No Rain in the Amazon: How South America's Climate Change Affects the Entire Planet (MacSci) - Hardcover

Kozloff, Nikolas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0230614760 ISBN 13: 9780230614765

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010

Synopsis

Acting as the planet s air conditioner, the rainforest sucks up millions of tons of greenhouse gases and stores them safely out of the atmosphere. South America's deforestation threatens to unleash a kind of carbon bomb that will add to our already deteriorating climate difficulties. As he travels across Peru and Brazil, recognized South America expert Nikolas Kozloff talks to locals, scientists and activists about the rainforest and what should be done to avert its collapse. Drawing on his expertise of South American politics, Kozloff argues that cooperation between the world's countries is essential in turning back the tide of climate change and that the fate of the planet depends on our response to environmental problems within the southern hemisphere.

About this title

About the Author:

Nikolas Kozloff is an expert on South America and a former fellow at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington, D.C. He contributes articles to Counterpunch, buzzflash.com, venezuelanalysis.com, Z Net, and blogs on senorchichero.blogspot.com. He has appeared on PBS World Focus, C-SPAN Washington Journal and The Daily Show and is the author of Hugo Chavez: Oil, Politics and the Challenge to the US and Revolution! He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Review:

“A solid contribution to the growing canon of work on global climate change -- from an unconventional and essential perspective... Recommended.” ―CHOICE

“Much of the global warming attention has been focused on the high north, but this valuable book reminds us not to forget, even for a second, the contribution the rainforest plays to keeping our planet habitable--and the fears that it may soon reverse that role, with disastrous consequences.” ―Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet, and the National Bestseller Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future

“No Rain in the Amazon is an urgent call to action, providing convincing evidence on how much is at stake in safeguarding the Amazon for the entire planet. Chronicling the work of social movements and scientists towards finding solutions, this is a critically important book for anyone who cares about tackling climate change.” ―Atossa Soltani, Founder & Executive Director, Amazon Watch

“Nikolas Kozloff has issued a Code Red alert from the pulmonary system of the planet. This meticulously researched and urgently written book documents the perilous condition of Amazonia and by extension the tenuous fate of life on Earth as we know it. Kozloff pinpoints the manifold forces, economic and political, driving the senseless destruction of the world's greatest rainforest and its indigenous cultures and ecosystems. He vividly and convincingly links the deforestation of the Amazon to the impending prospect of runaway climate change. Time is running out. Kozloff has done his job. Now it's up to us to intervene. Read it, absorb it, act on it.” ―Jeffrey St. Clair, author Born Under a Bad Sky, co-editor of CounterPunch

“If you care about the future of our world--the health of our planet, the legacy we leave our children--I urge you to read No Rain in the Amazon. Compellingly readable, it's an intriguing, jolting, authoritative account of one of the greatest environmental challenges facing us all. It just doesn't get any bigger than this.” ―William F. Laurance, Staff Scientist, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

“A well-researched book that sheds light on the political and economic forces that are imperiling the Amazon, one of the planet's biggest carbon sinks and reservoirs of biodiversity. Kozloff argues we only have a short window to take actions to preserve the world's largest rainforest as a healthy and productive ecosystem. Should we fail, the consequences will be dire.” ―Rhett Butler, founder of mongabay.com

“[Kozloff] lets us in on his travels, Jack Kerouac-style.” ―Roger Lowenstein, The New York Times, on Hugo Chávez

“Essential reading for all who want to understand modern global politics.” ―John Perkins, author of the New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, on Hugo Chávez

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0230614760
• ISBN 13: 9780230614765
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256