CAN LIFE PREVAIL REV/E 2/E

Pentti Linkola was born in Helsinki in 1932. His father was the rector of Helsinki University and his grandfather had worked as chancellor of that same university. Pentti Linkola, however, chose a very different path. Having spent most of his life working as a professional fisherman, he now continues to lead a materially simple existence in the countryside. A renowned figure in Finland, since the 1960s Linkola has published numerous books on environmentalism. Today, he is among the foremost exponents of the philosophy of deep ecology.

With the train of civilization hurtling at ever-increasing speed towards self-destruction, the most pressing question facing humanity in the 21st century is that of the preservation of life itself. Can Life Prevail? provides a radical yet firmly grounded perspective on the ecological problems threatening both the biosphere and human culture. With essays covering topics as diverse as animal rights, extinction, deforestation, terrorism and overpopulation, Can Life Prevail? makes the lucid, challenging writing of Linkola available to the English-speaking public for the first time. "By decimating its woodlands, Finland has created the grounds for prosperity. We can now thank prosperity for bringing us - among other things - two million cars, millions of glowing, electronic entertainment boxes, and many unneeded buildings to cover the green earth. Surplus wealth has led to gambling in the marketplace and rampant social injustice, whereby 'the common people' end up contributing to the construction of golf courses, five-star hotels, and holiday resorts, while fattening Swiss bank accounts. Besides, the people of wealthy countries are the most frustrated, unemployed, unhappy, suicidal, sedentary, worthless and aimless people in history. What a miserable exchange."-Pentti LinkolaKaarlo Pentti Linkola was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1932. Having spent most of his life working as a professional fisherman, he now continues to lead a simple existence in the country. A renowned figure in Finland, Linkola has published numerous books and essays on environmentalism since the 1960s. Today, he is among the foremost exponents of the philosophy of deep ecology.

Foreword Introduction Preface by the Author Chapter 1: Finland Humbug The Finnish Body Sales Season What is the Majority and What is the Minority? Life Protection, Utopias, and Agriculture Against Highway Crime Chapter 2: Forests The Old Forest of Talaskangas The Green lie It is Dark in the Woods The Forest Covering in Finland Must Be Restored A Logging Story Is the WWF Favouring Crime? Chapter 3: Animals From Gunslingers to Environmental Disaster An Animal History of the New Age The Ethics of Environmentalism The Suppressed Nightmare of Conservation The Cat Disaster Joyful Chickens and Sad The Animal Protector As an Apostle of Doom Aspects of Animal Protection Animal Rights in the Bible A Look at Vegetarianism The Value of Humans and That of Animals Chapter 4: The World and Us A Refresher Course in the State of the World The Intolerable Misfortune of Technology Women As the Protectors of Life Human Nature and History The Decline of the World Knows No Mercy The World at the Turn of the Millennium Bull's Eye A Perspective on the State of the World, or the ABC of the Deep Ecologist - Part One A Perspective on the State of the World, or the ABC of the Deep Ecologist - Part Two Chapter 5: The Prerequisites for Life The Sum of Life On the Reversal of Finnish Society Can We Survive?: A Model for a Controlled Future