Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence Review

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Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence ReviewThis is a must read book for anyone interested in climate change and its impact on humanity. It's also a must read book for everyone else that wants to continue to live in our biosphere. Which is to say, it's a must read for everyone.
The author starts out introducing us to a number of themes he carries forward. Specifically:

1) Climate change causes stressors on planetary civilization and these changes threaten American national security. This is not the author's point of view, but that of our military. Want an example? Consider Afghanistan. Why do they grow poppy? They've been in prolonged drought (a stressor as a result of global warming), and poppy only uses one fifth the water wheat does. The US runs around burning their crops, whereas the Teleban supports the farmers and helps them feed their children. [So are we going to solve the Afghan problem? Use critical thinking and decide for yourself.]

2) Societies can adapt by 'armed lifeboats', whereby they secure their borders against mass migrations, increased internal militarization, and conduct counterinsurgency operations abroad. The author sees this as a malignant adaption to Global Warming and warns us with case after case where this fails. Unfortunately, as the author points out, this is the direction the US is taking.
3) Societies can also adapt by learning to live within the limits of the planet earth. [Hey, I CAN use a solar panel to heat hot water instead of producing CO2 or nuclear waste.]
4) Counterinsurgency destroys societies and eventually fails anyway.
Next, the author takes us on a tour of the world, concentrating on regions between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Sections are dedicated to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Impacts of global warming and resultant counterinsurgency operations are discussed.
Lastly, the author again focuses back on the US. It seems that big-oil has waged a successful campaign to discredit global warming here and this is discussed in detail. Obama has even delayed putting solar collectors back on the White House. [A weak and feckless president who should have never been elected (and I'm a Democrat).]
Finally, the author offers a prescription for moving forward. Many other authors are ready to abandon capitalism entirely (as it got us into this mess), but Christian does not. He feels that capitalism can morph/change into a benevolent la-la being that will suddenly embrace what the yippies and hippies have been saying all along. All that is needed is for a price to be put on Carbon emissions (a Carbon Tax), and the invisible hand of Adam Smith will soothe things out and reduce CO2 emissions to zero.
[You can see I part company with the author on his last point. You really think our national congress, that is bought and paid for by big oil will ever pass a Carbon Tax? If you do, you are one of the most Pollyanna people on earth. Instead, it is up to us, everyone, to think globally but act locally. To paraphrase Kennedy, I should ask not what I can get the congress to do, but what I can do myself to ameliorate global warming. And I can do plenty. I can first read up on the issues (skipping the pablum of the American corporate press). Next, I can think critically. Finally, I can act. I can buy locally grown food so there's less of a carbon footprint. I can install solar panels. I can buy a more fuel efficient car. And so on. HEY, IT'S UP TO US TO SOLVE GLOBAL WARMING - NOT SOMEONE ELSE.]
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Requiem for a Species: Why We Resist the Truth About Climate Change Review

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Requiem for a Species: Why We Resist the Truth About Climate Change ReviewI read this book shortly after the very similar Down to the Wire (by David Orr) and found it slightly less enjoyable and less well written. This may be partly because the latter was so impressive. These books belong to an altogether new genre, the post-global-warming book. Years ago there were none, now it looks like they're proliferating. Clearly the warnings from science have been getting more and more panicked in conjunction with popular opinion becoming more and more blase.
The author takes it as given that the scientific consensus is correct, and follows through on the conclusions we are led to. Current estimates are in the range of 4 degree warming likely by 2100, which is of course quite devastating. (Particularly after the Copenhagen failure I think 4 is becoming the 'safe' bet.) In the beginning he outlines why he believes this will happen, why there will be little emissions cuts until many years from now. Obviously there haven't been a whole lot of carbon cuts so far. Most of the middle of the book is then given over to discussion about human nature, how our greed and our divorce from nature led us on this path. Thus he includes the obsession with economic growth and explains how this has led us to a new kind of religion or raison d'etre. It is likely we will be too caught up in this materialism to change our ways, and I think personally he's right. There are many books that have dealt with the topic of our materialistic hedonistic society addicted to endless growth in greater detail, and in fact there is a surplus in my opinion although I agree totally with what they are saying.
In the later chapters he goes on to discuss the consequences of a 4 degree rise, but very briefly, unlike the 6 degrees book which discusses it at length. A very reflective final chapter discusses the longer viewpoint about our suicidal nature, how we are to deal with it, with denial, anger, acceptance, or whatever. (In my opinion war will be a big way we will deal with it.)
So my problem with this book is mostly that it doesn't quite flow together as well as I'd expected, nor does it really dwell on the really deep philosophical ideas of what he is saying, how our species has a self-destructive nature, what it will mean thousands of years from now if only a few thousand people are left, etc. The title of the book had led me to believe that it was a bit more reflective than it in fact is.
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Human Ecology: Following Nature's Lead Review

