Tomorrow's Biodiversity

by Vandana Shiva

It is received wisdom for today's politicians and scientists that the only way to produce enough food for a growing global population is to clear and claim more land for agriculture, to specialize in certain high-yield crops, and to utilize every chemical and technological aid, including genetic engineering, to promote growth. This is also highly profitable for the multinational companies who produce the fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs for agribusiness. For Vandana Shiva, this is a recipe for disaster. A world in which nature's own abundance--the infinite variety of species, or "biodiversity"--is allowed full range is the only world that can offer either hope or safety. Over-dependence on a limited number of crops is unwise. Genetic engineering may bring with it hazards impossible to predict and impossible to reverse. Among the most obvious of the sad consequences of biotechnology in the West is the threat to so many songbird species, but there are other less apparent dangers in depleting the diversity of the gene pool, most important the loss of genetic material to help sustain the complex environmental balance of our planet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Ecology, Science, Environment, Philosophy, Food

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

A major figurehead of the alter-globalization movement as well as a major role player in global Ecofeminism, Dr. Vandana Shiva is recipient to several awards for her services in human rights, ecology and conservation. Receiving her Ph.D in physics at the University of Western Ontario in 1978, Dr. Vandana Shivas attentions were quickly drawn towards ecological concerns.

Reviews

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biopiracy. That's right it does exist. Indigenous knowledge, as Vandana Shiva puts it, has been taken away from their rightful owners, the people. Scientists are creating "new" species of plants, even though they really are only guessing at what they really are doing, thus super weeds are created along with the draining of resources and livelihoods of small-time farmers the world over. Going organic is not just for the crunchy-granola crowd, it should be a way of life to embrace in order to save our own along with that of the earth's.

Guess I'm the first to rate this book too.

[Lisa Arrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and very informative. Great resource

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raramente desidero le mezze stelle, ma stavolta un 3.5 è meritato.
I concetti espressi non sono originali, ma ben presentati. Secondo me è un ottimo libro per chi si avvicina all'argomento, o una sorta di compendio per chi è già informato e vuole avere a disposizione un volume snello che tocchi i principali problemi cari a Vandana Shiva e ai suoi simpatizzanti.

Nel saggio vengono contrapposti i metodi di coltura occidentali a quelli tradizionali, soprattutto dell'India, ma anche di Africa e Sud America. Per quel che mi riguarda però il problema è principalmete culturale: il nord del mondo non è più in grado di immedesimarsi nella vita dell'emisfero sud e crede, non senza una certa arroganza, di poter esportare il proprio modo di vivere (qui in ambito agricolo) ovunque. Il sud ha molto da insegnare, soprattutto per quel che riguarda la protezione della biodiversità, e forse finalmente il primo mondo se ne sta accorgendo. Resta l'ingerenza delle aziende commerciali, quasi tutte USA. L'Unione Europea poi qualche piccolo passo per opporsi al bullismo americano l'ha fatto, e già questo è un buon punto.

[Lauren Minas · Rating 2 out of 5]

not a story just listing facts and was a hard read

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book offers a good outline of arguments against conventional western food production it loses points for the presentation of its arguments. Shiva condemns a wildly successful western-style food production system, but does not accept the burden of proof in her relatively simple arguments. Her point-of-view is extremely one-sided, offering no explanations for the existence of the status quo and no concessions for good aspects of the current system. Her arguments are often based on theoretical rather than actual problems. Many of her arguments appear to be based on only one study or a small number of studies. Those few studies are mostly just cited, not explained in the context of her arguments. As a result of these deficiencies, Shiva's arguments should be checked against other sources.

This book covers too much ground for 138 pages. In order to make a strong argument to a general audience, these topics would ideally be examined thoroughly in several volumes, at minimum. I am willing to agree with everything Shiva states, but I need more proof. And, I need more examination. I need her to explain to me the reasons for the existence of the current system that she tears apart.

This is the first book of Shiva's book that I have read. Most are rated will on Goodreads. I intend to read more, and I hope that I am not as disappointed with her other books as I am with this one.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly technical, unfortunately, but highly recommended to anyone that can take it, especially anyone interested in genetically modified food. Very compelling.