Halo, eco-friendly viewers, and welcome to Planet Earth: Our Loving
Home. On this edition we speak with Professor Saleem H. Ali, a
Pakistani-American scholar who is a professor of environmental studies
at the University of Vermont, USA, regarding environmental protection
in Pakistan, as well as the conservation of the Earth’s mineral
resources.
Professor Ali has edited several important
treatises on safeguarding the environment and recently authored
『Treasures of the Earth: Need, Greed, and a Sustainable Future,』 a book
discussing how humanity can extract and use the precious gifts from the
Earth, such as iron ore and gold, in a more environmentally
responsible manner.
The
professor is known for his mediation skills and helping to resolve
issues between various stakeholders when nature will be impacted by a
development project.
Prof Ali(m): I also teach another class
which is on environmental conflict resolution. And that’s more of a
seminar class where I use some of the techniques I developed in my
research and practice in resolving disputes between corporations and
communities on environmental issues. So for example, the development of
a new mine in some community or it could be the development of a new
highway.
HOST: Professor Ali was born in the USA and moved to
Pakistan when he was nine years old. He says his upbringing has
provided him with a better understanding of the cultural differences
between East and West, as well as given him a unique perspective in
searching for solutions to environmental issues. While residing in
Pakistan, he saw great progress in the nation’s environmental movement.
For more information on Professor Saleem H. Ali, please visit
www.UVM.edu/~Shali Professor Ali’s books are available at
www.amazon.com