WHERE WE STAND: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet

WHERE WE STAND: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet (AMACOM Books; October 9, 2007) by Seymour Garte, Ph.D.

In WHERE WE STAND, Garte makes the case that the environment is in better shape than we have been led believe. He presents evidence that human and environmental welfare have been improving steadily for the past two decades. When crises arise, our urgent efforts to save the planet work. Scientific research, social activism and strong regulatory action have produced changes in the way businesses and people operate and these changes have been largely successful in solving most of the environmental and public health problems that we have faced. Garte combats environmental apathy with illustrations of the environmental movement’s achievements and their goals for the future. Hopeful, balanced, and convincing, WHERE WE STAND will change the way readers view the planet and the future.

Publisher’s Weekly Review of WHERE WE STAND:

Garte, a professor of public health, presents a well-researched, clearly written summary of the health of our planet, with histories of lead paint, ozone and various chemicals as well as analyses of human health and planetary health; the prognosis is surprisingly optimistic, and prescriptions are encouraging. While the environmental problems hyped daily on the news are real and ongoing, things have improved—air and water are cleaner, more food is available, life spans are up and infant mortality is down, diseases are better understood and treated—and will continue to improve if efforts continue. Garte points out the fallacies in standard right- and left-wing approaches—the planet is not in imminent danger of imploding, he says, but neither will it be saved by the free market—and shows how most improvements over the past 40 years have been the result of government intervention. Garte’s reasoned discussion and compelling, honest tone make this a valuable tool for increasing science literacy with regards to the important environmental issues of the day; Garte’s recommendations, to “continue on the paths we have been traveling and finally acknowledge the great progress that we have already made” should put new wind in discouraged environmentalists’ sails, while plentiful references, data and illustrations will give skeptics material to think over. (Sept.)

“OIL IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY”

It doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican, it's hard to disagree with this book. We read it and recommend it! - Steve Spence, Director, Green-Trust.org

NEW BOOK ON AMERICA’S OIL DEPENDENCE DECLARES

“OIL IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY”

October 17, 2007 - As oil prices reach record highs, it’s not just in the consumer pocketbook where war is being waged.

In, Freedom from Oil: How the Next President Can End the United States’ Oil Addiction (McGraw-Hill, October, 2007), author and Brookings Institution scholar David Sandalow writes that our current reliance on oil poses economic, environmental, and national security threats to the country:

1. Oil dependence strengthens Al Queda and other Islamic terrorists;

2. Oil dependence strengthens oil-exporting nations that oppose US interests;

3. Oil dependence threatens our men and women in uniform;

4. Oil dependence undermines democracy and good governance around the world;

5. Oil dependence is central to environmental degradation and contributes significantly to global warming;

6. Oil supplies are vulnerable to natural disasters, war, and terrorist attacks.

Writes Sandalow, America must take steps to counter the deeply entrenched use of oil in our society using a powerful combination of already-present technologies and far-reaching agendas, among them:



· Build millions of plug-in hybrid cars that have traditional engines and connect to the electric grid;

· Make competitively-priced biofuels available to every driver;

· Transform fuel efficiency standards to make sure the US fleet helps lead the world; and

· Transform federal transportation policy to level the playing field for mass transit and promote telecommuting.

Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) calls Freedom from Oil “Required reading for all concerned citizens and elected officials.”

Nobel Prize winner Al Gore says of the author, “When David Sandalow writes about energy and the environment, we should all pay close attention.”

Sandalow, a scholar at The Brookings Institution, worked for the Clinton/Gore White House, and spent much of 2005 traveling with Gore and working with him on the lecture that is now part of An Inconvenient Truth.

The book has a foreword from Senator Richard Lugar, as well as endorsements from General Wesley Clark, James Woolsey, Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton and former head of the CIA, and Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Sandalow is based in Washington, DC and is available for interviews.

Freedom from Oil

Author: David Sandalow

October, 2007

HC, $26.95

For review copies, interviews, and more information, contact:

Ann Pryor, Senior Publicity Manager

McGraw-Hill Companies

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Ann_pryor@mcgraw-hill.com