Culture and the Common Management of Global Risks

The Chernobyl disaster of 1985 highlighted a problem of practical importance for all nations, that of managing common technological hazards and common resources across national boundaries in the absence of global government. At the time of the incident, environmental specialists already were discove...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Practicing Anthropology
Main Authors: Gerlach, Luther, Rayner, Steve
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Informa UK Limited 1988
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.17730/praa.10.3-4.d772535101163884
http://meridian.allenpress.com/practicing-anthropology/article-pdf/10/3-4/15/1858691/praa_10_3-4_d772535101163884.pdf
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Summary:The Chernobyl disaster of 1985 highlighted a problem of practical importance for all nations, that of managing common technological hazards and common resources across national boundaries in the absence of global government. At the time of the incident, environmental specialists already were discovering how global ecosystems are being put at risk by myriad human activities at the local level. In addition to radiological catastrophe, the catalogue of problems includes the greenhouse effect, transported acid precipitation, desertification, pollution of large groundwater systems, and the environmental consequences of oceanic exploitation. The latest, and perhaps most spectacular, addition to the list is the Antarctic ozone hole.