Ademas de conquistar la luna y desintegrar el atomo, la especie humana tambien es responsable de otra proeza que nadie podra celebrar. En solo doce de las sesenta mil generaciones de seres humanos que han vivido sobre el planeta, hemos multiplicado entre mil y diez mil veces la tasa media de extincion de especies vigente durante sesenta millones de anos. Segun el autor, una vez visto hasta donde hemos llegado, estamos obligados a reeducarnos ambientalmente entre todos y revisar los elementos fallidos de nuestra conducta que hacen peligrar el legado ambiental de las futuras generaciones. La crisis ecologica exige cambios adaptativos en nuestra capacidad de juzgar que es correcto o incorrecto, valido o invalido, y de obrar en consecuencia. En este libro se ponderan algunos de estos cambios mediante criterios de interdependencia o correlacion entre la validez ecologica y la validez social de nuestras "practicas" ambientales. Empleando como recursos conceptos, valores y metodos de una pragmatica de la educacion y del conocimiento, el autor explora algunas posibilidades para abordar problemas y conflictos ambientales. El libro esta escrito desde el convencimiento de que, ademas de la explotacion despiadada y acelerada de los recursos de todos los seres vivos, el conocimiento humano es capaz de cobrar una presencia ambiental mucho mas humilde y sensata, gracias a practicas para tratar mejor y ser mejor tratados por la naturaleza, para adaptar el entorno natural de manera que podamos seguir adaptandonos a el. Las hipotesis sobre el conocimiento y la educacion ambiental expuestas en este libro remiten a algunas de estas practicas, concretandose en un conjunto de propuestas factibles y revisables, formuladas de manera que su validez pueda someterse a critica y debate publico.

This book builds up on the experience and lessons learnt by academics at the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science, Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI) at the University of Tokyo. A number of scholars in the new field of sustainability science describe how field methods and exercises are carried out in this discipline, together with the theoretical basis for such exercises. Case studies of various countries around the world where these exercises are carried out are showcased, emphasizing the various socio-economic considerations and problems facing humanity and possible ways forward to build more sustainable and resilient societies. The final objective is to enrich the field of sustainability science by describing the novel aspects used in the field exercises carried out by practitioners of this cross-disciplinary field.

"Coastal Disasters and Climate Change in Vietnam "is the first book to focus specifically on natural hazards and climate change in Vietnam. The book examines threats such as tropical cyclones, sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, and salinity intrusion, and their respective effects on coastal structures and environments. It also looks at crucial management and mitigation efforts, including breakwater design, irrigation systems, coastal dunes and dikes, and more.

The challenges faced by this country in the future will have important regional and global repercussions; areas such as the Mekong Delta produce a significant proportion of the world s rice, and coastal impacts on this region will have far-reaching economic and public health effects. This book is an important source of information for government and local policy makers, environmental and climate scientists, and engineers.
Broad coverage of climate challenges specific to the region, including sea-level rise, storms, erosion, and moreAssessments of impact on, and effects of, economic development and port constructionExamination of public policy responses to climate change"

A selection of works by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau, including some never previously released, together with his latest creations, come to life through the work of a large group of military miniaturists who have found inspiration in his paintings for their models. One of the most famous artists of historical realism at both a national and international level, the artist's work can be seen along with the figures and dioramas based on them. These works have been crafted by some of the most outstanding Spanish miniaturists, which today are among the best in the world in this field and can rightly join the world of the arts.

This collection covers essential concepts in the management of coastal disasters, outlining several field surveys of such events that have taken place in the 21st century, including the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and the storm surges generated by Hurricane Katrina, Cyclone Nargis, and Typhoon Haiyan. Measurements of flood heights, distributions of structural destruction, and the testimonies of residents are reported, with the results being analysed and compared with past events and numerical simulations to clarify and reconstruct the reality of these disasters. The book covers the state-of-the-art understanding of disaster mechanisms and the most advanced tools for the simulation of future events: * Uniquely explains how to use disaster surveys along with simulations to mitigate risk * Combines pure scientific studies with practical research and proposes procedures for effective coastal disaster mitigation Coastal Disaster Surveys and Assessment for Risk Mitigation is ideal for students in the field of disaster risk management, as well as engineers who deal with issues related to tsunamis, storm surges, high wave attack and coastal erosion.

