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This article broadens and clarifies the way social work conceptualizes its ecological/system constructs and the professional commitments that flow from them. It utilizes important insight from a contemporary, radical environmental philosophy—ecofeminism—to search for language and descriptions that may help the profession begin the process of formulating and depicting an expanded ecological model of practice. This article sketches the essential philosophical premises of a revisioned ecological model and offers suggestions for interpreting and applying this model. Specifically, it gives attention to critiquing the interrelated oppression stemming from modern economic theory and practice, and ways in which social workers may collaborate with communities and individuals to bring about change.

Despite growing ecological concerns and the rise of schools such as ecocriticism and ecofeminism, literary critics who call for an increased ecological awareness in literature and a greater appreciation for the genre of nature writing fail to take into account the rich vein to be found in Chicano literature, where nature and la tierra are central themes. One well-known example is the work of Rudolfo Anaya, whose initial trilogy won critical acclaim in part because of the mythic forces of his landscapes. However, his more recent Alburquerque Quartet, in which the latter three novels constitute a detective series, has failed to attract critical attention. This article illustrates how Anaya subverts the dominant cultural ethos in this quartet by hybridizing literary genres and proposing an alternative worldview, one in which nature is given a central role.

"Main Currents in Western Environmental Thought provides an inclusive and balanced survey of the major issues debated by Western environmentalists over the last three decades. Peter Hay examines issues in philosophy, religion, politics, and economics as presented or criticized by environmentalists. Topics covered include the roots of environmental philosophy; the development of ecophilosophy, deep ecology, and ecofeminism; how religion relates to environmental values; environmentalists' writings on science and epistemology; animal liberation; the role of place; the economic dimensions of environmental thought; environmental writing in various political traditions; and "green" writers' critiques of political movements. The work draws from the disciplines of philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and cultural studies. Clearly and accessibly written and including a comprehensive bibliography, Main Currents in Western Environmental Thought is well suited both as a handbook and guide to the large environmental literature and as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental studies."--Jacket

In Skeptical environmentalism, Robert Kirkman raises doubts about the speculative tendencies elaborated in environmental ethics, deep ecology, social ecology, postmodern ecology, ecofeminism, and environmental pragmatism. Drawing on skeptical principles introduced by David Hume, Kirkman takes issue with key tenets of speculative environmentalism, namely that the natural world is fundamentally relational, that humans have a moral obligation to protect the order of nature, and that understanding the relationship between nature and humankind holds the key to solving the environmental crisis. Engaging the work of Kant, Hegel, Descartes, Rousseau, and Heidegger, among others, Kirkman reveals the relational worldview as an unreliable basis for knowledge and truth claims, and as harmful to the intellectual sources from which it takes inspiration. Exploring such themes as the way knowledge about nature is formulated, what characterizes an ecological worldview, how environmental worldviews become established, and how we find our place in nature, Skeptical environmentalism advocates a shift away from the philosopher's privileged position as truth seeker toward a more practical thinking that balances conflicts between values and worldviews

A review essay on books by (1) John M. Meyer, Political Nature: Environmentalism and the Interpretation of Western Thought (London: MIT Press, 2001); & (2) Peter Hay, Main Currents in Western Environmental Thought (Sydney: U New South Wales Press, 2002). Both books, in different ways, are rooted in historical understanding & provide critical overviews of major aspects of contemporary green thought. Both focus on the role of concepts of nature in political thought while advancing place as a point of central importance to successful green politics. Meyer addresses aspects of contemporary environmental politics such as the implications of taking nature as immediately stipulative for politics & the concern with overcoming Western consciousness's alienation from nature. Meyer underrates the extent to which values will be implicated in any model of the nature-politics connection. Problems might have been avoided had he from the beginning more fully adopted epistemological pragmatism & built a dynamic naturalistic pluralism & the experienced primacy of values more deeply into his account. A thought-provoking volume & occasionally a frustrating one, Hay's book serves both as an excellently detailed overview of the field & as a significant contribution in its own right. Hay covers the issues of core green motivations, ecophilosophy, ecofeminism, green spirituality, critiques of institutional science, concern for place, & the relationships between green thought & conservatism, liberalism, socialism, & postmodernism. 13 References. E. Sanchez

