Are you familiar with ideas such as "limits to growth", the "tragedy of the commons", and the "scarcity society"? If so, then you know these are controversial and fascinating debates. If not, you owe it to yourself to learn more about them !

The tensions between ecology and sovereignty continue ... but what of the shadow ecologies of the western economies? Global technopolitics? "Think locally, act globally" and ecological concerns that lead to activism, and reach far beyond the traditional boundaries of nation-state?

Politicians and bureaucrats continue to fly the world's skies and produce reams of paper with regard to international agreements on the ozone layer and global warming. But what does this really mean in terms of our future? What was the Earth Summit all about, anyway? Do international agreements really work? Or do new challenges demand totally new approaches?

Free trade ~ we're used to looking at it through the usual economic lens, but what if are indicators are social and environmental, instead? And while we're at it, let's take a look at, and talk about, the World Bank, trade in general, and the implications of "greening development".

That ubiquitous phrase, "sustainable development": what does it really mean? Whose using it, and why? Are we making progress ... and should we be? What about the "business" of sustainable development? And when it comes right down to it, just how much is enough, anyway?

On the threshold of a new millenium, do environmental challenges go far beyond "reduce, reuse, recycle" to encompass issues of conflict and national security? And if we redefine our notions of 'security' to include environmental concerns, who benefits? And who stands to lose?

Issues of power and control. Conflicting agendas. Women, poverty and population. Conservation ~ another excuse for control and coercion?

Now what? Case studies, examples, and current futures thinking on the choices before us.