Pollution and threats to the environment Books

601 products


  • The Radium Girls

    Simon & Schuster Ltd The Radium Girls

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisEmma Watson’s Our Shared Shelf book club choiceNew York Times bestseller ‘Fascinating’ Sunday Times ‘Thrilling’ ★★★★★ Mail on SundayAll they wanted was the chance to shine. Be careful what you wish for…‘The first thing we asked was, “Does this stuff hurt you?” And they said, “No.” The company said that it wasn’t dangerous, that we didn’t need to be afraid.’ As the First World War spread across the world, young American women flocked to work in factories, painting clocks, watches and military dials with a special luminous substance made from radium. It was a fun job, lucrative and glamorous – the girls shone brightly in the dark, covered head to toe in dust from the paint. However, as the years passed, the women began to suffer from myTrade Review'Kate Moore’s new book will move, shock and anger you.' * The Big Issue *‘This fascinating social history – one that significantly reflects on the class and gender of those involved – [is] Catherine Cookson meets Mad Men . . . The importance of the brave and blighted dial-painters cannot be overstated.’ * Sunday Times *‘Thrilling and carefully crafted.’ * Mail on Sunday *‘Heartfelt.’ * Sunday Telegraph *‘Kate Moore . . . writes with a sense of drama that carries one through the serpentine twists and turns of this tragic but ultimately uplifting story.’ * The Spectator *‘Fascinating yet tragic.’ * The Sun *‘Heartbreaking . . . what this book illustrates brilliantly is that battling for justice against big corporations isn’t easy.’ * BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour *‘A perfect blend of the historical, the scientific and the personal, this richly detailed book sheds a whole new light on this unique element and the role it played in changing workers’ rights. The Radium Girls makes it impossible for you to ignore these women’s incredible stories, and proves why now, more than ever, we can’t afford to ignore science, either.’ * Bustle *‘Carefully researched, the work will stun readers with its descriptions of the glittering artisans who, oblivious to health dangers, twirled camel-hair brushes to fine points using their mouths.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Moore’s harrowing but humane story describes the struggle of a few brave women who took their case to court in a fight for justice that is still resonant today.’ * Saga *‘Kate Moore’s The Radium Girls tells the story of a cohort of women who made history by entering the workforce at the dawn of a new scientific era . . . Moore sheds new light on a dark chapter in American labour history; the radium girls . . . live again in her telling.’ -- Megan Marshall, Pulitzer Prize-winning author‘Kate Moore’s gripping narrative about the betrayal of the radium girls – gracefully told and exhaustively researched – makes this a non-fiction classic. Moore’s compassion for her subjects and her story-telling prowess . . . bring alive a shameful era in America’s industrial history.’ -- Rinker Buck, author of The Oregon Trail

    15 in stock

    £9.49

  • Two Degrees

    Scholastic Two Degrees

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisFire. Flood. Ice. Three natural disasters. Akira, Owen, and Natalie are all swept up in the global effects of climate change, each struggling to survive their individual disasters. But the three kids are more deeply connected than they could ever imagine, in ways that can change the world.

    15 in stock

    £7.59

  • Clean & Green: 101 Hints and Tips for a More

    Pan Macmillan Clean & Green: 101 Hints and Tips for a More

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisSimple swaps and innovative ideas for cleaning and maintaining your home that won't cost the Earth. This beautifully illustrated black and white guide with 101 hints and sustainable, natural cleaning tips and hacks will help you take small steps that have a massive positive environmental impact.In Clean & Green, Great British Bake Off winner and Sunday Times bestselling author Nancy Birtwhistle shares the simple recipes and methods she has developed since making a conscious effort to live more sustainably, many of which are faster and easier than the go-to products and methods most of us use now.From everyday cleaning and laundry tips to zero-effort oven cleaner and guidance on removing tricky stains from clothing and furniture, these economical, practical methods are perfect for anyone looking to reduce their use of plastic and throwaway products.Nancy shares her tried-and-tested recipes for all-purpose cleaners, replacements for harmful chemicals that will keep both your home and the planet clean and green for future generations.'The book I’ve waited all my life for' – Kirstie AllsoppThis paperback edition includes ten extra tips.Trade ReviewPacked with advice and ingenious tricks * Guardian *The book I’ve waited all my life for. -- Kirstie AllsoppNancy’s enthusiasm and energy shine through. I love her holistic approach to cleaning and can honestly say I have learned loads from this book! -- Aggie MacKenzie, Co-presenter, C4’s How Clean is Your House?From baking, to gardening, to organization, resourcefulness, and just her incredible energy . . . she creates art out of everything in her life, and takes so much joy in the process. -- Jonathan Van Ness, Queer EyePraise for Sizzle & Drizzle: Worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake. * Daily Mail *

    15 in stock

    £10.44

  • Clean & Green: 101 Hints and Tips for a More

    Pan Macmillan Clean & Green: 101 Hints and Tips for a More

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisSimple swaps and innovative ideas for cleaning and maintaining your home that won't cost the Earth. Learn how easy it is to make simple swaps in your cleaning and tidying methods for a more eco-friendly home, with helpful tips from bestselling author and Great British Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle.This beautifully illustrated black and white guide with 101 hints and sustainable, natural cleaning tips and hacks will help you take small steps that have a massive positive environmental impact. In Clean & Green, Nancy shares the simple recipes and methods she has developed since making a conscious effort to live more sustainably, many of which are faster and easier than the go-to products and methods most of us use now.From everyday cleaning and laundry tips to zero-effort oven cleaner and guidance on removing tricky stains from clothing and furniture, these economical, practical methods are perfect for anyone looking to reduce their use of plastic and throwaway products. Nancy shares her tried-and-tested recipes for all-purpose cleaners, replacements for harmful chemicals that will keep both your home and the planet clean and green for future generations.'The book I’ve waited all my life for' – Kirstie AllsoppTrade ReviewThe book I’ve waited all my life for. * Kirstie Allsopp *Nancy’s enthusiasm and energy shine through. I love her holistic approach to cleaning and can honestly say I have learned loads from this book! -- Aggie MacKenzie, Co-presenter, C4’s How Clean is Your House?From baking, to gardening, to organization, resourcefulness, and just her incredible energy . . . she creates art out of everything in her life, and takes so much joy in the process. -- Jonathan Van Ness, Queer EyePraise for Sizzle & Drizzle: Worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake. * Daily Mail *

    15 in stock

    £13.49

  • False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us

    Basic Books False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThe New York Times-bestselling "skeptical environmentalist" argues that panic over climate change is causing more harm than goodHurricanes batter our coasts. Wildfires rage across the American West. Glaciers collapse in the Artic. Politicians, activists, and the media espouse a common message: climate change is destroying the planet, and we must take drastic action immediately to stop it. Children panic about their future, and adults wonder if it is even ethical to bring new life into the world.Enough, argues bestselling author Bjorn Lomborg. Climate change is real, but it's not the apocalyptic threat that we've been told it is. Projections of Earth's imminent demise are based on bad science and even worse economics. In panic, world leaders have committed to wildly expensive but largely ineffective policies that hamper growth and crowd out more pressing investments in human capital, from immunization to education.False Alarm will convince you that everything you think about climate change is wrong -- and points the way toward making the world a vastly better, if slightly warmer, place for us all.

