Are there of the wealth of America which should be safeguarded in the public interest -- our waterways, the air we breathe, our forests, wildlife, and mineral resources? This collection of over 20 well-researched articles by authoritative environmentalists addresses the full spectrum of issues surrounding the exploitation of the natural resources of America. It documents how the current mix of public and corporate policy generates private profit at public cost, and raises serious questions as to whether current practice provides either overall systemic efficiency, or protects the rights of future generations -- let alone the health, wealth and well-being of the present generation of Americans.
Further, this anthology illustrates how corporate America, striking back at growing public environmentalism, seeks to sway public opinion through influencing the gathering and dissemination of scientific information and research. Business practices within the communications industry threaten the integrity of media reporting on environmental issues. As corporate America steps up its onslaught on the perceived environmentalist threat, we now witness the mobilization of pro-business political constituencies among religious groups and the public at large in support of the corporate agenda as it concerns the environment.
Some sample articles: "American Forests", "Cash Register Rivers: Lost to Private Profit", "Science for Sale", "Corporate Welfare and the Environment", "Environmental Disease Clusters", "An Environmental Wedge: The 'Wise Use' Movement and the Insurgent Right Wing".
Challenging whether the pro-business perspective advocated by diverse religious groups accurately represents the trueposition of Christians, anthologist Scherff opens her collection with "The Science of Communion" by the Very Reverend James P arks Morton, elaborating the Christian concepts of stewardship and respect for all creation, and closes it with Reverend Thomas Punzo's call to action, titled "Complicity with Evil". A list of activist resources and organizations is included in the Appendix.
