Agency, Democracy, and Nature: The U.S. Environmental Movement from a Critical Theory Perspective

Book Description

In this book Robert Brulle draws on a broad range of empirical and theoretical research to investigate the effectiveness of U.S. environmental groups. Brulle shows how Critical Theory--in particular the work of Jürgen Habermas--can expand our understanding of the social causes of environmental degradation and the political actions necessary to deal with it. He then develops both a pragmatic and a moral argument for broad-based democratization of society as a prerequisite to the achievement of ecological sustainability.

From the perspectives of frame analysis, resource mobilization, and historical sociology, using data on more than one hundred environmental groups, Brulle examines the core beliefs, structures, funding, and political practices of a wide variety of environmental organizations. He identifies the social processes that foster the development of a democratic environmental movement and those that hinder it. He concludes with suggestions for how environmental groups can make their organizational practices more democratic and politically effective.

Critical Consumption Trends and Implications: Degrading Earth's Ecosystems

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Critical Consumption Trends and Implications: Degrading Earth's Ecosystems
Emily Matthews , and Allen L. Hammond
Manufacturer: World Resources Inst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Natural Resources | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1569734100

Book Description

This report argues that production and consumption patterns are integrally linked: that the entire use cycle must be considered if environmental effects are to be understood, potential interventions identified, and effective policy approaches articulated.

This report also argues that industrialized and developing countries have many common or overlapping interest in the environmental terns, especially evident in the food fiber and fishery products.

Book Description

Addressing the key dilemmas facing environmental policy and scientific debate, this work presents a framework for advancing these debates, and for moving environmental politics towards an understanding of ecological science as a political process.

Customer Reviews:

A more intelligent version of the Bjorn Lomborg debate.......2003-04-22

I was really drawn to the debate last year about that Danish statistician who wrote 'The Skeptical Environmentalist' because I always felt that environmentalists overstated problems, but at the same time, I felt that Lomborg was putting it too simply. This new book, Critical Political Ecology, takes on this whole issue in a different way by looking more deeply at the questions of what is an environmental problem, and the politics of who (and when) someone experiences it, before actually rushing off to measure it. It actually shows how wrong and simple Lomborg is! But it also shows that many popular ideas about environmental problems are also simplistic because they overlook the politics of how problems are seen to be problematic (and who by). Its a good book because it does not simply say 'yes the environment is in crisis' or 'no there is no such thing as crisis' but shows us how we can both understand how environmental problems happen, and the politics of how we see them as problems. This book shows a much better way to question environmentalism in a practical way than Lomborg's sensationalistic effort... It certainly got me thinking...

At last a book that seems to speak my language.......2003-04-11

I like this book, and recommend it to anyone who is interested in politics of environment. I am a climatologist who is trying to understand more about environmental policy, and I have often felt that the world is divided into people who understand science but not politics, and social scientists who seem to be disconnected from the real world. This book seems to fall in the middle because it criticizes many scientific assumptions about environment, but doesn't fall into the trap of those people who seem to think that any science is bad, or that everything is just social discourse. In fact this book tries to show how to get a better sense of reality about environmental change. It speaks my language because it is actually quite hopeful about getting science right and more engaged with the political process, even though it is critical about some elements of how environmental science is talked about. I enjoyed it because it showed that it is possible to remain scientific about environment plus political too. It also has a lot of discussion about 'political ecology' that I found interesting.

International Ecopolitical Theory: Critical Approaches

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International Ecopolitical Theory: Critical Approaches

Manufacturer: University of British Columbia Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Globalization | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Environmentalism | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0774813210

Book Description

International Ecopolitical Theory assembles some of the top thinkers in the field to provide an invaluable overview of the main critical approaches to global environmental politics. Guided by questions of how to better understand the ecological predicaments of our time and the global dimensions of the environmental policy questions they raise, this book is a major contribution to fostering a new approach to international relations and ecological theory.

With contributions from experts in political science, philosophy, ecology, history, geography, and systems theory, this collection will appeal to specialists as well as to scholars of environmental politics, political geography, environmental philosophy, and international relations theory.

