Laurie Cosgrove

This provocative book brings together scholars and practitioners from many different disciplines. Philosopher and churchman, farmer and feminist, politician and agronomist-each considers environmental issues from a unique perspective. Part I explores the clash between the Western world's traditional belief in progress and development, and an emerging set of beliefs based on a new environmental ethic. Part II demonstrates that scientific knowledge is not always enough to solve an environmental problem-indeed, to a politician or a farmer, 'expert' knowledge may be less important than the attitudes of voters, consumers and the community; and Part III takes agricultural sustainability and the degradation of farming lands as a case study. The special concerns of the farming community and the practical difficulties imposed by the rural crisis are given due weight; and specific problems, such as salinity, are discussed in detail. To create a sustainable future, we must make a renewed attempt to define a human relationship with the spirit of the land. By drawing together authors with many different interests and backgrounds this book makes a valuable contribution to that dialogue. It will be of interest to all who are involved with land use and environmental decision-making, and to all readers who are concerned about Australia's future.