The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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Drawing heavily upon the cultures of indigenous peoples, bioregionalism is a philosophy of living that stresses harmony with nature and the integration of humans as part of the natural ecosystem. The keys to bioregionalism involve learning to live off the land, without damaging the environment or relying on heavy industrial machines or products. Bioregionalists believe that if the relationship between nature and humans improves, the society as a whole will benefit.
Environmentalists who practice this philosophy "claim" a bioregion or area. For example, one's place might be a watershed, a small mountain range, a particular area of the coast, or a specific desert. To develop a connection to the land and a sense of place, bioregionalists try to understand the natural history of the area as well as how it supports human life. For example, they study the plants and animals that inhabit the region, the geological features of the land, as well as the cultures of the people who live or have lived in the area.
Bioregionalism also stresses community life where participation, self-determination, and local control play important roles in protecting the environment. Various bioregional groups exist throughout the United States, ranging from the Gulf of Maine to the Ozark Mountains to the San Francisco Bay area. A North American Bioregional Congress loosely coordinates the bioregional movement.
Andruss, V., et al. Home! A Bioregional Reader. Philadelphia: New Society Publishers, 1990.
Sale, K. Dwellers in the Land: The Bioregional Vision. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1985.
Snyder, G. The Practice of the Wild. San Francisco: North Point Press, 1990.