Tuesday, August 07, 2007

"The world without us." A new book.

Thanks JDH for suggesting this book. This site has a few visual time-lines that illustrate the affects of time (without us).

8 comments:

LOSTbean said...

wow-looks very intriguing. i can't tell, however, if the author is saying it would be a good thing if humans just went away...seems as if we've trained the environment to "need" us, but that's not necessarily a good thing.

LOSTbean said...

the book MUST be popular...i went to my county's library web site and put a hold on the book-i am #115 in line.

Sawsee said...

I'll have to order it too. One of the timelines suggested that Mt. Rushmore would be one of the few symbols of human occupation, to exist after thousands of years.

Anonymous said...

I read an interview with the author, and he said the earth would be better off without us. Then he warmed to the idea of a few humans remaining. He then suggested that every couple in the world limit themselves to have only one child and the earth would fall back into balance.
JDH

Anonymous said...

Go to "about the book" and click on the text "some man-made molecules may be our most lasting gifts to the universe." Very insightful and very sad condition of polymers and plastics and how it is affecting our oceans and aquatic life and eventually us.
Thanks for finding this book's site. This book and Edward Burtynsky: A photographic essay are very powerful. We, as a people are reckless and foolish. An Environmental Responsibility and Awareness class should be taught in every school at every grade level.
JDH

Sawsee said...

I just read the excerpt about plastics and the use of minute plastic particles used in cosmetics & bath products. It's scary that these particles are being washed down the drains and mistakenly being confused as food by small sea creatures (krill). Recently, I saw a local article stating that the krill population was declining. This is a concern as the krill population is a major food source by other fish and sea creatures.

When I was in Greece and 'Yugoslavia' a number of years ago, the cruise ships would blatantly dump all their garbage into the sea as they were leaving port.

Anonymous said...

http://wip.warnerbros.com/11thhour/

Have heard of this documentary? Powerful message.
Do you think it is reversible? Do you think we as a people will be able to reverse it?
JDH

Sawsee said...

Unfortunately, most people vote with their wallets. It's not until we (as the public) start buying only environmentally responsible items will we ever see any change.

There are a few communities that promote the 100 mile diet. It's very hard to do but it does keep a lot of the money within the community and keeps the local farms operating.

In Canada, a lot of our food is trucked up to Winnipeg, from various parts of North and South America, to then be re-distributed. So, if I go down to my local Safeway, I'll buy tomatoes trucked up from California or Mexico. If I buy from our local farmer's market, I buy directly from the local farmer who has trucked their goods a maximum of 10 miles.