    Out of stock

    £14.99

  • Exposure

    Simon & Schuster Ltd Exposure

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisERIN BROCKOVICH meets SILENT SPRING in this astounding true story of a lawyer who spent two decades building a case against one of the world’s largest chemical companies, uncovering a shocking history of environmental pollution and heartless cover-up. The story that inspired the motion picture from Participant Media/Focus Features, starring Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Bill Pullman and Tim Robbins, directed by Todd Haynes. In 1998, Robert Bilott was a 33-year-old Cincinnati lawyer on the verge of making partner when his career and life took an unforeseen turn. He was taken by surprise when he received a call from a man named Earl Tennant, a farmer from West Virginia with a slight connection to Robert’s family. Earl was convinced the creek on his property, where his cattle grazed, was being poisoned by run-off from a neighbouring factory landfill. His cattle were dying in hideous ways, and he hadn&r

    Out of stock

    £9.49

  • Rag and Bone

    John Murray Press Rag and Bone

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis''Beautiful, like a muddy journey through time . . . a really important book'' RAYNOR WINN, author of The Salt Path Lisa Woollett has spent her life combing beaches and mudlarking, collecting curious fragments of the past: from Roman tiles and Tudor thimbles, to Victorian buttons and plastic soldiers. In a series of walks from the Thames, out to the Kentish estuary and eventually to Cornwall, she traces the history of our rubbish and, through it, reveals the surprising story of our changing consumer culture.Timely and beautifully written, Rag and Bone shows what we can learn from what we''ve thrown away and urges us to think more about what we leave behind.Trade ReviewLisa Woollett's beautifully descriptive language intertwines the stories of the river's history with that of her family, like a muddy journey through time. But it's so much more than that - in recording the waste and the lives we've left behind she's given us a chance to change our ways and possibly head towards a cleaner future -- Raynor WinnWonderful . . . If you loved The Salt Path, you'll love this book. A glorious celebration of where the natural world meets the human (and the messes we make) -- Viv GroskopRag and Bone digs deep into the mud of the Thames estuary, and comes up with something compelling and urgent - history told through rubbish. Lisa Woollett is a genuine mudlark, alert and closely attuned to the ways of the intertidal zone. A fascinating book -- Philip MarsdenA delicious confection of a book, blending history and memoir with thoughts and close observation. I so enjoyed watching shadows of the past flit across Lisa Woollett's watery pages. It is a timely book, too, when, as Woollett writes, "our waste threatens to overwhelm us" -- Sara WheelerTracing the remote and recent past - her own, and ours - through watery debris, Lisa Woollett conjures up, in poetic prose and brilliant stories, the spin cycle of history. In Rag and Bone, she elegantly picks her way through the trash, to reveal something gloriously and richly strange: a portrait of what we were and what we might become -- Philip HoareMudlark and beachcomber Lisa Woollett journeys into her family's past, our collective history and our possible futures. Subtle, dark and funny, with flashes of beauty and wonder, Rag and Bone is a compelling meditation on the consumer culture and its consequences -- Caspar HendersonEntrancing -- Patrick GaleLisa Woollett spins narrative gold out of literal dross in this gorgeous story of our waterways that lulls you like a punt on the Cam before making you seasick at the damage we've wrought on the oceans * Evening Standard, Books to Read This Summer *Absorbing . . . Woollett has a gift for bringing to life the strange borderlands of the foreshore * Observer *Discursive, lyrical and intriguing . . . Woollett writes beautifully * Literary Review *Rag and Bone is more than a history in a hundred objects: it is a meditation on our relationship with objects themselves * Times Literary Supplement *[A] beguiling blend of memoir, nature writing and social history * The Bookseller, Editor's Choice *More than personal memoir, this is a powerful book that has much to say about the present and future state of our world * Countryfile *Woollett weaves the story of her own London family within the wider social history of recycling . . . the book is illustrated with photographs of her finds arranged in ways that often say as much as the words do about the subject matter * Caught by the River, Book of the Month *A constant delight . . . highly recommended * Eden Magazine *Accompanied by the fantastically beautiful photographs of her finds, Woollett . . . traces her own family history in poetic prose * Simple Things *[Woollett's] mudlarking (preferred tool: a butter knife) reveals no end of social history washed up on the shore and awaiting interpretation * Strong Words *Subtle, lyrical and funny * The Lady *

    10 in stock

    £8.24

  • Plastics: Just a Load of Rubbish?: Re-evaluating

    Legend Press Ltd Plastics: Just a Load of Rubbish?: Re-evaluating

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £13.49

  • Rewilding the Sea: How to Save our Oceans

    Ebury Publishing Rewilding the Sea: How to Save our Oceans

    7 in stock

    Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE**'Desperately needed' - Isabella Tree'I doubt any more important book will published this year' - Stephen FryIn this indispensable follow up to his acclaimed The End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World, Charles Clover chronicles how determined individuals are proving that the crisis in our oceans can be reversed, with benefits for both local communities and entire ecosystems. Rewilding the Sea celebrates what happens when we step aside and let nature repair the damage: whether it is the overfishing of bluefin tuna across the Atlantic, the destruction of coral gardens by dredgers in Lyme Bay or the restoration of oysters on the East Coast of America.The latest scientific research shows that trawling and dredging create more CO2 than the aviation industry and damage vast areas of our continental shelves, stopping them soaking up carbon. We need to fish in different ways, where we fish at all. We can store carbon and have more fish by stepping aside more often and trusting nature.Essential and revelatory, Rewilding the Sea propels us to rethink our relationship with nature and reveals that saving our oceans is easier than we think.Trade ReviewA game-changer! People are hungry for a plan to reverse ocean death so we can keep breathing! * Margaret Atwood, Twitter *I doubt any more important book will be published this year. Charles Clover tells (with spirit and style) an alarming and convincing story, yet it is one that offers hope and a way forward for our beleaguered oceans ... and us. * Stephen Fry *[An] optimistic manifesto for change...There are so many stories here of nature's titanic powers - if only we give her a chance - that it's ultimately a genuinely optimistic and energising read * Sunday Times *This book is desperately needed. Interest in terrestrial rewilding is rocketing and now it is time for the sea. The material Charles Clover will be covering is rich, urgent and fascinating. There will be so many people who will be desperate to get behind this book. * Isabella Tree *This uplifting book proves rewilding can fill oceans with teeming life again...powerful...forceful... * Telegraph *A game-changer! People are hungry for a plan to reverse ocean death so we can keep breathing! * Margaret Atwood, Twitter *I doubt any more important book will be published this year. Charles Clover tells (with spirit and style) an alarming and convincing story, yet it is one that offers hope and a way forward for our beleaguered oceans ... and us. * Stephen Fry *[An] optimistic manifesto for change...There are so many stories here of nature's titanic powers - if only we give her a chance - that it's ultimately a genuinely optimistic and energising read * Sunday Times *This book is desperately needed. Interest in terrestrial rewilding is rocketing and now it is time for the sea. The material Charles Clover will be covering is rich, urgent and fascinating. There will be so many people who will be desperate to get behind this book. * Isabella Tree *This uplifting book proves rewilding can fill oceans with teeming life again...powerful...forceful... * Telegraph *

