Common Wealth 1

I'm currently reading a book by Jeffery D. Sachs called Common Wealth: Economics For a Crowded Planet. I just finished the first chapter and so far I am impressed but I can hear my more 'conservative' friends cringing.
Jeff talks about how our world economy is moving toward a more global community and the need for sustainable practices and economic policies. He says that our problem isn't a lack of policies but a lack of cooperation between nations. Jeff lists four crises that our world faces: 1)Human pressures on ecosystems, 2) the worlds population, 3) extreme poverty, 4) the process of problem solving. He suggests that modest investments (globally) in population reduction, evironmental stewardship and eradication of extreme poverty are possible. So far, what I like about the book is that he is suggesting that we must stop believing in the old way, and discover and live into a new way of cooperation and recognition of what we share on this planet.
I know that some of this sounds 'idealistic' and over simplified, but how many people have shed their deeply held beliefs in a matter of days? months? years? Peace and sustainability is a process, it takes time and small steps in new directions...