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This book contains some of the papers which were presented at the
NATO Science, Environmental Security, Advanced Research Workshop on
"Implementing Ecological Integrity: Restoring Regional and Global
Environmental and Human Health" held in Budapest from June 26 to
July 1, 1999. All papers presented are summarized in the
Introduction and, in some cases, shorter versions are published. A
mUltidisciplinary core of American and Western European
participants had met over the preceeding years to discuss the
concept of ecological integrity. The term "ecological integrity" is
found in environmental policy documents but, generally, is not
defined. It competes with other recent terms, or environmental
narratives, such as "ecosystem health" and "sustainable
development" and also with older ones such as "conservation."
Therefore, it is deemed important not only to sort out the
definitions of these concepts but also to find out whether their
practical implications differ. Moreover, it was interesting to find
out whether participants from Central and Eastern European
Countries (CEEC) and, more generally, from NATO partner countries
would be, first, responsive to this concept and, second, would hold
different views of it. This explains the broad, albeit not always
consistent, range oftopics which are covered in this book. The core
group learned that CEEC and other NATO partners participants were
responsive to the concept but that they were less exclusive of
human influence.
This book contains some of the papers which were presented at the
NATO Science, Environmental Security, Advanced Research Workshop on
"Implementing Ecological Integrity: Restoring Regional and Global
Environmental and Human Health" held in Budapest from June 26 to
July 1, 1999. All papers presented are summarized in the
Introduction and, in some cases, shorter versions are published. A
mUltidisciplinary core of American and Western European
participants had met over the preceeding years to discuss the
concept of ecological integrity. The term "ecological integrity" is
found in environmental policy documents but, generally, is not
defined. It competes with other recent terms, or environmental
narratives, such as "ecosystem health" and "sustainable
development" and also with older ones such as "conservation."
Therefore, it is deemed important not only to sort out the
definitions of these concepts but also to find out whether their
practical implications differ. Moreover, it was interesting to find
out whether participants from Central and Eastern European
Countries (CEEC) and, more generally, from NATO partner countries
would be, first, responsive to this concept and, second, would hold
different views of it. This explains the broad, albeit not always
consistent, range oftopics which are covered in this book. The core
group learned that CEEC and other NATO partners participants were
responsive to the concept but that they were less exclusive of
human influence.
As global warming, famine, and environmental catastrophes have
become daily news items, achieving a sustainable environment to
maintain the future of life on Earth has become a global concern.
Sustaining Life on Earth is an important contribution toward
assessing such problems and making the Earth hospitable to life for
generations to come. With an interdisciplinary team of
international scholars, this masterfully edited collection
approaches the problems facing sustainability from a perspective of
global governance. To date, powerful economic forces have misguided
decision-making processes in favor of short-term gain rather than
long-term sustainability. As global awareness has increased and
individual citizens have begun to alter their lifestyles to be more
environmentally conscious, it is also necessary for governing
bodies to take these concerns seriously. Sustaining Life on Earth
makes the case that, for all the recent neo-liberal emphasis on the
autonomous individual, humanity has collective problems, and it is
only through collective action that solutions will be found. It
shows that the global community is beginning to acknowledge the
interdependencies among population, affluence, and technology. In
the book, analysts from many disciplines advance solutions that
could shift us away from growth-bound status quo development
approaches toward more ecologically responsible and socially
equitable ways of living. They suggest ways to move forward that
would ensure health and well-being for all in both present and
future generations. While success necessarily entails many changes
at all levels, the book highlights one soft-law instrument that
reflects many of the values and principles necessary to set
humanity onto a sustainable path: The Earth Charter of 2002.
Sustaining Life on Earth is a ground-breaking contribution to the
burgeoning study of sustainability. Designed for a general
non-specialist readership in the first year of university or
beyond, this book will be of interest to anyone concerned with the
impacts of global change on human well-being and the ecosphere,
including people in environmental NGOs and those working in public
policy.
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