A review of Betrayal of Science and Reason: How Anti-Environmental Rhetoric Threatens Our Future by Paul and Anne Ehrlich, Island Press, 1996, 335 pages.
Reviewed by Jim Norton
This book is the perfect antidote to the anti-environmental and anti-science myths found in books such as Trashing the Planet, Eco-Sanity, and Eco-Scam.
Chapter 1 "A personal Odyssey" explains how the Ehrlichs became environmental activists.
Chapter 2, "'Wise-Use' and Environmental Anti-Science" is a look at the groups behind the brownlash.
Chapter 3, "In Defense of Science" takes a look at the methods of science, and how science relates to the backlash movement.
In chapter 4, "The Good News. . .in perspective" The Ehrlichs note that there is much good news on the environment, but they also explain why more needs to be done.
Chapters 5 through 10 are the heart of the book. Using example after example of statements from brownlashers, they dissect fables about population, food, non-living resources, biological diversity, the endangered species act, global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, toxic substances, and economics and the environment. For example, they note economist Julian Simon's statement the population growth can continue for the next 7 billion years. The Ehrlichs show that even with a growth rate one million times smaller than the current one, after 7 billion years the mass of people would exceed the mass of the universe.
Chapter 11, "Faulty Transmissions", is a look at how fables start and spread.
Chapter 12, "How Can Good Science Become Good Policy?", is primarily directed at other scientists, but it also has advice for non-scientists. It describes the steps that can be taken to increase environmental awareness and counter the backlash.
Chapter 13 "One Planet, One Experiment", is a recap of the environmental problems facing the planet.
Appendix A, "Brownlash Literature" is a review of several recent anti-environmental books. Most of this section is devoted to an appraisal of Gregg Easterbrook's widely praised A Moment on the Earth: The Coming Age of Environmental Optimism. The Ehrlichs state that "Moment is a melange of truth, important factual errors, silly mistakes, pop philosophy, and attacks on straw men."
Appendix B, "The Scientific Consensus", includes two statements urging environmental protection. The first was made by fifty-eight of the world's scientific academies. The second, "The World's Scientists Warning to Humanity"., has been signed by 1,575 scientists.
A must read for everyone who cares about the environment.
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Reviewed by Jim Norton
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