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A Shepherd's Life
by W. H. HudsonConsidered a classic at the time of its publication in 1910, A Shepherd's Life is a rare account of the lives of those who lived on and worked the land in nineteenth-century rural Britain. A masterful work of prose, W. H. Hudson focuses on the story of one man, a Wiltshire shepherd named Caleb Bawcombe, whose tales of sheep dogs, farmer's wives, poachers and local fairs become a sublime account of a way of life that has largely disappeared from these shores.
Ship Breaker (Little Brown Novels)
by Paolo BacigalupiIn America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota--and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life...<P><P> Michael J. Printz Award winner
Should trees have Standing: Law, Morality, and the Environment,
by Christopher D. StoneIn this collection of essays, the author argues that natural objects, such as trees, should have legal rights through the appointment of guardians designated to protect them. It covers such areas as: agriculture and the environment: can the oceans be harbored; establishing a guardian for future generations; reflections on sustainable development; how to heal the planet; environmentalism, is it dead.
Silent Summer
by Norman MacleanOver the past 20 years dramatic declines have taken place in UK insect populations. Eventually, such declines must have knock-on effects for other animals, especially high profile groups such as birds and mammals. This authoritative, yet accessible account details the current state of the wildlife in Britain and Ireland and offers an insight into the outlook for the future. Written by a team of the country's leading experts, it appraises the changes that have occurred in a wide range of wildlife species and their habitats and outlines urgent priorities for conservation. It includes chapters on each of the vertebrate and major invertebrate groups, with the insects covered in particular depth. Also considered are the factors that drive environmental change and the contribution at local and government level to national and international wildlife conservation. Essential reading for anyone who is interested in, and concerned about, UK wildlife.
Slow Down for Manatees
by Jim ArnoskyManatees, Mother Nature's "sea cows," are gentle creatures that live in shallow coastal waters. They have no predators in the wild, yet they are an endangered species, their biggest threat coming from humans who unknowingly hit them with boats. Here is the story of one such manatee and the efforts to help her and her calf after she is injured. This dramatic rescue story illustrates the importance of protecting manatees in their natural habitat. Arnosky pairs his simple telling with beautiful paintings that capture the essence of these gentle giants.
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons
by Il Sung NaWhat do the animals do when the snow falls to the ground and all the trees are bare? Some fly long distances, while some swim to warmer waters. Some take a long, warm sleep where they live, while others have a thick, cozy coat and can stay in the snow!As with Il Sung Na's previous books, Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit is filled with rich illustrations, charming animals, and a simple, lyrical text--all wrapped up in a gorgeous package. It's a gentle introduction to the ideas of adaptation, hibernation, and migration, and an exhuberant celebration of changing seasons.From the Hardcover edition.
Snowbound
by Richard S. WheelerIn this powerful biographical novel, Richard S. Wheeler--winner of the Owen Wister Award and six Spur Awards--tells the amazing tale of an American explorer and hero. John Fremont, a one-time presidential candidate, was called the Pathfinder for his indomitable courage. But sometimes courage is not enough. After a failed expedition to find a railway route to the West along the 38th parallel, Fremont finds himself trapped in the snowbound Colorado mountains. His choices are simple: die, freezing and starving, or fight his way out. Fremont chooses to battle the elements in a harrowing, frigid journey over the backbone of the continent. In this tale of urgent danger and fierce courage, Wheeler presents a survival saga par excellence. Snowbound is a struggle of man against man, man against nature, man against himself... and a novel you will never forget.
Snowbound Mystery (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #13)
by Gertrude Chandler WarnerFour brave siblings were searching for a home – and found a life of adventure! Join the Boxcar Children as they investigate the mystery of their snowbound cabin in this illustrated chapter book series beloved by generations of readers.A sudden snowstorm traps the Aldens in a mountain cabin! The cabin is cozy, but the children hear strange noises at night and find a coded message carved into the closet door. Can the children crack the code and solve their snowbound mystery?What started as a single story about the Alden Children has delighted readers for generations and sold more than 80 million books worldwide. Featuring timeless adventures, mystery, and suspense, The Boxcar Children® series continues to inspire children to learn, question, imagine, and grow.
