Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Environmental Issues, Expanded

by Easton, Thomas A.

• ISBN13: 9780073514437
• ISBN10: 0073514438
• Edition: 12th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-04-27
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin

Summary

This Expanded Twelfth Edition of TAKING SIDES: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES presents two additional current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Each issue is thoughtfully framed with an issue summary, an issue introduction, and a postscript. An instructor’s manual with testing material is available for each volume. USING TAKING SIDES IN THE CLASSROOM is also an excellent instructor resource with practical suggestions on incorporating this effective approach in the classroom. Each TAKING SIDES reader features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and is supported by our student website, www.mhcls.com/online.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Contents

Environmental Philosophy

Is the Precautionary Principle a Sound Basis for International Policy?

YES: 42230

“The Rise of the Precautionary Principle: A Social Movement Gathers Strength,” Multinational Monitor (September 2004)

NO: 42231

“The Perils of the Precautionary Principle: Lessons from the American and European Experience,” Heritage Lecture #818 (January 15, 2004)

communications director for the Science and Environmental Health Network, argues that because the precautionary principle "makes sense of uncertainty," it has gained broad international recognition as being crucial to environmental policy

dean of the Frederick

RAND Graduate School, argues that the precautionary principle is so subjective that it permits "precaution without principle" and threatens innovation and public and environmental health

It must therefore be used cautiously

Is Sustainable Development Compatible With Human Welfare?

Yes: 42235

“The European Dream: Building Sustainable Development in a Globally Connected World,”

No: 35687

“Wilting Greens,” Reason (December 2002)

president of the Foundation on Economic Trends, argues that Europeans pride themselves on their quality of life, and their emphasis on sustainable development promises to maintain that quality of life into the future

Environmental journalist Ronald Bailey states that sustainable development results in economic stagnation and threatens both the environment and the world’s poor

Should a Price Be Put on the Goods and Services Provided by the World’s Ecosystems?

Yes: 41805

“How Much Is Clean Water Worth?” National Wildlife (February/March 2005)

No: 32896

“Pricing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: The Never-Ending Story,” BioScience (April 2000)

argues that ecosystem services such as cleaning water, controlling floods, and pollinating crops have sufficient economic value to make it profitable to spend millions of dollars to protect natural systems

Professors of applied ecology

Leo contend that the pricing approach to valuing nature’s services is misleadingbecause it falsely implies that only economic values matter

Principles versus Politics

Is Biodiversity Overprotected?

Yes: 32897

“Regulating Biodiversity: Tragedy in the Political Commons,” Ideas on Liberty (September 2001)

NO: 35471

“Silenced Springs: Disappearing Birds,” Futurist (July/August 2003)

Professor of economics

Laband argues that the public demands excessive amounts of biodiversity largely because decision makers andvoters do not have to bear the costs of producing it

Wildlife conservation researcher and writer Howard Youth argues that the actions needed to protect biodiversity not only have economic benefits, but also are the same actions needed to ensure a sustainable future for humanity

Should Envir

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