The Role of Integrity in the Governance of the Commons : Governance, Ecology, Law, Ethics

This book explores the impact of disintegrity on various aspects of governance, as the disregard of ecological conditions produce grave direct effects to human rights (to water or food) and, indirectly, also to human security in several ways. International legal regimes need to be reconsidered and perhaps re-interpreted, in order to correct these situations that affect the commons today. Some believe that our starting point should acknowledge the impact we already have on the natural world, and accept that we now live in the "anthropocene". Others think that the present emphasis on sustainable development needs to be re-defined. Finally, many believe that reconnecting with moral principles both in professional life and in governance in general represents a necessary first step. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Accountability for the Commons: Reconsiderations....Pages 3-21 Integrity at Risk: Potentials and Dangers of Synthetic Biology and How to Govern with Integrity....Pages 23-35 From Ecosystem Services to Ecological Solidarity....Pages 37-50 Democracy, Sovereignty and the Challenge of the Global Commons....Pages 51-65 Front Matter....Pages 67-67 Pathways to Improved Water Law and Governance: Public Interest Litigation and Protest....Pages 69-89 The Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan: Profitability, Cost-Effectiveness, and Depriving People of Water....Pages 91-104 International Law and Human Security: The Environmental and Geopolitical Impacts of China’s Artificial Island-Building at Fiery Cross Reef....Pages 105-122 Front Matter....Pages 123-123 The Enormity of the Damage Done by the Climate Change Disinformation Campaign as the World Struggles to Implement the Paris Agreement....Pages 125-139 The Projection of Global and Regional Climate Change Models into Selected Ecosystem Functions and Services (Case Study Czech Republic)....Pages 141-154 Bio-economy as a New Perspective for Solving Climate Change?....Pages 155-166 Front Matter....Pages 167-167 Sustainable Development: Renaissance or Sunset Boulevard?....Pages 169-178 The Ecological Catastrophe: The Political-Economic Caste as the Origin and Cause of Environmental Destruction and the Pre-Announced Democratic Disaster....Pages 179-189 Ecological Integrity in the Anthropocene: Lessons for Law from Ecological Restoration and Beyond....Pages 191-202 Front Matter....Pages 203-203 Addressing the Problem of Conflict-of-Interest and Moneyed Influence in Public Health: Some Case Studies....Pages 205-213 Ethics and Pesticides: The Precautionary Principle as Illustrated by Glyphosate....Pages 215-223 Laudato Sì and the Christian Ecological Utopia....Pages 225-236 Pope Francis’s Ethics for Democratic Capitalism and the Common Good....Pages 237-253 Natural Catastrophes and Forms of Catastrophism. A New Ethical and Moral Framework Leading Towards the “Responsible Catastrophism Model”....Pages 255-267 Part I Governance for the Commons -- Part II Human Security, Food and Water Issues -- Part III Responsibility for Human Rights Breaches and Climate Change -- Part IV The "Anthropocene" and Sustainable Development -- part V Human Responsibilty for Ethical Governance