Assessing biodiversity risks with socio-economic methods: The ALARM experience

How socio-economics contributes to analysing biodiversity loss problems: case studies and analyses.

ALARM stands for “Assessing LArge-scale environmental Risks for biodiversity with tested Methods”. It is an Integrated Project (IP) within the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission (for short ‘Commission’ or EC). The ultimate aim of the ALARM project is to develop and test methods and protocols for the assessment of large-scale environmental risks for biodiversity. To do so, ALARM had to integrate the research results
of more than 250 scientists from 68 institutions from 35 countries. Their analyses add to
constant scientific knowledge improvement and form the basis for policy recommendations, in an attempt to strengthen evidence based decision making on biodiversity relevant issues.
The challenge was how to integrate multiple disciplines, dimensions, perspectives, spatial and temporal scales, based on diverse knowledge sources, tools and methods, under the condition of prevailing uncertainty, high stakes and urgent decisions.

Assessing biodiversity risks with socio-economic methods: The ALARM experience, ISBN: 978-954-642-490-7
Rodriguez-Labajos, B/ Spangenberg, JH/ Maxim, L/ Martinez-Alier, J/ Binimelis, R/ Gallai, N/ Kuldna, P/ Monterroso, I/ Peterson, K/ Uustal, M( ED)
2009. Sofia-Moscow, 235x165 tables, graphs, In English.
Ppb, 364pp. Price EUR 58.

See: www.pensoft.net/search/first.htm

By Prof. John Scales Avery

Crisis 21 - Civilization's Crisis in the 21st Century

The aim of this book is to explore the links between the various
problems facing civilization today. Although the problems are well
known, it is useful to list them:

• THREATS TO THE ENVIRONMENT
• GROWING POPULATION, VANISHING RESOURCES
• THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS
• INTOLERABLE ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
• THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR WAR
• THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
• LIMITS TO GROWTH

The problems just mentioned are difficult and serious, but they all
have solutions. The aim of this book is to show how the challenges
facing civilization are interlinked and thus to throw some light on
the remedies.

The book can be ordered here: www.lulu.com/john189

You may download the 336-pages book as PDF for free: www.ccs.ki.ku.dk/~john/crisis21/csbk.pdf

Spangenberg, Joachim (ed.)

Sustainable Development – Past Conflicts and Future Challenges

Taking Stock of the Sustainability Discourse

2008, 292 S., € 34,90
ISBN: 978-3-89691-673-0

David Krieger and Richard Falk:

New Book - At the Nuclear Precipice:
Catastrophe or Transformation?

This book focuses on an even more urgent and "inconvenient truth" than global warming. At the nuclear precipice, humanity's choices are catastrophe or transformation. This book explores the present nuclear predicament, and how to step away from the precipice and assure humanity's future. It examines the intersections between international law and national policies; and between nuclear proliferation, nuclear terrorism and nuclear disarmament. The book offers a way out if policy makers of leading countries can summon the vision and political will to move in a new direction.

The book is edited by David Krieger and Richard Falk.

David Krieger is a founder of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, and has served as President of the Foundation since 1982. He has lectured throughout the United States, Europe and Asia on issues of peace, security, international law, and the abolition of nuclear weapons.  He is a councilor of the World Future Council and chair of the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility.

Richard Falk is Milbank Professor of International Law Emeritus at Princeton University and for the last six years has been a visiting professor at the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California. He is Chair of the Board of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and author of several books.

The contributing authors are leading scholars and activists in the nuclear disarmament movement, including Judge Christopher Weeramantry and Daniel Ellsberg.

David Krieger (Author), Richard Falk (Editor): At the Nuclear Precipice: Catastrophe or Transformation?
Paperback 316 pages. Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (October 14, 2008). ISBN 978-023-060-904-4

Available at Amazon.com

Professor John Scales Avery:

Energy, Resources, and the Long-Term Future

The world is rapidly approaching the end of the fossil fuel era. This timely book reviews the historical background for this crisis and provides a comprehensive discussion of its important aspects. It contrasts the Utopian writings of Condorcet, Godwin and Adam Smith, with the more pessimistic views of Malthus and Ricardo. It then discusses the characteristics of mainstream industrialism, as well as the ecological counterculture. The final chapters of the book study the present position regarding both non-renewable and renewable resources, and the problem of reducing the economic trauma that will result from the depletion of fossil fuels, especially the future impact of high petroleum prices on agriculture in relation to global population growth. Readers will gain an understanding of the dangers and opportunities of future developments in science, as well as the steps that must be taken to achieve a stable, sustainable global society.

Professor John Scales Avery (H C Ørsted Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark):
Energy, Resources and the Long-Term Future. World scientific, Jul 2007, ISBN 978-981-270-764-2

Available at Available at Amazon.com

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

The Sunflower is a monthly e-newsletter resource providing news, information and analysis on nuclear and international security issues.
www.wagingpeace.org/menu/resources/sunflower/

Selected publications by INES members

David Krieger speaks at World March for Peace, December 2009

David Krieger was the keynote speaker at a rally for the World March for Peace and Nonviolence in Los Angeles, CA, on December 2. The World March has gone through 35 countries on four continents over the past 60 days to demonstrate the world's strong desire for peace.

Dr. Krieger emphasized the continued need to work for peace and a nuclear weapons-free world.

Read a copy of his speech here: World March for Peace

Cover-up of Damages by Atomic Bombing and Severe Effects of Internal Exposure by Residual Radiation.

Present Situation of Atomic bomb Survivors and Estimation of Radiation Effects.
By Prof. Shoji Sawada, Physicist, survivor of atomic bombing, Emeritus Professor of Nagoya University, Representative director of the Japan Council against A&H Bombs (Gensuikyo)

Prof. Fernando de Souza Barros, Brazil
Current Trends in Nuclear Weapon Projects
held at the 56th Pugwash Conference, Cairo, Egypt, 11-15- November 2006
www.greens-efa.org/cms/default/dokbin/172/172570.pdf

Publications of INES partner organisations

INESAP

INESAP-Bulletin »

INESPE

University of Hamburg 15–17 October 2008

Documentation brochure.

Ethics and Peace. How to prepare studentsfor a responsible use of science and engineering. Dec 2008.

Download: Ethics_&_Peace_Brochure.pdf (6M)

Visit INESPE website: http://www.inespe.org

INESNET

Electronic Mail communication among INES members

by Johan Swahn
In order to develop the use of electronic communication within INES an e-mail discussion list with the name "INESNET" has been set up. There are almost 100 subscribers to the list which is used to distribute information about INES activities and as a discussion forum for INES members. An important function of the INESNET list is to distribute the "What's new in INES?" electronic newsletter.

To subscribe to the list go to the webpage:
https://lists.chalmers.se/mailman/listinfo/inesnet

Contact:
Dr. Johan Swahn
Institute of Physical Resource Theory
Chalmers and Göteborg University
41296 Göteborg, Sweden
Phone- +46-31-7723130, Fax +46-31-77231
e-mail: frtjsfychalmersse