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Earth Report 2000: Revisiting the True State of the Planet Paperback – October 29, 1999

by Ronald Bailey (Editor)

3.5 11 ratings

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Takes a close-up, objective look at the ecological health of planet Earth at the new millennium, offering ten scholarly essays on a wide range of environmental and health-related issues

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

McGraw-Hill
Publication date

October 29, 1999
Dimensions

7.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0071342605
ISBN-13

978-0071342605
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3.5 out of 5

11 global ratings

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Jeremy G. Snyder

Indur Goklany

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2006

I haven't actually read this book I admit, but I wanted to address a few things that the detractors have in mind. First, big government actually harms the environment. Public ownership of lands takes away the private conservation that could otherwise occur. Price floors in the economy are another good example of government waste, as price ceilings take away from the conservation efforts of consumers and price floors create excess supplies, which eventually go to waste, forcing producers to produce even more, which is more taxing on the environment than producing and selling without price floors. Property rights also create incentives for keeping forests clean, as privately owned forests almost never burn due to their owners clearing underbrush and taking personal responsibility for them, as even loggers take care of, set limits on cutting down, and replant land that they privately own moreso than those loggers on private land. Another problem with government is that it catters to conflicting interests. Suppose someone invented a kind of solar power technology that was cost-efficient, capable of massive abundance of energy use, didn't have any emmission whatsoever, but was capable of killing hundreds of people a year, due to misuse or accidents. Government would likely outlaw it even though the technology would stop global warming and potentially save far more lives in the process. The "consumer advocates" get their way instead. The welfare state is another problem as it tends to produce irresponsible breeding due to an unending supply of funds for people. Many people on welfare stopped having so many children after President Clinto himself proposed reform. Also, increased technology in the marketplace and freedomt to try new products creates parenthood planning technologies like condoms, birth control, etc. which have helped slow down and in some cases diminish population in some parts of the world. But THE GOVERNMENT. Well, in many places the government either bans or sets limits on the sale of things like birth control, such as here in the U.S. where you need to get a prescription from a doctor before you can order it. Restrictions on International Trade also prevent cleaner, more environmentally-safe products from being accessed by many people as well. And if you think that government decreased toxing being pumped into the air, well read Idur Goklany's "Clearing the Air" and while you're at it, read "Eco-Nomics" by Richard Stroup. Market Solutions and property rights have always helped out the Environment more such as when Defenders of Wildlife applied the tenets of free market environmentalism to its wolf compensation program, or when World Wildlife Federation had successfully launched the CAMPFIRE program in southern Africa to reward native villagers who conserve elephants or when the Oregon Water Trust uses water markets to purchase or lease water for salmon and steelhead habitats. As for other things, well there is the emerging field of biotechnology, which itself has many environmentally good applications.

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Larry Jaques

Just Buy It. It'll Optimistically Open Your Eyes.

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

I've been a skeptic of global warming and other myths for a long time now, and this book reconfirms my skepticism while increasing my optimism. I have also been an environmentalist (not like today's vicious freaks) since the early '70s. I live a small footprint and strive to help others do the same. Let's get rid of the Chicken Littles and get on with cleaning up our act (and the world) in a sane, frugal, and orderly fashion. This book is a great start in that direction and I hope many, many people read it.

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John Sheerin

The closer I get the less I see.

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2000

When the authors get close to something I am very familiar with, like the recycling rates, the presented "facts" fall apart. This causes me to question the book. Also, the authors must be very embarassed by the current price of gasoline in the states, having asserted that we are immune to energy shocks. It is too easy, and often not very helpful, to say what we don't know and to call things into question. This paralyzing approach will not save endangered species, or improve our environment.

20 people found this helpful

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H. Bramlet

A different ideology but one to take into account

Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2001

TANSTAAFL - It's just that simple.
This acronym, meaning "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" is at the heart of this book- understanding and embracing it not as a phylosophy, but as a law of the universe.
Earth Report contributors understand that there is absolutely nothing in this world that comes without some cost. This understanding helps them make suggestions that encourage using laws of supply and demand to improve our economy.
Overfishing: There is always a cost to fishing. When no one is responsible for absorbing the costs of fishing, the cost is in the fish resources- populations of fish dwindle and we run out of the supply. But if someone has a vested interest in a fishing area, they can pass the cost onto the human economy. Their profits ensure that the area remains sustainable. Healthy fish need a healthy environment. Would you let someone dump toxic waste into your private fishery? Of course not.
Environment: This old topic has been hashed over again and again- usually with people arguing about whether or not humans are responsible for warming. But beyond this is the compelling argument of, "WHo Cares!" What is the cost of trying to stop HUMAN caused global warming? Huge. But we know that in the past, the earth has warmed even more without our help. If we pay the cost to stop human global warming, and natural global warming (or even worse- cooling) occurs, will our crippled economy be able to handle it? Most likely not. There is a real and dangerous cost to limiting our economy- one that this book points out when comparing the affects of natural disasters on robust economies versus weak ones. Any guess which one is more apt to deal with natural disasters?
This book is one sided, and presents one point of view. Read it along with the other information out there and I think you will be well on your way to forming your own opinions.

16 people found this helpful

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Earth Report 2000: Revisiting the True State of the Planet Paperback – October 29, 1999

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