What Has Nature Ever Done for Us? - Tony Juniper

Written by Britain's leading environmentalist and former Friends of the Earth director (amongst other titles), this provocative read spends the first two thirds carefully building up its case before launching the bombshell that modern economics are fundamentally wrong. Despite heavily criticising the underlying foundations of western civilisation, the book garnered favourable reviews among the tabloids. There's no doubt that the worrying facts will be taken seriously by those with no vested interest in big business corporations or pharmaceutical giants, but it will most likely be forgotten about in favour of domestic comforts. Unfortunately, what Juniper doesn't really address is that most people won't take an active stand against environmental damage until it affects them personally, such as floodwater lapping at the doorstep.

Starting with Biosphere 2, a huge experiment in a vacuum sealed, self-sustained ecosystem, Juniper leads the reader on a tour by case study through the essential components of nature; soil, oxygen, water, plants, pollinators, animals and so forth. Each chapter focuses on a specific natural process and details how, as a race, we are pushing it to extreme breaking point, and in many cases beyond reparation. Tony backs up his research with an array of daunting statistical facts, converting these natural functions into hard financial figures. His tactic is brutal yet effective, placing monetary value on the environment in a bid to sway the economical mindset into adopting green policies. The book makes for an illuminating yet deeply worrying read, and whilst it can be a chore to slog through at times, the subject matter is of critical importance. There's also a suitably pompous foreward by the Prince of Wales.

(Full length review also available, contact me for it)

Rating: 3/5