Nackley, Patrick

English

University of Denver

Water Law Review Volume 4 Issue 2 Article 72 1-1-2001 Gregg Easterbrook, A Moment on the Earth Patrick Nackley Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/wlr Custom Citation Patrick Nackley, Book Note, Gregg Easterbrook, A Moment on the Earth, 4 U. Denv. Water L. Rev. 447 (2001). This Book Notes is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Denver Sturm College of Law at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Water Law Review by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact jennifer.cox@du.edu,dig-commons@du.edu. BOOK NOTESpossibilities, offers his suggestions. What must occur, according toCarle, is a change in the development mindset. Instead of developingwater for projected populations, as has occurred throughoutCalifornia's history, California must place a moratorium on waterdevelopment and stabilize its population. This solution can beachieved by following four suggestions. First, California must visualizestability and attain a state of CALMBY: Cherish and Love My BackYard. Second, California must live within water limits in drought years.Third, California must stop converting farm and environment water tourban use. Finally, California must support local and global effortstoward population stabilization.Carle believes California has a choice regarding its water future. Inthe new millennium, the state can continue along its historic path or itcan make changes to stop drowning the California dream.Sara WagersGREGG EASTERBROOK, A MOMENT ON THE EARTH, Penguin BooksPublishing, New York, New York (1995); 745pp; $14.95; ISBN 0-14-015451-5, softcover.A Moment on the Earth challenges the traditional pessimisticconceptions of how to address environmental conditions. GreggEasterbrook, a contributing editor to The Atlantic Monthly magazine,recalls his experiences covering environmental issues and the progressthat has been made over time, especially in the western world.Easterbrook rejects the "doomsday" prognosticating of manyenvironmental activists and commentators, and suggests we adopt anew philosophy of environmental optimism as a society.A Moment on the Earth opens with an introduction discussingmodern attitudes about environmental conditions and an explanationof how the book will progress. First, Easterbrook looks critically at theway man views his image in nature and how nature views its image withman. Next, after establishing the symbiosis between nature and man,Easterbrook analyzes a number of environmental conditions (water inparticular) and assesses the impact of man. Finally, Easterbrookintroduces an environmental philosophy where actions consider theneeds of both man and nature, instead of pitting the demands ofeither interest against one another.In the first section, The Long View: Thinking Like Nature, Easterbrookcriticizes the relationship that traditional environmental advocateshave created between man and nature. Easterbrook argues that man isnot separate from nature, nor is man a special threat to nature.Easterbrook sees the intellect of man as nature's greatest ally, andrefutes the notion that the so-called "natural condition" of the worldwas better without the human fingerprint. Easterbrook contends thenatural world has no problem with a dam, factory, or urban sprawl. Abird, fox, or deer will adapt to the new condition, but man condemnsIssue 2WATER LAWREVEWhis own presence. Easterbrook maintains the natural world fears not adoomsday, but the gradual effect of a growing problem. Thus, if mancan recognize his own place in nature and make decisions in light ofhis own gradual influence, both man and nature benefit. Easterbrookconcludes nature will persist after man is gone. Therefore,Easterbrook argues our focus should be on how we can prolong ourtime with nature.In the second section, The Short View: Thinking Like People,Easterbrook addresses a number of the most pressing environmentalconcerns, and provides a brief history of each. Easterbrook looksspecifically at pollution and the measures man has taken to remedythis problem. Easterbrook notes that the quality of water throughoutthe United States improved in the nineties. In addition, the quality ofthe nation's water should continue to improve with increasinggovernmental regulation. According to the Environmental ProtectionAgency, less than two percent of all American river miles containharmful contaminants. Plus, contaminated rivers show fewer levels ofparticulates than ever before. Easterbrook argues the current politicalclimate rejects any news of environmental progress in favor of focusingon negativity. Easterbrook attributes the state of environmentalnegativism to modern liberalism's refusal to acknowledge thatenvironmental problems can be fixed, and modern conservatism'srefusal to acknowledge the degree to which environmental problemsexist.In the third section, The Green Future: People and Nature Learning toThink Together, Easterbrook introduces a philosophy of ecorealism.Ecorealism is a system of decision-making that assesses the impacts ofman's actions on nature, and the impact of natural conditions on man.Easterbrook argues man's intellect can prepare a programmatic systemof action that benefits man in the short term, and man and naturetogether in the long run. Ecorealism frowns upon the pessimism ofthe past in favor of focusing on assessing the gradual affects of man'sactions to predict future harm. Easterbrook denounces modernenvironmentalists as another interest group fighting for a piece of thepie. Easterbrook advocates incorporating issues such as watermanagement into mainstream decision-making. Instead of looking forthe correct state of nature, man should be looking for the best possiblestate for man and nature at that moment in time.Easterbrook's commentary is thought provoking and wellprepared. Unfortunately, concerning some issues, Easterbrook doesnot see the trees for the forest. Easterbrook ignores the state ofAmerican political culture and attributes problems to environmentalpolitics that are apparent throughout the political system. Easterbrookalso focuses on the aggregate success in the area of water quality,which ignores micro issues that affect thousands of people.Easterbrook does not address problems with water quantity.In sum, Easterbrook writes an insightful, easy to read book aboutthe fundamental tenants behind the environmental movement, andhow these beliefs shape the way our society addresses environmentalVolume 4BOOKNOTESconcerns. Easterbrook makes a convincing argument that thedoomsday predictions and pessimism of the past may be the Achilles'heel of the environmental movement. In addition, Easterbrookprovides thoughtful suggestions on how man and nature can interactand progress into the twenty-first century.Patrick NackleySHARIF S. ELMUSA, WATER CONFLICT: ECONOMICS, POLITICS, LAW ANDPALESTINIAN-ISRAELI WATER RESOURCES, Institute for PalestineStudies, Washington, D.C. (1997); 362pp; $29.95; ISBN 0-88728-268-7, hardcover.Disputes over scarce water resources rage in the arid Middle East.However, there are no systematic assessments of these conflicts thataddress water quality and quantity, the ability to develop availableresources, water related economic policies, and future need. WaterConflict attempts to provide this type of assessment for the Palestinian-Israeli water dispute. In this book, Sharif Elmusa, a Palestinian,analyzes the political economy of the water conflict between Israelisand Palestinians, and suggests how it may be resolved on the basis ofequity and mutuality. Water Conflict also provides a comprehensivesource of information on the water sector of the West Bank and GazaStrip.Chapter One discusses in detail the available water resources ofgeographic Palestine-Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, andexamines the topographic, climatic, and hydrologic factors thatdetermine them. The resources are divided into two categories:groundwater aquifers and surface water. The author examines all thecomponents of the resource categories, including individual streams,wadis, and aquifers.Chapter Two examines the control, supply, and distribution ofmunicipal water resources. The book focuses on the sub-standardconditions Palestinians face (such as an insufficient, polluted watersupply and the unavailability of piped water to nearly one-fifth of thepopulation) as a result of severe restrictions imposed by Israelis. Also,the author discusses developments in the water infrastructure since thesigning of the Declaration of Principles in 1993, and efforts atimprovement by international "donors."Chapter Three consists of three parts: the economics of water usein households and agriculture, "extended" water use balance, anddemand projections. The author's primary argument is that the low-income level of Palestinians cannot explain their low level of water use.Thus, a latent, unsatisfied water demand in both the municipal andagricultural sectors exists. Data presented in the economic sectionsupports this contention. In the second part of Chapter Three, theauthor proposes that the standard water balance, which includes onlyIssue 2

Gregg Easterbrook, A Moment on the Earth

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Gregg Easterbrook, A Moment on the Earth

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