The North American Mosaic

The North American Mosaic
Author: Commission for Environmental Cooperation (Montréal, Québec). Secretariat
Publisher:
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2001
Genre: Agriculture
ISBN:

The North American Mosaic has four overarching features. First, it is, to the extent feasible, based on comparable information on the status and trends of major indicators of the state of the environment in Canada,Mexico, and the United States. Second, the report confirms that these three countries together make up an incredibly complex, dynamic, and interconnected ecosystem in which humans play a dominant and decisive role. Third, the report raises important and sometimes disquieting questions concerning the sustainability of some current trends. Finally, the report is a reminder that our economic, social, and physical well-being are utterly dependent on the life-sustaining services provided by nature. This report emphasizes the importance of developing mutually compatible economic, social, and environmental goals and policies across the three-country region.

Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle
Author: William McDonough
Publisher: North Point Press
Total Pages: 207
Release: 2010-03-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1429973846

A manifesto for a radically different philosophy and practice of manufacture and environmentalism "Reduce, reuse, recycle" urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. But as this provocative, visionary book argues, this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world? In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles, without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are). Elaborating their principles from experience (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, William McDonough and Michael Braungart make an exciting and viable case for change.

Global Environmental Constitutionalism

Global Environmental Constitutionalism
Author: James R. May
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 427
Release: 2015
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1107022258

Reflecting a global trend, scores of countries have affirmed that their citizens are entitled to healthy air, water, and land and that their constitution should guarantee certain environmental rights. This book examines the increasing recognition that the environment is a proper subject for protection in constitutional texts and for vindication by constitutional courts. This phenomenon, which the authors call environmental constitutionalism, represents the confluence of constitutional law, international law, human rights, and environmental law. National apex and constitutional courts are exhibiting a growing interest in environmental rights, and as courts become more aware of what their peers are doing, this momentum is likely to increase. This book explains why such provisions came into being, how they are expressed, and the extent to which they have been, and might be, enforced judicially. It is a singular resource for evaluating the content of and hope for constitutional environmental rights.

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi
Author: Dennis Dalton
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2012-02-21
Genre: History
ISBN: 0231530390

Dennis Dalton's classic account of Gandhi's political and intellectual development focuses on the leader's two signal triumphs: the civil disobedience movement (or salt satyagraha) of 1930 and the Calcutta fast of 1947. Dalton clearly demonstrates how Gandhi's lifelong career in national politics gave him the opportunity to develop and refine his ideals. He then concludes with a comparison of Gandhi's methods and the strategies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, drawing a fascinating juxtaposition that enriches the biography of all three figures and asserts Gandhi's relevance to the study of race and political leadership in America. Dalton situates Gandhi within the "clash of civilizations" debate, identifying the implications of his work on continuing nonviolent protests. He also extensively reviews Gandhian studies and adds a detailed chronology of events in Gandhi's life.

Water Reuse

Water Reuse
Author: Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., an AECOM Company
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
Total Pages: 1610
Release: 2007-02-05
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0071508775

An Integrated Approach to Managing the World's Water Resources Water Reuse: Issues, Technologies, and Applications equips water/wastewater students, engineers, scientists, and professionals with a definitive account of the latest water reclamation, recycling, and reuse theory and practice. This landmark textbook presents an integrated approach to all aspects of water reuse _ from public health protection to water quality criteria and regulations to advanced technology to implementation issues. Filled with over 500 detailed illustrations and photographs, Water Reuse: Issues, Technology, and Applications features: In-depth coverage of cutting-edge water reclamation and reuse applications Current issues and developments in public health and environmental protection criteria, regulations, and risk management Review of current advanced treatment technologies, new developments, and practices Special emphasis on process reliability and multiple barrier concepts approach Consideration of satellite and decentralized water reuse facilities Consideration of planning and public participation of water reuse Inside This Landmark Water/Wastewater Management Tool • Water Reuse: An Introduction • Health and Environmental Concerns in Water Reuse • Technologies and Systems for Water Reclamation and Reuse • Water Reuse Applications • Implementing Water Reuse

Biological Wastewater Treatment

Biological Wastewater Treatment
Author: Mogens Henze
Publisher: IWA Publishing (International Water Assoc)
Total Pages: 170
Release: 1881
Genre: Science
ISBN:

For information on the online course in Biological Wastewater Treatment from UNESCO-IHE, visit: http://www.iwapublishing.co.uk/books/biological-wastewater-treatment-online-course-principles-modeling-and-design Over the past twenty years, the knowledge and understanding of wastewater treatment have advanced extensively and moved away from empirically-based approaches to a first principles approach embracing chemistry, microbiology, physical and bioprocess engineering, and mathematics. Many of these advances have matured to the degree that they have been codified into mathematical models for simulation with computers. For a new generation of young scientists and engineers entering the wastewater treatment profession, the quantity, complexity and diversity of these new developments can be overwhelming, particularly in developing countries where access is not readily available to advanced level tertiary education courses in wastewater treatment. Biological Wastewater Treatment addresses this deficiency. It assembles and integrates the postgraduate course material of a dozen or so professors from research groups around the world that have made significant contributions to the advances in wastewater treatment. The book forms part of an internet-based curriculum in biological wastewater treatment which also includes: Summarized lecture handouts of the topics covered in book Filmed lectures by the author professors Tutorial exercises for students self-learning Upon completion of this curriculum the modern approach of modelling and simulation to wastewater treatment plant design and operation, be it activated sludge, biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal, secondary settling tanks or biofilm systems, can be embraced with deeper insight, advanced knowledge and greater confidence.

Soil and Sediment Remediation

Soil and Sediment Remediation
Author: Piet Lens
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Total Pages: 545
Release: 2005-09-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1843391007

Soil and Sediment Remediation discusses in detail a whole set of remediative technologies currently available to minimise their impact. Technologies for the treatment of soils and sediments in-situ (landfarming, bioscreens, bioventing, nutrient injection, phytoremediation) and ex-situ (landfarming, bio-heap treatment, soil suspension reactor) will be discussed. The microbiological, process technological and socio-economical aspects of these technologies will be addressed. Special attention will be given to novel biotechnological processes that utilise sulfur cycle conversions, e.g. sulfur and heavy metal removal from soils. Also the potential of phytoremediation will be highlighted. In addition, treatment schemes for the clean-up of polluted megasites, e.g. harbours and Manufactured Gaswork Plants (MGP), will be elaborated. The aim of Soil and Sediment Remediation is to introduce the reader in: the biogeochemical characteristics of soil and sediments- new techniques to study soil/sediment processes (molecular probes, microelectrodes, NMR) clean up technologies for soils polluted with organic (PAH, NAPL, solvents) or inorganic (heavy metals) pollutants- preventative and remediative strategies and technologies available in environmental engineering novel process applications and bioreactor designs for bioremediation the impact of soil pollution on society and its economic importance.