Book Description

This catalogue, which integrates nearly 35,000 records of benthic marine algae from the Indian Ocean into a taxonomic classification comprising 3,355 specific and infraspecific taxa in 629 genera, will greatly facilitate future work in this region. The bibliography of 4,000 references is the largest list of phycological literature ever published. The extensive taxonomic and nomenclatural notes are of paramount importance.

Book Description

From the Most Respected Names in Travel AND Language Instruction
In every travel situation, from arrival to departure, Fodor's Italian for Travelers makes it easy to speak and understand Italian, even if you've never studied it before. And it's backed by Fodor's, the most trusted name in travel, and by Living Language, publisher of best-selling language courses for more than a half century. Included are two audio CDs with more than 900 essential phrases that enable you to listen to native speakers and repeat what they say. English translations let you learn on the go, and brief sample dialogues help you get used to hearing Italian spoken naturally. A 272-page phrasebook with a two-way dictionary and 3,800 words and phrases is also included. To make yourself understood, just read straight from the book. Easy-to-use phonetics show you how to speak like a native. Plus you'll find grammar basics, travel tips, maps, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Good, this aged version slightly outdated.......2007-05-24

Used this book extensively during 2 week sojourn in Italy. Very helpful, but as this edition was several years old, some vocabulary (particularly internet, phone) out of date. Other than that content was excellent, well organized and easily usable. Good Italian to English and vice versa dictionary in back of book. Would recommend getting same book in more recent publication if availble.

Not for the beginner........2005-06-02

This book is not for someone who just wants to pick up enough Italian to get them through a trip unless they have a good ear and memory. I found "Italian in 10 Minutes a Day" much better as you must write what you learn in a workbook.

Definitely not a stand-alone tool.......2004-04-29

I strongly agreed with the reviewers who described the Fodor's CD as poorly organized, too quickly spoken, and not terribly useful. In some instances they stated the English term and then followed it with the Italian; in others they stated the Italian term first. Because there was no warning about the switch, if you're not on your toes you may find yourself repeating the wrong Italian term for the English word you believe you are translating.

The dialogues, while spoken at natural speed) are often not translated into English on the CD. You can go to the book to read the translation, but if you're using the CDs in traffic as I did, that's impossible. The CD ended so abruptly I thought perhaps my player had failed. All in all, it seemed as though the DC was designed and produced rapidly and without much thought.

The book and CD are a great combination when your goal is to learn specific vocabulary and then hear the pronunciation of those specific key words. What I learned on the first CD - particularly numbers, dates, and times - was extremely helpful during my trip to Italy. (Although I have to admit that I listened to these sections of the CD repeatedly because I knew they would be essential.) But the CD would be a much stronger tool if it were consistently organized and included translations of the dialogues.

When I had time to work on the language before my trip to Florence, I often put the Fodors CDs aside in lieu of the Michel Thomas "Speak Italian" CDs, which were also a two-CD set, but taught me the basics language rather than memorized phrases. Using Michel Thomas, I was able to construct my own, fairly complex sentences in Italy by simply looking up one or two additional vocabulary words.

In terms of a phrase book, I preferred Rick Steve's. Steve's contained more practical phrases and information - some downright amusing - and it fit better in my pocket during the trip.

CDs are poorly organized........2003-10-27

I paid full price for this set because I'm planning a trip to Italy. The book isn't bad but the CDs are pretty terrible. They have boring drills on numbers and vocabulary. Not at all interactive. The phrases are read in Italian and then English, but sometimes in English and then Italian without warning. Since I know no Italian, I had a hard time knowing which English word went with which Italian word (and since I was listening in my car, I couldn't check the book while driving to find out). All in all this is a pretty poor set of language tapes, and it's way overpriced. I'm sure one can do better.

Travel with ease.......2002-04-10

I bought the "Italian for Dummies" and this dictionary together. They complemented each other well. If you are planning on doing some traveling for a short period of time, this is more than enough for you. Even those who want to start studying seriously will benefit greatly.

However, I should warn you that in both Rome and Venice, while on vacation, usually I would try to speak Italian only to be responded to in fluent English. You definitely do not need to know Italian in Venice. It you are only going to the tourist spots, you might not need it much.

