Amazonia - 9781845195007

Edited by James M. Cooper (law, California Western School of Law in San Diego) and Christine Hunefeldt (Iberian and Latin American Studies, U. of California, San Diego), with Yesenia Acosta, this book gathers papers from a recent conference on economic, legal, political, and policy issues involving the Amazon. Though the issues have pan-American and worldwide effects, contributors come from situations in Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela. The book is designed to be accessible to educated general readers and expand the very limited academic literature on practical issues, in order to help academics and public intellectuals inform politicians and the public about a situation where illegal activities are common, weak states are involved, the consequences for the world are very large, and solutions require longer-term planning than the next change of local government. Part one looks at international issues: sustainable development, the role of the Amazon in the global climate, international law and corporate liability, and initiatives from indigenous groups. Part two looks at national policies, such as rainforest land theft in Brazil to grow soybeans for export to China and whether it has been controlled by a Brazilian soy trade moratorium. Part three looks at genocide and plunder, and includes first-hand reports of issues including the water crisis in Bolivia and Chile, where the water supply for farming, industry, and the capital cities directly depends on glaciers that will soon be gone. Contributors come from many fields: law, geography, city planning, environmental studies, anthropology, public policy, journalism. One paper is in Spanish, the others in English. The book unites environmental and human rights concerns characteristic of liberals with trade balance, security, and business concerns characteristic of conservatives; it is a book about practical strategies rather than political symbols. Contributions are fact-based and well-written for clarity and readability. The afterward is by Jeffery Davidow, former US Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere and Senior Counselor of the Cohen Group, which provides strategic governmental affairs advice to international businesses. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)