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Author says not too late for Earth

Saturday he'll discuss his book and solutions it offers to reverse the ecological mayhem, social crises and disease produced by humans.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published April 28, 2006

LARGO - Thom Hartmann, author of renowned works on ecology, psychology and politics, traveled to India in 1999 to meet the Dalai Lama and discuss the future of humanity.

He flew to Los Angeles two weeks ago to shoot an interview for Leonardo DiCaprio's upcoming environmental documentary.

And on Saturday, Hartmann, who lives in Portland, Ore., plans to stop by the Largo Library to talk about his book, The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight.

The Greater Largo Library Foundation booked the national radio host and prolific author to kick off its new event, the Outstanding Authors Series.

Eric Gerard, marketing chairman for the foundation and husband of Largo Mayor Pat Gerard, said the foundation created the series to promote the city's state-of-the-art library.

Gerard said he and his wife are covering the expenses for Hartmann's visit so that all event proceeds will go to the foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the library.

Two other Outstanding Authors events are planned this year, one in July or August and another in October.

Gerard said he suggested Hartmann for the inaugural event.

"I was given his book as a present. I read it and it floored me," Gerard said. "It's almost frightening in its clarity."

In The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, Hartmann explains how societies have depleted oil and other resources and have led to ecological mayhem, social crises and disease.

He also shares how we can change the tide.

It may be too late to eradicate problems that caused calamities such as Hurricane Katrina or the super cyclone that hit northeastern Australia last month, said Hartmann, 54, as he prepared Wednesday at an Oregon studio for his daily syndicated radio talk show.

But, he said, "We can prevent it from getting significantly worse if we take action soon."

While many look to political leaders to guide us in the right direction, Hartmann said real change begins with individuals.

"We're electing representatives," Hartmann said. "They're supposed to do what we tell them to do."

In September 1999, Hartmann was one of a small group of social and spiritual leaders who met with the Dalai Lama to share philosophies for making the world a better place.

In addition to taping a segment for DiCaprio's documentary recently, his book was the inspiration for Global Warning, a short Web video written and produced by DiCaprio.

Hartmann, who lives on a houseboat on the Willamette River with his wife, Louise, works as a host for Clear Channel and Air America. He has written more than 20 books, including works about attention-deficit disorder, which he wrote after his son, Justin, was diagnosed with the disorder.

In 2004, two of his articles were recognized by Project Censored, a media research group that compiles socially important news stories that have been overlooked or censored by mainstream media.

Hartmann started a residential treatment program for emotionally disturbed and abused children in New Hampshire in 1978.

He also helped start hospitals, famine relief programs and schools for children in India, Uganda, Australia, Colombia and the United States.

Two of his newest works are coming out this fall: Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class and What We Can Do About It and Walking Your Blues Away.

In the 24 hours since this time yesterday, over 200,000 acres of rainforest have been destroyed in our world. Fully 13-million tons of toxic chemicals have been released into our environment. Over 45,000 people have died of starvation, 38,000 of them children. And more than 130 plant or animal species have been driven to extinction by the actions of humans. (The last time there was such a rapid loss of species was when the dinosaurs vanished) And all this just since yesterday.

[Last modified April 28, 2006, 01:16:18]