Environmental toxicity has become a hallmark of cultural and physical decline according to the editorial. While its impacts transcend borders, Bhutan stands out as a rare example of hope as an isolated, peaceful country. The document goes on to discuss how fracking has been linked to earthquakes in several US states, showing how human activities can lead to global catastrophe. It introduces the journal's goal to examine the intersection of development and morality through local, regional, and global case studies. Finally, it announces an upcoming international conference on social transformations and invites submissions for a thematic issue exploring new approaches to environmental and social psychology.

1. Editorial
Environmental toxicity has become a hallmark of physical and cultural debasement. The fact that
it transcends local and regional barriers, it's significance cannot be overstated for the future of
humankind. In a painfully divided world, Bhutan seems to be one of the few islands of hope—
secluded, serene, peacefully blooming in tucked in the lap of the Himalayas between India and
China (The Economist, October 22nd-28th, 2016:33). Unfortunately, there are not many Bhutans
or Switzerlands on this planet.
Many an 'inconvenient truth' about climate change and global warning vividly alert our
civilization. A recent study revealed earth quakes in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico,
Ohio and Texas may be caused by fracking, gas and oil drilling. Apparently, we are implicated in
a pending global catastrophe.
As this journal goes into second year of its publication, we seek to unfold fragments of a human-
dilemma at the intersection of necessary development and basic morality. There are no short cuts
to truth, however. Our modest search for concerns and explanations has just began. Six articles
presented here offer glimpses of local, regional and global experiences with a common
denominator: Human behavior and organizational complexities are challenging opportunities for
all people to save us from ourselves. Environment and people have to coexist for progressive social
development that usually becomes a victim of its own success. The algorithm to reinvent
sustainability is not written.
I am pleased to announce that Environment and Social Psychology (ESP) will hold an international
conference on 'Social Transformations in a Troubled World' in Irvine, Calif., June 22-24, 2017.
Fifteen renowned keynote speakers representing several nations—Australia, Brazil, Canada,
France, Israel, Iran, India, Finland, Machau, Netherlands, and, of course, the United States of
America--with varied expertise have been invited to explore a host of issues. Two lead keynotes
will be delivered by Dean Marilyn Flynn, School of Social Work, University of Southern
California and Distinguished Professor Richard J. Estes on June 22, ’17. A call for papers and
relevant logistical specifics will soon be posted on web ( http://ojs.whioce.com/index.php/esp/index ).
You are urged to post and pass this information on to your friends and colleague. Should you have
questions, please contact us.
We seek studied proposals for a thematic issue of Volume III in 2018. This is to invite academic
leaders to explore new pathways and enlarge the scope and depth of discourse within a whole
spectrum of ESP problems. This seems a pretentious goal nonetheless a small step to further the
limits of creative human ingenuity.
October28, 2016