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Classic economic considerations applied to the crucial urban problems of poverty, racial segregation, urban renewal, transportation, and education. ... Read more

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This book presents various approaches to the resolution of the severe water resource issues of the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian water conflicts. The authors include leading Palestinian and Israeli water experts who have worked together on joint research projects aimed at building up mutual understanding and respect. The studies consider the various approaches that could be used to improve cooperation and solve the problems arising from conflicting interests.

Customer Reviews (1)

The Stuff of Life
"Water is the stuff of life" as someone once said, and this book discusses the role of water in the Middle East- always an area of contention. This book is a series of papers presented at the 2nd Israeli-Palestinian International Conference on Water for Life. This is a rare example of Israeli-Palestinian cooperation and working in harmony on mutual problems. Areas of discussion are the geopolitical water problems of the region; the Jordan River and the Dead Sea; water trade and water markets; water importation; conflict resolution and co-operation; international water law; water resources management; the impact of climate change on the region; waste and wastewater technology in the Middle East.
This book has a number of graphs, charts and maps that show the data on water extraction, resources and usage. This kind of data is often difficult to find for this region, and is a welcome addition to this book.
This book is recommened for anyone interested in the water issues of the Middle East, or the Israel-Palestinian conflicts. As water resources become more scarce, it is encouraging to see the cooperation between these diverse populations to handle a common need. ... Read more

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Over recent years there has been an increasing awareness of therisks of locating hazardous industries near heavily populated,environmentally sensitive areas. This new awareness demands a novelapproach to safety planning for hazardous industries; one that looksat the problem from the point of view of integrated regional riskassessment which, besides the risks arising from natural events,should also include the risks arising from the processing plants,storage and the transportation of dangerous goods. Volume I of Integrated Regional Risk Assessment highlightsthe main procedures for the assessment of risks to health andenvironmental impacts from continuous emissions of pollutants intoair, water and soil under normal operating conditions.Volume II deals with the assessment of consequences ofaccidental releases, helping to answer such questions as:-What can go wrong?-What are the effects andconsequences?-How often will it happen?The mainprocedural steps are supported by relevant, internationally recognisedmethods of risk assessment. The book also reviews criteria andguidelines for the implementation of risk assessment and management atdifferent stages. Audience: Students, engineers, and scientists in charge ofdeveloping new methodologies for hazard analysis and risk assessment;practitioners of environmental protection; local and governmentalauthorities charged with implementing environmental risk impactprocedures and guidelines. ... Read more

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We've eaten Alar with our apples and PCBs with our fish, drunk arsenic with our water, breathed asbestos in our schools. Someone sounded the alarm, someone else said we were safe, and both had science on their side. Whom are we to trust? How are we to know? Amid this chaos of questions and conflicting information, Aaron Wildavsky arrives with just what the beleaguered citizen needs: a clear, fair, and factual look at how the rival claims of environmentalists and industrialists work, what they mean, and where to start sorting them out.

Working with his students at a risk analysis center, Wildavsky examined all the evidence behind the charges and countercharges in several controversial cases involving environmental health and public safety. Here he lays out these cases in terms an average citizen can understand, weighs the merits of the claims of various parties, and offers reasoned judgments on the government's response. From Love Canal to Times Beach, from DDT to Agent Orange, acid rain, and global warming, from saccharin to asbestos, nuclear waste, and radon, Wildavsky shows how we can achieve an informed understanding of the contentious environmental issues that confront us daily. The book supports the conclusion Wildavsky reached himself, both as a citizen committed to the welfare of the earth and its inhabitants, and as a social scientist concerned with how public policy is made: though it is bad to be harmed, it is worse to be harmed in the name of health.

Customer Reviews (6)

An important contribution to the debate over science and policy
This book is a refreshing corrective to the increasingly strident calls for government action on a range of issues from climate change to obesity.It asks the simple question 'But is it true?' and suggests that citizens inform themselves about the issues before reacting to media hype, overblown predictions of death and destruction and knee jerk policy reactions.

