This Borrowed Earth: Lessons from the Fifteen Worst Environmental Disasters Around the World (Macmillan Science) - Softcover

Hernan, Robert Emmet

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0230619835 ISBN 13: 9780230619838

Publisher: Griffin, 2010

Synopsis

For thousands of years, humanity has considered itself the earth's custodian. With our vast potential we are capable of preserving the earth for future generations or causing irreparable harm. For the first time here, environmental lawyer and activist Robert Emmet Hernan provides a comprehensive, up-to-date treatment of what happened at fifteen environmental disasters in ten countries across the globe.  This Borrowed Earth is a remarkable collection of stories that cover nuclear explosions, oil spills and fires, chemical spills, polluted air, toxic substances causing awful injuries to children, destruction of rainforest and entire ecosytems. The names associated with these disasters  - e.g., Chernobyl, Exxon Valdez, Minamata, Love Canal, Seveso, Bhopal and others  - will haunt future generations.

At the same time, the stories provide a moving tribute to the courage and persistence of ordinary people who struggled to understand what was happening to them and to protect their families and their environment against these onslaughts.  Poignant, moving, and inspirational, the events narrated here show how individuals can counterbalance the negligence and criminality of narrow economic interests that threaten our planet. Their stories will provide inspiration for a new generation committed to protecting the environment, and humanity.

About this title

Review:

'...His style is readable and persuasive, his points not to be ignored.' - The Good Book Guide
 
'This Borrowed Earth: Lessons from Fifteen Environmental Disasters Around the World, powerfully depicts in simple, transparent prose, the lasting and wrenching impact of some of the major environmental disasters of the last century, which younger generations may only barely remember.  But Mr. Hernan's book does much more. It reveals a striking similarity in the genesis of these disasters that can shed light on ways to prevent them in the future – in particular, the profit-driven development of production technologies with no heed to their health and environmental effects or the environmental fate of their products.  One is convinced, after reading Mr. Hernan's book, that the only way to slow the rate of growth of devastating climate change is for governments around the world to assert control over our most basic technology – the production of energy in ways that can lift the world out of poverty without destroying it in the process.' - Barry Commoner, American biologist

Book Description:

A piercing look at the worst environmental disasters of the 20th century with a foreword from environmental guru Bill McKibben

About this edition

• Publisher: Griffin
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0230619835
• ISBN 13: 9780230619838
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 250