Book Description

Fodor's To Go: Italian for Travelers Speak Italian Right Away

Fodor's To Go is a clever new series comprised of credit-card sized, magnetic microbooks. This little guide is packed with words for every situation, from arrival to departure. And accurate easy-to-use phonetics help you say what you want. Packed with 100 key words and phrases needed to get there and get around. Just slip it into your back pocket or tote
bag, an go!

Incredibly HandyMagnetized covers keep the lively, full-color accordian-fold pages together.Fits conveniently in your wallet, back pocket, even in the palm of your hand.Sticks to the refrigerator, file cabinet, or any metal surface!
Perfectly PracticalJust the basics you need -- the ultimate cheat sheet.Lively full-color design and fun accordian fold.100 key words and phrases

Customer Reviews:

Spanish for Travelers on the "small side".......2000-09-19

The book is a great Spanish phrase book with useful phrases for travelers broken down into useful categories. Particularly useful is a pronunciation guide.

The biggest let-down with this book was its size and page format. Although I exepected this traveler's phrase book to be small, I didn't expect it to be as small as it is. It measures 2.25"x3.25" and is a magnetic type book with all the pages connected together in an accorian style. I personally wish the book were a bit larger with traditionally stitched pages.

Book Description

There has long been controversy between ecologists and archaeologists over the role of prehistoric Native Americans as agents of ecological change. Using ecological and archaeological data from the woodlands of eastern North America, Paul and Hazel Delcourt show that Holocene human ecosystems are complex adaptive systems in which humans have interacted with the environment on a series of spatial and time scales. Their work therefore has important implications for the conservation of biological diversity and for ecological restoration today, making it of great interest to ecologists and archaeologists alike.

Customer Reviews:

Worth the money.......2007-08-12

For anyone interested in the migration of early populations to the North and South American continents, this book is very satisfying. There are some minor problems noted, but overall, the beringia land theory of migration is pretty much set aside in favor of other routes. This book is very technical, over my head in quite a few spots, but it is obvious that this book emerged from years and various disciplines of research. I found myself agreeing with them on a number of points and allowing my own project of Indian environmentalism to go in new directions.

Book Description

Modeling, Control And Optimization Of Complex Systems is a collection of contributions from leading international researchers in the fields of dynamic systems, control theory, and modeling. These papers were presented at the Symposium on Modeling and Optimization of Complex Systems in honor of Larry Yu-Chi Ho in June 2001. They include exciting research topics such as:

-modeling of complex systems,
-power control in ad hoc wireless networks,
-adaptive control using multiple models,
-constrained control,
-linear quadratic control,
-discrete events,
-Markov decision processes and reinforcement learning,
-optimal control for discrete event and hybrid systems,
-optimal representation and visualization of multivariate data and functions in low-dimensional spaces.

Book Description

Spanning more than a century, Australian Literature crystallizes a spirit, style, and ethos found nowhere else in world literature. These captivating selections in Australian Literature come from major voices, both famous and lesser known, and encompass short stories, memoirs, novels and aboriginal writings. Resonant or wryly witty, charming or disturbing, they explore themes deeply rooted in the Australian experience - shaping the land, the legacies of the convict past, the displacement of the aborigine, the search for a national identity, sex, love, and commitment.

Customer Reviews:

Who Says Only Kangaroos Can Jump?.......2007-07-14

Fantastic collection of literature from that most neglected of literary worlds. Many of these authors will be unknown to American readers. This is in itself a crime, and a very poor reflection on our awful schools. Patrick White is a Nobel Prize winner and deserves attention, but Carey is perhaps the more interesting of the two due to his interest in the bizarre and the fantastic. He taps more easily into the postmodern psyche. He is weird and wonderful, reminding this reader of Paul Bowles. Christina Stead is of interest to feminists but deserves attention for her superior writing skills. I can't think of an American woman writer with her cosmopolitan sophistication. Just shows that the Empire was good for something, because the Australian authors have gained from their commuting lives between Sydney and London and South Africa. Malouf, a Lebanese Jew, is fascinating, with a flare for the bizarre, like Carey. And on and on. The Australians, too, have authors of native descent, such as Astley. She passed away recently, I believe, but was one of the more prolific authors of her time. Many of these authors are interested in the dynamics of cross-cultural contact, exploring the lives of whites and aborigines as they have lived, for better and for worse, both together and separately. This is a fabulous anthology. For the price, it is doubtful that a better anthology can be found.

