Peace, Justice, Care of Earth History
originally published as Star of Hope

I wrote John McConnell's biography because I believe in his vision and I agree with his definitions of "peace, justice and the care of Earth."

In 2001, I was living in Port Huron, Michigan, my hometown, and taking care of my aging dad. Because I was a freelance environmental writer, my church, Unity of Blue Water, asked me to make a presentation on the environment in association with the date we knew as Earth Day, April 22. My research led to John's web site, www.earthsite.org, where I learned the origin of Earth Day on the vernal equinox.

When I shared information about two Earth Days with the congregation, they were as surprised as I had been.

Impressed by John's essays, I encorporated some of his philosophy into my presentation. When I learned John was still alive (born in 1915, he was the same age as my father), I sent him an e-mail via his web site. Two days later, he telephoned me. He asked about my occupation, and I explained that I write about people, environmental issues and outdoor adventures.

I did not consider writing John's biography at the time because of my father's health, but I resurrected the idea in 2003, after my father had passed from this life.

I visited John and his lovely wife Anna in their home in Denver, Colorado, for three days of initial conversation in January 2004. That's when John explained the integral connection between "peace" and "justice" as prerequisites for a true environmental movement. His concepts made sense, I felt the world could benefit from a book that conveyed his message along with his life history, and I committed to write his biography.

I began in earnest in late July through early September 2004 when I invested six weeks in Denver. John and I met almost every day, and I captured his living oral history. Anna contributed additional information and delicious meals.

Next, I went to the Swarthmore College Peace Collection at Swarthmore College near Philadelphia, Pennysylvania. From November 2004 through May 2005, I invested nearly six months in the archives, reading and scanning thousands of paper documents and photographs that John and Anna donated for posterity.

While drafting, I also interviewed 46 of John's colleagues and contemporaries, two of whom have since passed.

Because of these three distinct types of research, the Star of Hope manuscript became a thorough and comprehensive compilation of John and Anna's memories, augmented by written documentation from the most active years of their lives and spiced with anecdotes from people who knew them best.

John and Anna reviewed the manuscript three times, suggesting alterations and offering additional recollections.

I chose an arbitrary conclusion date for the book's chronology of January 1, 2006. At that time, John was 90. Even though he was -- and is -- still active, I wanted the book to end with his "octogenarian years."

Also, I found great symbolism in the fact that U Thant, as Secretary-General of the United Nations, rang the Peace Bell for the first Earth Day ceremony at the UN in 1971 and his daughter, Aye Aye Thant, was among four Peace Bell ringers in 2005, when John was 89. I liked the literary symmetry of that father-daughter combination for the event that best represents John McConnell's accomplishments.

I completed the manuscript in early March 2006. Swan Books originally published the biography in mid-March under the title, Star of Hope. We introduced it at the United Nations Church Center in New York City on March 20, immediately following the Earth Day ceremony at the UN. About 30 people attended the book's inauguration.

The biography was republished by Press On Publishing of Kalamazoo, Michigan, in March 2007 under a new title, Peace, Justice, Care of Earth, to match the the language of John McConnell's vision and the theme of my growing number of speaking engagements.

Robert M. Weir
April 2006
revised March 2007