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Never before in history was the interaction between people and their natural environment as complex and problematic as it is today. A proliferation of scientific research has yielded valuable insights into various aspects of this interaction from the angle of many disciplines - the natural sciences, the social sciences, archaeology and history, ecological studies. The diversity of approaches has created a need for synthesis, for a study that transcends the boundaries of traditional fields of study. In this volume, authors from various academic backgrounds discuss the relations between human society and its physical environment in the course of history, highlighting a number of significant periods, throughout the world. The last chapter assesses our present situation and prospects for the future in the light of theoretical reflections based on the evidence from the past. - Nooit eerder in de geschiedenis was de interactie tussen de mens en zijn natuurlijke omgeving zo complex en problematisch als vandaag de dag. De explosieve groei van wetenschappelijk onderzoek heeft waardevolle inzichten opgeleverd over de meest uiteenlopende aspecten van deze wisselwerking: zo zijn de mens en de natuur bestudeerd vanuit de optiek van de natuurwetenschappen, de sociale wetenschappen, archeologie, geschiedenis en ecologie. Door deze enorme verscheidenheid aan inzichten is er een een behoefte aan synthese ontstaan, aan een onderzoek dat buiten de traditionele gebaande studie-paden gaat. In dit boek wordt door auteurs met verschillende wetenschappelijke achtergronden een discussie gevoerd over de relatie tussen de menselijke samenleving en zijn fysieke omgeving. Vanuit historisch perspectief wordt een aantal veelbetekendende periodes over de gehele wereld besproken. Het laatste hoofdstuk gaat in op onze huidige situatie en de vooruitzichten voor de toekomst aan de hand van theoretische reflecties gebaseerd op de lessen van het verleden

Human activity is undeniably affecting the rates of change of many parts of the global system. How this global change develops into the future is vitally important, but modelling these changes requires a complex, integrated assessment of a wide range of disciplines in science and social science. This book describes the structure, assumptions, philosophy and results of an advanced global integrated assessment model: TARGETS. For a number of future directions selected on the basis of divergent cultural perspectives, the model charts global implications in terms of population and health, energy, land- and water-use and biogeochemical cycles. This integrated assessment approach has led to innovative fresh insights into global change. The book will help policymakers formulate the strategies required for a sustainable global future. It will be of interest to a broad audience, from researchers and modellers of global change in science and social science, to policy analysts, decision makers and economists, and students of all aspects of global change

One of the Sustainable Development Goals, number 10, is about reducing inequality within and between countries. This paper argues that the existing structure of the (international) financial system is, for various reasons, one of the determinants of (growing) inequality. This should receive more attention.

This article examines the relationship between journalists and readers in the Netherlands. Following a brief discussion about recent trends in the media landscape in this country, a study of the producers and consumers of four regional newspapers is introduced. The study used qualitative methodology involving more than 500 participants/respondents. The overall finding was that regional newspapers had a major public image problem. Journalists were perceived not to be visible in the region for which they wrote. Readers felt that the newspapers concerned were not sufficiently focused on providing good regional coverage. The newspapers attempted to be `all things to all people', a feature rejected outright by the readers. The readers' verdict appears to be related to the pecking order within the profession of journalism which accredits a low status to regional journalism.