Far from paradise : the story of man's impact on the environment / John Seymour, Herbert Girardet.

"Our society is at a turning point in its development. The contrast between rich and poor countries has never been more sharply defined. Modern farming techniques have allowed people in the West to increase food production dramatically in the last few decades and raise their standards of living ever higher. In the Third World, however, we are still surrounded by appalling poverty and famine. The problems of the Third World are well documented: deforestation, soil erosion, desert encroachment, all leading to a crisis of survival. Ironically, in the West the very methods of food production which have cushioned us from such problems in recent years are now pointing us towards a similar crisis. Heavy and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides can cause drastic pollution of soil, air and water. Combined with industrial emissions, the destructive consequences are becoming increasingly apparent. This book, which accompanies a seven-part television series, sets the present environmental and food crisis in the wider context of cultural evolution. It tells the story of mankind's relationship with the land from the earliest days to the present. It looks at the first known locations of farming in the Middle East and traces the effects of farming through the ages on the landscapes of many countries including Crete, Greece, Italy and North Africa. The book focuses mainly on the changes that have taken place since the Second World War and provides a lively discussion of the financial and environmental costs of the progress that has taken place. What exactly are the effects of the introduction of chemicals to the environment? What are the costs to the natural world and the stability of the ecosystems around the globe? Far From Paradise argues persuasively that technological solutions are not the answer and that we should consider adopting a more biological form of land use which could sustain us indefinitely." -- Provided by publisher.