SCIENCE Ameican Association for the Advancemnt of Science Science serves its readers as a forum for the presentation and discussion of important issues related to the advance- ment of science, including the presentation of minority or con- flicting points of view, rather than by publishing only material on which a consensus has been reached. Accordingly, all ar- ticles published in Science-including editorials, news and comment, and book reviews-are signed and reflect the indi- vidual views of the authors and not official points of view adopted by the AAAS or the institutions with which the au- thors are affiliated. Publisher: Alvin W. Trivelpiece Editor: Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. Deputy Editors: Philip H. Abelson (Engineering and Applied Sciences); John1. Brauman (Physical Sciences) EDITORIAL STAFF Managing Editor: Patricia A. Morgan Assistant Managing Editors: Nancy J. Hartnagel, John E. 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(301-972-9270); U.K., Europe: Nick Jones, +44(0647)52918; Telex 42513; FAX (0392) 31645. Information for contributors appears on page Xl of the 26 June 1987 issue. Editorial correspondence, including re- quests for permission to reprint and reprint orders, should be sent to 1333 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Tele- phone: 202-326-6500. Advertising correspondence should be sent to Tenth Floor, 1515 Broadway, NY 10036. Telephone 212-730-1050 or WU Telex 968082 SCHERAGO. 3 JULY I987 VOLUME 237 NUMBER 48IO Inexorable Laws and the Ecosystem It has been said that the three laws of thermodynamics can be paraphrased. First law: "Life is a zero sum game." Second law: "You can't win." Third law: "You can't get out of the game." The same appears to be true of the global environmental problem. We have only one atmosphere whose balance between carbon dioxide, oxygen, and ozone is critical to our survival. We have one earth and ocean whose fertility and purity are equally important. Increasing population and increasing industrialization pose threats to that environment, the consequences of which will fall on all, except for a few who plan to live out their lives huddled in rockets speeding toward Mars. No area is more plagued with toxic logic or eutrophied emotions. Highly developed countries are appalled at the destruction by poaching of the great lions and elephants of Africa, but starving residents say that they are only doing what their ancestors did to survive. The World Bank now recognizes that its loans may help encourage the destruction of rain forests, but recipients of the loans may consider farmlands more important than rain forests. In California there is a bitter war between residents of the north and the south over a plan to divert water to southern farmers at the expense of the natural beauty and possibly the environmental quality of northern regions. The tendency for each nation or village or region to point a finger and say,"They're no better than I am," will ultimately doom the ecosystem for all of us. The recent willingness of the U.S. finally to sign a treaty on atmospheric pollutants is a timely recognition that we are all in this atmosphere together. As the world population grows and as underdeveloped nations become more industrial- ized, the threat to the environment is going to increase, and very drastically. But before the self-righteous sermons begin, the United States might well examine its own policies to provide belt-tightening models. How can a highly industrialized nation, where there are often two cars per family, make a case to developing nations, where few have even one car, that the world can support no more cars? The suburban sprawl of the United States is continually overrunning the best farmlands of the country. Yet a chicken in every pot and a home for every citizen is still one of the alluring goals of our society. Are we willing to contemplate restrictions to our freedoms in order to preserve agricultural lands and to concentrate people in more urban areas, thus saving on mass transportation and diminishing the need for individual cars? That solution not only makes sense for the environment, but also for the energy crisis that is bound to comein the not-too-distant future. It is the kind of sacrifice, however, that might be difficult for any political party to support. With the problem outlined in global terms, it is clear that a rethinking of priorities is necessary. The population explosion has to move to top priority. There is no way that the problems from cars, chemicals, bad land use, and so on, will not accelerate if the population keeps increasing. There is an air of condescension and superiority if industrialized nations with near-zero population growth tell others to "grow no more," but many are coming to the same conclusions for reasons of political stability and economic well-being. Second, better global planning and national priorities need to be established in transportation policy. Third, containment of toxic wastes, acid rain, and other pollutants that poison the atmosphere, the waters, and the land will have to be initiated at high cost to all citizens. Perhaps the politically feasible line is a negotiated equality of sacrifice. Thus, it is easier for a wealthy nation such as the United States to apply rigid smog controls and develop the technology for waste disposal than an emerging nation such as South Korea. A significant fraction of Superfund should therefore be devoted to research that benefits all. Emerging nations could make their major contributions to programs for effective population control and tailor the research and experience of others to their own pollution problems. Through international treaties, steps toward more appropriate conservation and preservation mea- sures should be taken. Cheap water and cheap air, like cheap oil, are rarely really cheap. Usually one group of citizens must be subsidizing the needs of another group. It is time to take a global look at the policies and priorities that are dooming our ecosystem. In contrast to the paraphrased second law, we can win, but only if we recognize the truth of the first and third laws. We all win or lose together, and no one can be excused from the game.-DANIEL E. KOSHLAND, JR. 3 JULY 1987 EDITORIAL 9 o n A p ril 5 , 2 0 2 1 h ttp ://scie n ce .scie n ce m a g .o rg / D o w n lo a d e d fro m http://science.sciencemag.org/ Inexorable Laws and the Ecosystem DANIEL E. KOSHLAND JR. DOI: 10.1126/science.237.4810.9 (4810), 9.237Science ARTICLE TOOLS http://science.sciencemag.org/content/237/4810/9.citation PERMISSIONS http://www.sciencemag.org/help/reprints-and-permissions Terms of ServiceUse of this article is subject to the is a registered trademark of AAAS.ScienceScience, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005. The title (print ISSN 0036-8075; online ISSN 1095-9203) is published by the American Association for the Advancement ofScience 1987 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. o n A p ril 5 , 2 0 2 1 h ttp ://scie n ce .scie n ce m a g .o rg / D o w n lo a d e d fro m http://science.sciencemag.org/content/237/4810/9.citation http://www.sciencemag.org/help/reprints-and-permissions http://www.sciencemag.org/about/terms-service http://science.sciencemag.org/