Environmental Crisis or Crisis of Epistemology?

Bryant Bunyan, Ph.D. lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is a Professor of Sch

"Environmental Crisis" focuses on the ways of knowing that are at the very roots of unsustainability, "the crisis of crises" that threatens to end human civilization as we know it. Dr. Bryant as editor and lead author along with the other 8 chapter authors have thought critically and creatively about the dominant methods Western societies use in developing knowledge. These dominant epistemologies and their implementation have had positive impacts but also continue to have negative impacts that are increasingly exploiting and devastating the natural environment including people who are part of racial minorities and or economically poor. Readers will deepen their understanding of this aspect of the status quo in our culture and learn about urgently needed potential changes in our ways of knowing.” --James E. Crowfoot, PhD., Professor Emeritus of Natural Resources and Urban and Regional Planning and Dean Emeritus, School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan and former President of Antioch College.Dr. Bunyan Bryant--once again--has provided readers with a penetrating book which includes thoughtful analyses of seven distinct subject areas related to contemporary issues in environmental justice. "Environmental Crisis" is an ambitious undertaking that contextualizes and illuminates major barriers to applying and achieving appropriate scientific thinking and knowledge to environmental justice concerns, especially in the local, state and regional areas as well as on a national level. "Environmental Crisis" will be of special interest to environmental justice advocates, lawyers, academicians, public officials as well as those who are new to the ongoing debate pertaining to environmental justice. Given the excellent information provided in this volume, it is truly a must read. --Kwame A. Mark Freeman, PhD, Adjunct Professor, University of Massachusetts. Formerly Program Manager and Executive office for Environmental Affairs, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

• Table of Contents:CHAPTER 1: Environment, Science, and Culture, by Sylvia Tesh, Ph.D.CHAPTER 2: Looking Upstream Virginia, by Ashby Sharpe, Ph.D.CHAPTER 3: Environment Ethics and Environment Justice, by John Callewaert, Ph.D.CHAPTER 4: Power and Knowledge in Regulating American Indian Environments: The Trust Responsibility, Limited Sovereignty, and the Problem of Difference, by Darren J. Ranco, Ph.D.CHAPTER 5: Scientific Knowledge in the Context of Environmental Justice, by Mutambo Mpanya, Ph.D.CHAPTER 6: Knowledge Making as Intervention: The Academy and Social Change, by Angana P. Chatterji, Ph.D. and Richard Shapiro, Ph.D.CHAPTER 7: Climate and Environmental Justice, by Dale Jamieson, Ph.D.CHAPTER 8: Summary and Conclusion, by Bunyan Bryant, Ph.D.