A global publishing phenomenon about changing the world will hit NZ stores today. With over one million copies sold worldwide so far, the NZ edition, Change the World for Fifteen Bucks offers 50 simple, everyday actions to change the world that are easy for anyone to do.
It is the product of the global social change movement, We Are What We Do that believes: small actions x lots of people = BIG change
With simple actions such as Give Blood, Turn off Unnecessary Lights and Shop Locally, the book encourages communities to connect with each other and create collective change.
Action 31, Turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth perfectly demonstrates the We Are What We Do formula: this wastes an average of 26,000 litres of water per family per year. By turning the tap off, the average NZ street could save enough water to fill an Olympic size pool every year.
The book is filled with some sobering statistics, meaning it couldn’t have come too soon, according to Dawn Baggaley, the Wellington local who has spearheaded the development and launch of the New Zealand edition.
"We want to inspire people to do these actions, to spread the word, to buy copies of the book for their friends, to share their copy and to come up with new ideas” she says.
Baggaley first came across the phenomenon when a friend gave her a copy – the ethos behind the book resonated with her.
“It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the state of the world’s problems and to feel powerless to know where to begin to make a difference. This book breaks the problems down and makes it simple and easy. It’s the perfect mix of inspiration and pragmatism!” says Baggaley.
Baggaley got in touch with companies in NZ to help produce an NZ edition.
“Their help in getting this book out to the public has been immeasurable,” says Baggaley. “With their help, we now have the opportunity to inspire our communities to make real and positive change, to keep our reputation of being friendly, caring and green.”
Local companies such as BlueStar, Moxie, Y&R and bare.pr have spearheaded the community emphasis by agreeing to work pro bono with Baggaley to spread the word. Large corporates such as NZ Post and CocaCola-Amatil have further supported the book’s production by pre-ordering copies, giving a much-needed cash injection into a project that relies heavily on goodwill.
First launched in Britain in 2004, the book spent eight weeks on The Sunday Times bestseller list. Australian, German and Canadian editions then followed and a second book focusing on actions to make the workplace happier and healthier was launched in 2006. Now set to launch in Spain, China and the US, We Are What We Do really has become a global movement.
So who are we New Zealand? We are what we do.
For further information, please visit www.wearewhatwedo.org.nz. Change the World For Fifteen Bucks is available at Whitcoulls stores nationwide.
Dawn is available for interviews in NZ; please call bare.pr 3782020 if you would like to arrange an interview with her.
Rebecca Purdy
bare.pr
rebecca@barepr.co.nz
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