State of the World 2006: Special Focus: China and India

There's really not very much to say about this book, except that every single human being who knows how to read should read it. Some of its contents are positive, much of it is negative, but everything is equally important to know. This world of ours deserves a better fate than being utterly destroyed by the human race. However, this nasty possibillity is approaching extremely fast, and unless people start reacting to the issues at stake we're all doomed. This book will not save the world, but if there's one book that can really make a difference, then this is the one. So go get it. As fast as you can. You owe it to the world.

It seems overwhelming. Resources are being squandered, damage is extensive and accelerating. "State of the world 2006" focuses on a few areas of concern, any one of which poses a substantial risk: quickly developing countries (with developed countries already having heavily damaged the world), the meat industry, fresh water supplies, alternatives to oils, possible impacts of nanotechnolog and mercury. The impact of disasters, the implications of sustainability upon trade, and the role of corporations are also explored. Enough is presented to be frightening. Can each of these aress, as well as the many others that may not be sustaniable, can be effectively handled before serious crises occur? As with global warming, it seems that very serious crises are already well underway. This book references the 2005 Millenium Ecosystem Assessment work of the World Health Organization. Downloads of much of this work are available. At it own web site, the Worldwatch Institure has more information including downloads. Many of us are or tend to be contributors to the damage of the world. It's easy to be distracted by other problems and not address this. It's easy to think of the small impact of what just one of us does without considering the impact of billions. It seems overwhelming so it's good that an organization like the Worldwatch Institure keep it in front of us. Soon the world may be keeping it in front of us or our children even when we don't want it to. I feel rather helpless about it. Knowing more about it, as with this book, is a first step, however.

The State of the World Series has always been a source of well-documented research of our planetary path to sustainability. This yearly report contains valuable insight to many of today's more pressing environmental problems. In particular the 2006 edition has a chapter devoted to water issues, superbly written and documented by Sandra Postel one of the foremost voices on these matters. I also liked the chapter dedicated to the meat industry, right on time for the developing crisis on avian flu.