Earth and You: Tales of the EnvironmentCharles Officer and Jake Page describe how a number of key environmental problems have been recognized and handled. On local, regional, national, and even international levels, environmental challenges have been successfully met by determined groups and individuals. Often, however, the solutions have been temporary, because most of the planet's environmental problems are ultimately driven by unsustained population growth and unchecked usage of the Earth's resources, particularly our limited energy resources, which are often converted into substances that are cumulatively toxic both to humans and to the planet. To ignore these larger matters, the authors believe, would be criminal. What our past successes have shown is that solutions often lie in unpredictable areas. We need to enlarge upon the tremendous advances that have been made in areas such as birth control, national and international initiatives, moral and religious leadership, alternative energy sources, and research and development. As the authors write, "This book is yet another voice calling for our best efforts. We are optimistic that they will be forthcoming. We have to be optimistic: consider the alternative". |
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acid rain action agricultural amount Amu Darya anthropogenic aqueduct Aral Sea atmospheric Beach birds budget buffalo California carbon dioxide Centralia CFCs chemical Chesapeake Bay chlorine climate coal continued crops Cuyahoga Darya decreased depletion developed countries dioxin dollars Dust Bowl dust storm Earth effects efforts emissions energy sources environmental problems estimated extinction family planning federal feet Figure fire fish fossil fuels geologic global warming growth rate Haiti High Plains human increase Indian industrial irrigation land live Lois Gibbs Love Canal ment million National Park natural North America nutrients Ocean Ogallala oxygen ozone layer past period plants pollution population growth production Rachel Carson region residents result River rubber scientific smog South species stratosphere sulfur dioxide surface temperature tion toxic trees ultraviolet United Valley Venice waste Wildlife women Yellowstone Yosemite Younger Dryas