Ecological Resistance Movements: The Global Emergence of Radical and Popular Environmentalism (Intl Environ Pol Theory

by Bron Taylor (Editor)

"The authors pay serious, systematic attention to a social and political phenomenon (grassroots ecological resistance) of global importance. Taylor is correct in his claim in the Preface that insufficient scholarly attention has been paid to grassroots environmentalism. This book takes a big step in the right direction. It will appeal to a wide audience within the academy and without." -- Steve Breyman, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Ecological resistance movements are proliferating around the world. Some are explicitly radical in their ideas and militant in their tactics while others have emerged from a variety of social movements that, in response to environmental deterioration, have taken up ecological sustainability as a central objective. This book brings together a team of international scholars to examine contemporary movements of ecological resistance. The first four sections focus on the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Europe, and the book concludes with a selection of articles that address the philosophical and moral issues these movements pose, assess trends found among them, and evaluate their impacts and prospects. [Among the many contributors to the volume are Daniel Deudney, Robert Edwards, Heidi Hadsell, Sheldon Kamieniecki, Lois Lorentzen, David Rothenberg, Wolfgang Rudig, Jerry Stark, Paul Wapner, and Ben Wisner.] [for catalog only]

"This book provides diverse points of view and gives a hearing for frequently unheard voices. It provides new information about environmental activism on a regional and global scale." -- J. Baird Callicott, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point

Genres: Research, Environment, Nonfiction

440 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been gathering dust on my shelf, and someone finally recalled it from me through the library, so all I read was the editor's introductory and concluding contributions, which I found helpful. I may return to it at some point. Good excerpts that break down the central three relevant issues:

"(A)ctivists of the Earth First! movement have advanced moral, ecological, and political claims which constitute the three essential pillars of Earth First!'s ethics. Their moral claim is that nonhuman life is valuable, even apart from its usefulness to human beings....

("Nonetheless, threats to human livelihood and health provide the most important reasons for the global emergence and proliferation of popular ecological resistance... Obviously such motives are far from misanthropic." p.335)

"(They) add the ecological claim that we are in the midst of an unprecedented, anthropogenic extinction crisis, and consequently, many ecosystems are presently collapsing....

"The heart of (their) political claim is either that democracy in the United States is a sham, thoroughly thwarted by corporate economic power, or, even if not a sham, the democratic political system is so distorted by corporate power and regressive human attitudes that it cannot respond quickly enough to avert the escalating extinction catastrophe....

"These three claims lead to the assertion that the current situation--morally, ecologically, and politically--is so grave that tactics considered objectionable by most are instead necessary and even obligatory." pp.15-17

[Artie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DANIEL DEUDNEY DUDE!!!!!! this is the guy that predicted the downfall of the soviet union two years before it happened and it is totally worth it to hear about his predictions on "Earth Religion" seek peace daniel deudney.

[Bron · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more information and review of this, as well as more recent book, see Bron Taylor's Website

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had some interesting content, but at times it was a little dry. Essentially outlines the struggles of groups around the world that are affected by environmental degradation.