There are many forces of environmental and economic decline that endanger our communities and planet. These have caused a global threat which is very complex. The pressure to feed increasing numbers of people helps cause high rates of topsoil loss which results in decreased agricultural productivity. As poorer nations attempt to fight these problems, millions of their children die of preventable diseases. On the other hand, rising industrialization has caused acid rain and air pollution, leading to the death of lakes, forests and streams, and endangering human health. Individual efforts to combat these enormous threats appear miniscule but, when added together, their impact has the ability to revolutionize the earth. Grassroots groups, governments, and international agencies must learn to work together to show the world how to tap human energy to perform the acts for achieving and sustaining global economy. This publication contains an introduction and notes section, along with the following topics: (1) "Rising Grassroots Movements"; (2) "The Genesis of Local Action"; (3) "Meeting Human Needs"; (4) "Earning Our Daily Bread"; (5) "Protecting the Local Environment"; (6) "Reforming Development Assistance"; and (7) "From the Bottom and the Top." (RT)