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Best-selling author to discuss “Ecological Intelligence in Our Everyday Lives”

    The best-selling author of Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything, Daniel Goleman, will discuss “Raising Ecological Awareness and Learning to Use Ecological Intelligence in Our Everyday Lives” on Aug. 27, beginning at 5 p.m., at Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven. His appearance is part of the new Practical Eco-Stewardship initiative of the Cape and Islands Deanery of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.  
     Dr. Goleman also wrote Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than I.Q. (1995) and Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships (2007).
He posits that to avoid ecological catastrophe, we must look deeper at so-called alternatives and solutions: many ideas that look good on the surface actually take a higher toll on the planet. Goleman defines ecological intelligence as understanding the “hidden web of connections between human activity and nature’s systems, and the subtle complexities of their intersections.”
         Dr. Goleman suggests people focus on what they can control: what they purchase. He calls for higher “green” standards and “radical transparency” on exactly how products are made. For instance, a fashionable organic cotton tote manufactured in fair-wage factories, subsidized with carbon offsets is actually produced with 10,000 liters of water required to grow the cotton for one bag, and cotton crops alone account for the use of about 10 percent of the world's pesticides.
     The Cape and Islands Deanery is one of a number of geographically defined areas within the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts based on watersheds, reinforcing the symbolism of baptism and the interconnectedness of our lives.  The deanery is comprised of congregations from Cape Cod, Plymouth, Buzzard’s Bay, Wareham, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands. Grace Church in Martha’s Vineyard has been very active in researching and purchasing green products in their parish, and, in May, 2009, introduced the deanery to programs they have in place. As a result of that program, the deanery decided to explore eco-stewardship programs, including banding together to make bulk purchases of environmentally sensitive products.
      Dr. Goleman’s presentation is part of the deanery’s effort to provide learning opportunities for parishioners so we can better support each other in making environmentally sound choices in our parishes and in our lives. Some parishes will use Dr. Goleman’s talk as part of a book study on Ecological Intelligence.
     Admission to Dr. Goleman’s talk is free and the public is invited to attend, both in  person or via live webcast on the internet. There will be an opportunity after the talk to purchase books and have them signed.
    Grace Episcopal Church is located at Woodlawn Avenue and William Street in Vineyard Haven. Telephone is (508) 693-0332.
    To register for the live webcast, please contact Grace Church or send email to deaneryweb AT capeislandsdeanery.org.  

High Resolution Images of Dr. Goleman - Photo Credit: Frank Ward
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Larger Image of Book Cover (420 x 639 px)