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REVIEWS BOOKS THE PERILS OF PROGRESS by John Ashton and Ron Laura Publisher: UNSW Press, Australia, 1998 ISBN: 0-86840-488-8 (346pp tpb) Price: AUD$29.95; NZD$29.95 + p&h; USD$34.95 inc. p&h in USA Distributors: Aust—UNSW Press, Sydney NSW 2052, ph (02) 9664 0999, e-mail, sales.press@unsw.edu.au; NZ—Green Phoenix Marketing, ph (06) 355 1298; USA—International Specialized Book Service, ph 1800 944 6190 lhe price we've paid for progress has been high, and our economies can no longer be oriented towards growth at any cost. Moreover, that price has exacted an enor- mous toll on our health and Nature. The threats to our well-being are every- where, but as food chemist John Ashton and education professor Ron Laura point out in their latest co-written book, The Perils of Progress, we can take precautions in our day-to-day lives to minimise their impact on our health and the environment. Ashton and Laura consider the dangers posed by electrical, food, water and environ- mental technology with reference to the lat- est scientific research. First, they look at the deleterious health effects of electromagnetic fields, mobile phones, microwave ovens, computer VDUs and televisions, and how to counteract them. Next, they present fright- ening information on just how contaminated our food has become, with processing and additives, toxins like cadmium and alumini- um, and irradiation and pesticides exerting unknown effects in combination. From there, Ashton and Laura warn of the dangers of poisoning our precious water supplies through chlorination and fluorida- tion and of polluting our indoor environ- ments with air conditioning and artificial light. In fact, there is strong evidence link- ing fluorescent lighting with melanoma. The authors are adamant that ordinary peo- ple, organised in grassroots-level campaigns and armed with the facts, can overcome and even eradicate these perils that put our lives and future in such jeopardy. “NZ—G a oo oe eer Phoenix Marketing, ph (06) 355 1298: ATLANTIS IN AMERICA: Navigators evolution of civilisation in the Americas. USA—International Specialized Book’ «of the Ancient World Moreover, it gives a scathing critique of the Service, ph 1800 944 6190 by Ivar Zapp and George Erikson The ath urns ind their aret ng te th he price we've paid for progress has been Publisher: Adventures Unlimited, 1998 f © aul to the Bert near ah evid with f high, and our economies can no longer ISBN: 0-932813-52-6 (398pp trade pb) vataclven ome the milk my", eV svi ° be oriented towards growth at any cost. Price: AUD$28.00; NZD$35.00; tons built on tot of old survivin viceends. ° Moreover, that price has exacted an enor- GBP£15.50; NLGf39.90; USD$17.95 t-of-context Pe facts, and h genes, mous toll on our health and Nature. Available: Aust/NZ/UK/Eur— NEXUS out-ol-context artetacts, and much more. The threats to our well-being are every- offices; USA—Adventures Unlimited, PO where, but as food chemist John Ashton and _—_ Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946, ph (815) 253 education professor Ron Laura point outin 6390, fax (815) 253 6300 their latest co-written book, The Perils of he most overlooked key to understand- Progress, we can take precautions in our ing the history of ancient civilisations is day-to-day lives to minimise their impact on __ the role of navigation, say the authors of this our health and the environment. engrossing book, Aflantis in America. And Ashton and Laura consider the dangers all navigational roads in the megalithic posed by electrical, food, water and environ- _ world led to and from Central America—or mental technology with reference to the lat- _ Atlantis—according to Professor Ivar Zapp est scientific research. First, they look at the and writer George Erikson. deleterious health effects of electromagnetic Prof. Zapp, based at the University of fields, mobile phones, microwave ovens, Costa Rica, has spent many years studying computer VDUs and televisions, and how to __ the huge stone spheres—some measuring counteract them. Next, they present fright- over nine feet in diameter and weighing as ening information on just how contaminated — much as 20 tons—found in the Diquis Delta our food has become, with processing and region of southwest Costa Rica. While the additives, toxins like cadmium and alumini- _ triangular layout of some of these spheres um, and irradiation and pesticides exerting was mapped in 1949, Zapp has determined unknown effects in combination. that their axes were oriented towards mag- From there, Ashton and Laura warn of the _ netic north and their line projections took in 76 * NEXUS key regions in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans as well as megalithic temple sites at Stonehenge and the Giza plateau. These stone sphere arrangements had to have been navigational maps and teaching aids, incorporating knowledge about ocean currents as well as the stars, conclude Zapp and Erikson (who brings chaos theory and archaeoastronomy into the investigation). Their examination presents a much differ- ent picture to the conventional Eurocentric historical world view of the antiquity and evolution of civilisation in the Americas. Moreover, it gives a scathing critique of the Catholic Church's role in rewriting history. The authors expand their argument with reference to the Beringia myth, evidence of cataclysms over the millennia, new civilisa- tions built on top of old, surviving legends, out-of-context artefacts, and much more. ea CARP cred in ‘ BEDASE ERINEON” AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1998