Requiem for a Species: Difference between revisions
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'''''Requiem for a Species: Why We Resist the Truth about Climate Change''''' is a 2010 book by [[Clive Hamilton]] which explores [[climate change denial]] and its implications. Hamilton has written about [[climate change]] for 15 years, and contends that the "world is on a path to a very unpleasant future and it is too late to stop it".<ref>Kelsey Munro. [http://www.smh.com.au/environment/too-late-for-all-but-prayers-20100226-p95h.html Too late for all but prayers] ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', February 27, 2010.</ref> Hamilton argues that to believe anything else is to deny the climate change truth and engage in wishful thinking, yet people continue to resist the truth about climate change.<ref name=sy/> |
'''''Requiem for a Species: Why We Resist the Truth about Climate Change''''' is a 2010 book by [[Clive Hamilton]] which explores [[climate change denial]] and its implications. Hamilton has written about [[climate change]] for 15 years, and contends that the "world is on a path to a very unpleasant future and it is too late to stop it".<ref>Kelsey Munro. [http://www.smh.com.au/environment/too-late-for-all-but-prayers-20100226-p95h.html Too late for all but prayers] ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', February 27, 2010.</ref> Hamilton argues that to believe anything else is to deny the climate change truth and engage in wishful thinking, yet people continue to resist the truth about climate change.<ref name=sy/> |
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==Themes== |
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Hamilton points out that there have been many books and reports over the years explaining the climate change problem and just how ominous the future looks for humanity. Hamilton says ''Requiem for a Species'' is about why we have ignored those warnings.<ref>Clive Hamilton. ''Requiem for a Species'', Allen & Unwin, 2010, p. x.</ref> |
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Hamilton considers that sometimes an inconvenient truth may be too difficult to bear: |
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| ⚫ | Sometimes facing up to the truth is just too hard. When the facts are distressing it is easier to reframe or ignore them. Around the world only a few have truly faced up to the facts about [[global warming]]... It's the same with our own deaths; we all "accept" that we will die, but it is only when our death is imminent that we confront the true meaning of our mortality. <ref>Clive Hamilton. ''Requiem for a Species'', Allen & Unwin, 2010, p. viii.</ref> |
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</blockquote> Hamilton makes his argument in three stages. Firstly, he reviews the evidence about how serious the situation is already and how much worse it will get. Secondly, he examines the roots of our denial, both in terms of our resistance to the evidence and in relation to the actors and agencies motivated to deny climate change. Lastly, he looks at some future scenarios and reflects on what people should do.<ref name=sy>Steven Yearley. [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=411928 Book of the week: Requiem for a Species] ''Times Higher Education'', 3 June 2010.</ref> |
</blockquote> Hamilton makes his argument in three stages. Firstly, he reviews the evidence about how serious the situation is already and how much worse it will get. Secondly, he examines the roots of our denial, both in terms of our resistance to the evidence and in relation to the actors and agencies motivated to deny climate change. Lastly, he looks at some future scenarios and reflects on what people should do.<ref name=sy>Steven Yearley. [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=411928 Book of the week: Requiem for a Species] ''Times Higher Education'', 3 June 2010.</ref> |
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==Reception== |
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''Requiem for a Species'' was "Book of the week" in the ''[[Times Higher Education]]'' supplement on 3 June 2010.<ref name=sy/> An extract of the book appeared in ''[[The Guardian]]'' on 16 April 2010.<ref>Clive Hamilton. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/16/requiem-for-a-species-clive-hamilton Extract: Requiem for a Species by Clive Hamilton] ''The Guardian'', 16 April 2010.</ref> |
''Requiem for a Species'' was "Book of the week" in the ''[[Times Higher Education]]'' supplement on 3 June 2010.<ref name=sy/> An extract of the book appeared in ''[[The Guardian]]'' on 16 April 2010.<ref>Clive Hamilton. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/16/requiem-for-a-species-clive-hamilton Extract: Requiem for a Species by Clive Hamilton] ''The Guardian'', 16 April 2010.</ref> |
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==Author== |
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Clive Hamilton is professor of public ethics at the Australian [[Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics]] (CAPPE). Before joining CAPPE, he was executive director and founder of the [[The Australia Institute]], a progressive [[think tank]].<ref name=sy/> |
Clive Hamilton is professor of public ethics at the Australian [[Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics]] (CAPPE). Before joining CAPPE, he was executive director and founder of the [[The Australia Institute]], a progressive [[think tank]].<ref name=sy/> |
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Revision as of 22:53, 30 November 2010
Requiem for a Species: Why We Resist the Truth about Climate Change is a 2010 book by Clive Hamilton which explores climate change denial and its implications. Hamilton has written about climate change for 15 years, and contends that the "world is on a path to a very unpleasant future and it is too late to stop it".[1] Hamilton argues that to believe anything else is to deny the climate change truth and engage in wishful thinking, yet people continue to resist the truth about climate change.[2]
Themes
Hamilton points out that there have been many books and reports over the years explaining the climate change problem and just how ominous the future looks for humanity. Hamilton says Requiem for a Species is about why we have ignored those warnings.[3]
Hamilton considers that sometimes an inconvenient truth may be too difficult to bear:
Sometimes facing up to the truth is just too hard. When the facts are distressing it is easier to reframe or ignore them. Around the world only a few have truly faced up to the facts about global warming... It's the same with our own deaths; we all "accept" that we will die, but it is only when our death is imminent that we confront the true meaning of our mortality. [4]
Hamilton makes his argument in three stages. Firstly, he reviews the evidence about how serious the situation is already and how much worse it will get. Secondly, he examines the roots of our denial, both in terms of our resistance to the evidence and in relation to the actors and agencies motivated to deny climate change. Lastly, he looks at some future scenarios and reflects on what people should do.[2]
Reception
Requiem for a Species was "Book of the week" in the Times Higher Education supplement on 3 June 2010.[2] An extract of the book appeared in The Guardian on 16 April 2010.[5]
Author
Clive Hamilton is professor of public ethics at the Australian Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE). Before joining CAPPE, he was executive director and founder of the The Australia Institute, a progressive think tank.[2]
See also
- An Inconvenient Truth
- Storms of my Grandchildren
- Climate Code Red: The Case for Emergency Action
- Scorcher: The Dirty Politics of Climate Change
- Merchants of Doubt
References
- ^ Kelsey Munro. Too late for all but prayers The Sydney Morning Herald, February 27, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Steven Yearley. Book of the week: Requiem for a Species Times Higher Education, 3 June 2010.
- ^ Clive Hamilton. Requiem for a Species, Allen & Unwin, 2010, p. x.
- ^ Clive Hamilton. Requiem for a Species, Allen & Unwin, 2010, p. viii.
- ^ Clive Hamilton. Extract: Requiem for a Species by Clive Hamilton The Guardian, 16 April 2010.