*** PATRICE HALIMI: La grande détox. Comment éviter les poisons du quotidien ? Calmann-Lévy (31 rue de Fleurus, F-75006 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 49543600 - fax: 49543640 - Internet: http://www.calmann-levy.fr ). 2015, 213 pp. €17. ISBN 978-2-7021-5701-5.
There are certain books that send shivers down your spine. Dr Patrice Halimi is a paediatric surgeon in orthopaedics and was not originally a dyed in the wool ecologist. Nonetheless, placed in an ideal position to observe how things are, he was struck by the fact that every month and year there are increasing numbers of people suffering from significant elements of pollution and contaminating substances. The diagnosis he delivers is a harsh one: the number of children suffering from asthma is spiralling in France. One of his patients, a headmistress, confirmed to him on one occasion that, "when I began working in the state education sector, they used to be on average one pupil per class suffering from asthma, whereas now there is one asthma sufferer in each row of the class room!" Judging by the evidence, this observation does not just apply to France or exclusively to asthma either …
According to Patrice Halimi, increasing numbers of doctors are now convinced that, "pollution has a significant impact on our health". To prove this affirmation, around 2500 health professionals have joined the French Environmental Health Association that he set up as a means of providing information to patients on the basis of scientific studies, raise awareness about chemical pollution related pathologies and raise public awareness about what he describes as "daily poisons". He is subsequently engaged in developing a response among the political and health authorities, to the deadly threat represented by chemical substances created by synthetic molecules and who he believes should be more proactive in this regard. In the first chapter he provides a succinct review of the "four major" pollutants (endocrine disrupting substances, carcinogenic, mutagen and repro-toxic substances) and welcomes the European Reach Regulation, which he describes as a turning point because it has managed to overturn the need to prove environmental impact and instead put the onus on industry to prove that the use of its products can be done without any danger. This health professional claims, however, that European progress is still insufficient, particularly because Reach is still based on the outmoded concept of "acceptable daily doses", which, " defines a substance that an individual weighing 60 kg can, in theory, ingest on a daily basis, without running any health risk". Obviously, not everyone weighs 60 kg or weighs the same at 20 or 60 years old or is affected in the same way, irrespective of the "cocktail effect" of different pollutants and which has subsequently been completely concealed.
Given these shortcomings, Dr Halimi has developed this book as a "tool" to help his readers forewarn themselves of the risks contained in chemicals, in a personal and pragmatic way. In practice, he takes his readers by the hand in an effort to help them avoid the pitfalls throughout the average citizen's daily life from his morning shower, to his evening meal, throughout specific chapters that focus on pregnancy and small children, as well as weekend activities. For the time being, this is just a short book in publishing terms but in terms of improving the health of those that read it, it could potentially provide a significant step forward.
Pierre Bouvier
*** MONIKA HARTMANN, JOACHIM W. HESSE (Editors): Agriculture and Food in the 21st Century. Economic, Environmental and Social Challenges. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, CH-2542 Pieterlen, Suisse. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - Email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). 2014, 269 pp. €59.95. ISBN 978-3-631-64771-4.
This book was written in homage to Professor Michael Schmitz (University Justus-Liebig in Giessen) on the 65th birthday of this economist and specialist in agribusiness. For 20 years he worked as scientific adviser to the German Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection. The first part of the book focuses on one of the areas in which Professor Schmitz has developed most of his research: the complex interdependencies between agri-food markets and policies. As a means of proving that this issue has been around for a long time, his doctoral supervisor opens intellectual fire by exploring the moral complexities that exist in the cohabiting markets and policies in this economic niche. Ulrich Koester (University Christian-Albrecht from Kiel) subsequently demonstrates that market outcomes might lead to consequences that are not in line with a given society's moral code and that political limitations in this area also need to be taken into account. The writer subsequently believes that the institutional framework that provides incentives compatible to the moral norms of society must be developed. It is precisely the tensions between the moral norms of society and the market situation in Farm Animal Welfare that is examined in the contribution that follows and which shed lights on the limitations of government intervention when World Trade Organisation rules prevail. Innovative solutions are therefore required in the shape, for example, of self-regulatory strategies that enable citizen-consumers to impose their own choices, which is actually the case in the German meat sector, according to the authors. Three other writers look at the relevance of two "new" political instruments such as the protection of geographically differentiated foods advocated by the European Union. They deliver, however, a totally negative verdict: taxes on foodstuffs are politically ineffective when they seek to protect health and nothing would suggest that protected geographical indications and the designations of origin of the product are either. Two contributions by other specialists look at the question of the market for speculative agricultural derivatives and the future of food value chain. Obviously, the subjects tackled by these academic specialists are not within the grasp of your average reader, which is further borne out by contributions in the second part of the book focusing on the links between farming, business and development. In addition to the question of the effects created by the Transatlantic Partnership between the Union and the US on development, there are also lessons to be learnt in the agricultural arena, from the free trade agreement between the Europeans and South Korea and whether World Trade Organisation rules are relevant to the needs of developing countries and their food safety objectives.
(MT)
*** YANNIS VASSILIOU: Le présent et l'avenir de la politique agricole de l'Union européenne. Éditions Historical-Quest (66 Chrisiidos Road, Ilion GR-13122. Tel: (30-210) 2611832 - fax: 2611833 - Internet: http://www.historical-quest.com ). 2014, 160 pp. €15. ISBN 978-618-5088-06-4.
