The World We Need is a culmination of environmental justice stories, including article-like descriptions and interviews with key figures, that provide a look into the environmental movement in America.

Stories like the ones in this book are the exact reason why I first got involved in environmental health- stories of big companies and authority figures making money-based decisions that lead to detrimental health effects for others, often in poorer communities and communities of color. The examples in this book tell of how people and grassroots organizations have come together, fought back and won certain battles along the way towards environmental justice.

Despite enjoying the subject matter, I found myself trudging through this one. The organization was lacking, especially on the Kindle version, and I wanted more than just the facts. I believe that additional insight into the significance of these events, what they represent and mean for the future, would have been more effective instead of merely listing them out.

This read is best suited for those interested in the environment and public health, particularly as the two overlap in the environmental justice movement of America.

Thank you to NetGalley and The New Press for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

"The World We Need" was a complete eye-opener for me. I am sorry to admit that my environmentalism starts and ends at minimising waste and not using plastic bags, trying to shop at organic places. For me, as it is for the majority of general public, environmentalism and activism was Greenpeace (although, I was aware of criticism against it) and hipster college kids trying to do their best.

Apparently, it doesn't end there at all. "The World We Need" is focused on grassroots organisations, that consists of mainly underprivileged communities. These are mostly black, Native or immigrant communities, who have very few resources to defend themselves as some communities don't even have enough people that speak English. This book is full of many examples of how, with the right leadership, determination and most importantly by joint community effort, they were able to make changes on a local level and get back their basic rights to clean water, air and land. They didn't chain themselves to trees, instead they talked to people to see their problems, backed up what they said with the help of scientists and scholars, and were able to even change policies.

Environmental justice is a huge topic thats is usually behind other more louder issues. And for us living a privileged life, we think of climate change etc. like a future problem. It is not. Irresponsible policies are affecting and have been affecting people's daily life and health for as long as the U.S has been found.

In addition to these success stories of grassroots, Audrea Lim also highlights with many examples the importance of arts and culture in achieving awareness. There are some amazing examples of what people were able to achieve and influence children from Detroit to Hawaii by involving them in arts and cultures projects, as well as teaching them agriculture.

I have many great things to say about this book. I highly enjoyed learning about a topic that I didn't know much about, but a topic that I am OBLIGATED to know about. I am not American and I don't live in the U.S, so I am now curious to know how this system works in other countries.

Many thanks to the New Press and Netgalley for approving my copy.