    7 in stock

    £12.34

  • The Brilliant Abyss

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Brilliant Abyss

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe deep sea is the last, vast wilderness on the planet. This is the story of how we imagine, explore and exploit it. For centuries, myth-makers and storytellers have concocted imaginary monsters of the deep, and now scientists are looking there to find bizarre, unknown species, chemicals to make new medicines, and to gain a greater understanding of how this world of ours works. With an average depth of 12,000 feet and chasms that plunge much deeper, it forms a frontier for new discoveries. The Brilliant Abyss tells the story of our relationship with the deep sea how we imagine, explore and exploit it. It captures the golden age of discovery we are currently in and looks back at the history of how we got here, while also looking forward to the unfolding new environmental disasters that are taking place miles beneath the waves, far beyond the public gaze. Throughout history, there have been two distinct groups of deep-sea explorers. Both have sought knowledge but with difTrade ReviewSo comprehensive and insightful that it will be a long time before it’s surpassed … It is hard to imagine a more timely or important book than The Brilliant Abyss. Carefully conceived and luminously written, it is certain to be a bestseller, which gives me hope that its urgent message might help save the world. * New Statesman *Scales’s approach is enthralling and richly expressed and highlights how closely our lives depend on the deep. * Observer *Scales’s great gift is for transmuting our awe at the wonders of the deep sea into a kind of quiet rage that they could soon be no more … The deep, she argues, is too vulnerable, and too crucial to the working of the planet to blindly ransack. * New York Times Book Review *Accessible, enjoyable and written with infectious passion, this book is a compelling guide to a fascinating and often overlooked part of our planet. * The Week *Fascinating … The Brilliant Abyss is a manifesto for change as much as it is a description of an ecological crisis. Its overall effect – to insist that what’s already down there matters, even or especially when it is hidden from our view. * New Republic *Helen Scales is one of those rare scientists who can capture the excitement of science. The Brilliant Abyss has a thrill on every page as she explores the deep and little known ocean. But this comes with a warning. Man’s destruction is now reaching the remotest corners of the planet and our survival depends on stopping it. * Mark Kurlansky, author of Cod *Helen Scales explains why leaving the deep alone is so important – play your part by arming yourself with the facts. * Coast magazine *Helen Scales’ beautiful account reveals the astonishing complexity and importance of the creatures of the abyss, to the planet and to us. * Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation and scientific advisor, BBC Blue Planet II *Table of ContentsPrelude PART ONE: EXPLORE 1: Here is the Deep 2: The Whale and the Worm 3: Caught in a Jelly Web 4: In a Chemical World 5: Highs and Lows PART TWO: DEPEND 6: Deep Matters 7: Deep Cures PART THREE: EXPLOIT 8: Fishing Deep 9: The Eternal Junkyard 10: What's Mine is Yours PART FOUR: PRESERVE 11: Green vs Blue 12: A Sanctuary in the Deep Epilogue Acknowledgements Notes Additional Resources Index Plates

    4 in stock

    £11.39

  • The Ecology Book

    Dorling Kindersley Ltd The Ecology Book

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIf you have ever found ecology and the environment confusing, allow this book to make matters simple. It's an accessible introduction to how the natural world, environment and ecosystems work, and examines the threat climate change holds. * Be Kind Magazine *

    Out of stock

    £17.99

  • The Minamata Story: An EcoTragedy

    Stone Bridge Press The Minamata Story: An EcoTragedy

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA powerful graphic novel /manga that tells the story of "Minamata disease," a debilitating and sometimes fatal condition caused by the Chisso chemical factory's careless release of methylmercury into the waters of the coastal community of Minamata in southern Japan. First identified in 1956, it became a hot topic in Japan in the 1970s and 80s, growing into an iconic struggle between people versus corporations and government agencies. This struggle is relevant today, not simply because many people are still living with the disease but also because, in this time of growing concern over the safety of our environment--viz. Flint, Michigan--Minamata gives us as a very moving example of such human-caused environmental disasters and what we can do about them. Trade Review2022 Skipping Stones Honor Awards Recipient2021 NCTAsia Freeman Award Honorable Mention"The complicated history of environmental injustice depicted makes this worthy reading." —Publishers Weekly “An important read that can easily be incorporated in the classroom. Wilson shows the resilience of the human spirit, and through Tomi declaring a call to action while giving his report to prevent this from happening again, I sense the passion of Wilson and Shimojima in this book.” —Near Mint Condition “Super educational. A solid start to introduce this incident to those who don’t know about it.” —Graphic Policy

    15 in stock

    £10.99

  • Don't Trust, Don't Fear, Don't Beg: 100 Days as a

    Guardian Faber Publishing Don't Trust, Don't Fear, Don't Beg: 100 Days as a

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThere is a saying in Russian jails. Ne ver ne boysya ne prosi: don't trust, don't fear, don't beg. Don't trust because life here will always disappoint you. Don't fear because whatever you're scared of, you are powerless to prevent it. And don't beg because nobody ever begged their way out of a Russian prison cell.The plan was to attach a Greenpeace pod to Gazprom's platform and launch a peaceful protest against oil being pumped from the icy waters of the Arctic. However, heavily armed commandos flooded the deck of the Arctic Sunrise and the Arctic Thirty began their ordeal at the hands of Putin's regime. Told in the activists' own words and for the first time, this is a dramatic and inspiring story of incarceration and the ensuing emotional campaign to bring the protestors home.

    Out of stock

    £11.69

  • The Democracy of Species Green Ideas

    Penguin Books Ltd The Democracy of Species Green Ideas

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn twenty short books, Penguin brings you the classics of the environmental movement.In The Democracy of Species Robin Wall Kimmerer guides us towards a more reciprocal, grateful and joyful relationship with our animate earth, from the wild leeks in the field to the deer in the woods.Over the past 75 years, a new canon has emerged. As life on Earth has become irrevocably altered by humans, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their voices to defend the planet, and affirm our place at the heart of its restoration. Their words have endured through the decades, becoming the classics of a movement. Together, these books show the richness of environmental thought, and point the way to a fairer, saner, greener world.

    15 in stock

    £7.59

  • Risk and Culture

    University of California Press Risk and Culture

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow, then, do people decide which risks to take and which to ignore? On what basis are certain dangers guarded against and others relegated to secondary status? This book explores how we decide what risks to take and which to ignore, both as individuals and as a culture.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Can We Know the Risks We Face? I Risks are Hidden II Risks are Selected III Scientists Disagree IV Assessment is Biased v The Center is Complacent VI The Border is Alarmed VII The Border Fears for Nature VIII America is a Border Country IX The Dialogue is Political Conclusion: Risk is a Collective Construct Notes Index

    3 in stock

    £21.25

  • Silent Spring

    Houghton Mifflin Silent Spring

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisTHE CLASSIC THAT LAUNCHED THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT“Rachel Carson is a pivotal figure of the twentieth century…people who thought one way before her essential 1962 book Silent Spring thought another way after it.”—Margaret AtwoodRarely does a single book alter the course of history, but Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring did exactly that. The outcry that followed its publication in 1962 forced the banning of DDT and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson’s passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world. As Carson reminds us, In nature, nothing exists alone.” The introduction by the acclaimed biographer Linda Lear, author of Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature, tells the story of Carson’s courageous defense of her truths in the face of a ruthless assault form the che

    Out of stock

    £16.14

  • Extinction: A Radical History

    OR Books Extinction: A Radical History

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWith a new introduction by the author Some thousands of years ago, the world was home to an immense variety of large mammals. From wooly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers to giant ground sloths and armadillos the size of automobiles, these spectacular creatures roamed freely. Then human beings arrived. Devouring their way down the food chain as they spread across the planet, they began a process of voracious extinction that has continued to the present. Headlines today are made by the existential threat confronting remaining large animals such as rhinos and pandas. But the devastation summoned by humans extends to humbler realms of creatures including beetles, bats and butterflies. Researchers generally agree that the current extinction rate is nothing short of catastrophic. Currently the earth is losing about a hundred species every day. This relentless extinction, Ashley Dawson contends in a primer that combines vast scope with elegant precision, is the product of a global attack on the commons, the great trove of air, water, plants and creatures, as well as collectively created cultural forms such as language, that have been regarded traditionally as the inheritance of humanity as a whole. This attack has its genesis in the need for capital to expand relentlessly into all spheres of life. Extinction, Dawson argues, cannot be understood in isolation from a critique of our economic system. To achieve this we need to transgress the boundaries between science, environmentalism and radical politics. Extinction: A Radical History performs this task with both brio and brilliance.Trade ReviewPraise for the first edition: “Ashley Dawson’s slim and forceful book … makes a case for being the most accessible and politically engaged examination of the current mass extinction … a welcome contribution to the growing literature on this slow-motion calamity.” —Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Yale University, in the Los Angeles Review of Books “Dawson's searing report on species loss will sober up anyone who has drunk the Kool-Aid of green capitalism. For a bonus, readers will learn a lot from his far-sighted, prehistoric survey of extinction.” —Andrew Ross, author of Creditocracy and the Case for Debt Refusal “Dawson has summed up the threat to our fellow species on Earth with clarity, urgency and the finest reasoning available within the environmental justice literature. He explains how capital's appropriation of nature cannot be 'offset,' nor solutions found in financialization. Fusing social and ecological challenges to power is the only way forward, and here is a long-awaited, elegant and comprehensive expression of why the time is right to make these links.” —Patrick Bond, Professor of Political Economy, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and author of Politics of Climate Justice: Paralysis Above, Movement Below “A succinct and moving account of the co-evolution of capitalism, imperialism, and climate change. Dawson demonstrates not only how capitalism created climate change but also why the former must be challenged in order to halt the latter. Offering not only critique but also solutions, this rousing book is a great tool for anti-capitalists, climate change activists, and those still making sense of the intrinsic connections between the two.” —Jasbir Puar, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director Women's and Gender Studies, Rutgers University, author of Terrorist Assemblages “Historically grounded, densely researched, fluidly written, Ashley Dawson’s book on extinction is a powerful and painful exploration of human civilization's environmental irrationalities. Yet Dawson does not see annihilation as inevitable and he even points towards an alternate path.” —Christian Parenti, author of Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence

    1 in stock

    £12.34

  • The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff

    Little, Brown Book Group The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow our obsession with 'stuff' is trashing the planetAnnie Leonard, creator of the internet film sensation 'The Story of Stuff', viewed over 6 million times, offers an astonishing, galvanizing book that tells the story of all the 'stuff' we use every day - where our bottled water, mobile phones and jeans come from, how they're made and distributed, and where they really go when we throw them away.Our out-of-control consumption habits are killing the planet and threatening our health, but Annie provides hope that change is within reach. Like An Inconvenient Truth and Silent Spring, The Story of Stuff will be an instant classic.Trade ReviewA potentially important book that brings a great many facts and arguments into a single volume. * Irish Examiner *The book may be recycled, but Leonard's passion is new and refreshing. * Geographical *Taking us into 'the dark heart of American consumerism' in an amusing and trenchant way. * Guardian *

    2 in stock

    £11.69

  • Green Chemistry Theory and Practice

    Oxford University Press Green Chemistry Theory and Practice

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis book aims to introduce the reader to the design, development, and evaluation processes of new Green Chemistry methodologies. A comprehensive introductory text, it takes a broad view of the subject and integrates a wide variety of topics. Topics covered include: alternative feedstocks, environmentally benign synthetic methodologies, designing safer chemical products, new reaction conditions, alternative solvents and catalyst development, and the use of biosynthesis and biomimetic principles. The reader is introduced to the new evaluation process that encompasses the health and environmental impact of a synthetic pathway from choice of starting materials through to target molecule. Throughout the text, comparisons and contrasts with classical methodologies are offered as illustrative examples. This accessible text is aimed at all those involved with the design, manufacture, use and disposal of chemicals and their products - especially synthetic chemicals at the graduate and professiTrade ReviewAs the summary of a vision, the book is brilliant. One can feel the enthusiasm of the authors throughout...I see it as a vehicle for initiating a fruitful dialogue between chemical producers and regulatory enforcers without the confrontation, which often characterizes such interactions. * Martyn Poliakoff, Green Chemistry, February *Its is an introductory text taking a broad view and intergrating a wide range of topics including synthetic methodologies, alternative solvents and catalysts, biosynthesis and alternative feedstocks. There are exercises for students and the last chapter deals with future trends' AslibTable of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. What is Green Chemistry? ; 3. Tools of Green Chemistry ; 4. Principles of Green Chemistry ; 5. Evaluating the Impacts of Chemistry ; 6. Evaluating Feedstocks and Starting Materials ; 7. Evaluating Reaction Types ; 8. Evaluation of Methods to Design Safer Chemicals ; 10. Future Trends in Green Chemistry

    15 in stock

    £28.49

  • Uncommon Ground  Rethinking the Human Place in

    WW Norton & Co Uncommon Ground Rethinking the Human Place in

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisA controversial, timely reassessment of the environmentalist agenda by outstanding historians, scientists, and critics.Trade Review"An intellectually pathbreaking book." -- Daniel J. Kevles "The best kind of book, one that shocks the reader into entirely fresh ways of thinking." -- Michael Pollan

    10 in stock

    £18.99

  • Energy Systems

    Oxford University Press Energy Systems

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisModern societies require energy systems to provide energy for cooking, heating, transport, and materials processing, as well as for electricity generation. Energy systems include the primary fuel, its conversion, and transport to the point of use. In many cases this primary fuel is still a fossil fuel, a one-use resource derived from a finite supply within our planet, causing considerable damage to the environment. After 300 years of increasing reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal, it is becoming ever clearer that the present energy systems need to change. In this Very Short Introduction Nick Jenkins explores our historic investment in the exploitation of fossil energy resources and their current importance, and discusses the implications of our increasing rate of energy use. He considers the widespread acceptance by scientists and policy makers that our energy systems must reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, and looks forward to the radical changes in fuel technology that will be necessary to continue to provide energy supplies in a sustainable manner, and extend access across the developing world. Considering the impact of changing to an environmentally benign and low-carbon energy system, Jenkins also looks at future low-carbon energy systems which would use electricity from a variety of renewable energy sources, as well as the role of nuclear power in our energy use.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Energy systems 2: Fossil fuels 3: Electricity systems 4: Nuclear power 5: Renewable energy systems 6: Future energy systems Further reading Index

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • Gone

    Quarto Publishing PLC Gone

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisGone is a fascinating and timely illustrated narrative exploring the lively tales of eleven extraordinary extinct species from around the globe––sharing an enlightening story of extinction and conservation for today.Table of ContentsIntroduction-The Booth Museum of Natural History Chapter One-Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) Chapter Two-Spectacled Cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus) Chapter Three-Steller’s Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) Chapter Four-Upland Moa (Megalapteryx didinus) Chapter Five-Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) Chapter Six-South Island K.okako (Callaeas cinereus) Chapter Seven-Xerces Blue (Glaucopsyche xerces) Chapter Eight-Pinta Island Tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii) Chapter Nine-Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) Chapter Ten-Schomburgk’s Deer (Rucervus schomburgki) Chapter Eleven-Ivell’s Sea Anemone (Edwardsia ivelli) Map of Featured Locations Museums Charities Further Reading Index Biographies & Author Acknowledgements

    5 in stock

    £7.49

  • Unravelling the Silk Road

    Icon Books Unravelling the Silk Road

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThree textile roads tangle their way through Central Asia. The famous Silk Road united east and west through trade. Older still was the Wool Road, of critical importance when houses made from wool enabled nomads to traverse the inhospitable winter steppes. Then there was the Cotton Road, marked by greed, colonialism and environmental disaster. At this intersection of human history, fortunes were made and lost through shimmering silks, life-giving felts and gossamer cottons. Chris Aslan, who has spent fifteen years living and working in the region, expertly unravels the strands of this tangled history and embroiders them with his own experiences of life in the heart of Asia.

    15 in stock

    £10.44

  • Somebody Woke Wilson

    Scholastic Somebody Woke Wilson

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated picture book with a powerful message aboutthe carbon cycle from environmental expert Sarah Roberts.

