We need a change

Author: Qiu Shuping
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-01-01
Features: In the 20th century, human society achieved tremendous material success, yet it also faced an unprecedented crisis: population explosion, resource depletion, environmental degradation, and food shortages. All these threats severely endangered human survival and development. We see that deforestation for agriculture and overgrazing have led to the destruction of forests and grasslands in many parts of the world, with increasing soil erosion, expanding desertification, and frequent natural disasters. We also see that the endless discharge of pollutants from industrial production has made city skies no longer clear, rivers and lakes no longer pure, and pollution accidents occurring one after another, threatening people's health and safety. Currently, the world experiences two major pollution accidents every three days. Especially in recent years, the Bhopal pesticide leakage accident in India and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant leakage accident in the Soviet Union caused the largest environmental disasters in history, with tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of people displaced. We also see that the continuous increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emitted by humans has led to a sharp rise in global temperatures, with successive heatwaves and scorching summers. In the near future, this may lead to the melting of polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and the potential devastation of island nations, while 3 billion people in coastal areas around the world may face the peril of seawater intrusion. Additionally, the worsening of environmental issues such as ozone layer depletion, biodiversity loss, and acid rain further darkens the prospects for humanity. Survival or destruction? This Hamlet-like dilemma also perplexes humanity. The confusion urges reflection and serves as a wake-up call. People are increasingly realizing that the key to overcoming this crisis lies in humanity undergoing profound transformation. Qiu Geiping is an outstanding representative of China's environmental protection cause. His book We Need a Transformation selects influential works from different periods over the past 20 years, which can be seen as a systematic review of the history of contemporary environmental protection in China. The book reflects the grand vision and heartfelt dedication of an elderly environmentalist.