Dated, but brilliant
This is a brilliant book.While now dated, I seriously doubt that a new edition would do anything except reinforce its main conclusions.As to the claims of an earlier reviewer that "While some of the conclusions were warranted, most (including the overall points) were based on faulty analyses by an academic who had no training in the area upon which he expounds." The late Prof. Wildavsky, I am sure, would simply ask: "What is the evidence for your assertions?" "Are you sure you read the book?" "What is the book's title again?"
What is with the cult of the "specialist"?Are we all to be subjected to worldviews of agenda driven experts?Are the military the only ones who can speak on military matters?Politicians on politics?Economists on economics?What are we to do when specialists differ?How does a jury member think about dueling expert witnesses?If anything the entire book is a cautionary tale about how to listen to "experts".Prof. Wildavsky spent much of his life studying the making of public policy - which in many instances involves translating scientific findings into regulations and legislation.This book is informed by years of scrutinizing what experts assert and what the reality is.His views on risk, issues emanating from the precautionary principle and the actions of well-meaning and self-interested lobbyists are based on decades of involvement in public policy debates.Prof. Wildavsky's book does an excellent job alerting the average citizen to the "gray" areas on many public policy issues.

The sky is falling...or is it?
Aaron Wildavsky attemps (successfully in my opinion) to clarify a couple of things with this book.

#1Scientific theory plus emotion does not equal scientific fact.

#2Scientific theory plus consensus does not equal scientific fact.

The "Sky Is Falling" society will not like this book for obvious reasons (their own lack of objectivity being the biggest reason).

History has been riddled with so called "facts" that were accepted by the majority of scientists at the time, but consensus alone does not equate to proof.

Wildavsky's book is a good start - but the scientific community has a long road ahead when it comes to dealing with a general public that is largely ignorant of science.Environmentalists have a head start when it comes to winning the battle of public opinion - the scientific community must take books like Wildavsky's and "dumb it down" so that the average person with high school education or less can understand and make informed decisions.

A Reasoned Discussion of Environmental Issues
Wildavsky's book is a welcome addition to the discussion of environmental politics. He actually dares to challenge the received wisdom of environmental activists. I would have thought that a book that critically examines the claims of environmental dangers and uses scientific knowledge to do that would contribute to our understanding of threats to the environment. Clearly, there are extreme and varied claims for environmental dangers. "But Is It True" helps sort out the exaggerations from the real problems. It also does it in reasoned and unemotional language. I strongly reommend the book for anyone who is concerned about environmental issues rather than the rhetoric of activism.

A MUST Read!
This book is an essential tool for those who truly wish to understand more about environmental health and safety issues.Worried about global warming?Concerned about pesticide residues in food?Look no further thanthis reference.The author sets out to objectively evaluate environmentalhealth issues.All sides of a particular issue are explored in depth. Those that do not stand up to scientific scrutiny are exposed.At the endof the book, an explanation of how environmental issues get reported isaddressed.

One of the most important parts of this book is that theauthor challenges the reader to become a responsible citizen.His premiseis that becoming educated on these issues takes some work but is absolutelynecessary in order to have thebackground to make informed decisions aboutimportant environmental issues.

The book is extensively researched andreferenced. It provides a greal deal of information on a variety ofsubjects from toxic scares to global warming.Although the informationpresented is technical, the authors do a comendable job of organizing theinformation into a readily understandable format.

Absolutely a must readfor anyone concerned about the environment. ... Read more

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A description of the five key research areas to be addressed by the Program for Measuring Incremental Costs for the Environment (PRINCE). The paper outlines incremental cost concepts, operational interpretations, national climate change studies, country studies on ozone protection, and more. ... Read more

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Small may be beautiful, but small island states have a big problem – the environmental consequences of climate change. Emanating from research at the University of Mauritius and with contributions from a wide range of experts, Saving Small Island States introduces and explains the key environmental policy challenges and suggested responses to them.

