Ecocide: A Short History of the Mass Extinction of Species [Paperback]

'Broswimmer's compelling polemic should be required reading for politicians and captains of industry everywhere... (he) points forward to a progressive politics and economics that truly could sustain Earth's bounty while looking after its people.' Charles Secrett, Director Friends of the Earth, UK.'Franz J. Broswimmer's "Ecocide" helps us choose to take collective responsibility. It is essential reading for anybody who cares about the future of humanity and the diversity of species-a diversity on which depend the ecological conditions for our survival. Humanity is at a cross roads-the future will either be an ecological wasteland of extinct species or a rejuvenation of ecological democracy.' Vandana Shiva"Broswimmer has produced a work of significance. Not only does Ecocide brilliantly explain the disastrous impact the Human Race is having on the planet, it disseminates the informaton in a format that is both riveting and easy.'" Social injustice book review 'Essential reading. Broswimmer recounts the history of the human species and our changing impact on the environment. Filled with the most startling statistics on the devastation we are wreaking, the book also offers hope in its account of some of the disparate movements across the world fighting for ecological justice.'The Ecologist'Franz Broswimmer delivers a concise and elcetrifying account of how thousands of speices have been obliterated...Broswimmer produces a narrative saturated in biological and social detail. Ecocide provides a rich introduction to the field of environmental history.'Red pepper 'This is a disturbing, a times frightening book. Yet it is a book that needs to be read by Green Socialists.'Green Socialist 'Broswimmer presents a powerful polemic on the human induced mass extinction of species from the origins of Homo Sapiens to the present day...Broswimmer is a compelling author and not without his moments of bitterly dry humour.'The Spark "Broswimmer convincingly demonstrates the links between the greed of the current US centred world economic system, with its World Bank funded energy projects, 'privatisation schemes' and market reforms, and its indifference either to the grinding poverty of the bulk of the world's peoples or ecological destruction...a valuable and all too timely contribution to the debate."Martin Cohen, The Philosopher'In this concise, compelling and powerful book, Broswimmer offers a distressing look at the devastating impact that humans have had on Plant Earth...He provides a solid introduction to the field of mass extinction and will likely entice readers to delve further into the subject.'CHOICE

'Broswimmer's compelling polemic should be required reading for politicians and captains of industry everywhere... (he) points forward to a progressive politics and economics that truly could sustain Earth's bounty while looking after its people.' Charles Secrett, Director Friends of the Earth, UK.

'Franz J. Broswimmer's "Ecocide" helps us choose to take collective responsibility. It is essential reading for anybody who cares about the future of humanity and the diversity of species–a diversity on which depend the ecological conditions for our survival. Humanity is at a cross roads–the future will either be an ecological wasteland of extinct species or a rejuvenation of ecological democracy.' Vandana Shiva

At the dawn of the 21st century, it is clear that changes of enormous ecological significance are occuring on our planet. The ozone layer is beginning to disintegrate. Since 1970 the world's forests have almost halved. A quarter of the world's fish have been depleted. We live in an age of ecocide. 70% of biologists believe the world is now in the midst of the fastest mass extinction of species in the planet's 4.5 billion-year history. Biodiversity loss is rated as a more serious environmental problem than the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, or pollution and contamination. How have we come to this, and what can be done to conserve our environment for the future?

Ecocide: A Short History of the Mass Extinction of Species examines the facts behind the figures to offer a disturbing account of the ecological impact that the human species has on the planet.
Research specialist Franz Broswimmer shows how we are wilfully destroying our world. Highlighting important countermovements who are working for ecological democracy, this unique book is essential for anyone who cares about conserving our environment for the future.

Franz J. Broswimmer is a Research Specialist at the Globalization Research Center, University of Hawai'i -Manoa. His academic fields of expertise include environmental sociology, social theory, and globalization. He has published several articles in academic social science journals.