Thanks, Marco, for Your Endorsement

Marco TavantiDelighted to receive this endorsement from Marco Tavanti, Ph.D., International Sustainable Development Professor (DePaul University, Chicago) and President of World Engagement Institute (WEI). Marco and I came into friendship through his work with Mayans in Chiapas, Mexico, at the time when the Zapatistas rose in protest to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), around 1993-1994, and other forms of neoliberal, MultiEarth economics that have been so aggressive and genocidal toward them. Marco continues to expose students at DePaul to the Chiapan experience.

Some years ago, Marco said to me emphatically, “Lee, write a book!” I express my gratitude to you, Marco, in this public forum. His encouragement continues now with this endorsement. 

“El mundo que queremos es uno donde quepan muchos mundos” - “We want a world where many worlds can coexist.” These words spoken by the Maya indigenous people in resistance add color and meaning to the important and timely message of this book. Lee Van Ham is a visionary leader who works for a world that places ‘humanity’ and ‘care’ at its core. This book highlights his vision along the contrasting MultiEarth and OneEarth worldviews. Can these two worldviews coexist? Ray Anderson, who is highlighted in this book, is also one of my heroes. He has been able to integrate economic development with sustainable practices. This effort requires personal, corporate and systemic paradigm shifts moving away from a blinded progress-rush into a more sustainable, inclusive, and humane development. This is not just a book about self-reflections. It is a guide to collectively raise our consciousness and create concrete steps toward becoming responsible citizens of one earth. This is a must read for people and communities who recognize their global responsibility toward Mother Nature, world poverty, and moral integrity.”