    2 in stock

    £7.59

  • Citizens of Worlds: Open-Air Toolkits for

    University of Minnesota Press Citizens of Worlds: Open-Air Toolkits for

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisAn unparalleled how-to guide to citizen-sensing practices that monitor air pollution Modern environments are awash with pollutants churning through the air, from toxic gases and intensifying carbon to carcinogenic particles and novel viruses. The effects on our bodies and our planet are perilous. Citizens of Worlds is the first thorough study of the increasingly widespread use of digital technologies to monitor and respond to air pollution. It presents practice-based research on working with communities and making sensor toolkits to detect pollution while examining the political subjects, relations, and worlds these technologies generate. Drawing on data from the Citizen Sense research group, which worked with communities in the United States and the United Kingdom to develop digital-sensor toolkits, Jennifer Gabrys argues that citizen-oriented technologies promise positive change but then collide with entrenched and inequitable power structures. She asks: Who or what constitutes a “citizen” in citizen sensing? How do digital sensing technologies enable or constrain environmental citizenship? Spanning three project areas, this study describes collaborations to monitor air pollution from fracking infrastructure, to document emissions in urban environments, and to create air-quality gardens. As these projects show, how people respond to, care for, and struggle to transform environmental conditions informs the political subjects and collectives they become as they strive for more breathable worlds.Trade Review"The planet, the region, the community, the neighborhood, the block—these are all sensoria: sites of sense, sensation, and sensibility. Citizens of Worlds offers a powerful and instructive report on how to create everyday sensor infrastructures to register and combat the damage these social sensoria are suffering amidst today’s compromised atmospheres and environments. A critical handbook for theory and action."—Stefan Helmreich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology"In this timely and carefully crafted book, Jennifer Gabrys takes us on a fascinating journey to trace the multiple relations between citizens and their environments mediated though sensors. Throughout the book we encounter diverse sensing technologies, each making us reflect more deeply about how environments are made perceptible and how this allows us to act upon them in novel ways. The concept of ‘citizens of worlds’ sensitizes us to the multiple ways in which these novel experiences of the environment co-constitute political subjects. A mind-opening read inviting further explorations."—Ulrike Felt, University of Vienna

    15 in stock

    £23.39

  • Carbon Dioxide through the Ages From wild spirit

    Oxford University Press Carbon Dioxide through the Ages From wild spirit

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisCarbon dioxide has become one of the defining molecules of our century, due to its role in Earth''s climate. This text traces the development of the perception of carbon dioxide through the ages. With layman summaries at the beginning of each chapter and extensive literature references and notes, the text takes the reader through the history of our understanding of the gas, from its early discovery as a separate gas in the mid-17th century to the recognition of its radiative properties and impact on climate in the late 19th and 20th century.The text describes the world''s slow efforts to control the rise in carbon dioxide over the last 50 years and concludes by setting the stage for the Paris climate accords and subsequent negotiations. The world must reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide fast, and this book discusses options to achieve that goal.Han Dolman is a climate scientist and director of the Royal NIOZ, the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, as well as a Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Amsterdam. For many years, his work has been centered around the global carbon cycle and its relation to our climate. Over the length of his career, he has been involved in several international research programs such as the Global Climate Observing System.Trade ReviewA very informative, important, timely, and very readable book. * Karel Schrijver, author of One of Ten Billion Earths (OUP 2018) *A worthwhile effort which provides information required for an on-going debate in society, written by an expert in a style which makes it accessible to the non-specialist. * Bjoern Winkler, University of Frankfurt *An excellent topic to cover in a general science book and very timely. * Nicola Alison, University of St Andrews *The book is timely, as many of us scientists and non-scientists try to come to an understanding of the importance of the Paris Agreement, and what this means for us, our business, economy, and eventual our daily lives. * Carolin Richter, Global Climate Observing System *Table of ContentsTable of Contents Preface 1: Carbon Dioxide: From a wild spirit to a climate culprit 2: What does carbon dioxide do in the atmosphere? 3: The discovery of the carbon dioxide molecule 4: Carbon dioxide and the rocks of the Earth 5: Carbon dioxide and the vegetation of the Earth 6: Carbon dioxide in the geological path 7: Carbon dioxide and the waxing and waning of ice sheets 8: Humans, fire, fossil fuel and the rise of anthropgenic C02 9: Determining atmospheric and oceanic carbon dioxide 10: Climate change, models and the allowable carbon budget 11: The world comes slowly into action 12: The bumpy road to the future Bibliography

    Out of stock

    £37.36

  • Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future

    Penguin Random House Australia Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    5 in stock

    £11.69

  • Industrial Scars: The Hidden Cost of Consumption

    Papadakis Industrial Scars: The Hidden Cost of Consumption

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe images in 'Industrial Scars' and the narrative that accompanies them tell the story of the impact of the consumer life-style on the natural systems that support life on the planet. These photographs, mostly aerial and taken at locations around the world, are masterworks of composition and colour, made with a nod to the great abstract painters of modern art. This book is the result of countless hours of research and careful planning by New York photographer J. Henry Fair, who travels to the locations and charters a small plane to photograph areas usually fenced off from prying eyes so he can get a true view of our real footprint. This is a new edition.

    2 in stock

    £22.46

  • Pollution monitoring with lichens

    Pelagic Publishing Pollution monitoring with lichens

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisLichens make excellent material for field studies throughout the year and are valuable for the detection and mapping of pollution. This book provides an overview of the value of lichens for monitoring a range of potentially harmful substances including sulphur dioxide, fluorides, PCBs, metals and radioactive elements. In each section background information is provided and case studies briefly described to enable the reader to appreciate the potential applications of lichens for monitoring each type of environmental pollutant. To help with the problems of identifying lichens, coloured illustrations are provided of species that commonly grow on trees together with an identification key and direction to more advanced texts for lichens growing on other surfaces. This book is a digital reprint (without updates) of ISBN 0-85546-289-5 (1992).Table of ContentsIntroduction Natural history, Sulphur dioxide and acid rain Fluorides Aromatic hydrocarbons Metals Transplant studies Radioactive elements Invertebrate fauna Identification Original work: techniques and approaches References and further reading Useful addresses

    1 in stock

    £19.00

  • The Fragile Earth Writing from the New Yorker on

    HarperCollins Publishers The Fragile Earth Writing from the New Yorker on

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis A classic collection of the New Yorker’s most urgent and groundbreaking reporting from the front lines of the climate emergency Trade Review‘Immersive and engaging . . . Reading three decades of essays on this important and urgent topic, one is appalled that we know so much and have repeatedly done so little with that knowledge, as well as simultaneously hopeful and skeptical that technological solutions can save us now’ Library Journal ‘Illuminating and powerful . . . A memorable book with a resounding message’ Publishers Weekly (starred review)

    Out of stock

    £19.00

  • Cleaning up the Sea

    HarperCollins Publishers Cleaning up the Sea

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisBig Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It comprises classroom resources to support the SSP programme and a range of phonic readers that together provide a consistent and highly effective approach to teaching phonics.

