I feel inspired, but lately it’s been a slog. This week, for example, I met two community organizers at separate meetings, both struggling with slashed budgets due to disappearing support from large corporations.
The fatigue is real. And it’s not for want of ambition or action.
From pollinator gardens to protect biodiversity, to planting trees to control rising temps, to innovative ways of reducing food and plastic waste, to solar panels and renewables – so many alternatives to gasoline and coal – every neighbourhood around the world seems to be doing what they can. In my travels from Toronto to London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Delhi, Gurgaon, all the way to the tippy tip of the Indian peninsula, Kanya Kumari and then back again, the evidence is right there. Of climate change and of climate action. It’s hard to ignore.
But ignore it they do! People are deeply aware of the problems, but system-level action is blocked. In fact, political parties and governments (including Canada) are doubling down on fossil fuel extraction and production while ignoring environmental and health concerns around smoke/ waste/ plastic use/meat consumption. Those who control budgets and lead governments are thinking short-term, ignoring scientific research, and even speeding up disinformation. Without system support, despite grassroots efforts, the high-consuming, high-wasting conveyor belt continues.
Regroup to Rally
I have been regrouping somewhat this summer. That’s another military reference from my dad and my childhood as an “army brat.” Assessing my resources, seeing how best to reorganize my time, effort, budget and skills so I can be truly effective. I’m also digging into what’s important for my work, my life, and for our collective future. That’s part of regrouping; I will have more for you soon. In my last newsletter, “Heroes, Convene”, I shared some of this sentiment. Earlier editions of my newsletter are available here if you would like to follow my trajectory of thought.
We are going through planet-transforming, life-changing times. I don’t use these words lightly. We have the power to choose the world we build. What you do matters. Perhaps it’s the only thing that does.