U Thant, former Secretary-General of the United Nations (1961-1971), eloquently summarized the issues discussed in this book: As we see the sun setting, one twilight after another, through the haze that blankets the polluted waters on the surface of our native land, we must seriously wonder if we truly want some future world historian on another planet to write about us: `Despite all their intelligence, and despite their capabilities, they ultimately exhausted foresight, air, food, water, and ideas...` or `they continued to play political games, until the entire world collapsed around them` or `when they finally woke up, it was already too late`. And if the United Nations can do nothing else, they can at least serve a vital purpose: to sound the alarm. (From the Report of the Commemoration Session of the United Nations, October 24, 1970)