From the Publisher

We Are Responsible for Tomorrow

By Brian Rowland, Publisher

Throughout history, periods of major social change have modified people’s behavior.

It happened when the barons forced King John to slap his stamp on the Magna Carta in 1215 at Runnymede, showing the citizenry they had rights against an absolute king. The document would serve as inspiration through the ages to people seeking freedom, including our Founding Fathers when they wrote the U.S. Constitution.

And U.S. history is full of examples:

There was Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who fought for the rights – most notably the right to vote – for women.

There was Rosa Parks, who refused to move to the back of the bus, a seminal moment in the civil rights movement.

There was the Summer of Love in 1967 followed by Woodstock two years later, culminating the counterculture’s questioning of the establishment.

There was – still is – the anti-smoking campaign launched after it was documented that smoking cigarettes can kill you – and the tobacco companies knew and were withholding information. 

And, in a most recent example, the documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth” launched a campaign of “green” awareness that is sweeping through the U.S.  Americans are being asked to change their way of life on a political, corporate and individual level.

The fact is scientists have determined without question that if the world’s population does not make significant changes in greenhouse emissions, the planet will reach a tipping point.

There will be no cure, and the effects will be catastrophic to this planet we call home.

Yes … every person reading these words will be long gone before it gets that bad. But when we know it’s coming, shouldn’t we be doing something about it now?

Sure, each of us can lessen our “carbon footprint” by doing this or that – but where will the real long-term change come from?  Only when the population as a whole commits to a fundamental lifestyle change will the effects begin to truly be significant.

This is where a young woman comes into the picture. Danielle Foster, whose professional work I am acquainted with, stopped in one day to get my impression about a Web site and accompanying campaign for social change she was working on.

Her premise is that, to evoke the kind of change needed to turn a planet around, we must begin with the children at their most impressionable ages between four and nine years old.

Danielle believes we have the opportunity to save this friendly blue planet from environmental disaster 100 or 200 years in the future by introducing this new, conscientious way of personal living and fundamental beliefs to the future leaders of the political and corporate world.

So Danielle, with the help of her husband and a few very talented friends, has launched a Web site called littlegreenfootprints.org. The site was designed for parents and the target age group.

I know Danielle’s heart and soul is invested in bringing about significant change – not only for her son, but for her son’s grandchildren as well. Take a few moments to log on and experience all the site’s facets with your child. Then send Danielle some feedback on your experience.

Who knows? This could begin something that we all can be proud of and elicit a positive change in social behavior. There is no downside. I wish you much success, Danielle … I believe in your dream.

While Lori Eckert is leaving her role as editor of Emerald Coast, I applaud all she has contributed to the publication’s quality and success over the past few years, both as a writer and editor.

We didn’t want to skip a beat, so we’ve already got a savvy pair of new employees ready to take over and provide a seamless transition. The formal introductions can wait until the next issue, but you may be seeing new Emerald Coast Magazine Editor Wendy Dixon out and about as she travels the coast meeting and greeting. She’s also editor of a sister publication, Bay Life. One of our Tallahassee staffers, Ashley Kahn, is moving to Destin and will serve as associate editor of both publications. Just wait – you’re sure to be impressed by the talent and energy of this dynamic team.