This ninth annual edition of Vital Signs takes the world's pulse by compiling a wide-ranging collection of trends that identify both problems and progress in the quest for a sustainable society. It highlights both alarming situations and encouraging developments. Part One is a comprehensive presentation of the key indicators in areas such as food, agriculture, energy, atmosphere, economics, transport and the military. Part Two provides in-depth special feature articles on: environmental features, such as transgenic crops and paper recycling; economic features, such as environmental taxes and corporate mergers; and social features, such as tuberculosis, prisons and women in politics.

Michael Renner, Brian Halweil, Christopher, Flavin, Linda Starke, Janet N. Abramovitz, Seth Dunn, Hilary F. French, Gary Gardner, Nicholas Lenssen, Lester R. Brown, Janet N. Abramovitz

Foreword * Overview: The Acceleration of Change * Part One: Key Indicators - Food Trends * Agricultural Trends * Energy Trends * Atmospheric Trends * Economic Trends * Transportation Trends * Communication Trends * Social Trends * Military Trends * Part Two: Special Features - Environmental Features * Economic Features * Social Features * Notes * The Vital Signs Series