Local author hopes to start revolution with new book
TROY, N.Y. >> Local author Don Rittner has written a book that is meant to start a revolution.
Of the more than 40 books the Troy native has authored over the past few decades, Rittner considers his latest release, “EcoLinking”, to be the most important.
“EcoLinking” is a howto manual for activists detailing ways to save the environment using modern technology.
“This is going to cause a revolution, I hope,” Rittner said
The new release is Rittner’s second book with the title “EcoLinking”.
In 1992, not long after the internet was born, Peachpit Press published Rittner’s original “EcoLinking”, a first of its kind book show- ing how to bring together the world environmental community through computer networks, bulletin boards, and online services. It listed thousands of resources for conducting environmental and scientific research using the latest computer services and technology at the time.
“It made a big splash, because it was the first of its kind,” Rittner said.
“When I published the first edition of ‘EcoLinking’ in 1992, there were 10 websites in the world,” Rittner said. “This was brand spanking new, but I knew what was going it happen. I could see it coming.”
That “EcoLinking” was Rittner’s third book, written at a time when he was personally involved in saving the Albany Pine Bush.
Fast forward a few decades, the Pine Bush is largely protected land, Rittner is an established author and the internet is ubiquitous.
However, one factor has not changed; the environment is still at risk. “This environmental crisis is not new,” Rittner said. “Now we’re in a state of affairs where we’ve got a president who’s slashing the EPA budget by 30 percent. We’ve got a vice president who doesn’t believe in global warming and we’re in deep trouble.”
So, a quarter- century later, Rittner has rewritten the book that was once reviewed as “the environmentalist’s Bible.”
Rittner’s new self-published “EcoLinking” offers a totally new guide. “I completely rewrote this book to be a hands-on activist manual on how to save your piece of the planet, no matter where you are,” Rittner said.
Much of the 13- chapter book’s content can be used by activists anywhere in the world.
From how to start an environmental nonprofit organization, to how to do research on the deep web, how to create a cyber-petition, how to raise money and how to recruit volunteers - “EcoLinking” explains it all.
The guidance given in “EcoLinking” connects readers with resources that can help activists “go fight the big guys,” Rittner said.
“EcoLinking” offers access to millions of pieces of data, Rittner said. “It’s an environmental tool box.”
The author’s ultimate goal for this new version of “EcoLinking” is to change the way of thinking about the environment across generations, and he’s starting with college kids.
“What I want to do with this book - I’m trying to create ‘EcoLinking’ clubs of every college campus,” said Rittner, mentioning that these organizations would be much like the Protect Your Environment club that he was part of years ago at SUNY Albany.
“Kids have this energy. They’re idealistic. They want to change the world,” said Rittner, a college professor.
Once the enthusiastic and environmentally- oriented college students are on board, the idea is for those young adults to then offer free environmental ed- ucation to children in local elementary schools.
From there, the kids will bring the information and practices home to their parents, teaching yet another generation.
It’s a way of breaking a cycle, Rittner said. “That’s my strategy. That’s my plan. So it’s kind of like a revolution.”
And it couldn’t be more timely, he added.
“I think this is the most important book I’ve ever written,” Rittner said, thinking back on his catalogue.
Furthermore, “Of all the stuff I’ve done, I think this is the most important thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “If this can save a piece of the planet. If those ‘EcoLinking’ clubs can go out and educate people, I could die tomorrow and be a happy man.”
“EcoLinking” is available at amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com, as well as other bookselling outlets.