Eco-facts and Eco-fiction: Understanding the Environmental Debate

By William H. Baarschers

Ozone-friendly, recyclable, zero-waste, elimination of toxic chemicals - such environmental ideals are believed to offer solutions to the environmental crisis. Where do these ideals come from? Is the environmental debate communicating the right problems?
Eco-Facts and Eco-Fiction examines serious errors in perceptions about human and environmental health. Drawing on a wealth of everyday examples of local and global concerns, the author explains basic concepts and observations relating to the environment. Removing fear of science and technology and eliminating wrong perceptions lead to a more informed understanding of the environment as a science, a philosophy, and a lifestyle.
By revealing the flaws in today's environmental vocabulary, this book stresses the urgent need for a common language in the environmental debate. Such a common language encourages the effective communication between environmental science and environmental decision-making that is essential for finding solutions to environmental problems.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415130212
• ISBN13: 9780415130219
• Release Date: May 1996
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.5" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

Sorting facts from fantasies

A retired professor of chemistry at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, the author is also well versed in occupational safety and health. He applies deep and broad knowledge to a number of environmental topics. With clear-minded appreciation for the big picture, his book is balanced, deliberate, educational, and readable. It aims to teach readers how to understand "traps, tricks, and tips of the environmental language." A smattering of points: ? Plants and animals are made of chemicals, water is a chemical, and the air we breathe is a mix of chemicals. A living organism is a system of interacting chemicals. ? Many natural carcinogens occur in food, not in trace amounts like picograms or parts per billion. They occur in gram quantities. Since humans have consumed these for centuries, the conclusion that carcinogenic chemicals are an intrinsic part of the natural environment is inescapable. ? The known number of naturally occurring chemicals that contain chlorine, iodine, bromine, or fluorine in their molecular makeup is now close to 2,000. ? It is important to recognize not only the capabilities of science, but also is limitations. Pseudo-science is characterized by claims of effects caused by an agent of barely detectable intensity, reliant on great accuracy of measurement. This book renders public service by shedding light on why some environmental scares are deservedly en route to oblivion.

Balance & Perspective with Humour

There seems to be so much written about the extreme dangers to which we face each and every day. It would appear that at every turn, the environment is ready to take away the remainder of our lives, and like a predator requires our serious intervention. This type of propaganda has been quite rampant for at least a decade before the publishing of this work. So, while the title is quite sympathetic to the problem of biased reporting, it also provides a balance to what the "lay-ear" hears each and every day. There are other published works that handle the topics, but the difference here is largely one of credentials. Dr. Baarschers claim to fame is not as a populariser of science, but as a seasoned researcher and instructor in Chemistry. Furthermore, the work has been written at the end of an impressive career - it is not meant to make a career for someone. Having laboured under the yoke of trying to make Chemistry a sensible topic to the young adult mind, his pedagogical experience makes it possible to read the science, and have it make sense. Certainly not to be confused with a textbook on Chemistry, I think that the issues themselves are framed such that the average reader can certainly experience a deeper understanding, and with that, an appreciation for the difficulties that we have with environmental reporting.

Objective review of environmental issues

I use this as one of my texts in E100 Environment and People. It presents a balanced approach to show there are problems, but all is not doom and gloom. I hope the author will consider updating frequently to include newer issues as they arise. I developed several questions for each chapter for the students to answer.

Objective review of environmental issues

I use this as one of my texts in E100 Environmenta and People. It presents a balanced approach to show there are problems, but all is not doom and gloom. I hope the author will consider updating frequently to include newer issues as they arise. I developed several questions for each chapter for the students to answer.