Snowmen All Year Board Book
by Caralyn BuehnerBy popular demand, a board book edition of the third title in this bestselling series The Buehners' New York Times bestselling snowmen are here to stay! Children wonder what would happen if their favorite frosty friends didn't melt with springtime. What would it be like to take a snowman to the beach? What costume would a snowman wear if you took him trick-or-treating? In this dazzling, silly book, the weather brings a year's worth of surprise and laughter.
The Social and Behavioural Aspects of Climate Change: Linking Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation
by Pim Martens Chiung Ting ChangOver the past few years, and certainly since the publication of the "Stern Report", there has been increasing recognition that climate change is not only an environmental crisis, but one with important social and economic dimensions. There is now a growing need for multi-disciplinary research and for the science of climate change to be usefully translated for policy-makers.Until very recently, scientific and policy emphasis on climate change has focused almost exclusively on mitigation efforts: mechanisms and regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The success of such efforts to date is debatable. In fact, the impact of ever more stringent emission control programmes could potentially have enormous social consequences. Little effort has been expended on the exploration of a systematic evaluation of climate stabilization benefits or the costs of adapting to a changed climate, let alone attempting to integrate different approaches. There is an increasing recognition that the key actors in the climate crisis also need to be preparing for change that is unavoidable. This has resulted in a greater consideration of vulnerability and adaptation.The book, based on the research programme "Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation" (VAM) which ran from 2004 to 2010, funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), presents a cluster of case studies of industries, communities and institutions which each show how vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation analyses can be integrated using social behavioural sciences. Each chapter makes specific recommendations for the studied industry sector, community or institution, analyses the latest research developments of the field and identifies priorities for future research. The book argues that the inherent complexity of climate change will ultimately require a much more integrated response both scientifically – to better understand multiple causes and impacts – as well as at the scientific/policy interface, where new forms of engagement between scientists, policy-makers and wider stakeholder groups can make a valuable contribution to more informed climate policy and practice.The book is particularly timely as the scientific research and policy debate is shifting from one of problem-framing to new agendas that are much more concerned with implementation, the improvement of assessment methodologies from a multi-disciplinary perspective, and the reframing of current scientific understanding towards mitigation, adaptation and vulnerability. A critical element in responding to the climate change challenge will be to ensure the translation of these new scientific insights into innovative policy and practice "on the ground". This book provides some fundamental elements to answer this need.The Social and Behavioural Aspects of Climate Change: Linking Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation will be essential reading for social science researchers and policy managers in the area of climate change, as well as for those who want to know what the social and behavioural sciences can contribute toward coping with climate hazards. NGOs, law firms and businesses in the energy sector or other climate related fields will also find the book of great value.
Social Dimensions of Climate Change: Equity and Vulnerability in a Warming World
by Andrew Norton Robin MearnsClimate change is arguably the most profound challenge facing the international community in the 21st century. It is as much a challenge for poverty reduction, growth and development as it is a global environmental issue. It could undermine or reverse progress in reducing poverty and attaining the Millennium Development Goals, thereby unraveling many of the development gains of recent decades. It already threatens the livelihoods, health and well-being of millions of people worldwide, and of the poorest and most vulnerable groups in particular. And it has potentially far-reaching implications for international relations and for personal, national and regional security. While significant uncertainties still remain, tremendous strides have been made over recent years in improving scientific understanding of the human processes driving global climate change and the likely impacts on world ecosystems. What is much less well understood is how these dynamics in the physical environment will interact with those of socio-economic systems, what the consequences will be for society, and how best to address them. In order to focus attention on these previously neglected and poorly understood social dimensions of climate change, the World Bank convened an international workshop in March, 2008, with the participation of community activists, former heads of state, leaders of Indigenous Peoples, representatives of non-governmental organizations, international researchers, and staff of the World Bank and other international development agencies. This edited volume brings together revised versions of many of the papers presented during that workshop, as an initial step in taking stock of existing knowledge on the social dimensions of climate change. Several new papers were also commissioned for this volume.
