The World without Us

[cjg24]

There's a new book out by Alan Weisman called "the World without Us". It is about what would happen to the world if people suddenly disappeared. He does not give a reason for man disappearing. To understand what would happen to the world without people, he explains how people have impacted the world. I especially enjoyed the parts on how the jungle and endangered animals and birds have returned to the Korean demilitarized zone - even with landmines everywhere.

This book has reminded me that man is not destoying the earth, but rather making it uninhabitable for humans. Humans have done many bad things to the earth, but the earth will change and continue.

Thought you might enjoy as much as I have.

Cindy

[moongirl]

I have checked out this book just recently. Sounds very interesting so its on the (LONG) list. Thanks for the input!

[hillsidedigger]

True, no matter how badly modern civilization wrecks the natural world, the natural world will recover when people are scaled back to a more appropriate number or even disappear completely.

[chickenista]

Yep..pretty interesting book. I found it interesting the rate of decay of modern construction vs. ancient monuments.. All in all - good book.
Oh, and the decline of native plant species an the rise of imported landscape plants and trees.. really neat.

[Jillis]

Yes, but if there is no one around to appreciate the world to the sounds of the Morning movement of the Peer Gynt Suite, what good is it?

[jessepona]

I read it too, I thought the part about New York city was really interesting. If you can find it, read it!

[stickinthemud]

Check this out:

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/

The Real results (at Chernobyl) of humanity suddenly being removed from the picture.

It is not within Man's power to destroy the Earth. It's not even within our power to eliminate all life on this planet.

It is possible for us to drive a great many species of life into extinction. It's also possible for us to make the planet uninhabitable for ourselves if we put our mind to it or put it out of our minds to do it through gross negligence.

So long as the sun does not go nova or we get whacked with a planetary sized object any other scenario that eliminates the human species from this planet will leave hundreds, likely many thousands of other species of life behind us that will in the fullness of time regroup and evolve to fill the many empty ecological niches there will be around.

We have the capacity to do tremendous damage if we're stupid, but our greatest threat is to ourselves.

.....Alan.

[Phantomfyre]

Originally Posted by stickinthemud

Check this out:

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/

The Real results (at Chernobyl) of humanity suddenly being removed from the picture.

I had the same thought: Chernobyl. Pretty scary when one can ask the question, "Which has greater impact, humans or nuclear radiation?" And the answer is humans. Wolves now run the streets of abandoned villages and cities in the dead zone, thriving there now that humans are gone - despite the still-deadly levels of radiation lurking in many areas.

I does sound like an interesting book. Thanks for the recommendation!