"It's Not Too Late Yet": The book about small choices for big changes

You know that T-shirt you paid a few euros for, bought just for fun, and then thrown away because you no longer like it or because it's of poor quality and got ruined after the first wash? It's a waste. Leaving it in the closet or in a trash can take just a few seconds, like clicking the "buy" button, but it's highly harmful to the environment and even to our health. That one-time-used T-shirt, first of all, ends up in plastic bags that add to the already enormous amount of waste. And this is just one of the problems it brings with it, the one that's immediately obvious. The fashion industry, and especially the "short-term" fashion industry, has a huge environmental impact . But we don't help the environment by upgrading our smartphones every year or taking incredibly long showers, considering water an infinite resource. Every action can profoundly impact our future. And this is why we need to start again with those who hold the planet's future in their hands: the young, who with their energy, but above all their courage and desire to get involved, can make a difference and bring about change. And it is precisely to school-going girls and boys that "It's Not Late Yet" (Non è ancora tardi), published by De Agostini, is dedicated. This new book by Antonio Galdo, a journalist and writer known for his commitment to promoting sustainability and founder of the website Non sprecare (Don't Waste). Because, as the book's subtitle states, it is precisely civic education that can help us meet the challenge of the future.

But no catastrophizing, no anxiety, and above all, no boring explanations: to leave a mark on the environment and on people, all it takes is a good example. The book is an engaging journey through the crucial ecological issues addressed through the true, and even funny, stories of many young people, often very young, who have decided to roll up their sleeves and get to work to change their habits and, with them, a little piece of the world. Some have invented a vertical greenhouse to grow crops without wasting water, others have created an app to save food that is about to expire, others have transformed old electronic circuits into super-cool jewelry. All brilliant ideas capable of making our tomorrow better, paving the way for a cleaner and more just world. 

Antonio Galdo discovered these beautiful stories while talking to students in schools. And it was precisely from these meetings, where they discussed and exchanged ideas on ecology and sustainability, that the idea for a book inspired by and for young people was born.

A more sustainable world starts with what we eat, what we throw away (and how we dispose of it to avoid wasting resources), and even how we move. Every daily gesture, even the most routine, can become crucial. 

For example, those who enjoy sports can choose to ride their bikes to school or visit friends. Or simply walk a few meters to avoid polluting or increasing traffic by using the car, if it's not absolutely necessary. And at the end of the day, without even realizing it, we will have done something important for ourselves and for the community. Then, little by little, moving without polluting will become a completely normal daily gesture. So when younger people have a car, they will also be able to use it in a balanced and environmentally friendly way. The beauty of change is that it can be contagious. When you do something useful and share it with others, it's very likely that someone will follow your example.

Read also: 

• How to teach children to respect the environment
• How to teach children about recycling
• How to teach children not to waste water