Fall Greens in the Green Mountain State

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have lots to be grateful for this year, as always, and the publication of Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties has given me many opportunities to travel and see friends this holiday season. I was in Vermont this past week at a book party hosted by Buch Spieler in Montpelier, and I was also able to head to the Round Barn in Waitsfield for the annual Thanksgiving Farmer's Market.

Waitsfield is in the "valley", which is home to the Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski areas, and it also boasts a wealth of small farms. While the farmers' market is not year-round (it is a region of the country that relies on snow, remember), farmers bring out their end-of-season bounty for the annual Thanksgiving market.

I was on my way to Spain, so I didn't have the chance to enjoy too much of the local produce, but I was able to get some amazing maple syrup and raspberry jam, both of which which will soon be on their way to Jordan with my husband, and I made an incredible salad from the carrots, radishes, and hearty greens I picked up.

And, if I was going to be there for Thanksgiving, I could have feasted on the potatoes, squash, onions, garlic, and mixed greens that are all in season now.

Just to get you in the mood, here is one of my favorite desserts for the holiday season:

Hazelnut Linzertorte with Cranberry-Apricot Filling (note that I find I need to cook at 375 instead of at 350)

The Book Is Here!

Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties has been released! On paper and everything. You can find it at the following places, and many local, independent bookstores are carrying it as well:

Order online!
Barnes and Noble
Amazon.com
Borders
Books a Million
Indie-Bound
Chapters Indigo.ca

Thanks to all of you for all of your support throughout the last few years of researching and writing. I hope the book serves as a jumping off point and that our community of world changers continues to grow!

Some writers and activists who I really respect had a chance to read the book before it was released, and here is what they had to say about it:

''Everywhere I go around the planet, I find young people, fresh from
college, leading the new green movement. With savvy and heart, they're
making a real difference--and as this book shows, you can too!"

-Bill McKibben, 350.org

"Having a positive impact doesn't have to be complicated, but sometimes
the biggest obstacle is knowing where--and how to start. Ten Ways is a
great resource to help people who are just starting out know how to start
making a difference."

- Meg Busse - The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers

"What I love about Ten Ways is that it picks up where so many books leave
off and answers the question, “what exactly is to be done by individuals
who want to help?” Libuse Binder has found the perfect combination of
information, inspiration, and detailed suggestions for adults of all ages to
begin to make a difference." -Laurie David, Stopglobalwarming.org

"What really distinguishes Ten Ways is how Binder presents real world

cases of young people creating positive change. These aren't just ideas--they're success stories."

-Ben Jervey, Environmental journalist and author of The Big Green Apple

"Ten Ways to Change the World In Your Twenties won't only teach you
how to change the world, it will get you exhilarated about doing so. Libuse Binder
is a passionate advocate and activist, and she writes in fun, accessible prose
that's never preachy, that speaks to any generation--whether you're in your 20s
or your 80s--about how to live mindfully, and have a blast while doing so."

-Melissa Kirsch, author of The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything
"Libuse Binder has a heart as big as the world. Ten Ways To Change the World in Your Twenties is imperative reading young people committed to helping the planet, and one another, toward a more enlightened future. Read this book!"

-Mark Matousek, author of When You're Falling, Dive, and Ethical Wisdom: What Makes Us Good?

Who Knew Voting Could Be So Much Fun?

What were you all doing last year at this time? It's probably easy to conjure up images of election parties past, since presidential elections (especially the most recent one) tend to be pretty memorable.

However, every election is important, especially since many local policies eventually filter up to the state and even the national level.

Granted, it's hard to get fired up about some of the measures on the ballot like whether or not to amend the King County Charter, which apparently was so poorly written that it gets amended every year. Lucky for me and my fellow voters, the funny folks at The Stranger in Seattle have done the admittedly dull legwork and condensed all of the info into an easy-to-follow (and laugh at) voting guide. I discovered the guide during my last voting stint in the summer primary, when I was unfamiliar with many of the candidates and the county brochure containing the candidate statements didn't offer enough info to help me make a decision. The Stranger's guide is so good that I'd read it for fun even if I didn't live in Seattle.

