Unnatural Disasters: Case Studies of Human-Induced Environmental Catastrophes

(Hardback)

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Description

This reference resource describes both the scientific background and the economic and social issues that resulted from environmental disasters where human activity was the main cause. Categorized by the type of tragedy, including coal mine tragedies, dam failures, industrial explosions, and oil spills, this one-stop guide provides students with descriptions of a sampling of some of the most tragic environmental disasters worldwide. Entries clearly describe each disaster by defining the cause, the consequences, and the clean-up efforts. Readers should learn who the responsible parties were, the effect on the environment and the people living in the immediate area, and the economic impact of each disaster, as well as the long-term consequences, the likelihood of a repeat disaster in the same area and the measures that have been taken to prevent a repeat incident. Entries include: the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion, the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, the atomic bomb at Hiroshima and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Reviews

Gunn describes about 40 major environmental disasters for which the principal cause was human error or deliberate human action....The book is well written and well balanced, and the author, who previously wrote a book on natural disasters, has a good grasp of the technical background behind each of the disasters he describes. He discusses not only the technical, but also the economic, political, and sociological backgrounds of each disaster. A good starting place for anyone wanting to research human-caused disasters. Recommended. General readers; lower-division undergraduates.-Choice
These events alert students to serious issues facing us all. This book can spark discussions and promote further research in many subject areas. Recommended.-Library Media Connection
"These events alert students to serious issues facing us all. This book can spark discussions and promote further research in many subject areas. Recommended."-Library Media Connection
"Gunn describes about 40 major environmental disasters for which the principal cause was human error or deliberate human action....The book is well written and well balanced, and the author, who previously wrote a book on natural disasters, has a good grasp of the technical background behind each of the disasters he describes. He discusses not only the technical, but also the economic, political, and sociological backgrounds of each disaster. A good starting place for anyone wanting to research human-caused disasters. Recommended. General readers; lower-division undergraduates."-Choice

Author Bio

ANGUS M. GUNN is Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia. He is the author of Patterns in World Geography, Habitat, and Heartland and Hinterland.