Earth Sciences, Geography & Environment Books

Book SynopsisAn affectionate but meticulously researched history of one of the most beautiful and best-loved corners of England – Crosthwaite Parish, nestling deep within the mountains and valleys of the Lake District. 'A unique contribution to English history' Hunter Davies 'A delightful, refreshingly written book, attentive to social detail and telling the only story that matters – history' Simon Jenkins 'A wonderful book' Margaret Drabble 'A completely fresh perspective on the Lakes and Lake Poets... I hugely enjoyed it' Andrew Marr Bounded by the peaks of Scafell, Skiddaw and Helvellyn, and embracing such well-known landmarks as Borrowdale, Derwentwater and Keswick, it lies within the heart of the Lake Poets' landscape and its rugged terrain excites passion in all those who know it. The Parish also boasts a remarkable history. Its 90 square miles were governed, from medieval times, by eighteen annually chosen 'customary tenants'; ancestors of the people who later prompted Wordsworth's portrayal of the area as 'a perfect Republic of Shepherds and agriculturalists'. His fellow poet Robert Southey lived within the Parish for forty years, was an active parishioner and rests in St Kentigern's churchyard. Here he is given his rightful position as a Lake Poet. In the nineteenth century, the Victorian state killed off the old parish system, sweeping away the egalitarian rule of the Eighteen Men. But a degree of redemption was at hand. Canon Rawnsley, vicar of Crosthwaite from 1883, pledged to defend the Lake District for future generations. So the Parish was at the heart of the creation of the National Trust and blazed a trail for a wider movement to preserve the English landscape. Writing with a historian's rigour and bearing aloft the banner of the Lake District statesmen, Philippa Harrison has produced a magisterial and fascinating record of a parish with a unique social, cultural and aesthetic resonance in English history.Trade ReviewHas there ever been a parish history so well researched, so filled with history and literature, campaigns and causes, and so fascinating? No chance. This is a unique contribution to English history -- Hunter Davies, author of LakelandStimulating, wide-ranging and full of interest -- Angus J L Winchester, Emeritus Professor of History, Lancaster UniversityA delightful, refreshingly written book, attentive to social detail and telling the only story that matters – history -- Simon Jenkins, Chairman of the National Trust 2008-2014A completely fresh perspective on the Lakes and Lake Poets... I hugely enjoyed it' -- Andrew MarrI love Mountain Republic. Both intimate and authoritative, it is a wonderful book -- Margaret DrabbleThis remarkable chronicle introduces the reader to Christian missionaries, Anglo-Saxon and Norse invaders, Scottish royals, local gentry, the 'Eighteen Men', Romantic poets, a succession of clergy with widely and sometimes wildly diverse convictions, and the local people who shaped the land in which they were rooted as the land shaped them. With a rare combination of finely detailed erudition and engaging, elegant, page-turning prose, Philippa Harrison charts the evolution of the Lake District. Anyone who reads her narrative will be richly rewarded -- Dr John Inge, Bishop of WorcesterPhilippa's perspective as both a local and a historian provides a fascinating take * This England *[An] affectionate scholarship grounded in the Lake District parish of Crosthwaite... [An] appropriately monumental book' * Church Times *At its heart this is a history of the farming communities of the region [...] with the ability to appeal to all those attracted to the region and not just the Lake district. A very difficult book to put down, sparking interest at each turn of the page -- Chris Craghill, Cumbria Local History FederationThere must have been thousands of books written about the Lake District, but if you thought that there could be nothing left to say about it, then think again; this fascinating social history of Crosthwaite parish stopped even this Cumbrian reader and writer in her tracks... It already looks destined for a place in the Lake District literary canon -- Sue Allan, Cumbria LifeA remarkable book with great merit... A well-written work which provides a valuable chronicle of the interplay over centuries between local management and national and regional controlling institutions, which is relevant to so many local parishes and townships -- Dr Derek Denman, Wanderer, L&DFLHSAn amazing achievement. I learned such a lot from it, from the history, from the industry, from agriculture, social history, land-ownership, museums, the economy, and then whole substories which I just found fascinating: the history of the churches in the 1830s, the sewage... Tthe mass trespass on 'Skiddaw's cub' which I knew nothing about. At times it was as though our collection was being brought alive by the portraits of some often-mentioned names, and I particularly want to thank Philippa for changing and opening my eyes about Robert Southey -- Jeff Cowton, Curator and Head of Learning, Wordsworth Grasmere, The Lake Poets: Hill Farming, Mountaineering and PoliticsA big-hearted-embrace of a book, and there are riches in it for all readers ... Philippa Harrison is a gifted narrator, Mountain Republic is a great read and a treasure trove of anecdote and fact for regional historians -- Terry McCormick, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society NewsThis authoritative and well-researched history is very accessible, very enjoyable and full of fascinating details... A joy to read from beginning to end * The Local Historian *

