The sixth in the series of Ramin Jahanbegloo's interviews of prominent intellectuals who have influenced modern Indian thought, Talking Environment is based on Jahanbegloo's conversations with Vandana Shiva, one of the leading environmental activists of our time. The book addresses issues encompassing nature and spiritualism, the Chipko Movement and the birth of Navdanya, ecofeminism, 'earth democracy', 'seed globalization', functioning of the neoliberal paradigm in India, swadeshi and village governance, corruption and poverty in India, the future of Indian farmers, among others.

The dialogue flows effortlessly from Shiva's descriptions of her early life, influence of her parents and teachers, her affinity with the Himalayas, love for quantum physics, and experiences in the University of Western Ontario to the role of technology and science, the relevance of Gandhian philosophy in the contemporary world, and 'eco-imperialism'. Engaging and thought-provoking, this book is a journey into the life and work of one of the leading thinkers of our time.

The winner of the Peace Prize from the United Nations in Spain and an advisory board member of PEN Canada, Ramin Jahanbegloo is an internationally celebrated philosopher and currently York-Noor Visiting Chair in Islamic Studies and Associate Professor in Political Science at York University in Toronto.

Ramin Jahanbegloo's profile page

Vandana Shiva is a world-renowned environmental thinker and activist. A leader in the International Forum on Globalization, Shiva won the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize (the Right Livelihood Award) in 1993. Director of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Natural Resource Policy, she is the author of many books, including Protect or Plunder? Understanding Intellectual Property Rights, Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply, Biopiracy: The Plunder of Nature and Knowledge, and Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution, and Profit.

Vandana Shiva's profile page