| Popis: |
Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the issues of agricultural intensification such as livestock farming in the Netherlands. The chapter is in the form of a case study, focusing on an environmental problem in an advanced Western society. It demonstrates that even apparently localized or national environmental problems have much wider international ramifications. The case focuses on three aspects that arise out of intensive livestock farming. First of all, it addresses the question of ecological and economic interdependencies. Second, both the definition of a problem and any attempts, which are made to solve it, involve numerous conflicts of interest. These problems come at all levels, from the local through the national to the international level. The third aspect is the role of technology. Faith in specific technologies is ideology-laden; it is connected with particular interests. The bearers of these interests are keen to portray the technical solution (in this case industrial manure processing) as being in the public interest. Others, however, argue that in the final analysis the technology has damaged socioeconomic and environmental interests. |
