We have a special relationship with the sea. It is the single most powerful driver of our economy, our lifestyle and our politics. It affects what we eat, how we use the land, how we relate to our neighbours, how we travel, even the thickness of our coats. Yet we go on treating it, with childlike faith and unreason, as if we imagine it to be infinitely resourceful and endlessly forgiving.Sea Changeaddresses such issues aspollutionby sewage, nuclear waste and dumping at sea; extinction offish stocks; destruction of marine environment, impacts of climate change,coastal erosion and rising sea levels; decline of ourseaside resorts; the failure of the'integrated transport policy';andsmuggling. In each case Girling questions: how did the situation arise? What are the consequences? What should be done? And what will happen when we fail? His unique voice blends horror, humour and 'just fancy that'; sifting for solutions in the sands, he is utterly compelling, entertaining and inspirational.

Richard Girlingis a senior feature writer for theSunday TimesMagazine. He has been awarded the titleJournalist of the Yearfor two years in a row at the Press Gazette Environmental Press Awards 2008 and 2009. He has also been namedSpecialist Writer of the Yearat the UK Press Awards in 2002 and was also shortlisted for this award in 2005 and 2006. He has been a consultant to the former Department of the Environment and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and author of campaigns for the Campaign to Protect RuralEngland (CPRE). He is currently a trustee of the Tree Council.

Challenging and controversial investigation of our changing relationship with the sea and our coastline.>