Sea Change: Britain's Coastal Catastrophe

by Richard Girling

We have a special relationship with the sea. It is the single most powerful driver of our economy, our lifestyle, and our politics. It affects what we eat, how we use the land, how we relate to our neighbors, how we travel, and even the thickness of our coats. Yet we go on treating it, with childlike faith and unreason, as if we imagine it to be infinitely resourceful and endlessly forgiving. Sea Change addresses such issues as pollution by sewage, nuclear waste dumping at sea, extinction of fish stocks, destruction of the marine environment, impacts of climate change, coastal erosion, rising sea levels, the decline of our seaside resorts, the failure of the "integrated transport policy," and smuggling. In each case, crucial questions are posed. How did the situation arise? What are the consequences? What should be done, and what will happen when we fail? With a unique voice blending horror, humor, and "just fancy that," the author sifts for solutions in the sands, presenting arguments that are utterly compelling, entertaining, and inspirational.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jonathan Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book covering all aspects of our relationship with the sea.