Athens, Ga.– James W. Porter, Meigs Professor of Ecology and associate dean of the Odum School of Ecology, will present a lecture on the environmental effects of war. “The Ecology of War,” which is being given as a special guest lecture in assistant professor Jacqueline Mohan’s “Global Climate Change: Past, Present & Future” class, is open to the public. It will take place in the Ecology auditorium on Thursday, April 15, from 2 – 3:15 p.m.
According to Porter, the impetus for the talk was a combination of his recent participation in an environmental summit sponsored by NATO and his research on the environmental effects of naval bombardment of Vieques, Puerto Rico. The talk will focus broadly on developing an understanding that the environmental costs of war are much higher than previously recognized, or acknowledged. From studies on climate change and groundwater pollution, the newly emerging field of warfare ecology is revealing the impact of war on both environmental and human health.
“The environmental effects of war (and the preparation for war) are much worse than anyone had realized,” Porter said, “and have disturbing consequences and far-reaching implications for global sustainability.”
