Bookshelf
Forest actionsEurope is the only place in the world where the total area of forested land is on the rise. Nonetheless, the level of biodiversity in European forests is actually falling, states Europe's forests - a campaign guide, newly published by A SEED Europe, an international environmental action group. The new guide is a wonderfully designed and structured book that examines several issues related to forests in Europe. The book explains, in an easy-to-read journalistic style, how the global timber industry works and how activists fight against it. The main message of the book is that it is not enough to preserve the total area of woods. What is needed is to preserve old forests with their "infinite web of life-forms," the book's definition for biodiversity - a term which has lost meaning in current discussions, the authors argue. Case studies from across Europe are presented. They include how public outrage stopped a World Bank project that would have posed a serious threat to Slovakia's forests and how demonstrations could lead to the improvement of a forest law in Bulgaria. The combination of well-researched facts and the enthusiastic commitment of the writers makes this book an excellent resource. Contact: A SEED Europe, P.O. Box 02066, 1090 AB Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Tel: (31-20) 668-2236. E-mail: aseedeur@antenna.nl. Website: http://www.antenna.nl/aseed.
GE-resistance catalogue
A SEED Europe recently published another publication entitled the Official Register of GE-Resistance, a directory for campaigning and activism against, and critical analysis of, genetic engineering. The register is designed to provide a resource for individuals and groups starting up campaigns on genetic engineering (GE) by introducing them to the network of campaigns already active against GE and enabling them to contact "GE-resistant" individuals and organisations for the information and expertise they need. Focusing on Europe, the register also assists seasoned groups to broaden their campaigning area. "Certified GE-tolerant" international governmental organisations/agencies, multinational genetic engineering companies, food processors, public relations firms and industrial lobby associations are listed, as are print and web information sources related to GE. To order, see contact information in the item above.
Casus belli: Water
Spreading water shortages threaten to reduce the global food supply by more than 10 percent. If ignored, these shortages could lead to hunger, civil unrest and even wars over water, reports a new book from the U.S.-based Worldwatch Institute. Irrigation accounts for two-thirds of global water use and some 40 percent of the world's food comes from irrigated cropland, notes Sandra Postel, author of Pillar of Sand: Can the Irrigation Miracle Last? Postel emphasises the historical lesson that most irrigation-based civilisations of the past have failed. With population currently growing rapidly, the number of people living in water-stressed countries is projected to climb from 470 million to three billion by 2025, the study notes. Many countries already do not have enough water to meet domestic demands for food, creating a source of potential political instability. Contact: The Worldwatch Institute, 1776 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Tel: (1-202) 452-1999. Fax: (1-202) 296-7365. E-mail: worldwatch@worldwatch.org. Website: http://www.worldwatch.org.