Social Movements, Public Spheres and the European Politics of the Environment
by Hein-Anton van der HeijdenThis book analyzes how the European environmental movement has influenced the problem definitions and solution strategies of European policy issues, examining biodiversity, GMOs, Trans-European Transport Networks, and climate change.
Soil Biology and Agriculture in the Tropics
by Patrice DionThe relationships between soils, microbes and humans are of crucial relevance in the tropics, where plant stress and microbial activity are exacerbated. This volume of Soil Biology presents the living component of tropical soils, showing how it is shaped by environmental conditions and emphasizing its dramatic impact on human survival and well-being. Following an introduction to the specificities of tropical soils and of their microbial communities, the biological aspects of soil management are examined, dealing with land use change, conservation and slash-and-burn agriculture, the restoration of hot deserts, agroforestry and paddy rice cultivation. As they are of particular relevance for tropical agriculture, symbioses of plants and microbes are thoroughly covered, as are the biodegradation of pesticides and health risks associated with wastewater irrigation. Lastly, traditional soil knowledge is discussed as a key to our sustainable presence in this world.
Soil Engineering
by Athanasios P. Dedousis Thomas BartzanasThe agricultural world has changed significantly during the last years. The excessive use of heavy machinery, waste disposal, the use of agrochemicals and new soil cultivation means led to severe problems, which agricultural engineers have to cope with in order to prevent soil from permanent irreversible damage. This Soil Biology volume will update readers on several cutting-edge aspects of sustainable soil engineering including topics such as: soil compaction, soil density increases, soil disturbance and soil fragmentation; soil tillage machineries and optimization of tillage tools; soil traffic and traction, effects of heavy agricultural machines, the use of robotics in agriculture and controlled traffic farming; mechanical weed control, the characterization of soil variability and the recycling of compost and biosolids in agricultural soils.
Soil Heavy Metals
by Ajit Varma Irena SherametiHuman activities have dramatically changed the composition and organisation of soils. Industrial and urban wastes, agricultural application and also mining activities resulted in an increased concentration of heavy metals in soils. How plants and soil microorganisms cope with this situation and the sophisticated techniques developed for survival in contaminated soils is discussed in this volume. The topics presented include: the general role of heavy metals in biological soil systems; the relation of inorganic and organic pollutions; heavy metal, salt tolerance and combined effects with salinity; effects on abuscular mycorrhizal and on saprophytic soil fungi; heavy metal resistance by streptomycetes; trace element determination of environmental samples; the use of microbiological communities as indicators; phytostabilization of lead polluted sites by native plants; effects of soil earthworms on removal of heavy metals and the remediation of heavy metal contaminated tropical land.
Soil Microbiology and Sustainable Crop Production
by Geoffrey R. Dixon Emma L. TilstonSoils into which crop plants root and from which they obtain essential minerals and water contain huge arrays of microbes. Many have highly beneficial effects on crop growth and productivity, others are pathogens causing diseases and losses to yield and quality, a few microbes offer protection from these pathogenic forms and others have little or no effect. These intimate and often complex inter-relationships are being explored with increasing success providing exciting opportunities for increasing crop yields and quality in sustainable harmony with the populations of beneficial soil microbes and to the detriment of pathogens. This book explores current knowledge for each of these aspects of soil microbiology and indicates where future progress is most likely to aid in increasing crop productivity by means which are environmentally benign and beneficial.
Soils, Plants and Clay Minerals
by Pierre Barré Pierre VeldeThis book considers the inter-relations between plants and minerals in an entirely new way, in that it introduces the notion of eco-engineering: i.e. the manipulation of the mineral world by the living world to the ends of the living world. These inter-relations are the basis for traditional agriculture and should be the basis for new, ecologically oriented land management disciplines, including agriculture itself. These relations also have an impact on surface geochemistry and determine pollution problems. A better understanding of this concept will lead to a renewed consideration of surface environmental problems.