The book is divided into five sections. Section one provides a theoretical analysis of the issues and concepts. Section two presents four previously published but highly influential papers, which have set the terms of much of the debate on these issues. Section three uses case studies to examine the policy instruments and approaches adopted by small states. Section four looks at environmental policies in action and examines the position of small island states in the world trade arena. The final part explores the global dimensions of environmental management.

Designed particularly to assist the new generation of environmental and natural resource managers in small island states, it will also assist current government policy-makers, as well as academics and students in the fields of public policy and environmental and natural resource management more widely. ... Read more

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A significant consequence of the development of natural landscapes is habitat loss and fragmentation that results in widespread loss of biological diversity. While scientists have made great strides in determining principles and concepts fundamental to preserving biodiversity, their work will have little impact unless it is understood and implemented by those who are making on-the-ground decisions about land use.

Planning for Biodiversity provides an accessible introduction to ecological concepts for planning professionals and students. Sheila Peck explains why planners should be concerned with habitat preservation and presents practical approaches to incorporating conservation principles into planning efforts. The book.

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Environmental assessment and management involve the production of scientific knowledge and its use in decision-making processes. The result is that within these essentially rational, political assessment frameworks, experts are creating and applying scientific knowledge for decision and management purposes that actually have strong ethical and aesthetic dimensions. Yet these rational political frameworks lack the tools to provide guidance on ethical and aesthetic issues that affect the wider public.

This revolutionary work argues that ethical and aesthetic dimensions can only be brought into environmental politics and policies by citizens actively taking a stand on the specific matters in question. The author draws on Habermas’ trisection of rationality as cognitive-instrumental, moral-practical and aesthetic-expressive, to suggest that truly effective environmental policy needs to activate all three approaches and not favor only the rational. To achieve this objective, the author argues that public participation in environmental policy and assessment is necessary to counteract the dictatorship of technical and economic instrumentality in environmental policy—the failure to take ethical and aesthetic rationalities into account—and, more importantly, how such policy is applied on the ground to shape our natural and material world.
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A public meeting with angry residents and eager reporters is a common feature on the local news. Whether addressing environmental, or other issues, the experience for the board members, consultants, and specialists at these meetings ranges from uncomfortable to nightmarish. The issues discussed in these meetings usually stem from years of community disappointment, mistrust, fears, factions, political or social positioning, or all of the above. Industry faces a labyrinth of environmental and business regulations, and unique challenges in dealing with the public and the media. Environmental Risk Communication serves as a guide to understanding and complying with the Federal Risk Management Program and applying risk management and communication principles to daily plant operations. This book also helps Risk Management Plan (RMP) facilities successfully meet the new Federal requirements for public disclosure of RMP offsite consequence analysis results and provides techniques for communicating effectively during environmental emergencies.Written in a straight-forward, no-nonsense style the book presents concise informative chapters, flow diagrams, checklists, and a thorough index. The authors present step-by-step instruction on developing a principled plan of action that generates open communications. CEOs, Corporate Communications Specialists, Plant Managers, Environmental Compliance Supervisors, Health and Safety Officers, Environmental Scientists and Engineers, and Consultants will benefit from Environmental Risk Communication.Features ... Read more

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The countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore, all members of ASEAN, (The Association of South East Asian Nations), are all experiencing unprecedented economic growth and a rising political profile as they take their place in the international community. For the rest of the world to be able to understand the region and participate as knowledgeable and effective partners in its development, it is crucial that they develop an understanding of the major policy issues affecting the area. "New Challenges for ASEAN" brings together a collection of articles which deal with specific, contemporary issues and provide suggestions to policy makers and others where the challenges are and what avenues should be explored to promote increased cooperation with other nations. The contributors, all specialists in their fields, examine how the changing domestic, regional, and global environment has redefined ASEAN's policy focus and agenda.They focus on such "new" items as the environment and human rights, as well as the need to broaden the definition of what constitutes the region as the neighbouring states of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos show equal potential for change and growth. ASEAN has long been regarded as an inward-looking sub-regional organization, preoccupied with the domestic stability of its members and the management of intra-Southeast Asian problems. In order for it to cope with the rapid changes in the wider Asia-Pacific and international environment, it must, as is emphasized by all the contributors, adopt an out-ward looking posture and complex agenda, which will simultaneously underscore its growing interdependence with the outside world and its vulnerability to internal shifts. ... Read more

