Mercier looks at the environmental movement from an in-depth international perspective and seeks to analyze the spectrum of positions taken. He shows how the movement is an enduring one, and he demonstrates how it is intimately related to the development of media and to fundamental social and institutional trends of our time. Although environmentalists and sociologists have an often bewildering variety of positions and theories, some being incompatible with others, they share commom values. Mercier offers the image of the protoplasm, the viscous matter that surrounds the living cell, as a metaphor to explore these values.

Although environmentalists and ecologists all over the globe share certain basic goals-less consumption, less waste, less energy use-there is a bewildering variety of ideas, concepts, and theories, some incompatible with others, that is associated with the movement. Indeed, one might more accurately think of a series of movements rather than one movement.

Mercier divides the movement into downstream ecologists-sometimes called environmentalists-who are essentially concerned about the quality of the air, the water, and the soil, and the upstream ecologists, who essentially believe that the deterioration of the quality of the air, water, and soil is a symptom of some larger (upstream) phenomenon. The upstream ecologists, in turn, are divided into subgroups, among them the Social Ecologists, who are the inheritors of the traditional positions of the left, and the Deep Ecologists, who attribute the state of the environment to a modern, excessively specialized and segmented outlook that eventually leads to a loss of sensitivity and a disregard for nature and our environment. Using the image of the protoplasm, the viscous matter that contains the living cell, Mercier concludes by relating these and other patterns to a postmodern aesthetic which, itself, is strongly influenced by our changing communication environment. A major analysis that will be of importance to policymakers, scholars, and researchers involved with environmental issues and contemporary social patterns that go beyond the environment per se.

This volume explores the governance patterns of three cities of the Americas, Seattle, Montreal, and Curitiba, which all present different but interesting cases in dealing with sustainable urban transport challenges. The authors study empirical data from these three cities to analyze how specific governmental and policy instruments (planning, consultation and market mechanisms for example) were implemented in each case. Through concepts coming from policy studies and sociology, for example, such as path dependency, institutional culture and transaction costs, the three cities are also looked at in a broader perspective in order to better understand how they deal differently with their common challenges.

The "Handbook on the Economics of Giving, Reciprocity and Altruism" provides a comprehensive set of reviews of literature on the economics of nonmarket voluntary transfers. The foundations of the field are reviewed first, with a sequence of chapters that present the hard core of the theoretical and empirical analyses of giving, reciprocity and altruism in economics, examining their relations with the viewpoints of moral philosophy, psychology, sociobiology, sociology and economic anthropology. Secondly, a comprehensive set of applications are considered of all the aspects of society where nonmarket voluntary transfers are significant: family and intergenerational transfers; charity and charitable institutions; the nonprofit economy; interpersonal relations in the workplace; the Welfare State; and international aid.
*Every volume contains contributions from leading researchers
*Each Handbook presents an accurate, self-contained survey of a particular topic
*The series provides comprehensive and accessible surveys

The Handbook on the Economics of Giving, Reciprocity and Altruism provides a comprehensive set of reviews of literature on the economics of nonmarket voluntary transfers. The foundations of the field are reviewed first, with a sequence of chapters that present the hard core of the theoretical and empirical analyses of giving, reciprocity and altruism in economics, examining their relations with the viewpoints of moral philosophy, psychology, sociobiology, sociology and economic anthropology. Secondly, a comprehensive set of applications are considered of all the aspects of society where nonmarket voluntary transfers are significant: family and intergenerational transfers; charity and charitable institutions; the nonprofit economy; interpersonal relations in the workplace; the Welfare State; and international aid.
*Every volume contains contributions from leading researchers
*Each Handbook presents an accurate, self-contained survey of a particular topic
*The series provides comprehensive and accessible surveys

"You can find the nectar of life everywhere in Jean's poetry - the compass that guides our heart when we are lost - and the medicine that heals our soul with simplicity, beauty and love." Tom Yarith Ker Producer of Award winning Vietnamese film Pearls of the Far East ----- Teachers and Students: The author authorizes the use of this book in your classroom. "Write a few rhymes on any of mine, drop them on my Facebook page, I will likely answer you " - Jean Mercier ----- The phenomenon with 1.4 Million followers on Facebook is now a book series Notes for the soul - and for the road - since 2003 (Join or see the page at: https: //www.facebook.com/apoemaday) Ask your library to get it, offer yourself or someone the gift of love, self-help, poetry and positive philosophy all in one with these books 366 original simple short poems in each book that will touch everybody's heart. With a selection written while visiting beautiful Okinawa Island and various cities in Japan, as well as Taiwan for the second time in the spring and early summer of 2009, IMAGINE SOCIETY: A POEM A DAY, Volume 5 presents the writings of Canadian Poet Jean Mercier as delivered daily all around the world in 2008-2009 through the web series Jean Mercier's A Poem A Day co-created by Junichiro Kuniyoshi and Jean Mercier. This Canadian book is printed locally when needed, for prompt delivery by Create Space, an AMAZON.com company. Want them all? Find the Volume 1 of this series at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203357, Vol. 2 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203362 or Vol. 3 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4158750 Vol 4 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240078 and Vol 5 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240080 Thank you in advance for your kindness. Please leave us comments or write anytime through my Facebook page or by email. I'd love to hear from you Hugs good day - Jean Mercier

