Environmental Organizations and Reasoned Discourse

Environmental Organizations and Reasoned Discourse Synopsis

This book explores the meaning and role of "e;fair and reasoned discourse"e; in thecontext of our institutions for environmental decision processes. The bookreviews the roles of our "e;environmental advocacy organizations"e;-such as TheSierra Club, The Audubon Society, the Environmental Defense Fund-in providingand ensuring that our discourse and decisions are fair and reasoned according tothe criteria of being (i) inclusive of input from all affected, (ii) informed of relevantscientific and socio-economic information, (iii) uncorrupted by direct conflicts ofinterest, and (iv) logical according robust review by uncorrupted judges. Theseorganizations are described and examined as expressions of "e;collective imperfectduty,"e; i.e. the coordinated duties with environmental direction. The current stateof our discourse is examined in light of this fairness criteria, particularly inconsideration of the cross-border problems that threaten tragedies of the globalcommons.