The Wilderness Knot

ISBN-13: 9783639206654 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 256 str.

Haydn Washington

Opis

Over the last thirty years the meaning of the word wilderness has changed and come under sustained attack. How has the term become so confused? What can be done to reduce this confusion? This book arose from the Ph.D. thesis The Wilderness Knot (University of Western Sydney), and investigates the tangled meanings around wilderness. This knot is comprised of five strands; philosophical, political, cultural, justice and exploitation. Wilderness as a term is in a unique philosophical position, being disliked by both modernists and many postmodernists alike. The research uses participatory action research with Aboriginal people and conservationists and wilderness journals. All scholars interviewed agreed that large natural intact areas (lanais) should be protected, though some did not call them wilderness. Confusion declines when one can show that people hold many ideas in common. Mind maps are used to investigate the issues and to suggest ways forward to reduce confusion. The idea of shared custodianship or stewardship is suggested as a way forward. This is a book for all those interested in saving and managing the Earths remaining large natural areas or wilderness.

O autorze

Haydn G. Washington, BA, MSc., PhD: PhD The Wilderness Knot at University of Western Sydney, 2007. Worked for 35 years as environmental scientist and led the campaign for the largest wilderness (Wollemi) in NSW, Australia. He is the author of the books Ecosolutions (1991) and A sense of Wonder (2002).