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Book Synopsis'Fast paced and energetic' Financial Times'Punchy, provocative and wonderfully readable' - David Shukman'Eye-popping and essential' - Rowan Hooper'A must-read' - Peter Stott Have you heard that you should plant trees to save the planet? Or buy carbon offsets when you fly? Or recycle plastic? Go vegan? Or not have children? What if all these actions were a distraction, no matter how well-intentioned?In this provocative manifesto, Assaad Razzouk shows that for too long our ideas about what's best for the environment have been unfocused and distracted, trying to go in too many directions and concentrating on individual behaviour. While some of these things can be useful, they are dwarfed by one big thing that simply has to happen very soon if we're to avoid major environmental breakdown: curtailing the activities of the fossil fuel industry.Full of counter-intuitive statistics and positive suggestions for individual and collective action, this ingenious book will change how you view the climate crisis.Trade ReviewFast paced and energetic, this is a very readable book with myriad interesting facts... ultimately it is successful in forcing us to focus more sharply on the bigger picture * Financial Times *A real breath of fresh air. Punchy, provocative and wonderfully readable. Assaad Razzouk not only shares his knowledge and experience, he also allows his impatience to shine through. The result is exactly the kind of no-nonsense clarity that's too often lacking in the climate agenda. * David Shukman, former BBC News Science Editor *If you're in any doubt about the duplicity, the obfuscation and the lies - just the sheer extent of the fight being waged by Big Oil to keep us hooked on fossil fuels - Assaad Razzouk's eye-popping and essential book will sort you out. * Rowan Hooper, Podcast Editor, New Scientist *Saving the Planet Without the Bullshit is a refreshing and provocative look at what needs to happen to overcome the climate crisis. A must-read for anyone concerned about avoiding the climate catastrophe. * Peter Stott, author of Hot Air *Beautifully written and very approachable. Saving the Planet Without the Bullshit covers many of the key issues facing the world with an easy comprehensibility and substantial research. * Chris Goodall, author of What We Need to Do Now: For a Zero Carbon Future *Table of Contents1: Plastic Is Your New Diet 2: Who Put Palm Oil in My Toothpaste? 3: The Fashion Show at the End of the World 4: Your Cat Doesn't Need to Eat Fish 5: Your Fresh Air Is Asphyxiating You 6: We Don't Have Time to Overthrow Capitalism 7: Hydrogen Makes Up 70 Per Cent of the Universe; I Didn't Know That Either 8: Nuclear Power Is So Over 9: Stinky Gas 10: Never Buy Carbon Offsets for Anything, Especially Your Car Gasoline 11: Please Don't Plant Trees 12: Have as Many Babies as You Like 13: Ride a Bicycle, Save the World 14: Fly Without Guilt 15: A Luxury Cruise Liner Is a Stinking Floating Dumpster 16: The Nasty Ninety 17: The Social Media Axis of Evil 18: Dial Down That Air Conditioning, But Not Too Much 19: Going Vegan to Go Green? Don't Bother 20: Drive Electric Shamelessly - the Green Energy Revolution Is Here 21: Green Bonds Do More Harm Than Good 22: Tinker, Lawyer, Banker, Fry 23: The ESG Con 24: Don't Worry (At All) About Bitcoin's Energy Use 25: Love Thy Insect 26: The Royal Baby Versus Biodiversity 27: Sue the Bastards 28: It's Raining Renewable Energy

