This Borrowed Earth: Lessons from the Fifteen Worst Environmental Disasters around the World (MacSci)

Over the last century mankind has irrevocably damaged the environment through the unscrupulous greed of big business and our own willful ignorance. Here are the strikingly poignant accounts of disasters whose names live in infamy: Chernobyl, Bhopal, Exxon Valdez, Three Mile Island, Love Canal, Minamata and others. And with these, the extraordinary and inspirational stories of the countless men and women who fought bravely to protect the communities and environments at risk. Over The Last Century Mankind Has Irrevocably Damaged The Environment Through The Unscrupulous Greed Of Big Business And Our Own Willful Ignorance. Here Are The Accounts Of Disasters Whose Names Live In Infamy: Chernobyl, Bhopal, Exxon Valdez, Three Mile Island, Love Canal, Minamata, And Others. And, With These, The Inspirational Stories Of The Countless Men And Women Who Fought Bravely To Protect The Communities And Environments At Risk.--jacket. This Volume Presents A Summation Of Fifteen Of The Worst Man-made Catastrophes Of Modern Times. The Author Reveals Similarities Between These Disasters That Can Shed Light On Ways To Prevent Them In The Future. He Asserts That The Only Way To Slow The Rate Of Growth Of Devastating Climate Change Is For Governments Around The World To Assert Control Over The Production Of Energy In Ways That Can Lift The World Out Of Poverty Without Destroying It In The Process. Minamata, Japan, 1950s -- London, England, 1952 -- Windscale, England, 1957 -- Seveso, Italy, 1976 -- Love Canal, New York, 1978 -- Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, 1979 -- Times Beach, Missouri, 1982 -- Bhopal, India, 1984 -- Chernobyl, Ukraine, 1986 -- Rhine River, Switzerland, 1986 -- Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1989 -- Oil Spills And Fires Of Kuwait, 1991 -- Dassen And Robben Islands, South Africa, 2000 -- Brazilian Rainforest -- Global Climate Change. Robert Emmet Hernan ; Foreword By Bill Mckibben ; Preface By Graham Nash. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. For thousands of years, humanity has considered itself the earth's custodian. With our vast potential we are capable of preserving the earth for future generations or causing irreparable harm. For the first time here, environmental lawyer and activist Robert Emmet Hernan provides a comprehensive, up-to-date treatment of what happened at fifteen environmental disasters in ten countries across the globe. This Borrowed Earth is a remarkable collection of stories that cover nuclear explosions, oil spills and fires, chemical spills, polluted air, toxic substances causing awful injuries to children, destruction of rainforest and entire ecosytems. The names associated with these disasters - e.g., Chernobyl, Exxon Valdez, Minamata, Love Canal, Seveso, Bhopal and others - will haunt future generations. At the same time, the stories provide a moving tribute to the courage and persistence of ordinary people who struggled to understand what was happening to them and to protect their families and their environment against these onslaughts. Poignant, moving, and inspirational, the events narrated here show how individuals can counterbalance the negligence and criminality of narrow economic interests that threaten our planet. Their stories will provide inspiration for a new generation committed to protecting the environment, and humanity Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Introduction......Page 16 Minamata, Japan, 1950s......Page 24 London, England, 1952......Page 46 Windscale, England, 1957......Page 54 Seveso, Italy, 1976......Page 60 Love Canal, New York, 1978......Page 76 Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, 1979......Page 96 Times Beach, Missouri, 1982......Page 106 Bhopal, India, 1984......Page 116 Chernobyl, Ukraine, 1986......Page 124 Rhine River, Switzerland, 1986......Page 144 Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1989......Page 152 Oil Spills and Fires of Kuwait, 1991......Page 170 Dassen and Robben Islands, South Africa, 2000......Page 178 Brazilian Rainforest......Page 186 Global Climate Change......Page 194 List of Some Environmental Organizations......Page 204 Notes......Page 208 Sources......Page 212 C......Page 246 H......Page 247 N......Page 248 T......Page 249 Y......Page 250 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Foreword 10 Preface 12 Introduction 16 Minamata, Japan, 1950s 24 London, England, 1952 46 Windscale, England, 1957 54 Seveso, Italy, 1976 60 Love Canal, New York, 1978 76 Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, 1979 96 Times Beach, Missouri, 1982 106 Bhopal, India, 1984 116 Chernobyl, Ukraine, 1986 124 Rhine River, Switzerland, 1986 144 Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1989 152 Oil Spills and Fires of Kuwait, 1991 170 Dassen and Robben Islands, South Africa, 2000 178 Brazilian Rainforest 186 Global Climate Change 194 List of Some Environmental Organizations 204 Notes 208 Sources 212 Index 246 A 246 B 246 C 246 D 247 E 247 F 247 G 247 H 247 I 248 K 248 L 248 M 248 N 248 O 249 P 249 Q 249 R 249 S 249 T 249 U 250 V 250 W 250 Y 250 0230619835,9780230619838 Minamata, Japan, 1950s London fog, England, 1952 Windscale, England, 1957 Seveso, Italy, 1976 Love Canal, New York, 1978 Mile Island, Pennsylvania, 1979 Times Beach, Missouri, 1982 Bhopal, India, 1984 Chernobyl, Ukraine, 1986 Rhine River, Switzerland, 1986 Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1989 Oil spills and fires of Kuwait, 1991 Dassen and Robben Islands, South Africa, 2000 Brazilian rainforest Global warming. Humanity has the potential to preserve the earth for future generations or cause irreparable harm. For the first time here, environmental lawyer and activist Robert Emmet Hernan provides a comprehensive, up-to-date treatment of what happened at fifteen environmental disasters in ten countries across the globe.