SOS Adventure: Fire Storm
by Colin BatemanMichael and Katya have travelled with the SOS team to bring fresh water to a small island in the Phillipines. But a series of small earthquakes bring warning that the long-dormant volcano that dominates the island is about to explode back into life. Michael and Katya are in for the most thrilling adventure of their lives ...
SOS Adventure: Icequake
by Colin BatemanBaring Island, the Canadian Arctic.Michael and Katya are alone, in the middle of a blizzard.There are wolves snapping at their heels, and somewhere ahead of them, a gigantic polar bear with the taste for human blood.They've come with the SOS team in search of a missing satellite, but now they're just struggling to stay alive.
SOS Adventure: Tusk
by Colin BatemanDeep in Africa, Michael and Katya are in desperate danger. The SOS team is having a spot of rest and relaxation - all except its two newest members. Michael and Katya are on a trek through the jungle, where they are threatened by lions, elephants, ivory poachers ... and someone much more unexpected.
Soul of a Lion: One Woman's Quest to Rescue Africa's Wildlife Refugees
by Barbara BennettIt chronicles the unique Harnas Wildlife Foundation in Namibia, where Marieta van der Merwe and her family, former wealthy cattle farmers, have sold land to buy and care for embattled wildlife.
The Sound Of A Wild Snail Eating
by Elisabeth Tova BaileyIn a work that beautifully demonstrates the rewards of closely observing nature, Elisabeth Bailey shares an inspiring and intimate story of her uncommon encounter with a Neohelix albolabris --a common woodland snail. <P><P> While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches a wild snail that has taken up residence on her nightstand. As a result, she discovers the solace and sense of wonder that this mysterious creature brings and comes to a greater under standing of her own confined place in the world. <P> Intrigued by the snail's molluscan anatomy, cryptic defenses, clear decision making, hydraulic locomotion, and mysterious courtship activities, Bailey becomes an astute and amused observer, providing a candid and engaging look into the curious life of this underappreciated small animal. <P> Told with wit and grace, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is a remarkable journey of survival and resilience, showing us how a small part of the natural world illuminates our own human existence and provides an appreciation of what it means to be fully alive.
Sparking a Worldwide Energy Revolution
by Kolya AbramskyAs the earth's carrying capacity continues to be stressed, the question of renewable energies is no longer whether, but when and by whom. Climate change and peak oil have hit the mainstream. Kolya Abramsky's collection maps the world's energy sector and shows how addressing these challenges necessitates an analysis of our economic priorities. Solutions must include massive shifts in our use of technologies and, most importantly, a democratization of the economic landscape based on broad new coalitions.With four distinct sections-Oil Makes the World Go 'Round; From Petrol to Renewable Energies; Struggle Over Choice of Energy Sources and Technologies; and Possible Futures-and over fifty essays from approximately twenty countries, there's nothing like Sparking a Worldwide Energy Revolution to address our global energy crisis.The different chapters bring together a wealth of organizational and analytical experience from across the different branches of the energy sector, both conventional and renewable. Contributors include the following organizations and individuals: China Labour Bulletin (Hong Kong/China), Energy Watch Group (Germany), Focus on the Global South (Thailand), Integrated Sustainable Energy and Ecological Development (India), Public Services International Research Unit (United Kingdom), World Information Service on Energy (Netherlands), Preben Maegaard, and Hermann Scheer.Kolya Abramsky is a former secretariat of the World Wind Energy Institute, based in Denmark, a pioneering country in renewable energy. He is currently a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies on Science, Technology and Society in Austria, and is pursuing a PhD in sociology at State University of New York, Binghamton.
Spring Surprises (Step into Reading)
by Anna Jane Hays Hala Swearingen WittwerSay goodbye to winter and celebrate all the fun and exciting surprises springtime offers—like flying kites, making mud pies, watching new baby animals take their first steps, and dancing among the raindrops! This joyful ode to all things spring is filled with easy-to-decode rhymed text and bright, inviting art. Spring Surprises includes two sheets of stickers.