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Book SynopsisFlatmates? Friends? Or something else entirely?Hazel and Alfie have just moved in together as flatmates. They've also just slept together, which was either a catastrophic mistake, or the best decision of their lives. Before they can decide, Hazel's sister Emily and her wife Daria arrive for a visit, setting in motion a chain of events that will turn everything upside down. What follows will bind the four of them together, bringing joy and heartache, hope and anxiety, and reshaping their relationships in ways that none of them quite predicted.Warm, witty, and devastatingly relatable, Not Exactly What I Had in Mind is a painfully true-to-life story about family, friends, and everything in between.Trade ReviewI adored this book - fresh, funny and thought provoking, I fell in love with the characters and did not want it to end.' * Sophie Cousens *Captures the intricacies of modern relationships with undeniable skill, heaps of humour and a style that fans of Sally Rooney will love. Captivating and addictively complex, this novel is full of an unshakable tension that is a delight to get entangled in. * Ashley Hickson-Lovence *A clever and insightful take on what love and family mean in the twenty-first century * Nicola Gill *Brook's enjoyable debut tackles the messiness of love and family... Heartfelt and entertaining * Publishers Weekly *A charming peek inside the messy world of modern dating, blending hard-hitting realities with frivolous fun * Booklist *Brook's ability to balance humor with explorations of heartbreak, anxiety, and betrayal is admirable....an entertaining tale from start to finish, with characters you'll miss right after finishing the epilogue. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisAccording to Apsley Cherry-Garrard, one of the men who went to Antarctica with Captain Scott, 'Polar exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time that has ever been devised.' Despite this there has never been a shortage of volunteers willing to endure the bad times in pursuit of the glory that polar exploration sometimes brings. Nick Rennison's compelling book tells the memorable stories of people who have risked their lives by entering the white wastelands of the Arctic and the Antarctic, from the compelling tales of Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen, to those of lesser known explorers such as Elisha Kent Kane and Douglas Mawson. A Short History of Polar Exploration also looks briefly at the hold that the polar regions have often had on the imaginations of artists and writers in the last two hundred years examining the paintings, films and literature that they have inspired.Trade ReviewOnce that interest has been stirred the polar regions will never loose their grip; they will never let you go -- Bill Spence * The York Press *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive survey of eleven different woods, this book is a vivid account of the flora and fauna that comprise the various habitats of our large and small woods. More than a survey though, this book looks beyond the individual stories of the trees, plants, animals and insects and constitutes a readable account of the inter-dependence of species so vital for the preservation of biodiversity. In her lively and candid style, this timely publication taps immediately into one of the major challenges faced by the environment today. Stunning photography and absorbing text combine with authoritative surveys to make this book both informative and enchanting. Invaluable reference and a visual treat.Trade ReviewMay 09 Gardeners who enjoy walks in the woods will love Charlotte de la Bedoyere's account of the flora and fauna that make up their natural biodiversity. Portrait of a Woodland looks at a mix of animals, insects, trees and other plants. It also contains some amazing photography of all four in their natural settings. * Grow Your Own *Table of Contents* Timely publication/topical subject - coincides with the Biodiversity Action Plan being implemented by Government and non-Government organisations * Profusely illustrated with stunning photography mainly taken by the author * Ideal gift

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Book SynopsisPlan includes: Chaguaramus Bay.

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Book SynopsisEver wondered where our towns and villages get their names from? Were they a deliberate creation by our ancestors or did they evolve naturally over time? South Staffordshire Street Names examines the origins of the names with which we are otherwise so familiar. Towns, villages, districts, hills, streams, woods, farms, fields, streets and even pubs are examined and explained. Some of the definitions give a glimpse of life in the earlier days of the settlement, and for the author there is nothing more satisfying than finding a name which gives such a snapshot. The definitions are supported by anecdotal evidence, bringing to life the individuals and events which have influenced the places and the way these names have developed. This is not just a dictionary but a history and will prove invaluable not only for those who live and work in the county but also visitors and tourists, historians and former inhabitants, indeed anyone with an interest in Staffordshire.

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Book SynopsisKnoydart & Kintail, seventh in this highly successful & innovative British Mountain Map series, is a long awaited title. It is the only detailed map to cover this famous wilderness area on one sheet. This all weather map for climbers, hillwalkers, mountaineers & mountain bikers includes 43 Munros & 21 Corbetts. It is printed on polyethylene which is durable, tearproof & 100% waterproof. Colour shading is used for easy identification of hills & valleys & the map weighs less than half the weight of a laminated map. There is also an extension covering Glen Affric.

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Book SynopsisContemporary construction practice presents a shift in emphasis from thinking about the design team in isolation, to considering the project team as a collaborative whole: client, design team, and contractor. This approach requires greater consideration of how the project team is procured and assembled – and Assembling a Collaborative Project Team provides a range of in-depth and invaluable methods for ensuring that this essential task is carried out effectively. It will bring a range of benefits to any project – from facilitating BIM-ready teams, to better construction programming, and reducing risk through ensuring a watertight contractual framework. Many of the methods presented here are likely to become ingrained in the way all projects are coordinated. It shows that the best way of assembling a collaborative team is by establishing the team at the outset in manner that ensures that each party is fully aware of what they need to do and when, and by agreeing how this will be achieved.Table of ContentsAssembling a Collaborative Project Team

