 | Treasures of the Earth: Need, Greed, and a Sustainable Future Subjects: Consumption (Economics) -- Environmental aspects; Consumption (Economics) -- Moral and ethical aspects; Sustainable development; Environmental policy; Natural resources -- Environmental aspects; Raw materials -- Environmental aspects; Conservation of natu; Ali, an associate environmental studies professor at the University of Vermont, examines humanity's "treasure impulse"-our drive to collect items of value-and chronicles the destruction that our appetite for gold, iron ore, diamonds and oil has wrought upon the earth. With a historical tour of the treasure impulse from the Bronze Age to conceptual art dealing, the book comes to an admirably pragmatic thesis-namely that consumption cannot be reasonably curbed, but can be altered significantly to propel development while becoming more environmentally responsible. Novel and potentially effective proposals are made (such as a campaign-along the lines of nutrition labels found on food-that would make consumers aware of the environmental impact of various products), but not explored to a satisfactory degree. Much of the material should be of wide interest, but it is hampered by dry language and meandering arguments. And despite its wide-ranging cultural references and explanations of such basics as the periodic table, the book is not always friendly to lay readers, occasionally resorting to abstruse academic jargon. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved Saleem H. Ali is professor of environmental studies at the University of Vermont and serves on the adjunct faculty of the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. He was chosen in 2007 by Seed magazine as one of eight |
