Arming Mother Nature: The Birth of Catastrophic Environmentalism
 | |
| Author | Jacob Darwin Hamblin |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Environmentalism; Environmental sciences; Military planning |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Publication date | 2013 |
| Pages | x+298 |
| ISBN | 978-0-19-974005-5 |
| OCLC | 960833512 |
| 363.340973 | |
| LC Class | GE180.H352013 |
| Website | Oxford University Press U. S. Library of Congress catalog |
Arming Mother Nature is a 2013 non-fiction book by Jacob Darwin Hamblin,[1] a history professor at Oregon State University. His book argues that The Pentagon and its military planning for WW III promoted "catastrophic environmentalism" by funding environmental science in the Cold War after WW II. The Pentagon planners were interested in the various ways in which natural processes could be harnessed to kill millions of people and/or destroy the agricultural, or other, sectors of the economies of enemy nations.[2][3][4]
Reception[edit]
According to Professor Gregg Mitman of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Hamblin's book gives a compelling account of how military thinking about WW III and military sources of money supported the scientific study, monitoring, and diplomacy of planet Earth's environment. Mitman particularly commends how a book chapter reveals connections between Charles Elton's research on invasive species and military planners' concerns about agriculture and national security.[5] Reviews indicate that Arming Mother Nature is well-documented[6] and well-written.[7]
Awards[edit]
The book won the 2014 Paul Birdsall Prize from the American Historical Association and the 2016 Watson Davis and Helen Miles Davis Prize from the History of Science Society.[8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Hamblin, Jacob Darwin (23 May 2013). Arming Mother Nature: The Birth of Catastrophic Environmentalism. Oup USA. ISBN 978-0-19-974005-5.
- ^ "Review of Arming Mother Nature: The Birth of Catastrophic Environmentalism by Jacob Darwin Hamblin". Publishers Weekly. May 27, 2013.
- ^ Pearce, Fred (10 June 2013). ""How the Cold War Spawned the Environmental Movement" (review of Arming Mother Nature)". New Scientist.
- ^ Rothbard, Sarah (1 May 2013). "The Six Point Inspection: New Books on Spam, Violence, and "Catastrophic Environmentalism" (3 brief book reviews, including one for Arming Mother Nature)". Slate and Zocalo Public Square.
- ^ Mitman, Gregg (9 August 2013). ""The End Times of Cold War Ecology" (review of Arming Mother Nature)". Science. 341 (6146): 614–615. doi:10.1126/science.1241257. S2CID 153661540.
- ^ Whitford, Ben (19 August 2013). "What Greens Can Learn from Dr. Strangelove (review of Arming Mother Nature)". The Ecologist.
- ^ "Review of Arming Mother Nature". Kirkus Reviews. May 7, 2013.
- ^ "Curriculum Vitae. Jacob Darwin Hamblin, Professor of History" (PDF). Liberal Arts, Oregon State University. (with publication list)
External links[edit]
- ""We Tried to Weaponize the Weather" (excerpt from Arming Mother Nature)". Salon. 27 April 2013.
- "Arming Mother Nature: The Birth of Catastrophic Environmentalism". YouTube. Chicago Humanities Festival. November 19, 2013. "Hamblin presents his research ..."