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This book is a collection of readings that explore environmental issues in Latin America and the Caribbean using natural science and social science methods. These papers demonstrate the value of interdisciplinary approaches to analyze and solve environmental problems. The essays are organized into five parts: conservation challenges; national policies, local communities, and rural development; market mechanisms for protecting public goods; public participation and environmental justice; and the effects of development policies on the environment.

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Scientists and policymakers have realized that localities are central to addressing the causes and consequences of global environmental change. The goal of the Human-Environment Regional Observatory project (HERO) was to develop the infrastructure necessary to monitor and understand the local dimensions of global change. This book presents the philosophy behind HERO, the methods used to put that philosophy into action, its results, and the lessons learned from the project. HERO used three strategies: it developed research protocols and data standards for collecting data; it built a web-based networking environment to help investigators share data, analyses and ideas from remote locations; and investigators field-tested these concepts by applying them in diverse biophysical and socioeconomic settings - central Massachusetts, central Pennsylvania, southwestern Kansas, and the US-Mexico border region of Arizona. The book highlights the unique focus of HERO regarding thinking and acting on complex, integrative, and interdisciplinary global change science at local scales, and is valuable for global change scientists. ... Read more

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The spectacular industrial and economic development of the twentieth century was  achieved at a considerable environmental cost. The increasingly precarious position of water, the most valuable of natural resources, reflects this trend. Today we have come to realise that concepts of sustainable development need to replace the antiquated belief that the environment in general, and natural resources in particular, are simply there for the taking. The responsible use of water, in which man profits from resources without endangering their future, should have precedence in any water policy. Regional Water System Management contains invited lectures presented by eminent authors to the international Seminar Regional Water Management. Water Conservation, Water Supply, Systems Integration held in Valencia (Spain) in 2002. The publication provides a general overview of  basic water management principles for the twenty-first century and will be of interest to those studying water conservation, as well as professionals already in the field.

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This digital document is an article from Endangered Species Update, published by University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources on September 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1317 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Region 5. (Regional News & Recovery Updates).
Author: Mark W. Clough
Publication: Endangered Species Update (Newsletter)
Date: September 1, 2001
Publisher: University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources
Volume: 18Issue: 5Page: S27(1)

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Product Description
This digital document is an article from Endangered Species Update, published by University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources on September 1, 2001. The length of the article is 506 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Region 1. (Regional News & Recovery Updates).
Author: LaRee Brosseau
Publication: Endangered Species Update (Newsletter)
Date: September 1, 2001
Publisher: University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources
Volume: 18Issue: 5Page: S26(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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This practical guide, written by a practitioner for practitioners, presents a coherent and straightforward how-to approach to the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) process.

Part I provides an overview of the aims, principles, advantages and problems of SEA as well as looking at key SEA regulations and their requirements. Part II examines the SEA process in considerable detail including setting the policy context, describing the baseline, identifying alternatives, predicting and evaluating impacts and using the SEA information in decision-making. Part III is devoted to assuring SEA quality with a discussion of resources and capacity building.

This new edition incorporates five years' worth of practical application of the SEA Directive and SEA practice more broadly. Additions and updates include

Employing a host of real-life case studies and examples, each chapter presents a range of techniques and discusses what the final product should look like. Appendices provide a wealth of additional information including text of the SEA Directive and the UNECE Protocol on SEA, and a 'toolkit' of SEA techniques.

The approach and techniques in Strategic Environmental Assessment in Action are useful for anyone carrying out or studying SEA at any level, from policy to programme, international to local, but particularly for practitioners responsible for implementing the SEA Directive. ... Read more