In the past, when we heard the word 'hero', many of us would tend to picture a fearless soldier charging through enemy fire to save his companions or perhaps a fireman braving a burning building to rescue a child, or maybe some famous historic figure we place on a pedestal. While some of us still tend fall back on these iconic images, today our minds have opened to encompass a broader spectrum of the population when we hear the word 'hero'.
We have come to realize that 'ordinary' people - male, female, young and old - can do extraordinary things. These everyday heroes are not concerned with creating headlines. They instead create peace, compassion, social transformation and change. Burt Berlowe presents 60 of these stories in his latest inspirational book, 'The Compassionate Rebel Revolution'.
The 'Compassionate Rebel Revolution' tells stories of ordinary citizens who have overcome adversity and channeled their anger at injustice into positive action. Their stories, written by a variety of authors, cover a broad range of relevant topics, including war and peace, civil and human rights, immigration, ecology and sustainability, education, community building, spirituality, health and wellness, electoral, corporate and media reform, and the new youth movement, among others.
"I wrote this book," Berlowe stated, "to highlight the inspiring, personal stories of compassionate rebels -- ordinary people whose extraordinary acts of caring and courage are making our world a better place to live for now and for future generations."
In October we marked the anniversary of the founding of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Founded in the 1960s as part of an emerging feminist movement, NOW has been instrumental in empowering women to take charge of their lives and in changing the perception of the roles women play in society. Because of the work of NOW and other similar organizations, as well as countless individual and collective efforts, women heroes continue to play a significant role in shaping our politics, our culture and our way of life. They also play a large role in Berlowe's work. His book introduces us to some 30 of these women compassionate rebels and their powerful work for change. They include the following:
* International peace activist Kathy Kelly, founder of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, enduring yet another hunger strike against war and injustice.
* Gulf War veteran and PTSD survivor Chante Wolf sharing stories of rampant abuse of women in the military.
* Ana Castillo overcoming the challenging life of a migrant farm worker to become a hero and role model to others laboring in the fields.
* Diana Knobel traveling time and again through miles of devastation as she delivers yet another round of supplies to the victims of Hurricane Katrina
* Mary Steiner Whalen, an American author and educator, bringing hope to oppressed African families.
* Terrie Ten Eyck, surviving years of physical abuse and homelessness to emerge as a successful entrepreneur and advocate for social transformation.
* Samantha Smart and her powerful circle of speak out sisters empowering women to take control of their lives.
* Mary Heller, whose personal experience with gun violence turned her into a courageous crusader for gun control.
* Belma Demerovich surviving years of Bosnian genocide to become an advocate for victims of torture.
* College student Emilie Brill-Duisberg leading a campaign to protect the earth amidst the rapid growth of her wild-west community.
* Grassroots activist Ann Benson, responding to societal violence by forming Neighbors for Peace in her community.
* Rebel artist Jane Evershed, a witness to African apartheid, painting graphic images of the troubled world she seeks to change.
* Lama Shenpen, Her work with abused women led her to become a Buddhist teacher of peacemaking and meditation.
For those in the educational field, this book comes with an education guide created by students and a professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. It is called 'Teaching the Compassionate Rebel Revolution' and is available as an e-book or printed copy on Amazon and Smashwords.
Burt Berlowe is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at bberlowe@compassionaterebel.com. 'The Compassionate Rebel Revolution' is available at the Compassionate Rebel Revolution website. More information, including the previous work in the series, is available at the website at http://www.CompassionateRebel.com.
About Burt Berlowe:
Burt Berlowe is an award-winning author and journalist who specializes in writing and publishing the stories of ordinary people involved in social change.
The Compassionate Rebel Revolution: Ordinary People Changing the World is his seventh book and the second in the compassionate rebel series. He has contributed to many local and national newspapers and magazines and has worked as talk radio host, peace educator and activist and community organizer in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Contact:
Bert Berlowe
http://www.CompassionateRebel.com
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