Ecocide : a short history of mass extinction of species / Franz J. Broswimmer.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"At the dawn of the 21st century, it is clear that changes of enormous ecological significance are occuring on our planet. The ozone layer is beginning to disintegrate. Since 1970 the world's forests have almost halved. A quarter of the world's fish have been depleted. We live in an age of ecocide. Seven out of ten biologists believe the world is now in the midst of the fastest mass extinction of species in the 4.5 billion-year history of the planet. Biodiversity loss is rated as a more serious environmental problem than the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, or pollution. How have we come to be in this situation, and what can be done to conserve our environment for the future? Ecocide: A Short History of the Mass Extinction of Species examines the facts behind the figures to offer a disturbing account of the ecological impact that the human species has on the planet. Research specialist Franz Broswimmer shows how we are wilfully destroying our world. Highlighting important countermovements who are working for ecological democracy, this unique book is essential for anyone who cares about conserving our environment for the future."--Publisher's description.

Introduction -- Problem ; Why bother? ; Etiology of ecocide ; chapter outline -- Part I : Human odyssey : from biological to cultural evolution -- Beginnings ; From tree shrews to primates ; Fire use and dietary changes ; Rise of modern humans ; Megafauna extinction ; Pivotal role of language -- Part II : Problematic society--nature relations before the modern era -- Neolithic revolution ; Ecological blunders of antiquity : Mesopotamians, Southwest Asia : 3700 BCE to 1600 BCE ; Greeks, Mediterranean : 770 BCE to 30 BCE ; Romans, Mediterranean : 500 BCE to 500 CE ; Chaco Anasazi, Northwestern New Mexico : 700 CE to 1300 CE ; Mayas, Mesoamerica : 200 CE to 900 CE ; Easter Islanders, Rapa Nui : 700 CE to 1700 CE -- Part III : Modern assault on nature : the making of ecocide -- Capitalist system : a brief historical and sociological overview ; Rise of scientific and technological thinking ; Capitalist ethos : ecological and social values ; Social and ecological implications of the Columbian exchange ; Enslavement of land and nature ; Early modern fur trade ; Mass slaughter of the North American bison ; Rise of commercial whaling -- Part IV : Planet as sacrifice zone -- Enclosure of the commons : a global phenomenon ; Industrial Revolution ; Ecology and modern warfare ; Ecocide and modern warfare ; Planet as national sacrifice zone ; Planet as demographic sacrifice zone -- Part V : Ecocide and globalization -- Impact of globalism ; Poverty and ecocide ; Terminal grand buffet? ; Ecocide and the global treadmill of production ; Failure of environmental education ; Ideological turn ; Currents of ecological democracy ; Imperatives of ecological democracy ; Envisioning an equitable global commons -- Epilogue : Living in the age of ecocide.

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