"From a man who has overcome many hardships in life, Jean Mercier's poetry is the story of courage and triumph - the lessons of devoted focus on gratitude, forgiveness, hope and actions of unconditional love." Junichiro Kuniyoshi Children Novelist & Co-Creator of A Poem A Day ----- Teachers and Students: The author authorizes the use of this book in your classroom. "Write a few rhymes on any of mine, drop them on my Facebook page, I will likely answer you " - Jean Mercier ----- The phenomenon with over 1.4 Million followers on Facebook is now a book series Notes for the soul - and for the road - since 2003 (Join or see the page at: https: //www.facebook.com/apoemaday) Ask your library to get it, offer yourself or someone the gift of love, self-help, poetry and positive philosophy all in one with these books 366 original simple short poems in each book that will touch everybody's heart. Mainly written during his first journey in beautiful Japan, IMAGINE SOCIETY: A POEM A DAY, Vol. 4 presents the writings of Canadian Poet Jean Mercier as delivered daily all around the world in its fourth year through the web series Jean Mercier's A Poem A Day co-created by Junichiro Kuniyoshi and Jean Mercier. This Canadian book is printed locally when needed, for prompt delivery by Create Space, an AMAZON.com company. Published by: apoemaday.TV (Canada) ISBN-13: 978-1484082171 ------- Watercolour on the cover by: Colette Mercier A message from the author: By ordering my books through Create Space (also an AMAZON company, but partner with the publisher) you also help us more as AMAZON pays us a little more for the reference: Want them all? Find the Volume 1 of this series at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203357, Vol. 2 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203362 or Vol. 3 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4158750 Vol 4 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240078 and Vol 5 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240080 Thank you in advance for your kindness. Please leave us comments or write anytime through my Facebook page or by email. I'd love to hear from you Hugs good day - Jean Mercier

"Jean Mercier's poetry is truly a joyous experience - original & inspirational " Larry Kent, Film Director "The poems in this book are delightful. Uplifting, amusing, profound." Vernon Chapman Veteran Actor, Stage Director, Writer ----- Teachers and Students: The author authorizes the use of this book in your classroom. "Write a few rhymes on any of mine, drop them on my Facebook page, I will likely answer you " - Jean Mercier ----- The phenomenon with 1.4 Million followers on Facebook is now a book series Notes for the soul - and for the road - since 2003 (Join or see the page at: https: //www.facebook.com/apoemaday) Ask your library to get it, offer yourself or someone the gift of love, self-help, poetry and positive philosophy all in one with these books 366 original simple short poems in each book that will touch everybody's heart. IMAGINE SOCIETY: A POEM A DAY, Volume 2 (Compilation from 2005-2006, 2nd edition, 2013) presents the writings of Canadian Poet Jean Mercier as delivered daily all around the world through the web series Jean Mercier's A Poem A Day co-created by Junichiro Kuniyoshi and Jean Mercier. This Canadian book is printed locally when needed, for prompt delivery by Create Space, an AMAZON.com company. Published by: apoemaday.TV (Canada) ISBN-13: 978-1482745078 ---- Watercolour on the cover by: Colette Mercier A message from the author: By ordering my books through Create Space (also an AMAZON company, but partner with the publisher) you also help us more as AMAZON pays us a little more for the reference. Want them all? Find the Volume 1 of this series at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203357, Vol. 2 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203362 or Vol. 3 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4158750 Vol 4 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240078 and Vol 5 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240080 Thank you in advance for your kindness. Please leave us comments or write anytime through my Facebook page or by email. I'd love to hear from you Hugs good day - Jean Mercier