    1 in stock

    £8.57

  • Oil Spill

    HarperCollins Publishers Inc Oil Spill

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisRead and find out about oil spills in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.Did you know that an oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year? Oil spills can have many different causes, but the result is the same. Oil harms plants and wildlife that make the oceans and coastlines their home. Scientists are learning the best ways to combat oil spills. Learn how you can help, too!This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It''s a Level 2 Let''s-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series are: hands-on and visual acclaimed and trusted great for classrooms Top 10 reasons to love LRFOs: Entertain and educate at the same time Have appealing, child-centered topics<

    10 in stock

    £8.09

  • Handbook of Transport and the Environment

    Emerald Publishing Limited Handbook of Transport and the Environment

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDevoted to the environmental impacts of transport. This work looks at the various aspects of the subject such as environmental concepts, both physical and economic. It also examines environmental concerns such as: global warming, air quality, noise, safety, amenity, and severance; political settings and policies; and more.Trade Review"[T]he book contains valuable information and analyses covering a wide range of topics." - Paul M. Peeters, Tourism Review International, Vol. 8, 2004. "succinct but informative ... extremely useful ... as contemporary as possible ... particularly illuminating ... the choice of topics is itself of interest in helping the uninformed reader ... well-written with appropriate cross-references ... a balanced view ... the editors should be congratulated on achieving what they set out to achieve." Tim Powell CMILT, in Logistics & Transport Focus, Volume 7 Number 1, January/February 2005Table of ContentsEnvironmental concepts - physical and economic. Climate change. Air quality. The economics of noise. Safety. Amenity and severance. Transportation fuels - a system perspective. Fuel options. Cleaner vehicles. Carbon dioxide emissions from transportation: trends, driving factors, and forces for change. Transport energy and emissions: buses. Transport energy and emissions: urban public transport. Transport energy and emissions: aviation. Environmental impacts of shipping. Transport energy and emissions: rail. Environmental impact assessment for sustainable transport. Transport investment appraisal and the environment. Evaluation of environmental impacts. Valuation of environmental externalities. Valuation case studies. The health effects of motor vehicle-related air pollution. Environmental externalities of motor vehicle use. Valuation of safety. Location externalities: effects on modeling, infrastructure provision and optimal planning. Macroeconomic policies and the environment. History of environmental legislation. International coordination of environmental policies and multilateral environmental agreements. Environmental pricing in transport. Planning for sustainable environmental futures. Environmental justice applications in transport: the international perspective. Winners and losers in transport policy: on efficiency, equity, and compensation. Unintended effects of polices. Global warming and emission trading. Travel, tourism, and the environment. Gender, transportation, and the environment. Logistics and the environment. Reverse logistics: an overview and a causal model. Transportation of hazardous goods and materials. Public attitudes. Travel behavior change through individual engagement. Packaging policies to address environmental concerns. The street: integrating transport and urban environment. Integrated transport models for environmental assessment. Transportation demand management and "win-win" transportation solutions.

    15 in stock

    £165.29

  • Silent Spring

    Penguin Books Ltd Silent Spring

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisExposes the destruction of wildlife through the widespread use of pesticides. This book aims to creates public awareness of the environment.Trade ReviewOne of the very few books truly to have changed the course of history * The Times *Rachel Carson educated a planet ... Silent Spring is the cornerstone of the conservation movement. Its impact was immediate, far-reaching and ultimately life-enhancing ... One of the most effective books ever written * Guardian *

    15 in stock

    £10.44

  • The World We Once Lived In

    Penguin Books Ltd The World We Once Lived In

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn twenty short books, Penguin brings you the classics of the environmental movement.From the Congo Basin to the traditions of the Kikuyu people, the lucid, incisive writings in The World We Once Lived In explore the sacred power of trees, and why humans lay waste to the forests that keep us alive.Over the past 75 years, a new canon has emerged. As life on Earth has become irrevocably altered by humans, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their voices to defend the planet, and affirm our place at the heart of its restoration. Their words have endured through the decades, becoming the classics of a movement. Together, these books show the richness of environmental thought, and point the way to a fairer, saner, greener world.

    10 in stock

    £6.30

  • Only One Chance

    Oxford University Press Inc Only One Chance

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisToday, one out of every six children suffers from some form of neurodevelopmental abnormality. The causes are mostly unknown. Some environmental chemicals are known to cause brain damage and many more are suspected of it, but few have been tested for such effects. Philippe Grandjean provides an authoritative and engaging analysis of how environmental hazards can damage brain development and what we can do about it. The brain''s development is uniquely sensitive to toxic chemicals, and even small deficits may negatively impact our academic achievements, economic success, risk of delinquency, and quality of life. Chemicals such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), arsenic, and certain pesticides pose an insidious threat to the development of the next generation''s brains. When chemicals in the environment affect the development of a child''s brain, he or she is at risk for mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD, and a range of learning disabilities and other deficits tTrade ReviewOnly One Chance shaves off layer after layer of ignorance, naivete, and corruption as it exposes the hidden dangers from industrial chemicals. Grandjean's book reads like a thriller and gives us a unique chance to decide that the next generation's brains must be protected against toxic brain drainers. * Devra Lee Davis, author of The Secret History of the War on Cancer and National Book Award finalist *This is an exceptionally interesting book. Grandjean presents and interprets extensive research on the impact of common chemicals present in the environment on human neurodevelopment using an original and holistic point of view and introducing the concept of 'chemical brain drain'. This is an innovative approach underlining the cumulated and long term impact on the brain of different chemical exposures. Grandjean argues that brain drain hampers the very capacity of human society to progress if its most precious resource, the brain, is not adequately protected. The accuracy of the review, the analysis of the interaction between brain development and society, the approaches to dealing with uncertainties and action, make this book fundamental reading for medical and public health professionals, students, and policy makers. I am convinced it will set a new standard for public health action and research for the coming years. * Roberto Bertollini, Chief Scientist and WHO Representative to the EU *This book is a huge gift to humankind from an eminent scientist. Grandjean tells the truth about how we have been ruining the brain power of each new generation and asks if there are still enough intelligent people in the world today to reverse the problem. I cannot rid myself of the idea that too many brains have been drained and society is beyond the point of no return. We must learn from the follies and scandals that Grandjean reveals and stop the chemical brain drain before it is too late. * Theo Colborn, President, TEDX (The Endocrine Disruption Exchange) *[Only One Chance] is factual, rationally developed, and nuanced, without pulling punches. It argues for a social conscience, adequate premarket research, communication, and regulation. Chemical damage to the developing brain is not destiny. Grandjean explains why and how society must intervene to prevent exposures now and in the years ahead. Highly recommended. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Brain Matters: Only One Chance to Develop a Brain ; 1. Sensitive Development: Complexity Creates Vulnerability ; 2. Toxic Invasion: The Placenta Is Not a Protective Armor ; 3. Invisible Lead: Health Hazards from Demanding Scientific Proof ; 4. Poisoned Science: Mercury Damaged the Child's Brain but Did Not Harm the Mother ; 5. Substituted Milk: Poisoning During Infancy Causes Permanent Brain Damage ; 6. Persistent Problems: Chemicals Resistant to Break-Down Can Break Brain Cells ; 7. Unusual Suspects: Chemicals That Protect the Lawn May Damage the Brain ; 8. Mindless Costs: Losses Suffered by Victims and Society from Chemical Brain Drain ; 9. Inconvenient Truths: Vested Interests Can Endanger Brain Development ; 10. Brainy Choices: How to Secure Optimal Brain Development for the Next Generation ; Appendix: Chemicals Known to Be Brain Drainers ; Acknowledgments ; Endnotes ; Bibliography