Machine generated contents note: Foreword xi -- Steven C. Rockefeller -- Introduction xv -- Peter Miller and Laura Westra -- Part 1 Valuing the Earth -- Introduction to Part 1 3 -- A New Global Covenant -- I The Earth Charter 9 -- 2 The Earth Charter: An Ethical Framework for Sustainable Living 17 -- Fayen d'Evie and Steven M. Glass -- 3 The Earth Charter Principles: Source for an Ethics of Universal -- Responsibility 26 -- Abelardo Brenes -- 4 The Earth Charter as a New Covenant for Democracy 37 -- J. Ronald Engel -- 5 Ecofeminism, Integrity, and the Earth Charter: A Critical Analysis 53 -- Victoria Davion -- Humanistic Values and the Earth Charter -- 6 A Pragmatic Focus on Humans 61 -- Julia J. Bartkowiak -- 7 Human Values as a Source for Sustaining the Environment 69 -- Naomi Zack -- 8 The Earth Charter, Servant-Leadership, and Philosophy: Valuing the -- Earth by Implementing Ideals 74 -- Rubye Howard Braye and Ruth Miller Lucier -- Measuring Progress and Decline -- 9 Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) Accounting: Relating Ecological -- Integrity to Human Health and Well-Being 83 -- Mark Anielski and Colin L. Soskolne -- 10 Understanding the Consequences of Human Actions: Indicators from -- GNP to IBI 98 -- James R. Karr -- Part 2 People in Ecosystems: Reciprocal Impacts and -- Human Responsibilities -- Introduction to Part 2 113 -- Sustainable Agriculture and the Human Prospect -- 11 The Future of Human Populations: Energy, Food, and Water -- Availability in the Twenty-First Century 119 -- Clive A. Edwards and David Pimentel -- 12 Impacts of Milk and Meat on People and the Planet 140 -- Robert Goodland -- 13 Integrity and Sustainability of Natural and Man-Made Ecosystems 155 -- Lech Ryszkowski -- Addressing the Destruction in Production -- 14 Gold, Cyanide, and Fish in the River of Life and Death 167 -- Imre Ldzdr and Emese Kiss -- 15 The Planetary Life Crisis: Its Systemic Cause and Ground of -- Resolution 180 -- John McMurtry -- 16 Global Consumption in the New Millennium 193 -- Patricia H. Werhane and Mary A. Hamilton -- 17 What Practical Difference Would the Adoption of the Earth Charter -- Mean to the Resolution of Global Warming Issues? 205 -- Don Brown -- Part 3 Justice, Conflict, and the Preservation of Nature -- Introduction to Part 3 217 -- What Is Environmental Justice? -- 18 Socially Just Eco-Integrity: Getting Clear on the Concept 221 -- William E. Rees -- 19 The Fair Distribution of Environmental Goods 243 -- Janos I. T6th -- 20 A Stakeholder-Based Approach to Environmental Justice Using -- Geographical Information Systems (GIS) 252 -- Garrick E. Louis and Luna M. Magpili -- Case Studies: Conflict, Risk, and the Preservation of Nature -- 21 Violence and the Environment in Colombia: Questions Regarding -- Environmental Ethics 269 -- Luis Alberto Camargo and Vicky Castillo -- 22 Ethics and Risks in Building a Cyclotron 284 -- Sonia Ftacnikova -- 23 The Tactics of Forest Preservation: Authenticity and Rhetoric in -- Poland's Bialowieza Forest Preserve 294 -- Eunice Blavascunas -- 24 Can Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica Be Saved? How to Apply -- the Principles of the Earth Charter 303 -- Paul T. Durbin -- 25 Gendered Resistance to Corporate Environmentalism and -- Debt-for-Nature Swaps in Costa Rica 311 -- Ana Isla and Terisa E. Turner -- About the Contributors 323