This book builds up on the experience and lessons learnt by academics at the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science, Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI) at the University of Tokyo. A number of scholars in the new field of sustainability science describe how field methods and exercises are carried out in this discipline, together with the theoretical basis for such exercises. Case studies of various countries around the world where these exercises are carried out are showcased, emphasizing the various socio-economic considerations and problems facing humanity and possible ways forward to build more sustainable and resilient societies. The final objective is to enrich the field of sustainability science by describing the novel aspects used in the field exercises carried out by practitioners of this cross-disciplinary field.

Atoll Island States exist on top of what is perceived to be one of the planet's most vulnerable ecosystems: atolls. It has been predicted that an increase in the pace of sea level rise brought about by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere will cause them to disappear, forcing their inhabitants to migrate. The present book represents a multidisciplinary legal and engineering perspective on this problem, challenging some common misconceptions regarding atolls and their vulnerability to sea-level rise. Coral islands have survived past changes in sea levels, and it is the survival of coral reefs what will be crucial for their continued existence. These islands are important for their inhabitants as they represent not only their ancestral agricultural lands and heritage, but also a source of revenue through the exploitation of the maritime areas associated with them. However, even if faced with extreme climate change, it could theoretically be possible for the richer Atoll Island States to engineer ways to prevent their main islands from disappearing, though sadly not all will have the required financial resources to do so. As islands become progressively uninhabitable their residents will be forced to settle in foreign lands, and could become stateless if the Atoll Island State ceases to be recognized as a sovereign country. However, rather than tackling this problem by entering into lengthy negotiations over new treaties, more practical solutions, encompassing bilateral negotiations or the possibility of acquiring small new territories, should be explored. This would make it possible for Atoll Island States in the future to keep some sort of international sovereign personality, which could benefit the descendents of its present day inhabitants.

The world's population is expected to increase to over 8 billion by 2020. About 60% of the total population of the world lives in coastal areas and 65% of the cities with a population of over 2.5 million are located in coastal areas. Written by an international panel of experts in the fields of engineering and risk management, The Handbook of Coastal Disasters Mitigation presents a coherent overview of 10 years of coastal disaster risk management and engineering, during which some of the most relevant events of recent time have taken place, including the Indian Ocean tsunami, hurricanes Katrina and Sandy in the United States or the 2011 Japanese tsunami.

Ademas de conquistar la luna y desintegrar el atomo, la especie humana tambien es responsable de otra proeza que nadie podra celebrar. En solo doce de las sesenta mil generaciones de seres humanos que han vivido sobre el planeta, hemos multiplicado entre mil y diez mil veces la tasa media de extincion de especies vigente durante sesenta millones de anos. Segun el autor, una vez visto hasta donde hemos llegado, estamos obligados a reeducarnos ambientalmente entre todos y revisar los elementos fallidos de nuestra conducta que hacen peligrar el legado ambiental de las futuras generaciones. La crisis ecologica exige cambios adaptativos en nuestra capacidad de juzgar que es correcto o incorrecto, valido o invalido, y de obrar en consecuencia. En este libro se ponderan algunos de estos cambios mediante criterios de interdependencia o correlacion entre la validez ecologica y la validez social de nuestras "practicas" ambientales. Empleando como recursos conceptos, valores y metodos de una pragmatica de la educacion y del conocimiento, el autor explora algunas posibilidades para abordar problemas y conflictos ambientales. El libro esta escrito desde el convencimiento de que, ademas de la explotacion despiadada y acelerada de los recursos de todos los seres vivos, el conocimiento humano es capaz de cobrar una presencia ambiental mucho mas humilde y sensata, gracias a practicas para tratar mejor y ser mejor tratados por la naturaleza, para adaptar el entorno natural de manera que podamos seguir adaptandonos a el. Las hipotesis sobre el conocimiento y la educacion ambiental expuestas en este libro remiten a algunas de estas practicas, concretandose en un conjunto de propuestas factibles y revisables, formuladas de manera que su validez pueda someterse a critica y debate publico.