State of the World 2001 (Worldwatch Institute Books)

Doctoral Student, Pepperdine University, Educational Technology

The World Watch Society has published the State of the World every year since 1984. The 1999 edition has ten chapters, each written by an expert, on economic utilization of the forests, oceans, material economies, plant biodiversity; social issues such as feeding the world's growing population, ending violent conflicts, and the possibilities of creating a sustainable society. While there are many books that deal with the state of the world, this series is unique if only for their ability to provide notes on where the information they use, comes from. They have 41 tables and 19 charts with figures and the 180+ pages of text are supplemented with over 60 pages of notes.

The tone of the volume is set by the Forward which indicates that the Millennial year exists in only the Christian calendar. The Jewish calendar marks the year as 5759, the Hindus say it is 5101, and the Muslim calendar checks in with the year 1377. The celebration of the millennium is particularly a Western celebration. But they do not miss the opportunity of saying that now is a good time for the Western nations and others to decide on new policies to create a more humane world. A sustainable world is one where food, housing, and individual opportunities to obtain full potential, are all possible. And are possible at a level that can be repeated over a number of years. "No challenge is greater, or more satisfying, than building an environmentally sustainable global economy, one where economic and social progress can continue not only in the twenty-first century but many centuries beyond."

The rapid change that has marked the twentieth century is demonstrated by the world's population explosion. Charting the growth of the human population over the past 12,000 years creates startling numbers. For several thousands of years up until 2000 BC, the world's population probably stayed around 4 million people. It moved to 27 million by 2000 BC, and 100 million 2000 years ago. By the year 1000 it was estimated to be 350 million, and by 1825 the world hit the billion mark. We now estimate our population to be 6 billion and it is anticipated that in another 50 years we will add over 3 billion more people. The good news is that throughout the world there is a growing trend towards a declining population growth.

It is not hard to realize that the European nations and especially the United States use up more than their share of world wide resources. The use of oil, timber, ocean resources, and other resources by the United States alone far surpasses most of the world. "We need a new moral compass to guide us into the twenty-first century - a compass grounded in the principles of meeting human needs sustainably."

While the water tables throughout the world are dropping, the oceans are being depleted, and global warming increasing, there are signs of hope throughout the world. As the world's governments are trying to figure out what to do, local communities are acting to establish better ways of living. In Boston the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority decided not to divert two rivers needed to add to their water supplies, but instead, repaired leaky pipes, and educated the citizens on how to save water. The efforts worked, and they saved money on the plan. In Pakistan a district of 1 million squatters organized themselves, collected money, and created sewers to serve their district.

The book ends by quoting H. G. Wells who suggested that "human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe." The State of the World does an excellent job of providing a real account of the world's problems but it also shows many of the ways that people throughout the world are cooperating to improve their lives. The choice between adding to the growing problems or becoming a part of those who are creating answers to the problems, is clearly ours to make.


state of sadness   May 8, 2000
alexandra mcguinness
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Reading State of the World 22 took me out of my cushy frivolous life and made me really think. I used to be of the frame of mind that sources of energy and the aids problem were nothing to do with me and someone else could deal with it and anyway to tell the truth it sort of bored me.Each time I read this book I would find myself crying as I turned the pages, it really is sad how down the world has gone and how much further it still has to fall if we dont change our ways of thinking. This book puts all the information on sustainable issues and world problems in straightforward english with interesting graphics and statistics in easy to read graphs so that even I (not quite a brain surgeon) can grasp the information.State of the world is not just a book moaning about what we have done wrong it also explains the solutions and what each person can to do help after all we are the cause and we can help be the cure.


Please take the time to read this book   May 17, 1999
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is a book that will most likely change your direction in life. It's highly researched information on what's really happening on our planet and with our environment.

Because the economy is strong most people think everything is going great. But it's like having a very high interest credit card that your using to live off of. It may appear that all is well, but when the card is maxed out the consequences are going to surface and will be very painful.

Read this book if you care about your life, your children and the sustainability of our planet. Time is running very short...

Nothing is more important.


Great layman's overview of our environment   October 22, 2001
Emelie McNett (Burien, WA United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book, like none other, has lain out for me a clear picture of the state of our environment. I use it as a reference to communicate to others the importance of modifying our lifestyles to promote a healthier planet, not only for people but for the other creatures with whom we share our natural resources.


State of the World 2001   March 22, 2002
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

The main intention of the book is to show the world's standing last year. It has not changed much since then, yet we still have the same goals and duties, as citizens of the earth. The authors provide scientific evidence that we ourselves are destroying Mother Earth and that our responsibility is to take care of it and improve ecology today.

I have read other books on the subject of the world's state today and it is interesting and frightening at the same time, to see that they were all proffessing the same message.

Each chapter provides statistics and facts from history in introductions and throughout chapters. Stunning information made me realize how we ourselves have caused deterioration in ecology and society. We, as citizens of the earth have polluted the air, causing global warming, shortage of resources and water, that has led to starvation and other disasters. It is comforting that each chapter does not end on a sad note, after presenting disturbing statistics. Instead, authors provide solutions and steps we could and should take to save the world. We have to work together to willfully stop the degrading cycle. Great book!