Today is an exciting day because April 11 is the date my essay is featured in the book Global Chorus: 365 Voices On The Future of the Planet.

It started with an email from editor extraordinaire Todd MacLean inviting me to be a contributor to a Global Chorus, an anthology he was putting together featuring 365 contemporary voices expressing their thoughts on the future of the planet. He explained that the book would feature a different essay on each day of the year and proceeds from sales would go towards the World Wildlife Fund, The Jane Goodall Institute, The David Suzuki Foundation and The International Committee of the Red Cross.

Todd asked contributors to answer in 350 words or less: “Do you think that humanity can find a way past the current global environmental and social crises? Will we be able to create the conditions necessary for our own survival, as well as that of other species on the planet? What would these conditions look like? In summary, then, and in the plainest of terms, do we have hope, and can we do it?”

Daunting questions to say the least, but I was up for the challenge and submitted a response.

Thanks to Todd’s dedication, vision and persistence, the book was published on October 29, 2014 by Rocky Mountain Books, a Canadian publisher. And why, you may ask, haven’t I posted about the book until now? Well, Todd immediately set out on a book tour in Canada and the 5,000 printed copies of Global Chorus sold out in less than a month. As a result, the publisher was never able to distribute copies to all the usual places you can buy books in the U.S.

So it seemed a bit strange to announce a book that no one could get a hold of. Thankfully, Rocky Mountain Books has printed more copies and now Global Chorus is available  in the U.S. on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Of course I’m biased, but seriously this book is a must read. There are essays from people all over the world and messages from ocean greats such as Sylvia Earle, Alexandra and Céline Cousteau, and Wallace J. Nichols.

While there are many famous thought-leaders featured in Global Chorus including the Dali Lama, Steven Hawking, Jane Goodall, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Maya Angelou and David Suzuki, the reason I love the book is because it also features many lesser-known voices. It’s so inspiring to read through and see how many people are dedicating their lives to improving the world. It makes you realize how many people are out there who care and that you’re not alone.

Read Global Chorus and support a great cause and in the process renew your faith in humanity – because maybe, just maybe if we all join the chorus, there’s hope for the future after all.

Find out more at globalchorus.ca.