October is typically one of my favorite months of the year. Fall is underway, football season is in full swing, and my birthday lends an excuse to go shopping. However, in the year of a presidential election, this fall is peppered with robocalls and commercials that attack the opposing side and my Facebook page is littered with polarizing posts spinning information to win votes. I have a loving family that is comprised of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, so we hear the calls and see the campaign mail from both parties. It all just makes me want to throw up my hands and scream “Hey! Can’t we all get along?”

This month’s feature article, Shaping the Future We Want, highlights what can be possible when we all work together toward a common goal. The June Earth Summit conference in Brazil brought together international heads of state, business leaders, nonprofits and activists to prioritize and strategize sustainable development. “Moving away from political posturing and endless negotiating, the meetup asked businesses, governments and charities to publicly declare their specific commitments and solicited the public’s ideas for realizing sustainability, all aligned with the priorities and opportunities of the 21^st century,” says author Brita Belli. Banks, organizations, and private companies are all rising to the challenge. I find the list of pledges encouraging. It helps me imagine a sustainable future.

Our Green Living column [page 32] crunches the numbers on products we consume. Collectively we are consuming resources equivalent to 1.5 Earths, or 50 percent more than is sustainable. In other words, we are depleting our resources and our personal consumption habits matter. There are many products that are achieving smart sustainable design, but it is not the norm. To help get you thinking about your habits and choices, we have included a product lifestyle chart with tips for alternatives. My personal weakness is my fondness for technology; luckily trade-in programs have become easily accessible to promote reuse of these products.

In addition to an Environmental Focus this month, enjoy recipes that can rock the taste buds with global flavors [page 26]. In honor of Spinal Health month you’ll find how chiropractic care can help with common complaints [page 24]. Plus, discover treatment plans to speed relief and manage mange for your pet pooch [page 30].

Here’s to a sustainable future!

Kris Urquhart, Publisher