Ecocide: A Short History of the Mass Extinction of Species

by Franz J. Broswimmer

We live in an age of ecocide. Changes of enormous ecological significance are occurring 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.

70% of biologists believe the world is now in the midst of the fastest mass extinction of species in the planet's 4.5 billion-year history. Biodiversity loss is rated as a more serious environmental problem than the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, or pollution and contamination. How have we come to this, and what can be done to conserve our environment for the future?

Ecocide examines the facts behind the figures to offer a disturbing account of the ecological impact that the human species has on the planet. It 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.

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2002

Reviews

[Jerome · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good primer on the history of our current ecological crisis. Being much shorter than Clive Ponting's A Green History of the World is both its vice and virtue: the text itself is slightly over one-hundred pages, making it a great book to recommend to the uninitiated, but of course lacks the amount of detail of Ponting's work.

(One minor point of criticism, the typeface is slightly narrower than is standard, and the text seems like it was kerned a little too much. If found myself having to rest my eyes more frequently than normal.)

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Angry Brit telling like it is. Basically, we're fucked and it's our own fault.

See E. O. Wilson as to why loss of biodiversity is important and a generally more hopeful and somewhat more spiritual take on these matters.