Troubled Lands

During 70 years of communist rule, the former Soviet Union inflicted wide-spread environmental damage throughout Russia and the Soviet Republics in its quest for military and economic power. Now that the USSR is gone, the newly independent states are forced to deal with this legacy of destruction in an effort to rebuild their economies. This book utilizes case studies, interviews with old and new government officials, and records of the actions of industry, military, government, and grass-roots environmental organizations to build a cohesive picture of the overwhelming ecological challenges facing the successor states. Also, it reflects on the roles and responsibilities that the advanced industrialized nations could play in mitigating these problems. Beyond this, the book provides important lessons for all nations that aspire to achieve the delicate balance between economic prosperity and environmental responsibility.