. Renewal of Life by Transmission. The most notable distinction between living and inanimate things is that the former maintain themselves by renewal. A stone when struck resists. If its resistance is greater than the force of the blow struck, it remains outwardly unchanged. Otherwise, it is shattered into smaller bits. Never does the stone attempt to react in such a way that it may maintain itself against the blow, much less so as to render the blow a contributing factor to its own continued action. While the living thing may easily be crushed by superior force, it none the less tries to turn the energies which act upon it into means of its own further existence. If it cannot do so, it does not just split into smaller pieces (at least in the higher forms of life), but loses its identity as a living thing. As long as it endures, it struggles to use surrounding energies in its own behalf. It uses light, air, moisture, and the material of soil. To say that it uses them is to say that it turns them into means of its own conservation. As long as it is growing, the energy it expends in thus turning the environment to account is more than compensated for by the return it gets: it grows. Understanding the word "control" in this sense, it may be said that a living being is one that subjugates and controls for its own continued activity the energies that would otherwise use it up. Life is a self-renewing process through action upon the environment.

This book is unique in identifying and presenting tools to environmental decision-makers to help them improve the quality and clarity of their work. These tools range from software to policy approaches, and from environmental databases to focus groups. Equally of value to environmental managers, and students in environmental risk, policy, economics and law.

This title documents the burgeoning eco art movement from A to Z, presenting a panorama of artistic responses to environmental concerns, from Ant Farms anti-consumer antics in the 1970s to Marina Zurkows 2007 animation that anticipates the havoc wreaked upon the planet by global warming.

Environment and Development: Basic Principles, Human Activities, and Environmental Implications focuses on the adverse impact that human activities, developments, and economic growth have on both natural and inhabited environments. The book presents the associated problems, along with solutions that can be used to achieve a harmonic, sustainable development that provides for the co-existence of man and natural life. Chapters provide detailed information on a range of environments including: atmospheric, aquatic, soil, natural, urban, energy, and extraterrestrial, as well as the relationship between the environment and development. In addition, this comprehensive book presents the latest research findings and trends in global environmental policy for each issue. - Offers a discussion of the extraterrestrial environment and waste in earth orbit as one of the distinctive topics of the book - Addresses global environmental policy issues and policies - Presents tabulated data to support the analysis and explain the issues presented - Includes case studies covering many topics of current interest - Analyzes environmental issues and proposes solutions grounded in recent research findings - Discusses the various interpretations of the development concept as well as alternative pathways to sustainable development

This book compiles many different treatment options and best practices for the treatment and recycling of municipal solid waste from all over the globe, factoring in cost-effectiveness, sanitation, and environmental degradation. Important to professors, researchers, students, policymakers, and municipal offices, this informed book looks into innova

The destruction of the tropical forests continues rapidly. We all know that this has global, ecological and economic consequences. The problem is of such magnitude that it can only be compared to warfare. The destruction of tropical forests is both detrimental to the global ecology as well as posing a serious threat to the people living in these areas. Furthermore, the overutilization of such a valuable resource poses a serious threat to the next generations. Besides the problem generated for the people in these regions, and for the earth in general, there is a moral obligation to preserve the vast biological diversity in the tropical forests. We have a commitment to all species on earth as well as man and, therefore, need to preserve as many as possible, if not all. This book discusses the problem from different angles: from forestry, ecology and nature conservation. The two main problem areas are: first the wise utilization of that portion of the forest which will be used - especially the introduction of planned forestry in such areas and second the development of a good plan for nature conservation in the tropics.