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Book SynopsisEnergy performance feedback is an essential tool in addressing the current climate crisis. However, this is not simply another theoretical text about energy performance in buildings. This book is for anyone who wants to better understand how energy is used in buildings, and how to drive down operational energy use – whether you’re an architect, student, client, building services engineer, contractor, building operator or other stakeholder. Focusing on evidence from feedback on buildings in use, it explains what it takes to get them to perform as expected, as well as the reasons why they often fail. Energy, People, Buildings draws extensively on the findings of studies, UK government-funded building performance evaluations and on original research into seven case studies from across the UK and abroad that have achieved exemplary energy use through building performance feedback. Providing a clear roadmap to understanding aspects that impact building users’ comfort and satisfaction, it also outlines the factors behind energy use and how to track it across the life of a project to ensure that your building performs as intended. Case studies include: the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center, Colorado; and Carrowbreck Meadow, Norwich. Featured architects: AHMM, AHR, Architype, Hamson Barron Smith, Haworth Tompkins, Henning Larsen Architects and ZGF Architects.Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsAbout the authorsForewordIntroduction Chapter 1 The challengeChapter 2 Design for peopleChapter 3 Energy basics and benchmarksChapter 4 Design for feedbackChapter 5 Building context and configurationChapter 6 Fabric firstChapter 7 Integrating technical systemsChapter 8 Control systems and user experienceChapter 9 Case study 1: Everyman Theatre, UK Case study 2: Morelands rooftop offices, UK Case study 3: Carrowbreck Meadow, UK Case study 4: Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center, USA Case study 5: Frederiksbjerg School, Denmark Case study 6: Kenysham Civic Centre, Library & Information Service, UK Case study 7: UEA’s Enterprise Centre, UKChapter 10 Contract for performanceConclusionReferencesGlossaryFurther readingIndexImage credits

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Book SynopsisNow an established global force, China has experienced a sustained period of staggering economic growth since policy reform in the 1970s. Chinese urbanisation is the most significant example of economic, environmental and social change both within China and globally. In recent years, central government has made a concerted effort to encourage city governments to realign their priorities and achieve a balance between economic efficiency, social justice and environmental protection. Chinese Urban Transformation: A Tale of Six Cities is a fascinating exploration of the dramatic development Chinese cities have undergone. Tracing this transformation through a comprehensive analysis of social and economic change in six cities, it unravels the complex relationship between policy, outlook and role that urban development plays in China’s view of itself, including the tensions resulting from rapid social and economic change. Grounded in current Chinese planning and both classical and recent discussions on the city and urban spaces, this book is essential for architects, planners, urban designers and engineers with an interest in working in, learning about, or trying to break into Chinese urban planning and social policy.Table of Contents1. The Process & Orientation of China’s Urbanization 2. Chinese Cities: Functions and Industrial Layout 3. Land Property Rights System and Land Administration 4. Community Governance in China 5. Understanding the Environmental Agenda 6. Shanghai: Striving for an Excellent Global City 7. Nanchang: Toward a Low-carbon City 8. Qingdao: Toward a Blue Economic Zone 9. Hangzhou: A Paradise on Earth 10. Chengdu: Toward a World Ecological Garden City11. Hefei: Toward an Innovative City12. The Assessment Report of Urban Transformation and Upgrading Capabilities in China

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Book SynopsisThe King’s Cross scheme is one of the largest and most complex developments taking place in Britain today. Through documenting this seminal case-study, this book sheds light on the complex process through which public realm development proposals are planned and approved: through complex negotiation and deal making, involving many different stakeholders. Unique, insider’s account: draws on first-hand interviews and full access to previously confidential material from primary sources. Comprehensive look at urban planning relevant to both students and practitioners. Currently very little available on the process through which public realm schemes are planned and approved. Kings Cross is now a standing event in the teaching calendars of many planning schools. Huge international market: KX visitor centre receives delegations on study tours from Japan, Taiwan, China, USA, India, Korea, Australia, Malaysia, UAE, Russia, South Africa, Mexico and most the EU. Table of ContentsAbout the authorsAcknowledgements and list of intervieweesTimeline of eventsPolitical timeline 1. Introduction2. The Planning and Development Process3. History and Development Context4. Establishing the Framework for Negotiations5. The Masterplan6. The Middle Game7. Community Consultation8. The Decision9. Building King’s Cross Central10. Conclusions Appendix 1: Summary of the Section 106 AgreementAppendix 2: Development Data and Comparisons Financial InformationNotesFurther readingList of AcronymsIndex Credits

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Book SynopsisGuide to JCT Intermediate Contract 2016, the new edition of Sarah Lupton’s ever popular Guide to IC11, is a practical guide to the operation and administration of the JCT Intermediate Contract suite 2016.All of the contract’s provisions, procedures and conditions are organised and explained by subject, clearly distinguishing the different obligations due to various parties and the contractual issues arising during the course of a job – all backed up by the latest legislation and case law.Changes to this new edition include: thorough explanation and analysis of the new JCT Intermediate Contract 2016 comprehensive update on legislative changes since 2011, such as the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and CDM Regulations 2015 coverage of key case law developments, on issues such as the meaning residential occupier, choice of contract, access to site, concurrent delay, inspection, practical completion, certification, payment, termination and mediation objective commentary and comparison with relevant features of the new RIBA Building Contracts brand new content to improve coverage and overall value to the reader fresh new design. Not only is this an indispensable reference for the hard-pressed practitioner, but, assuming no prior knowledge of JCT contracts or the law, it is also ideal for architecture and other construction students on the threshold of undertaking their professional exams.Table of ContentsGuide to JCT Intermediate Building Contract 2016

