REVIEWS

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH’S ONLINE DEBATE

fi eld in Calcutta? In addition to

such fascinating facts, Tudge

takes the reader through the

whats, whys and hows of trees,

demonstrating that they are

integral to the world ecosystem

and arguing that they are ‘the

centre of all terrestrial ecology’.

The chapter entitled ‘Trees

and Us’ provides a particularly

interesting insight into the

ecological position of trees in

relation to humans. As with

previous books by Tudge, this

is rich in detail, immaculately

researched and thought

provoking.

Reviewed by Harry Wilmot

The Meadowlands:

Wilderness Adventures on

the Edge of New York City

Robert Sullivan

Granta Books, 2006, £8.99

Just fi ve miles west of New

York City lies the Meadowlands,

a wild area of swampland

and garbage hills. Robert

Sullivan takes the reader on a

captivating exploration of this

habitat, which appears, on the

surface, somewhat unlikely. Over

the years, his wanderings have

led him to discover the richness

of the region – its rare birds,

dead bodies and the remains of

the original Penn Station. But

what really engages the reader

is his portrayal of the perpetual

struggle between people,

progress and our environment.

Reviewed by Clare Sutton

Every month we host a debate on the Ecologist website. If you want to take part, please register online at www.theecologist.org, and get stuck in.

CAN WE REALLY CHANGE PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR BY CHANGING THE FOOD THEY EAT?

Sherill Chapman 02/03/2006 15:11:58

I think the old saying ‘you are what you eat’

has stood the test of time for a good reason: It’s

absolutely true. It just makes sense that what

you eat will not only affect your physical health,

but your mental wellbeing as well. Despite being

tasty, food is essentially fuel for our bodies. Many

people put greater care into the quality of fuel

they use in their cars or lawnmowers than the fuel

they put into their own bodies and the bodies

of their children. The results of this widespread

disregard for good nutrition are evident in the

high rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes,

depression, asthma and a host of other ailments

that are plaguing the developed world. Prevention

should be practised and promoted far more than

it currently is, and that, of course, includes good

food and nutrition.

Susan Win 02/03/2006 19:24:38

Barbara Reed served as an Ohio probation offi cer

for 20 years. In 1971, she developed a programme

on the relationship of diet and behaviour. A fi ve

year study showed that over 80 per cent of people

on her programme did not get back into trouble

with the courts. Fourteen scientifi c studies have

since proven that behaviour is indeed affected

by diet. Also, doctors did X-ray-testing of lead

levels in criminals’ bones and found them to be

signifi cantly higher than in non-criminals’. Since

the US has phased out leaded gasoline, criminal

activity has dropped year after year . . .

Ken Hargesheimer 03/03/2006 01:46:09

Everyone should view the DVD The Impact of Food

on Learning and Behaviour on an alternative high

school in Michigan, USA – all organic food and

snacks. After a short time, the ‘school policeman’

was no longer needed. And another one You Do

What You Eat . . . (both of which will be reviewed

in next month’s Ecologist).

Tony Green - 05/03/2006 23:33:27

We have been using food for years to correct

health problems, sugar is a massive problem, not

only causing ADD/ADHD but asthma as well. I have

proven this time and again but unfortunately

there is money to be made from people being sick.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the only

people that Big Pharma doesn’t make money out

of are either healthy or dead.

Jordan Tan - 11/03/2006 02:06:55

There is a relentless “cooperation” between the

US$1.4 trillion food industry and US$1 trillion

sickness industry. The food industry creates

patients so the sickness industry can treat the

symptoms, not seek a cure.

Sarah Emmerson - 02/03/2006 13:31:34

It seems so obvious, just look at what Jamie Oliver

did in schools. Just by feeding kids vegetables

instead of chips he dramatically improved their

concentration and performance in a few weeks.

More awareness is needed of the effects food

can have on our brains, not just our physical

appearance. Healthy food would be such a logical

and simple way to help young offenders to

improve their lives.

HAVE YOUR

SAY. . . join

the Ecologist

online debate

on: www.

theecologist.

org/debate.

060 THE ECOLOGIST