Recommended as an Introduction.......2007-02-06

The book was published in 1993 and contains 26 short stories or excerpts from novels and a memoir by 24 writers. The publication dates range from 1870 to 1989, and about half the pieces are by contemporary writers. The works are grouped by the themes of the bush, the Aboriginal experience, the convict system, the search for a national identity, and relationships. There was an introduction to the country and its literature, with recommendations for further reading.

Compared to other anthologies of Australian literature read that've been published in Great Britain and Australia since the 1960s, this one stood out for including excerpts from well-known novels by Marcus Clarke, Randolph Stow and A. B. Facey. Other memorable stories included one by Beverley Farmer written from the point of view of a male criminal, one by Tim Winton on a difficult childbirth, and one by Marian Eldridge about the problems of a welfare mother.

The selections are in general realist in style and not experimental, unlike some anthologies from earlier decades or the Oxford Book of Australian Short Stories. Although a number of the pieces, 11 or so, have appeared with some frequency in other collections, I'd recommend this book for those seeking an introduction, such as the audience for whom it seems to be primarily intended, North Americans.

Excellent celebration of Australia's literary heritage.......2004-03-12

"Australian Literature: An Anthology of Writing from the Land Down Under," edited by Phyllis Fahrie Edelson, contains over 300 pages of literature and supplementary material. Included are a substantial introductory essay, short author biographies, a map of Australia, a glossary of Australian terms, and a list of suggested readings.

The anthology is broken down thematically. Part I is "The Idea of the Bush." Part II, "Images of Australia," is further broken down into 3 subsections: "The Aboriginal Experience," "The Convict," and "The Search for a National Identity." Part III is "Relationships." Altogether there is a rich sampling of fiction and autobiographical writing. The anthology covers many themes and ideas: family ties, relations between the people and the land, socioeconomic status, education, Aboriginal culture, gay life, marriage, crime, etc.

There are a number of standouts in this overall solid collection. "The Chosen Vessel," by Barbara Baynton, is a chilling suspense tale. "The Loaded Dog," by Henry Lawson, is a wild piece of slapstick comedy. "Northern Belle," by Thea Astley, is a powerful character study that deals with the intersection of racial anxiety and gender roles. Excerpts from "A Fortunate Life," by A.B. Facey, offer a graphic look at the horror of war. This is a rich and diverse collection, well suited both for literature classes and individual reading.

Cultural Eavesdropping.......2001-03-22

Pieced together in snipets that leave the reader hungering for more, "Australian Literature, An Anthology of Writing from the Land Down Under," ambitiously attempts to collect the works of Aussie writers spanning two centuries and crossing class, gender, and racial lines. Edelson's introduction is invaluable for those who are new to Australian history, providing an excellent context for the works that follow.

"The Cooboo" by Katharine Prichard and "Wanamurraganya: The Story of Jack McPhee" offer a glimpse into the mythical, troubled, and gritty negotiations of Aboriginal life, their dealings with colonial oppression, and their relationship to the land. "The Chosen Vessel," by Barbara Baynton, depicts a bush culture of misogyny and "Breaking a Man's Spirit," by Marcus Clarke, offers insight into the convict legacy. At first, the stories appear fragmented and unrelated, but as the reader progresses, the unifying themes of suffering, man/woman's relationship with a hostile environment, and self-determination begin to unfold. Aesthetically, the stories "feel" uniquely Australian, conveying a certain terseness, intensity, and independence.

On the downside, no poetry is included in the collection and I would have preferred more short fiction over novel excerpts. As an introduction to Australian literature, however, it succeeds beautifully.

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Australian Literature: an Anthology of Writing From the Land Down Under
Phyllis Fahrie Edelson
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7BEEG

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