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Book SynopsisAll over the world, cities are facing growing pressure to develop upwards with tall buildings that have a direct impact upon their visual character. In reaction, systems of view protection have been developed to conserve the familiar visual experience of cities. Such developments, and the effectiveness of systems of view protection, continue to be both politically and financially risky for developers, architects, planners and politicians alike. Controversy highlights the lack of both a scholarly and practical understanding of the ideas that underpin view protection policy – where did they originate? What do they mean? How do they work? And what are their consequences? Value in the View: Conserving Historic Urban Views presents readers with a comprehensive study of the ideas and philosophies at work in policies of view protection. The power of UNESCO’s policy of view protection is investigated through six studies of contemporary cities (London, Dresden, St Petersburg, Istanbul and Vancouver). With the idea of ‘the view’ at its core, this book examines how dominant international ideas of heritage are constructed, maintained and reinforced, and explores how they exert power over the urban and architectural form of contemporary cities. It’s a highly engaging guide that will aid practitioners in the implementation of policy and design of development within historic urban contexts, as well as contributing to scholarly debate on the protection of views in architecture and planning.Table of Contents1. The Elevated View 2. Vedute di Roma 3. Britain's First Protected Vista: The View from Richmond Hill 4. Indignation: Preserving The View 5. Contmporary Policies - London 6. Dresden 7. St. Petersburg 8. Istanbul 9. Vancouver 10. Towards an International Methodology

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Book SynopsisCommunity involvement in planning and placemaking through early, inclusive participatory Charrette processes can build consensus, speed up planning and add social, economic and environmental value to projects, leading to healthier, happier and more sustainable places. 20/20 Visions is an inspiring and visually stimulating introduction to the practice of Charrette based planning (and placemaking). 20 worldwide case studies, spanning 1990's projects in USA to present day UK, explore the context, implementation and follow up of the co-design process to illustrate its effectiveness in engaging all stakeholders/communities and tackling multi-layered and often tackling difficult development and planning issues. Table of ContentsChapter 1: A historyChapter 2: Why is it needed? Chapter 3: What is it? Chapter 4: The way forward Chapter 5: 20/20 Case Studies Chapter 6: Lessons from the Case Studies

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Book SynopsisNew Life in Public Squares investigates the evolution of the public square within the urban form and its meaning to a city’s image. It explores what is driving investment in the creation of new or re-designed existing squares: the economic and social benefits, city image to attract tourism, investment and attracting major events. Taking a design practitioners perspective, a series of in-depth case studies, including discussions with clients and designers, on an international array of public squares will analyse and the use of public spaces and the impact they have on their immediate surroundings. It shows readers how quality design of public squares can be achieved and, importantly, how they can be delivered to enable positive changes in the way public spaces are used and experienced.Table of Contents1. The Historic Development of the Square 2. A New Agenda for Public Squares 3. Re-design of Historic Squares 4. New Squares within Existing Urban Fabric 5. Squares Within New City Quarters 6. Extending the Experience of Cities 7. Squares that Reconfigure a City’s Structure 8. What We Have Learnt

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Book SynopsisBuilding in Arcadia: The case for well-designed rural development is a reasoned, impassioned and ultimately practical book identifying key barriers to rural development, and how planning applicants (whether householders, developers and landowners), and most particularly their agents who make the applications – architects, landscape architects or planners – can address, and overcome, them. Focusing on the positive aesthetic role buildings can play in the landscape, and proposing sensitive development, Building in Arcadia also explores the essential economic, social and environmental case for more building in the countryside to make the countryside more viable. In so doing, it will actively engage, challenge and provoke debate – as well as offering practical ways forward. Table of ContentsContents Foreword: Lord Matthew Taylor Preface Acknowledgements Introduction PART 1: PLANNING CONSTRAINTS ON COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENTChapter 1: The English Arcadia Chapter 2: Policy Chapter 3: Decision-taking Chapter 4: Planning for a new development PART 2: MAKING THE CASE FOR DEVELOPMENT Chapter 5: Examining perceptions of new development – the survey of English Councillors Chapter 6: Case studies PART 3: A NEW APPROACH Chapter 7: A new approach to assessment Chapter 8: Rural Building Assessment Chapter 9: RBA – worked example Bibliography Appendix: Survey of Local Authority Councillors into the attitudes towards development in the English countryside

