For some people there is a single defining moment, a damascene conversion, the giant “A-ha!” For others a slower and more gradual awakening from the dream in which the human race is currently held, in which we are sleep-walking toward the edge of the cliff. Either way we know we’re waking up when we spot the madness in our culture where we glorify retail therapy while billions of people starve, we define ourselves by our possessions rather than our contribution and we seem content to cannibalise the very planet which is our home. Caught in the dream we continue, collectively, to love our children and destroy their very means of life: its time to wake up.

Two blokes from the north of England on a mission to wake us up are Phil Turner and Jon Symes. In a unique collaboration over the last year and a half these two have written and published a wonderful book and created a website, all under the banner of ‘Your Planet Needs You’.

The mission started as the two of them, both mid-40’s, both mid-life, became increasingly disenchanted with the dream, even though it seemed to be working. Jon explains, “There I was with my family, big house, big car, foreign holidays, all the trappings of success, or so I thought. But there was a voice inside continually telling me it didn’t make any sense and telling me to do something about it. I didn’t know what to do but I did know I had to stop doing what I was doing.” So stop he did. Jon closed down his consulting business and with this new found freedom began to think more seriously about how to use his skills and experience to help make a difference. What emerged was the idea for the book. “But there are lots of books out there and lots of people who don’t want to read a big long book on how to build a better world. We needed a different approach.”

That’s where Phil comes in and it is his masterful design work that created this wonderful handbook,

“ I spent my early career working in advertising, which was very creative, very funny and a long way from reality. Age, friends, expectations, marriage, children, divorce, depression, laziness, love, release, understanding, maturity, ramblings or reality, judgmental or scathing, mixed up or experienced, when Jon turned up and offered me the opportunity to design a book, I had no idea of just what a difference the work would make to my life. I just wanted a nice design job and went with the flow. Then I read the manuscript, not all the way through – there weren’t enough pictures! I produced some initial designs, and as Jon liked my style the next 12 months became dedicated to Your Plant Needs You. The process of designing took up all of my free time, working until 2 and 3 in the morning nearly every night, I was exhausted yet exhilarated, and I found the avenue I needed and the freedom of choice to give power to my creativity.

Working on the book has changed me, I’ve stopped consuming, I’ve stepped out of the cycle, it’s liberating and empowering, I have the freedom to make choices based on my own idea of merit, not that of someone else. I realise that whilst we all have the demands of life to meet - work, family, obligations, we still need to shop and drive to work, I’m a normal Dad to two beautiful children and realise its about finding a balance, if I can change then anyone can, we have the choice of how to meet those demands - as part of the consumer culture, accepting the bombardment of what to eat, wear, watch, and do; or as an individual, applying consideration to the choices you make. Family life is being eroded away as the pressure of conformity takes precedent over true needs and long term vision. People are working harder and longer with seemingly the only reward being bigger and better stuff, costing more time and money than they realistically have access to, Britain it seems has the highest debt per head of population than any other European nation, it also loses more working days through stress. I believe that the cloak of materialism doesn’t bring freedom, it brings restriction and confinement.
As the person responsible for the design of the book my aim became to show where this relentless development of society has led us to, and IMPORTANTLY how we can begin to change it.
This is not a return to the ‘good old days’, but a new start where thought is given to our actions and the impact they will have on not only our lives, but the lives of those around us. Every time we go shopping, drive a car, switch off a light, reuse a carrier bag, an impact is being made. The joy is in making that impact a positive one. Do we really need access to 24/7 shopping to make us happy, whatever happened to weekends off?
Whats happened to nice quiet Sundays spent with the family? When do our children actually play without it involving the purchase of games, equipment, or outfits? When do we truly relax and let go without that involving a bigger television, better car, more impressive holiday. “Oh we just got a cheap flight” – at what expense - Global warming! True freedom and contentment can come from within; our lives don’t have to be reliant on the choices that others make for us. I urge people to read the book and start making a difference.”

At www.yourplanetneedsyou.org there area host of ideas to inspire and support us all in staying awake, ideas for how we can make a difference and a chance to add your name to the growing roster of people who want change. The guys explain, “Lots of our friends are supportive, there is a real mood of change now. The debate about climate change is doing a great job of waking people up too. But we’ve no idea how many people really think this way, really want to help build a better world. So we’ve started a count.” At the website you can add your name to the list, registering as a Voice of the Future. “We want to see if we can collect a million names to start with”,

The response so far has been wonderful, the book has been wonderfully received by press and public alike, the website is getting hit from around the world and people want to get involved. So the guys have another idea too, which builds on the generous support they have had already from illustrators around the world. Jon explains “We want to inspire people to help build a beautiful future rather than simply frightening people with stories of apocalypse and disaster. So we’d love to have pictures of ‘A Future Worth Choosing’ from every country in the world, from adults and young people. Pictures that show a world which is environmentally sustainable, just and peaceful for everyone and fulfilling for us individually; please help us see what this looks like.” All of the images sent in will be considered for the next book, already planned to take this message to a younger audience, and will be showcased on the website.

If you feel stirred to act and want some help or support, if your just plain curious about what these guys are up to and how two blokes can make a difference, then check out their site.

The website is www.yourplanetneedsyou.org, the book Your Planet Needs You is available at the website or in all good bookstores and Libraries.