Wisdom for a Livable Planet: The Visionary Work of Terri Swearingen, Dave Foreman, Wes Jackson, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Werner Fornos, Herman Daly, Stephen Schneider, and David Orr - Softcover

McDaniel, Carl N.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1595340092 ISBN 13: 9781595340092

Publisher: Trinity University Press, 2005

Synopsis

The author profiles the work of eight visionaries who have dedicated their lives to various environmental issues. Each story provides a portrait of an individual's valiant and inspiring campaign to improve the conditions for life on our planet. Taken together, the work of these people points the way toward creating an ecologically centered civilization in which a brighter future for all life, including human, is possible.
*Terri Swearingen takes on one of the world's largest hazardous waste incinerators burning toxic waste next door to an elementary school.
*Stephen Schneider establishes the scientific basis for climate change
*Herman Daly advocates a dynamic steady-state economy that respects the laws of nature and human behavior.
*David Orr champions educational reform to make universities a place where students learn how to be environmentally aware citizens
*Werner Fornos works toward empowering every person with the knowledge and means to decide when and how many children to have
*Helena Norberg-Hodge champions local living with appropriate technologies to enhance our spiritual and ecological well-being.
*Wes Jackson promotes sustainable agriculture based on local ecology and community values
*Dave Foreman leads the effort to rewild almost half of North America with wolves, mountain lions, jaguars, falcons, and others to restore functional ecosystems and preserve biodiversity

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

By personalizing critical environmental issues via profiles of eight "visionaries" agitating for a more livable planet, this informative if occasionally wordy work brings something new to the Earth-activist bookshelf. McDaniel (coauthor, Paradise for Sale) certainly covers his ecological bases: his subjects are prominent in the areas of hazardous waste incineration, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, appropriate technology, population control, rational economic planning, climate concerns and environmental education; their unflagging enthusiasm for the well-being of the planet infuses the book, which at times veers toward the pedantic, with a redemptive, zealous energy. The portrait of Teri Swearingen is the most accessible: for two decades, the West Virginia nurse and mother fought construction of a toxic-waste incinerator near an elementary school. The portrait of Wes Jackson is the most inspirational: for almost three decades, the geneticist's Land Institute in Kansas has worked to spread the word about farming practices that preserve good soil rather than poison it. And the portrait of David Orr is perhaps the most forward looking: the professor of environmental studies at Oberlin College believes that Earth's future lies in developing "culture-transforming" environmental education. The stories of these eight ecological warriors are profoundly appealing in that they show the diverse ways that people can commit to a common cause. (Mar.)
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From Booklist:

Catastrophic natural disasters remind us that we are part of nature and at the mercy of nature, yet we assume that everyday environmental disorders won't affect our lives. Not so, says biologist McDaniel and the eight inspired activists, educators, and scientists he profiles. Adept at cogent explanations of complex matters, McDaniel uses the groundbreaking work of the visionaries he portrays as starting points for clarifying reports on concerns ranging from climate change to the need for "rewilding" to restore biodiversity. But it is the personal element that makes each issue resonate in this engaging, often moving group portrait. McDaniel spends time with all of the innovative thinkers as he tells the inside stories of their callings and the adversity they face. Nurse Terri Swearingen became an intrepid activist when a huge toxic waste incinerator was built next door to a local elementary school. Wes Jackson coined the term and now seeks to practice "sustainable agriculture." Economist Herman Daly advocates for a "steady-state economy" in sync with ecological realities. By combining biography with crucial information and thought-provoking analysis, McDaniel creates an ecological and philosophical atlas mapping where we stand today and which paths we should follow for a more environmentally sound tomorrow. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Trinity University Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1595340092
• ISBN 13: 9781595340092
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288