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Book SynopsisIn his seminal new book, Bill Dunster demonstrates that zero-carbon, zero-waste design doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag, and is achievable today. This book presents a range of tools that form key ingredients in a low carbon society. Focusing on technologies that are already in use, ZEDlife explores both small-scale ideas (such as shelters and lighting) and large-scale solutions in buildings and across cities. An essential resource for both students and practitioners, ZEDlife offers an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability, making connections to a web of technologies through full-colour case studies of new build and retrofit projects from across the globe. The argument for low-cost, zero-energy, zero-waste architecture has never been timelier. This book offers a forceful challenge to the status quo and provides workable, sustainable solutions for zero-carbon, zero-waste design.Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction A Beginner’s Guide to ZEDlifeThe ZEDlife: A call to engage Part II: The ZEDlife Tools The ZEDroofSolar-charged exchangeable batteriesLow carbon transport: The ZEDbike, electric vehicles and the filling stations of the futureBuilding-level energy systems: Air sourced head pumps and solar assisted heating and coolingDistrict-level energy systems and food productionRetrofit of existing buildingsRainwater harvesting and water re-useTool combinations Part III: The ZEDlife in practice The Zero-bills homeZEDpodsShoreham Cement Works Holiday ParkRehousing Somalia’s IDPs: From emergency housing to a long-term urban solutionAfricaZEDShanghai Expo ZED PavillionHigher density strategies: living under a parkOne Planet Business CentreJingdezhen Ceramic Centre and the urban solar farmBedZED Conclusions

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 2005 under the title La Tierra Herida, this book grew out of a series of conversations that took place during the previous summer between Miguel Delibes and his son, Miguel Delibes de Castro. Acknowledged as one of Spain’s foremost novelists and essayists of the 20th century, Miguel Delibes won every literary award his country had to offer. In 1975 he was elected into the Spanish Royal Academy and used the occasion of his acceptance speech (later to be published under the title A World that is Dying) to make explicit his growing concerns about the future of the planet. Miguel Delibes de Castro, an internationally recognised research biologist, was for many years the Director of the Biological Station at the world-renowned Doñana National Park. He was an adviser to the Spanish delegation at the Rio de Janiero Conference on Biodiversity and was awarded the King James I prize for his efforts in protecting the environment. Father and son, novelist and scientist, each with a life-long commitment to the environment, discuss the environmental changes threatening our planet at the start of the 21st century, and whether or not we can find the means and summon up the will to reverse them. It is the father, speaking here as the anxious citizen, and pessimistic for our future, who asks the layman’s questions; it is his son who provides the scientific explanations, and offers whatever cause for optimism there is to be found. Miguel Delibes de Castro has provided a Postscript, written in November 2019, shortly before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, which brings events up to date.

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Book SynopsisCowrie boards a ship bound for Moruroa Atoll during the French nuclear tests. She is in for a rough ride. As international attention is focused on the Pacific and the environment, the stakes rise. She is joined by Sahara, a young peace activist from England and Marie-Louise, a French nuclear physicist. But can they be trusted? Can anyone be trusted? With sensuous writing and a deep knowledge of the traditions, the reader can feel the rock of the sea, taste the food, and fear the attacks on the peace flotilla as it approaches Moruroa Atoll. Dive into a luscious feast of language and imagery.

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Book SynopsisThe arrival of European missionaries in New Zealand had an immeasurable impact on Maori society. Like Them That Dream tells the intriguing story of early interaction between Maori and missionary, leading to the many distinctive responses to the arrival of Christianity. The book''s first two parts consider how the Christian word was spread and how Maori responded, explaining the identification they felt with the Israelites of the Old Testament. The third part relates the rise of indigenous religious movements, from the early Papahurihia through Pai Marire, Ringatu and the Parihaka Movement, and the later incarnations of the Arowhenua Movement in the South Island and what remains today''s leading Maori church, Ratana.

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Book SynopsisIt was another time. Deadly earthquakes, steamboat explosions, floods, train wrecks, and other tragedies were a part of everyday life in nineteenth-century California. Yet, the men and women of the day licked their wounds, mourned their dead, picked up the pieces, and plunged ahead to build a great prosperous new state that took its place in the forefront of our great Union. This is their stories, in their own words. First-person accounts of the major 19th century California catastrophes. Includes scores of contemporary period photographs and other illustrations.