    15 in stock

    £29.32

  • The Amazon

    Oxford University Press Inc The Amazon

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Amazon is a land of superlatives. The complex ecosystem covers an area about the size of the continental U.S. The Amazon River discharges 57 million gallons of water per second--in two hours, this would be enough to supply all of New York City''s 7.5 million residents with water for a year. Its flora and fauna are abundant. Approximately one of every four flowering plant species on earth resides in the Amazon. A single Amazonian river may contain more fish species than all the rivers in Europe combined. It is home to the world''s largest anteater, armadillo, freshwater turtle, and spider, as well as the largest rodent (which weighs over 200 lbs.), catfish (250 lbs.), and alligator (more than half a ton). The rainforest, which contains approximately 390 billion trees, plays a vital role in stabilizing the global climate by absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide--or releasing it into the atmosphere if the trees are destroyed. Severe droughts in both Brazil and Southeast Asia have been linked to Amazonian deforestation, as have changing rainfall patterns in the U.S., Europe, and China. The Amazon also serves as home to millions of people. Approximately seventy tribes of isolated and uncontacted people are concentrated in the western Amazon, completely dependent on the land and river. These isolated groups have been described as the most marginalized peoples in the western hemisphere, with no voice in the decisions made about their futures and the fate of their forests. In this addition to the What Everyone Needs to Know series, ecologist and conservation expert, Mark J. Plotkin, who has spent 40 years studying Amazonia, its peoples, flora, and fauna. The Amazon offers an engaging overview of this irreplaceable ecosystem and the challenges it faces.Trade ReviewThere is a lot to learn, and value, from this guide, by an expert immersed in the subject. * Harvard Magazine *One can think of the broad themes of the book as scenes on a vast tapestry and the responses to the 67 questions as the threads used by Plotkin to weave the marvelous story of Amazonia. Readers can gaze at one part of the tapestry and later explore another portion, each time coming away with a better understanding of the nature of this extraordinary ecosystem. * Roger Mustalish, HerbalGram *As he has done in his other books and films ... Plotkin blazes a path for others to follow: a storied path that can help us both re-story and restore the precious places persisting on this planet, despite all odds. * Gary Paul Nabhan, LA Review of Books *Table of ContentsIntroduction What is a Tropical Rainforest? What Do We Mean When We Say the Amazon? Why is the Amazon Important? Geology, Soils and Vegetation Geological history - What is the geological history of Amazonia? Soils - Do large and diverse Amazonian rainforests thrive on poor soil? Terra preta - What is terra preta? Vegetation - What are the major forest and vegetation types in Amazonia? Savannas - What are savannas and how are they created? Tepuis - What are tepuis? Nutrient cycling - If the soils are so poor, how can lush rainforests flourish? Rivers The Amazon Source of the Amazon - What is the source of the Amazon River? River types - What are the various river types in Amazonia? Aquatic habitats - What are some of the characteristic aquatic habitats of Amazonia? Casiquiare canal - What is the Casiquiare Canal? Coral reef - Is there a coral reef in the Amazon? Indians 1492 population Languages - How many indigenous languages are there in Amazonia? Paleoindians, the first arrivals - When did the first humans arrive in Amazonia? Shamans - What is a Shaman? Shrunken heads - Shrunken heads: fact or fiction? Slash and burn agriculture - What is slash-and-burn agriculture? Uncontacted tribes - Do uncontacted tribes still exist? History The Struggle for the Amazon Treaty of Tordesillas - What was the Treaty of Tordesillas? Aguirre - Was Werner Herzog's film "Aguirre, the Wrath of God," based on a historical figure? Teixeira - What role did Pedro Teixeira play in the colonization of the Amazon? Mapping - What is the history of the mapping of the Amazon? The Advent of the European Scientists Merian - Was the first European scientific explorer of the Amazon a woman? Darwin - What is the connection between the Amazon and the origins of the Theory of Evolution? Agassiz / Harvard Amazon Rubber and the Jari Project Rubber atrocities - What were the Putumayo Rubber Atrocities? Rubber as commodity - How Did Amazonian Rubber Become A Key Global Commodity? Rubber / Fordlandia - Why did Henry Ford fail at Fordlandia in Brazil? Jari Project - Fordlandia redux - What was the Jari Project, and why did it fail? Rondon / Mendes - Who were Cândido Rondon and Chico Mendes? Amazonian biota Animals Faunal origins - What is the origin of the Amazonian fauna? Vampire bats - Do vampire bats suck human blood? Spiders - How dangerous are Amazonian spiders? Cats, crocodilians and serpents - Do jaguars, crocs and snakes eat people in Amazonia? Frogs - Are there hallucinogenic frogs in the Amazon Rainforest? Pink dolphins - Are there pink dolphins in the Amazon? Fish diversity - Why does Amazonia harbor the most diverse freshwater fish fauna in the world? Candiru catfish - Is the tiny candiru catfish as terrifying as its reputation? Electric eels - How dangerous are electric eels? Piranhas - Do piranhas deserve their fearsome reputation? Sharks - Are there man-eating sharks in the Amazon? Plants Ayahuasca - What is ayahuasca? Bromeliads - What are the aerial aquaria of the Amazon? Coca - What is the traditional use of coca in the Amazon? Curare - What is Curare and Why is it Important? Lianas - Why are lianas so important and yet so poorly understood? Figs - Why are strangler figs not considered to be lianas? Palms - Why are palms the single most useful group of organisms to the indigenous peoples of the Amazon? Palms with economic promise - Which Amazonian palms offer the greatest economic promise for the future? Victoria lily - Did an Amazonian water lily serve as the inspiration for steel frame architecture? Threats Cattle - What is the role of cattle ranching in Amazonian agriculture? Dams - What is the status of hydroelectric dams in the Amazon? Gold - What is the impact of gold mining in the Amazon? Agriculture / Big - The Role of Export-Driven Large-Scale Agricultural Production in Deforestation Agriculture / Small - What is the role of small-scale farming in deforestation? Logging - What is the status of logging in the Amazon? Climate Change - How will climate change affect Amazonia? Deforestation - What drives deforestation in the Amazon? Oil and gas - What is the impact of oil and gas exploration on forest peoples? Overhunting - What is the impact of overhunting and overfishing on the Amazon? China - What is the Impact of China in Amazonia? Conclusion Conservation - How to Save the Amazon?

    4 in stock

    £10.44

  • Environmental Toxicology

    Oxford University Press Environmental Toxicology

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe fundamental principles of environmental toxicology are clearly presented here for university students and professionals in related fields. This book consists of two parts. In the first part basic metabolic, physiological, and pharmacological concepts are used to explain the fate of toxic chemicals in the body, with emphasis on carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. This part also contains a chapter on chemicals disrupting the endocrine system and a chapter on risk assessment and the precautionary principle. The second section deals with specific environmental problems - air pollution, alteration of the earth''s atmosphere, water and land pollution, including sections on wetlands, organic agriculture and genetically modified crops. It also deals with health and environmental effects of ionized radiation, and the effect of a rapid population growth on the environmental and human welfare. Chapter on pollution control and regulatory policies are also included.Table of ContentsPreface to the First Edition ; Preface to the Second Edition ; Preface to the Third Edition ; 1. Environment: Past and Present ; 2. Review of Pharmacologic Concepts ; 3. Metabolism of Xenobiotics ; 4. Factors That Influence Toxicity ; 5. Chemical Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis ; 6. Endocrine Disrupters ; 7. Risk Assessment ; 8. Occupational Toxicology ; 9. Air Pollution ; 10. Pollution of the Atmosphere ; 11. Water and Land Pollution ; 12. Pollution Control ; 13. Radioactive Pollution ; 14. Population, Environment and Women's Issues ; 15. Regulatory Policies and International Treaties ; Appendix: Subject for Student Seminars ; Index

