Zero Greenhouse Emissions - A Review

I consider myself environmentally conscious, a supporter of the earth and an informed member of the public. Daily I tweet about matters relating to the environment and climate change and daily I read articles about both, yet by the time I finished Bob Williamson’s book Zero Greenhouse Emissions, The Day the Lights Went Out I felt I had been somewhat of a hypocrite.


Bob’s book is a fictional account of the result of CO2 emissions on our environment and the draconian steps that will be required if we do not immediately reverse the effects of our human activities. What I liked most about the book is its personal look, from a tour of the kitchen and not only what we did, but what will have to, give up.

Zero Greenhouse Emissions lays out in cold hard science what we as humans are doing to the environment in a way a layperson like myself can understand. Although written by an Aussie and using measurements unfamiliar to the American audience, the steps which we can take to audit our own energy use can easily be converted to the English system. Even without actual calculation it is immediately apparent what and where we can change.

The book also covers areas which are not always included in our conversations about global climate change, water shortage and recycling to name two and how we need to make a shift in our paradigm of handling these crisis’. It would be easy for the book to relay a message of doom for many of the warnings are becoming reality, but it is also a book of hope, hope in humanity as a whole.

The book was interesting and I read it in two sittings, well written from the first person’s view it captured my attention and held it throughout. Now I am looking forward to studying it in greater detail and incorporating the suggested changes into my life style.

Winner of numerous awards both in Australia and internationally, including Global Environment Award for Plactics for 2006 presented in Atlanta Georgia, Bob Williamson is the founder of Greenhouse Neutral Foundation, a nonprofit established by his family to educate and precipitate environmental awareness.

I was not paid for writing this review and the copy of the book was one which I purchased. I am a member of the Greenhouse Neutral Honor role, a purely informational list of concerned writers whose attention is focused on the environment.

I found my hero in an unlikely place.

I listened to the presentation on the radio. The commentator was having trouble accepting returning soldiers from Iraq as heroes. Having grown up during the Vietnam conflict, I knew the difference between the soldier and the conflict. I had watched the news at night as returning veterans, many wounded, were spit on. I experienced first-hand the suicide of a family friend who was not able to adapt to life back home. I wanted to respond and "set the man straight."

But my mind went out on a tangent and I began to wonder, who are my heroes?

Certainly as a child I had many heroes, Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Boone, the soldiers of War World II. I had spent hours upon hours pretending to be these men. Later when I began to read more I embraced the characters in books, some imaginary, some not, as my heroes. In one case a writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, became a role model.

When I was a teenager, a close friend became a hero. He faced a terminal illness with courage and laughter. I wondered how I would react under similar circumstances.

But who are my heroes now?

I had trouble finding an answer. I can't say I look to any current politicians as heroes. I have instead developed a mild distrust of anything political. Very few sports celebrities come to mind although I do often hear of some being involved in a worthy causes.

Then I remembered something that happened very close to home. Something that occurred in a family I am acquainted with.

The phone call came one Monday morning, "I just had to talk to someone. I just received a call from Vic and his son has been in a bad accident. They are going to amputate both of his feet."

I was in shock, so much so I had to call back after a few minutes to get the details.

"They were scuba diving in Florida. Jordan's feet got into the propeller and they are so mangled it looks like amputation is the only answer."

Over the next few days I stayed in touch with news from the family through mutual friends. It was a miracle that both parents were doctors and knew what to do. It was a miracle they were able to airlift Jordan to a hospital in Miami that has a specialty in this kind of injury. It was a miracle he made it to the hospital after loosing so much blood.

But the true miracle occurred weeks later when I heard Jordan was coming home. As I wondered about his state of mind I heard about his request during the stay in the hospital. He had noticed the many children who could not afford the treatment he was receiving and requested that a foundation be set up for the solicitation of funds to help those in the hospital who could not help themselves financially.

Shortly after he arrived I attended a football game at his high school. All around him were his high school friends, laughing and giving him support. These same friends were selling bracelets in the stands to raise money for his foundation. Miami Hurricane Coach Larry Coker came by the hospital and his autograph said, "Press on, J.T." The slogan is imprinted on the blue bracelets.

Jordan said he was in his hospital room with his aunt when the phone rang and she said somebody named Greg was on the line.

He said, "I only knew one Greg." He said the voice on the line introduces himself as Greg Norman — the golfing great. Jordan says, "I did not expect the Greg to be Greg Norman. I had to ask him again who he was."

He said Norman encouraged him to "stay positive and keep a good attitude."

My heroes are those people like Jordan, people who face life on life's terms with faith, people who are not thinking only of themselves even when facing life's biggest challenges.