"Jean Mercier's poetry is truly a joyous experience - original & inspirational " Larry Kent, Film Director "The poems in this book are delightful. Uplifting, amusing, profound." Vernon Chapman Veteran Actor, Stage Director, Writer ----- Teachers and Students: The author authorizes the use of this book in your classroom. "Write a few rhymes on any of mine, drop them on my Facebook page, I will likely answer you " - Jean Mercier ----- The phenomenon with 1.4 Million followers on Facebook is now a book series Notes for the soul - and for the road - since 2003 (Join or see the page at: https: //www.facebook.com/apoemaday) Ask your library to get it, offer yourself or someone the gift of love, self-help, poetry and positive philosophy all in one with these books 366 original simple short poems in each book that will touch everybody's heart. IMAGINE SOCIETY: A POEM A DAY, Volume 2 (Compilation from 2005-2006, 2nd edition, 2013) presents the writings of Canadian Poet Jean Mercier as delivered daily all around the world through the web series Jean Mercier's A Poem A Day co-created by Junichiro Kuniyoshi and Jean Mercier. This Canadian book is printed locally when needed, for prompt delivery by Create Space, an AMAZON.com company. Published by: apoemaday.TV (Canada) ISBN-13: 978-1482745078 ---- Watercolour on the cover by: Colette Mercier A message from the author: By ordering my books through Create Space (also an AMAZON company, but partner with the publisher) you also help us more as AMAZON pays us a little more for the reference. Want them all? Find the Volume 1 of this series at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203357, Vol. 2 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203362 or Vol. 3 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4158750 Vol 4 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240078 and Vol 5 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240080 Thank you in advance for your kindness. Please leave us comments or write anytime through my Facebook page or by email. I'd love to hear from you Hugs good day - Jean Mercier

...sometimes, less is more. Jean's poetic mirror is the creative catalyst that can truly change your life One merely has to read and listen. Exquisite, portraits in verse Dale E. Taylor Former VP, YTV Canada Programming and Production ---------------------------------- The phenomenon with over 1.4 Million followers on Facebook is now a book series Notes for the soul - and for the road - since 2003 (Join or see the page at: https: //www.facebook.com/apoemaday) Ask your library to get it, offer yourself or someone the gift of love, self-help, poetry and positive philosophy all in one with these books 366 original simple short poems in each book that will touch everybody's heart. IMAGINE SOCIETY: A POEM A DAY, Volume 3 (New, 2nd edition, 2013) presents the writings of Canadian Poet Jean Mercier as delivered daily all around the world in its third year through the web series Jean Mercier's A Poem A Day co-created by Junichiro Kuniyoshi and Jean Mercier. This Canadian book is printed locally when needed, for prompt delivery by Create Space, an AMAZON.com company. Published by: apoemaday.TV (Canada) ISBN-13: 978-1482354966 ---- Watercolour on the cover by: Colette Mercier A message from the author: By ordering my books through Create Space (also an AMAZON company, but partner with the publisher) you also help us more as AMAZON pays us a little more for the reference. Want them all? Find the Volume 1 of this series at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203357, Vol. 2 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203362 or Vol. 3 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4158750 Vol 4 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240078 and Vol 5 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240080 Thank you in advance for your kindness. Please leave us comments or write anytime through my Facebook page or by email. I'd love to hear from you Hugs good day - Jean Mercier

.." thought-provocative, deeply curious and calmly celebratory, the magic of Mercier's words could certainly change one's life within a year." Ellen Tanner Marsh New York Times Best Selling Author "May poetry find its way to us now, wherever we are, because without its magic, we are truly not much of anything." - Jean Mercier. ------ Teachers and Students: The author authorizes the use of this book in your classroom. "Write a few rhymes on any of mine, drop them on my Facebook page, I will likely answer you " - Jean Mercier ------ The phenomenon with 1.4 Million followers on Facebook is now a book series Notes for the soul - and for the road - since 2003 (Join or see the page at: https: //www.facebook.com/apoemaday) Ask your library to get it, offer yourself or someone the gift of love, self-help, poetry and positive philosophy all in one with these books 366 original simple short poems in each book that will touch everybody's heart. IMAGINE SOCIETY: A POEM A DAY, Volume 1 (Compilation from year 2004-2005, 2nd edition, 2013) presents the writings of Canadian Poet Jean Mercier as delivered daily all around the world through the web series Jean Mercier's A Poem A Day co-created by Junichiro Kuniyoshi and Jean Mercier. This Canadian book is printed locally when needed, for prompt delivery by Create Space, an AMAZON.com company. Published by: apoemaday.TV (Canada) ISBN-13: 978-1482745016 ---- (Watercolour on the cover by: Colette Mercier) A message from the author: By ordering my books through Create Space (also an AMAZON company, but partner with the publisher) you also help us more as AMAZON pays us a little more for the reference. Want them all? Find the Volume 1 of this series at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203357, Vol. 2 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4203362 or Vol. 3 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4158750 Vol 4 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240078 and Vol 5 at: https: //www.createspace.com/4240080 Thank you in advance for your kindness. Please leave us comments or write anytime through my Facebook page or by email. I'd love to hear from you Hugs good day - Jean Mercier