http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and…

All too often we are presented with a false choice between the economy and the environment. This situation seems to occur because economics is primarily concerned with the short term, and measures designed to protect the environment are seen to immediately hinder economic growth (another falsehood according to Paul Hawken). The problem is that sooner or later, damaging the environment to a great enough degree will disrupt economies in many ways. Eventually, the economic disadvantage will be far greater than if action had simply been taken in the first place. As this article shows, certain economies are now starting to feel the economic effects of environmental degradation.

The most important issue raised here, I feel, is the seeming inability of our political institutions to deliver the strong environmental protection we so desperately need, in the face of opposition by a small number of powerful lobbyists.

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/

Colin Beavan (a.k.a No Impact Man) dedicated a year of his life to trying to reduce his environmental impact to zero. He stopped taking taxis, trains and elevators, only ate food grown within 250 miles of his home, left the power grid, stopped buying anything new and stopped making trash.

His inspiring book and blog follow his adventures, and attempt to distill from them a way for humanity to move forward without destroying the environment. No Impact Man’s approach is interesting as it focuses both inward and outward, calling into question the materialistic, wasteful and inefficient way we live our lives. He questions why we work so hard to buy things, when surely spending time with out friends and family will in fact bring us more happiness. This book is crammed full of interesting and surprising facts and figures, but is approachable enough to make a introduction to serious environmental issues.