Your town or city will offer voting guides too, and even if they aren't as entertaining as The Stranger's, they are worth a read. Certain organizations, such as The Sierra Club, also publish voting guides by region.

So before you start filling out your ballot, take a few minutes to read the opinions of others, especially about issues you may not be familiar with. That way, you won't end up with a power-mad comptroller or a parking lot where your paradise is supposed to be.

Yellow Books and Halloween - I can tell you how to get rid of one.

Ah, the yellow pages. No matter how many times I move, those hefty tomes seem to follow me everywhere I go. I moved into a new place last month, and I was rejoicing over the fact that the previous owner hadn't left stacks of old ones hidden in a drawer somewhere. But just when I thought I was safe, it happened. A Yellow Book. On my doorstep. In a plastic bag.

The funny thing is that I don't even have a landline, but apparently that doesn't make a difference.

However, with a bit of effort, it turns out that I can rid myself of them forever. You can go to YellowPagesGoesGreen and enter your mailing info to opt out of delivery. I also found this blog that lists all of the numbers needed to call to opt out of receiving unsolicited phone books.

Depending on where you live, here are the numbers:

AT&T/YellowPages (formerly SBC and Bell South):

1.800.792.2665

Verizon (Idearc):

1.800.888.8448

Dex:

1.877.243.8339

Yellow Book:

1.800.373.3280 or 1.800.373.2324

This left me with the problem of what to do with the yellow book I already have. I went to the Yellow Book Recycling Directory and entered in my zip code to find a place to recycle it. In Seattle, the phone books can go in the regular commingled recycling, so check with your municipality first to see if the same rules apply where you live.

Here's to only finding trick-or-treaters on our doorstep next Halloween!

What Are You Doing Tomorrow?

No matter your whereabouts or plans, chances are you can find an International Day of Climate Action sponsored by 350.org near you. I've written about 350 before, and one of the founders is featured in my book. They are doing incredible work to raise awareness about climate change, and tomorrow's day of action is one that you can easily be involved in.

4500 events will be held in 181 countries to "call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis." You can locate an event near you by visiting the 350 website.

Remember, the Barcelona Climate Change talks are the first week of November, and the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is less than two months away. Now is the time to make sure your voice is heard on an issue that matters to us all.

Finding Commitment in College

Has your college or university signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment?

The agreement requires signatories to commit to taking specific steps toward carbon neutrality by formulating an institutional action plan.

Here is an excerpt from the agreement:

"We believe colleges and universities must exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions, and by providing the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality. Campuses that address the climate challenge by reducing global warming emissions and by integrating sustainability into their curriculum will better serve their students and meet their social mandate to help create a thriving, ethical and civil society. These colleges and universities will be providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the critical, systemic challenges faced by the world in this new century and enable them to benefit from the economic opportunities that will arise as a result of solutions they develop."

Not sure if your school or alma mater has signed? Visit the website today to check out the ever-growing list of signatories, and remember that as an alum or current student, you have tremendous influence over whether or not your school signs.

If your college or university is already on board, see where they are with their carbon neutrality plan, and if you are impressed, offer to support their efforts. Many colleges and universities are establishing sustainability initiatives specifically to address the need to be more energy efficient.

While signing the agreement is a good first step, it's the actions that colleges and universities choose to take after signing that will make the difference.

Visit a National Park (For Free!) Next Weekend

Time spent in National Parks allows us to experience nature's majesty by ourselves or with family and friends. Last July, I was visiting Glacier National Park for the first time and having my first encounter with a Grizzly Bear. Just to back up my assertion, The Huffington Post recently published a post by Barbara Fenig titled "Top Ten Best National Parks You Don't Know About," and Glacier was #1 on the list.

In case you need any additional incentive, next weekend, August 15th and 16th, entry to many of the parks is free! Here is a list by state of all of the parks that will be fee-free next weekend - Enjoy!