Book Reviews
The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook: 77 Essential Skills to Stop Climate Change or Live Through It
Author: David de Rothschild
Publisher: Rodale Books (2007)
An official companion to the Live Earth concerts broadcast from around the world in July 2007, the book outlines 77 skills that people can practice to survive climate change and prevent the disastrous impacts of global warming. The skills presented in this book range from simple and inexpensive steps to actions that require greater commitment and resources. Its language and illustrations are easy to read and offer a fun, compelling, and sometimes humorous take on the environmental crisis. (Particularly funny are the skills set under the subheading If All Else Fails.) Overall, this survival guide is a good primer on global warming facts and eco-consciousness for the general public. It encourages its reader not to be overwhelmed by the seriousness and size of the problem but instead be committed to taking action towards solving the climate crisis.
When the Rivers Run Dry: What Happens When Our Water Runs Out?
Author: Fred Pearce
Publisher:Eden Project Books (2006)
In this first-person account, environmental journalist Fred Pearce documents how the world’s freshwater resources are being extracted, managed, controlled, or diverted to serve growing populations and sustain agriculture in different parts of the world. He tells compelling tales of over-extraction of groundwater and arsenic poisoning in South Asia, flooding of wetlands along the Mekong River and its tributaries, the disappearance of much of the Aral Sea in Central Asia, modern water wars in the conflict areas of the Middle East, and the massive water-engineering projects being constructed worldwide to cope with hydrological requirements. Although much of the book tells of distressing accounts of water mismanagement, it ends with hopeful propositions on finding new sources of freshwater, replenishment of aquifers, and the appropriate and equitable distribution of water resources. Pearce advocates riding the water cycle (instead of more mega-dam projects), rainwater harvesting, water pricing, and growing less water-thirsty crops. The book is an eye-opener on our shrinking freshwater resources with a global perspective and enthralling storytelling.
The Liveable Cities: The Benefits of Urban Environmental Planning
A City Alliance Study on Good Practices
By: United Nations Environment Program and The Cities Alliance (2007)
This book is a report launched during the Local Government Climate Sessions of the Climate Change Conference in December 11, 2007. It presents different urban environmental management practices and systems, describing their key features, methods and tools, openly stating their limitations and needs for further improvement. The highlight of the report is the presentation of specific urban management approaches and environmental entry points of twelve cities from around the world. These include the City Development Strategy, Local Agenda 21, Environmental Management System, and Eco City Plan. The report focused on different activities and outputs of the approaches. It presents the results in general terms understandable to those who have intermediate backgrounds on urban environmental management. It is a good resource to those who have little experience or knowledge of different methods of urban environmental management.
Book Review | rp | 20 April 2009 |
