Troublemakers: The Struggle for Environmental Justice in Scotland

Troublemakers is a provocative argument from prominent environmentalist Kevin Dunion for a sustained challenge to environmental injustice in Scotland.Pollution, disturbance and fears of ill health affect the daily life of many Scots, particularly from the most disadvantaged or vulnerable groups in society. They are expected to put up with unnecessary risk and a lower quality of life. Groups who attempt to speak up in defence of their communities are often marginalised by government, industry and regulatory bodies. They find themselves branded as 'troublemakers'.This book, a unique insight into the nature of environmental campaigning in Scotland, draws on international as well as Scottish case studies and covers:*The failure to make the polluter pay.*Community attitudes to risk and loss of trust in scientists.*The response of companies and authorities to challenge.*Conflicts over jobs versus the environment.Troublemakers advocates a new perspective on Scotland's environment and urges us to move towards environmental justice for all.Key Features*Author is a prominent environmentalist - former Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland and previous Chairman of FoE International-*Polemical - argues for a new perspective which will create environmental justice for all-*Uses case studies of environmental campaigns to illustrate key points-*Defends the role of troublemakers as catalysts for real challenge to authorities and bringing about change-*Puts Scotland into international context, comparing its environmental record with the rest of the UK, Europe and the US-

Table of Contents:
1. Troublemakers; 2. Whose Environment is it anyway?; 3. Cowboys and Sheriffs; 4. Small Lives, Big Risks; 5. Jobs versus the Environment; 6. Best Laid Plans; 7. Trying to Silence the Troublemakers; 8. What do you know?; 9. Environmental Justice for Scotland.

About the Author :
Kevin Dunion headed Friends of the Earth Scotland for over a decade, in which time he was also Chairman of Friends of the Earth International. An Honorary Senior Research Fellow of the Department of Environmental Planning at the University of Strathclyde, he has served on the Scottish Executive’s Cabinet Sub-committee for a sustainable Scotland and on the Board of Scottish Natural Heritage.He has now been appointed by the Scottish Parliament to be the first Scottish Information Commissioner.

Review :
Gives a real insight into what the high-sounding pricniple of environmental justice actually means in practice, and demonstrates how critical it is to our future. -- What on Earth? magazine (Friends of the Earth) This book explains what the problems are with our planning system, how it needs to be changed and what the present problems are in challenging unwanted developments. -- Robin Harper, MSP for the Scottish Green Party Those who make trouble make progress. Kevin Dunion is a veteran trouble-maker, and his compelling account of people campaigning for environmental justice will inspire others to do the same. Kevin Dunion chronicles relentlessly the attempts of people, and failure of the system, to provide Scots with an acceptable environment ... This book sets out many examples of successful troublemaking, as well as highlighting the changes which should be made to bring about good living conditions for all. How big is the environment? The whole world? Or your backyard? Or, as Kevin Dunion sees it, both? He takes the slogan 'act local, think global' very seriously in his account of Scottish environmental injustices in Troublemakers. The greedy importers of garbage who fill the dumps that plague Scottish neighbourhoods are pursuing profit across national boundaries. Roads are undermined by coal extraction, beaches are polluted - and all this can be traced back to international corporate pressures. So for a guide on how to kick up a stink about a stink, this is great stuff: foul deeds, telling successes and an end to helplessness in the face of environmental insults. Gives a real insight into what the high-sounding pricniple of environmental justice actually means in practice, and demonstrates how critical it is to our future. This book explains what the problems are with our planning system, how it needs to be changed and what the present problems are in challenging unwanted developments. Those who make trouble make progress. Kevin Dunion is a veteran trouble-maker, and his compelling account of people campaigning for environmental justice will inspire others to do the same. Kevin Dunion chronicles relentlessly the attempts of people, and failure of the system, to provide Scots with an acceptable environment ... This book sets out many examples of successful troublemaking, as well as highlighting the changes which should be made to bring about good living conditions for all. How big is the environment? The whole world? Or your backyard? Or, as Kevin Dunion sees it, both? He takes the slogan 'act local, think global' very seriously in his account of Scottish environmental injustices in Troublemakers. The greedy importers of garbage who fill the dumps that plague Scottish neighbourhoods are pursuing profit across national boundaries. Roads are undermined by coal extraction, beaches are polluted - and all this can be traced back to international corporate pressures. So for a guide on how to kick up a stink about a stink, this is great stuff: foul deeds, telling successes and an end to helplessness in the face of environmental insults.