Customer Reviews

NEW RESOURCE WARS

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Al Gedicks' The New Resource Wars is an insightful read on the new threats facing Native lands. Gedick delivers extensive research as well as first-hand accounts from the battles with multinational corporations to prevent them from plundering the homes and land where indigenous peoples have settled. The only criticism I would level on the book is the way it's organized.

What I valued the most from reading this book, is when these resource wars were analyzed in a broader light (putting on the old wide angle lens). The wide-angle views really struck a cord and provided the motive and reason why more and more of these resource wars are breaking out all over the world. In a nutshell, the lands indigenous people have settled or in the case of North America been given by treaty hold some of the largest remaining mineral deposits.

Using case studies such as the Chippewa's battle with Exxon, the book makes a strong argue that environmentalists and indigenous people want the same outcome. This outcome simply being the preservation of natural resources. An alliance, however, doesn't come without some baggage. With Gedick's personal involvement in alliances between environmental and indigenous groups, he spells out the ups and downs of the relationship.

At the end of the day, its clear that combining the legal, political, and research activities of both groups is essential to gaining the high-ground over giant energy corporations that are fixed on exploiting our natural world in exchange for a one time monetary profit.