effect

It is in vogue to refer to carbon dioxide as a pollutant because it is the inevitable consequence of carbon (fossil fuel, wood, peat) combustion. Dr. Wittwer correctly observes that it is the elixir of life on earth and a universally-free premium because of its stimulation of plant growth, its contribution to water-use efficiency in plants, and the way in which it helps plants resist a variety of environmental stresses. This aspect of the climate change debate has been for too long ignored, overlooked or denigrated.

Thoughtful readers will find the research reviewed by Dr. Wittwer to be extremely compelling. He anticipates his skeptics and makes an overwhelming case firmly rooted in empirical research carried on throughout the world.

Although Zarate presents a generally optimistic view of US hegemony (both historical and potential) in the region, he does point to the CIA as a crucial and malefic agent that purposefully undermined Guatemala's democracy in the 1950s and subsequently supported a series of military regimes. This honesty is rare among historians of Latin America, who are often blinded by their own ideology, left or right.

Zarate's text is cogently argued and lucidly presented, and I recommend it to anyone interested in US policy in Central America.

-- Adam Lifshey

After persuing through the first few chapters of this wonderfully written scientific text, one becomes very interested and more hungry for knowledge dealing with this subject. Unlike many other novels of this nature, this one is very unique in that it gives the read a clear and very indepth picture of Aquatic Toxicology and its impacts on the environment as a whole.

This text deals with aquatic toxicology from an environmental pollution aspect dealing with manmade and natural chemical toxicants. It also deals with the ecotoxicity affects of man-made pesticides when aquatic organisms are involved in the bioecologicall food-chain.

In short one can soon surmise that this text is an ideal educational asset for all who are desiring a more comprehensive background and informative session in the field of aquatic toxicology and its subdivision. It is superbly written and it details every single aspect of toxicological studies dealing with aquatic organisms in their environmental setting.

Even without completely grasping the science, the readers gets a front row seat on the issue's full-blown complexity. Perhaps more importantly, the authors show just how much work there is left to do to understand the full implications of GE technology. Genes, it seems, can misbehave in ways that most people have never imagined.

This book should be in print and should be read by anyone who had even a passing interest in 20th Century History.

In the first half of the book are the "hard science" essays, and there are all sorts of different predictions represented here - ranging from catastrophic floods and worldwide famines to insect plagues and a land rush in the Arctic. On the other hand, there are a few essays that say that the "problem" of global warming will bring us more blessings than it will take away. And then there are quite a few essays arguing that global warming is caused by the sun or does not exist at all.

The second half of the book is devoted to essays promoting or debunking various cures and remedies for global warming.