Common Agricultural Policy has been one of the most important policies advocated by Community Europe. It still is today, despite the fact that it has to respond to challenges such as agricultural production, food safety, the management of natural resources, environmental protection, climate change, sustainable development of rural communities and preservation of the countryside. As a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham and a specialist in the economic and political aspects of the European Union, Yannis Vassiliou, provides a critical analysis in this book of the key elements in the CAP. He seeks to get to grips with what still is important and why it remains so and subsequently explores the impact of this policy on consumers and producers. His goal also consists in providing an analysis of how successful green Europe has been and in this respect he provides an outline of future prospects up to 2020. It is very well researched and contains a useful bibliography.
(AKa)
*** JEAN VASILE ANDREI, GHEORGHE H. POPESCU: Economy in Romania and the Need for Optimization of Agricultural Production Structures. Peter Lang (see address details attached). 2014, 170 pp. €51. ISBN 978-3-631-65826-0.
Agriculture is a significant source of revenue in Romania. Following its entry into the Union in 2007, the country had to undergo significant changes in the way its primary sector functioned in an effort to obtain better results and adapt to the new economic performance criteria set out by the Union. Jean Vasile Andrei, assistant professor at the Petroleum and Gas University of Ploiesti, Gheorghe H. Popescu, Professor at the Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, explore the importance of agriculture in Romania and ways of improving its productivity. Following a state-of-the-art question, they put forward five different ways of improving the country's agricultural potential. The data used for backing up these alternatives, as well as general information on farming in Romania, are provided in the annexes.
(HHe)
*** BRODER BRECKLING, RICHARD VERHOEVEN (Editors): GM-Crop Cultivation - Ecological Effects on a Landscape Scale. Proceedings of the Third GMLS Conference 2012 in Bremen. Peter Lang (See address details attached). " Theorie in der Ökologie" series, No. 17. 2013, 159 pp. €32 95.. ISBN 978-3-631-62870-6.
The controversy provoked by the question of genetically modified crops among scientists, politicians and regulators with regard to whether they are safe or not and whether the trials involving them reliable, is not likely to go away, at least not in Europe. The contributions made by the experts (from eight European countries, as well as Argentina, Ghana and the US) are included in this publication. Two and a years ago they met up in Bremen to discuss the implications of genetically modified crops. The 28 contributions included in this publication provide independent clarification regarding the potential impact in the environmental, socio-economic and administrative areas. Obviously, they will not be enough to definitively put this issue to rest …
(PBo)
*** LAURA SILVA-CASTANEDA, ETIENNE VERHAEGEN, SOPHIE CHARLIER, AN ANSOMS (Editors): Au-delà de l'accaparement. Ruptures et continuités dans l'accès aux ressources naturelles. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes / Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - Email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterla ,g.com). "EcoPolis" series, No. 22. 2014, 244 pp. €39.60. ISBN 978-2-87574-210-0.
According to the NGO, Grain, land grabbing is a relatively recent phenomenon. It involves the leasing, concessionary rights and purchasing of vast areas of land and states (more than 10,000 ha) abroad for long-term periods (often between 30-99 years). Obviously, some of them are motivated by what advantages are in it for themselves, whilst others are attempting to guaranteed their respective food safety. Africa is the main target of these kinds of investments. This collectively written book exclusively focuses on this process. This process is, however, placed within a much broader history of obtaining access to land and the authors are eager not to just focus on the analysis of massive acquisitions but also seek to also provide some clarification as to the diversity of the dynamics involved, particularly the less visible "micro process" that also leads to the dispossession of many different rural stakeholders. The first part of the book focuses on the many different processes involved and the factors of exclusion that restrict and remove access to natural resources for some stakeholders. Some of the contributions highlight the negative role that some members of a given regional area, village or even family can have in influencing the political, social and economic context, as well as the securitisation programmes that help to develop a land rental market and the subsequent dynamics of accumulation for certain actors and the dispossession for others, as well is the question of access to water and other resources that are sometimes the driving force for this kind of land grabbing. The second part of the book looks at responses and alternatives developed to tackle the dynamics of exclusion and involve agrarian reform, recognition of the rights of the indigenous population or peasants, the re-appropriation of land and ethical markets. This reflection helps to provide a scientific understanding of the forces and limitations at play in alternative models and is further bolstered by analysis focusing on these questions and ways of responding to them by a peasant farmer organisations such as Via Campesina and the non-governmental organisation FoodFirst Information and Action Network. As explained by Silva-Castaneda (Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée) and Professor Verhaegen (Université catholique de Louvain), neither the market nor collective ownership can claim to be the only viable solutions now …
(PBo)
*** PASCALINE GABORIT (Editor): European and Asian Sustainable Towns. New Towns and Satellite Cities in Their Metropolises. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes / Peter Lang (see address attached ). 2014, 262 pp. €40. ISBN 978-2-87574-187-5.
Sustainable urban development requires a specific technique and technology. Cities also require social cohesion, the dynamics of the local economy and environmental awareness. The autonomy of the local authorities and adoption of appropriate systems of governance are also essential. This collectively written book particularly looks at the development of new satellite districts and towns within metropolitan areas. These urban areas are usually built to tackle traffic congestion in the cities and respond to the lack of appropriate housing. Nonetheless, the rapid construction of these new zones also creates a number of challenges and a significant risk of concentrating problems in a specific area. If these new living areas are not well thought out, they can become ghost towns where no one wants to live. The authors of this book (academic researchers, Town & Country planners, architects, etc.) are involved in the East project (Euro Asia Sustainable Towns) and come from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the US, India and China. They explain how these new urban areas can be built, whilst respecting both people and the environment overall. Concrete examples are given from India, China and the US.
(HHe)