Environmental Anthropology Engaging Ecotopia: Bioregionalism, Permaculture, and Ecovillages

by Joshua Lockyer (Editor)

In order to move global society towards a sustainable "ecotopia," solutions must be engaged in specific places and communities, and the authors here argue for re-orienting environmental anthropology from a problem-oriented towards a solutions-focused endeavor. Using case studies from around the world, the contributors-scholar-activists and activist-practitioners- examine the interrelationships between three prominent environmental social movements: bioregionalism, a worldview and political ecology that grounds environmental action and experience; permaculture, a design science for putting the bioregional vision into action; and ecovillages, the ever-dynamic settings for creating sustainable local cultures.

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Diana Liedloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing collection of essays! Would highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in sustainable development and alternative, regenerative and holistic ways of living.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be an excellent and readable collection of essays introducing multiple aspects and approaches for pursuing a sustainable future. Having met one of the editors, Joshua Lockyear, I expected a thorough and well documented presentation of the issues and practices. I was not disappointed. This book could easily be used as a general text for a university course or as an introduction for an individual or group of people exploring the topics and real options for adopting planet friendly practices without waiting for government solutions. The book is the work of scholars and will not be a quick read for the unitiated. It is instead an excellent combination of academic study and practical application.

[Ken Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of articles from the disciplines of anthropology and ethnobiology, this book provides an excellent way to gain an overview of bioregionalism, permaculture and ecovillage as they pertain the the overall challenge of sustainability. The editors provide a thoughtful introduction, and the collection closes with interesting insights into the unique challenges we face organizing new paradigms for human settlement in the context of capitalism and challenges of intentional communities.