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Book SynopsisMany Canadians say that British Columbia is the zaniest political province. It''s too diverse, too polarised -- geographically, demographically and ideologically. But the British Columbia political arena is lively, and it has often led the way in electing women to parliaments -- as respected spokespeople for the public and as equal people. In "Seeking Balance", Anne Edwards shares her conversations with more than eighty Briths Columbia women politicians, including Rita Johnston, Rosemary Brown, Grace McCarthy, Kim Campbell, Pat Carney, Darlene Marzari, Joy MacPhail and Carole James. These women who served as members of the provincial legislature or the Canadian parliament reveal their ambitions and their reactions to serving in a political system designed and dominated by men. Women struggle to find their place in the pyramids of power. They reach decisions in ways untraditional to Canadian politics; they bring ideas to a system ill-suited to respond; and they see clearly the jagged edges that should be smoothed in order to create a vibrant democratic state. These women -- of many ages, across party lines and from all parts of the province -- share attitudes and insights into the lively world of British Columbia politics, at home and across our nation.

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Book SynopsisFirst released in 1990, the essays in Home Place range from the personal—the search for a childhood vision of pristine grassland, the boy who goes from hunting to respecting wildlife and the living space around him—to theory on land use, environmental law, agriculture, education, and technology as it affects the relationships between humanity and the Ecosphere.

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Book SynopsisEdmonton on Location: River City Chronicles is an innovative collection of essays, memoirs, poems, and stories by acclaimed Edmontonians. These Edmontonians represent a cross-section of society, spanning generations, occupations, and lifestyles that have helped to make Edmonton unique. Edmonton On Location describes the heartbeat of this vibrant city, from parks and back alleys to the High Level Bridge and North Saskatchewan River.

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Book SynopsisCombining personal experience with concrete fact, A.K. Hellum''s Listening to Trees tells the story of a man''s lifelong journey to salvage today''s declining forests. In this enlightening account of Hellum''s half-century career as a forester, we become privy to our environment''s fragile state-of-being through the manipulation of forests that have been stripped of their resources and improperly regenerated over the span of a lifetime. As Hellum guides us on his journeys through the forests of Thailand, China, Guyana, and the Philippines, we emerge with a new understanding of how the smallest elements of the world''s ecosystem can have a significant and devastating impact on the environment at large. While reinforcing Stan Rowe''s life''s work as an environmentalist, Listening to Trees serves as a staunch reminder of the fragility of modern forests while providing a glimpse into the soul of an environmentalist pleading for his beloved timberland.

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Book SynopsisAdrift on the Ark is a collection of personal essays by Margaret Thompson that offers a straightforward study of the complex relationship between human beings and the natural world. The essays look at a wide range of beings--from spiders to peacocks--and cover issues such as our irrational phobias, our fascination with zoos, and the myths and stories we have created around the other occupants of this earth. They also observe the joy animals bring to us as our pets and the altruistic relationship between caregivers and companions. With lively anecdotes and engaging portraits of the animals who have enriched Margaret''s life, these entertaining and personal essays serve a double purpose: as a reminder of our place in the natural order and our intricate connections with animals; and as a warning about how much we stand to lose by ignoring our responsibilities for all life on earth. Meant to inspire and motivate, Adrift on the Ark is an enchanting reflection on the beneficial relationship between humans and other animals.

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Book SynopsisPraise for The Weekender Effect: What happens to paradise when you carve it up into lots and sell it? Bob Sandford writes about it with clarity and a deep love of the places he knows so well. Sandford''s story of one town''s mutation from a quiet mountain haven to an overcrowded, generic ''outpost of globalization'' is essential reading for those who care about community and our last few glorious spaces. --Thomas Wharton, author of Icefields, Salamander and The Logogryph Equal parts manifesto, meditation, and love song to mountain communities everywhere, this calmly passionate book belongs in every house, condo, tent and backpack in the mountain West and on university courses on nature writing, the environment, community, citizenship, sense of place, human geography and many more. This is essential reading for anyone who lives in, lusts after or loves the mountains. --Pamela Banting, President, Association for Literature, the Environment and Culture in Canada As cities continue to grow at unprecedented rates, more and more people are looking for peaceful, weekend retreats in mountain or rural communities. More often than not, these retreats are found in and around resorts or places of natural beauty. As a result, what once were small towns are fast becoming mini cities, complete with expensive housing, fast food, traffic snarls and environmental damage, all with little or no thought for the importance of local history, local people and local culture. The Weekender Effect is a passionate plea for considered development in these bedroom communities and for the necessary preservation of local values, cultures and landscapes.