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Human Ecology: Following Nature's Lead ReviewJust finished the book, and am relatively impressed by it overall, while it obviously has a few weaknesses. Steiner divides the world hierarchically into chapters, starting at the smallest human scale (habitat) and working gradually up to a global scale. The book reads like an adademic work, and Steiner continually interrupts the flow of ideas with quotes and references to the work of others. It seems like his main goal was to include as many names of people as possible in the text (nearly every paragraph mentions someone new). The bibliography is lengthy. That does mean that if any particular concept appeals to the reader, they know exactly where it originated, and where to go to learn more, but makes the book more challenging to read. Intellectually engaging, perhaps.
Overall, a good summary of an emerging field, along with plenty of review, critique, and synthesis of ideas. I'd recommend the book to "sustainability" types, the conservation-minded, ecologists, and (especially) city and regional planners.
His main point: We, as humans, need to consider the environment and our relation to it. Especially as pertains to our everyday life experience.Human Ecology: Following Nature's Lead Overview

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One Report: Integrated Reporting for a Sustainable Strategy Review

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One Report: Integrated Reporting for a Sustainable Strategy ReviewWith One Report, Eccles and Krzus have established a synoptic platform for transparency in corporate reporting. Through numerous case studies and intuitive analysis, Eccles shows a commanding knowledge of the future of integrated reporting for the global market. Of particular interest is the concept of using social media/Web 2.0 tools to customize corporate reporting and engagement with shareholders. One Report is a must read for executives and shareholders of any major corporation.One Report: Integrated Reporting for a Sustainable Strategy Overview

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The Great Disruption: Why the Climate Crisis Will Bring On the End of Shopping and the Birth of a New World Review

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The Great Disruption: Why the Climate Crisis Will Bring On the End of Shopping and the Birth of a New World ReviewThere are two books in one here. The first third is about the Great Disruption itself, that is, the logical and inescapable consequences of the endless craving for growth and use of the finite natural resources of planet Earth. That the globe can't sustain infinite economical and population growth, especially with the ramping consumerism in the last decades, is an obvious conclusion that hasn't escaped even the pillars of Economy, such as Adam Smith, Keynes and Stuart Mill. This idea hasn't been recognized as it should, as an absurdly important and urgent matter, simply because its consequences are just appaling: in order for humans to stop destroying the world, and living the terrible consequences of doing so (we are already suffering them), the economy that drives us will have to shrink in tremendous levels. Endless consumption will simply have to end.
This part of the book could easily discuss many further examples of the causes and consequences of this process. Instead, it goes at length just to convince you simply that "this is true and will happen". Sadly, it shies away from what all this really means, which is what scares people so much, barely touching the facts that this collapse of economic growth means exactly 1. the logical failure of capitalism; and 2. that millions of people *will die* in this process. And soon.
So, in order to still be attractive to a large audience, the rest of the book leaves this discussion behind and becomes some sort of eco-self-help for middle-class and rich Americans (maybe also Australians, since that's where Gilding comes from). It centers on practical ways the reader should adopt in order to live in a more equal world, less demanding of nature and of consumption goods. There are dozens of examples of people like smart and well-intentioned CEOs who realized that in order for their business to survive they'll have to turn to new carbonless business strategies. Of course, there's nothing wrong with this target audience, but the problem is global, and the awareness and response should also be global.
And this exposes the ultimate flaw of the author's argument. What I mean is, try instead to read the last two thirds of the book before the first part, and you'll see a big contradiction in terms. You then learn first that you'll have to shop less in order to be happier, vaguely "share" more (he means: "otherwise the mass of helpless poor will invade us, glad the military is working on that!") and support innovative, eco-friendly businesses. Great, so that's how we do our part! *But* the arguments in the first part of the book say very clearly: this just won't be enough, because the disruption is far greater and faster than all our little collaborative work will be able to catch.
I do understand why Guilding has changed the tone in the second part. It is important not to give up hope after we realize this big truth, neither in our daily routine today nor in the future. The author knows too well how people can be resistant to both being conscious about the problem and acting on it. What I think is that the answers the book provides are still the very tip of the iceberg of this issue. An iceberg that's melting fast, for we're running out of time.The Great Disruption: Why the Climate Crisis Will Bring On the End of Shopping and the Birth of a New World Overview

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The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function Review

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The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function ReviewThe Green Gold Business Playbook is an invaluable tool for anyone building a comprehensive corporate sustainability program. It provides practical advice for identifying and implementing programs for all departments across the organization enabling you to easily find the low hanging fruit as well as preparing you for the harder to implement but often times more impactful programs. I have had the guide for a few weeks now and find myself referencing it regularly for its concise summaries, real world examples and issue-specific bibliographies enabling me to go deeper around specific issues important to my clients. A big thumbs up!The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function Overview

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