Jane Goodall, one of the heroes we’ll feature in April. Photo courtesy of dw.com

Stories coming your way: A boatload of  new and recent books, ridding ourselves of our plastic addiction,  and lighter, more environmentally friendly ways to travel. And in April, we’ll celebrate environmental heroes, including the lives of visionary women in science and environment.

Venice is buttoned up, with another kind of mask. Courtesy AP Luca Bruno, all rights reserved

Our very revealing Overtourism story ( February 4) broke just before the coronavirus upended the travel and leisure industry– with massive shut-ins and quarantines in China, the cancellation of several days of Venice’s Carnival, cruise ships docked in quarantine, and world financial markets shaky from the loss of the supply chain.

Pangolin courtesy of the Pangolin Crisis Fund

Did you know that the Chinese make up 40% of the world’s luxury goods consumers – about $240 billion annually. And there are 47,000 American companies that depend on China for their supply chain – parts and products. At the heart of it, the “wet markets” of China that sell live wildlife for restaurants and home cuisine (such as critically endangered pangolins and bats) may be the culprit. Need I say any more ?

Behemoth book cover

But we have to march on: Upcoming stories will invite you to learn more about the planet  and its resources –and ask you to take action.

There is no bigger gift than time – if we use it now — to put your hands to work, step back from the chaos and reduce our consumption.