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Book SynopsisI believe that it is up to people like us to find the language, create the images and imagine the solutions that will allow us to break out of the vicious circle that threatens public health by threatening our landscapes and water sources . . . Together we can work toward this end. And, we can do it with humour. We can do it with style. And we can do it with grace. Try as we might, parts of North America may not escape the impacts of the global water crisis. The same kinds of water supply and quality issues that have appeared around our crowded planet are already beginning to present themselves here. Unfortunately, this is occurring at a time when, as a direct result of declining global food production, the world is beginning to rely more heavily than ever on agricultural communities in North America to help meet increasingly unattainable food-production goals. Instead of waiting for a water crisis of our own, North Americans may well wish to put the lessons learned elsewhere in the world into active practice. By using the example of others to put our own water-management house in order, North America can possibly avoid the same kinds of problems other countries are facing with respect to the protection of water resources. At the same time, we can employ enlightened attitudes toward the management of water resources to advance many of our own ecological and economic sustainability goals. Passionately conceived, clearly written and citing concrete examples from all over the world, Restoring the Flow is an approachable yet authoritative source, one of the many implements concerned citizens, government officials, businesspeople and policymakers can use and reuse in understanding and addressing this ever-growing global crisis.

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Book SynopsisThe grizzly bear, once the archetype for all that is wild, is quickly becoming a symbol of nature''s fierce but flagging resilience in the face of human greed and ignorance--and the difficulty a wealth-addicted society has in changing its ways. North America''s grizzlies have been under siege ever since Europeans arrived. They''d survived the arrival of spear-wielding humans 13,000 years ago, outlived the short-faced bear, the dire wolf and the sabre-tooth cat--not to mention mastodons, mammoths and giant ground sloths the size of elephants--but grizzly bears in much of Turtle Island succumbed to 375 years of unrelenting commercialization and industrialization, disappearing from the Great Plains and much of the mountain West. Despite their relatively successful recovery in Yellowstone National Park, the bears'' decline continues largely unchecked. And the front line in this centuries-old battle for survival has shifted to western Alberta and southern BC, where outdated mythologies, rapacious industry and disingenuous governments continue to push the Great Bear into the mountains and toward a future that may not have room for them at all.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from the The Good Website Guide Deborah Gray provides an essential guide to over 500 'green' sites on the web.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the Snowdonia National Park and the Society, dedicated to conserving and enhancing its unique landscape, is one which will fascinate and inform those who live and work within it as well as being of interest to visitors, be they picnickers or sightseers or committed hill walkers, climbers, canoeists and mountain bikers. This book commemorates the fortieth anniversary of the Snowdonia Society and is a record of its sometimes turbulent history and the ever-changing but still inspiring landscape of the National Park. Created in 1951, the Snowdonia National Park is a landscape of rugged grandeur, great natural diversity and cultural associations going back thousands of years. The vision of its founders was that this very special region should be protected from harmful development for all time. From the beginning, however, there were problems? Out of these difficulties grew the idea of an independent society dedicated to conserving and enhancing the landscape. Today the Snowdonia Society has a membership of over 2,500 and has a close working relationship with both the Snowdonia National Park Authority and the Council for National Parks. This lively narrative chronicles the story of the Snowdonia Society ? its successes and failures, its internal conflict and the personalities involved ? as well as discussing the wider issues which have affected this unique landscape over the last forty years. This lavishly illustrated book will appeal to anyone who loves the rugged landscape of Snowdonia, published in dual language text of English and Welsh.Table of ContentsMap of locations 4List of Plates 5Preface by Sir Chris Bonington, CBE 7Early Days 1967-77 12Introduction 12The Society 14Landscape and Planning 18Growing Up 1977-87 30The Society 30Landscape and Planning 36Coming of Age 1987-97 46The Society 46Landscape and Planning 54Enhancement 60Into the Present 1997-2007 66The Society 66Landscape issues 72Enhancement 76Policy issues 82Conclusion 86Postscript by John Disley, CBE 88References 90Acknowledgements 91

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of the Peak landscape from its tropical beginnings to its rugged gritty present. Limestone reefs grow in the shallows of tropical seas, taking captive fossilised sea creatures. As the seas shift and coastlines change, sandstones build on the banks of a great river delta. Forests of giant ferns take hold of the land, leaving behind a legacy of coal and bitumen. From the water worn limestone of the White Peak to the wind sculpted sandstones of the Dark Peak, the landscape here is always atmospheric. There are mysterious dry valleys with no sign of running water, caves adorned with sumptuous stalactite chandeliers and the remains of an industrial era built on mineral riches. Paul leads you on a series of fifteen walks which afford spectacular views of the best of the Peak District scenery and reveal evidence of the landscape's intriguing history. In the first half of the book Paul tells the story of the Dark and White Peaks. How limestone reefs grew upon the basement bedrock and the shifting seas deposited layers of sandstone and shale. Tectonic forces buckled and tilted these beds of sedimentary rock to create the rocky edges and tors which characterise the Peak District. The second half of the book details fifteen walks, from easy to challenging, which reveal the geological drama.

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Book SynopsisThe Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk is a 27.5 mile route that can be walked at one go or tackled in sections with good transport links to and from Tunbridge Wells at its centre. The route links fine historical villages including Frant, Groombridge and Speldhurst, crossing varied Wealden countryside on the way.

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