    15 in stock

    £62.10

  • Valuing Clean Air

    Oxford University Press Inc Valuing Clean Air

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThe passage of the Clean Air Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970 marked a sweeping transformation in American politics. In a few short years, the environmental movement pushed Republican and Democratic elected officials to articulate a right to clean air as part of a bevy of new federal guarantees. Charged with delivering on those promises, the EPA represented a bold assertion that the federal government had a responsibility to protect the environment, the authority to command private business to reduce their pollution, and the capacity to dictate how they did so.In Valuing Clean Air, Charles Halvorson examines how the environmental concern that propelled the Clean Air Act and the EPA coincided with economic convulsions that shook the liberal state to its core. Business groups, public interest organizations, think tanks, and a host of other actors, including Ralph Nader, wasted little time after the EPA''s creation in identifying and trying to pullTrade ReviewManagement consultant Halvorson traces the history of the Clean Air Act and the 'regulation of air pollution' in his comprehensive debut....As the author covers shifts in the face of political bickering and attempts to balance economic concerns with environmental ones, he convincingly makes a case that the politicization of science in policymaking finds its roots in the early days of the EPA....Readers willing to stay the course will find a solid introduction on how a single, little-known agency became the epicenter of a fight over regulation and the state's role in protecting the planet. Climate-minded readers with an interest in policy will find this a valuable resource. * Publishers Weekly *The Clean Air Act and its progeny were intended to remedy tractable environmental concerns. However, from its inception, the Environmental Protection Agency (as the enforcer) has been challenged by the business community and others over the means of achieving environmental compliance in light of other priorities, including economic productivity. These challenges are rooted in growing opposition to environmental protection by Republican voters and elected officials, the politicization of science, entrenched belief among some in the efficiency of markets over regulations, and the growing monetization of environmental benefits. Halvorson explicitly discusses his argument's relevance for current debates over climate change. Moreover, he offers cogent overviews of the dominant themes of environmental protection policy...since the 1970s by zeroing in on divergent regulatory styles of presidential administrations spanning Richard Nixon to Donald Trump. * Choice *Protecting the environment has become an essential but thankless responsibility of government, and Charles Halvorson's Valuing Clean Air astutely shows why the Environmental Protection Agency is no one's hero despite considerable success in controlling pollution. * Adam Rome, author of The Genius of Earth Day *In the face of intense opposition to regulation during the Reagan Administration and beyond, dedicated EPA staff employed economic theory—especially market-based solutions and monetary approach to environmental value—to salvage their agency's mission and improve environmental quality. Charles Halvorson takes us inside the EPA, providing the finest analysis yet of its administrative policymaking and the politics of the possible. Valuing Clean Air is essential reading for anyone hoping to understand how the United States created environmental regulation in the neoliberal era. * David Stradling, author of Where the River Burned: Carl Stokes and the Struggle to Save Cleveland *Valuing Clean Air sets aside the usual focus on partisan politics to provide a lucid and compelling explanation for how the rising tide of market-based environmental policy transformed the work of the Environmental Protection Agency, contributing to the successful fight against acid rain, but also undercutting the agency's ability to tackle the largest challenge of all—climate change. * James Morton Turner, Wellesley College *As the United States is poised to reengage with the imperative of tackling climate change, Charles Halvorson brings forward a vital history of American efforts to curb air pollution since the 1960s. Halvorson brilliantly shows how an initial bipartisan coalition to improve air quality splintered amid the economic stagnation of the 1970s and waxing critiques of technocratic regulation from both the right and the left. The resulting experimentation with market-based regulatory approaches has continued to divide environmental activists and business interests alike, and Halvorson's analysis of those evolving conflicts is a must-read for historians, political scientists, legal scholars, and policy-makers. * Edward J. Balleisen, co-editor of Policy Shock: Recalibrating Risk and Regulation after Oil Spills, Nuclear Accidents, and Financial Crises *Valuing Clean Air offers much of interest to readers of this journal. * Jennifer Thomson, Technology and Culture Volume 64, number 4 *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Save EPA Chapter 1: The Costs of Pollution Chapter 2: The Doer: Power in Implementation Chapter 3: A Balancing Act: Regulatory Review Chapter 4: Putting the Profit Motive to Work: Regulatory Reform Chapter 5: Are You Tough Enough? Deregulation Chapter 6: Markets for Bads: Cap-and-Trade and the New Environmentalism Epilogue: The EPA and a Changing Climate Notes Bibliography Index

    Out of stock

    £39.53

  • The Plough that Broke the Steppes Agriculture And Environment On Russias Grasslands 17001914 Oxford Studies In Modern European History

    Oxford University Press The Plough that Broke the Steppes Agriculture And Environment On Russias Grasslands 17001914 Oxford Studies In Modern European History

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis is the first environmental history of Russia''s steppes. From the early-eighteenth century, settlers moved to the semi-arid but fertile grasslands from wetter, forested regions in central and northern Russia and Ukraine, and from central Europe. By the late-nineteenth century, they had turned the steppes into the bread basket of the Russian Empire and parts of Europe. But there was another side to this story. The steppe region was hit by recurring droughts, winds from the east whipped up dust storms, the fertile black earth suffered severe erosion, crops failed, and in the worst years there was famine. David Moon analyses how naturalists and scientists came to understand the steppe environment, including the origins of the fertile black earth. He also analyses how scientists tried to understand environmental change, including climate change. Farmers, and the scientists who advised them, tried different ways to deal with the recurring droughts: planting trees, irrigation, and cultivating the soil. More sustainable, however, were techniques of cultivation to retain scarce moisture in the soil. Among the pioneers were Mennonite settlers. Such approaches aimed to work with the environment, rather than trying to change it by planting trees or supplying more water artificially. The story is similar to the Dust Bowl on the Great Plains of the USA, which share a similar environment and environmental history. David Moon places the story of the steppes in the wider context of the environmental history of European colonialism around the globe.Trade ReviewRare is the book that casts Russian history in an almost wholly new light. * Financial Times 2013 Books of the Year *Moon's book is an extremely important contribution to Russian and environmental histories, and can be used in advanced undergraduate as well as graduate courses. * Mark Bernard Tauger, American Historical Review *With this book, David Moon contributes significantly to the environmental history of the Russian and Soviet empires ... The book is thoroughly supported by extensive archival, journal and other research. I recommend it for students of European history, environmental history, Russian history and agricultural history. * Paul Josephson, European History Quarterly *The Plough That Broke the Steppes is an important contribution to the global history of grassland ... Moon's work is both immensely readable and scholarly with a broad historical sweep and interdisciplinary scope. He brings life to scholarly, scientific, and practical agricultural debates on the steppes * Elizabeth Walden, Environmental History *This stimulating book is the first environmental history of the Russian steppe, a flat plain that stretches from Western Russia to Mongolia, north of the Black and Caspian Seas ... Recommended. * N.M. Brooks, CHOICE *In this impressively researched and compellingly argued book, David Moon elevates this problem of what to do with the fertile yet fragile belt of grasslands in Russia's south to one of the enduring 'cursed questions' of the country's history ... Throughout the book Moon evokes his personal experiences on the steppe. These environmental encounters clearly aided his historical thinking and provide vivid examples for the reader. Coming to know the grasslands themselves helped him write this insightful and lasting contribution to environmental and imperial Russian history. * Andy Bruno, History *In the context of current discussions on the causes of climate change and the search for sustainable forms of agriculture, this work is a credit. * Katja Bruisch, Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas *yet another wonderful and ground-breaking book from David Moon ... Throughout, Moon retains a moderate and scientific tone. * Christopher Read, English Historical Review *Table of ContentsPART I: UNDERSTANDING THE STEPPE ENVIRONMENT; PART II: UNDERSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE; PART III: COMBATING THE STEPPE ENVIRONMENT?

    1 in stock

    £49.49

  • Industrial Transformation in the Developing World

    Oxford University Press, USA Industrial Transformation in the Developing World

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis''Grow first, clean up later'' environmental strategies in the developing economies of East Asia - China, Korea, and Taiwan in Northeast Asia and Indonesia, Malaysia, the Phillippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in Southeast Asia - pose a critical regional and global sustainability challenge in this area of continuing rapid urban-based industrial growth. It is the most polluted region in the world.Whilst being at the leading edge of the processes of urbanization, industrialization, and globalization these economies are in the midst, not at the end, of their urban-industrial transformations. During the next 25 years urban populations in the region are expected roughly to double, and most of the industrial capital stock that will be on the ground by 2030 has not yet been built. Given East Asia''s growing size in the world''s economy and ecology, and its increasingly polluted environment, this looming urban-industrial transformation is both a challenge and an opportunity. Unless steps are taken now to make this transformation more sustainable, East Asia''s, and the world''s, environmental future is likely to deteriorate seriously.Using detailed case studies and rigorous empirical analyses Rock and Angel, leading experts in this field, show that East Asian governments have found institutionally unique ways to overcome the sustainability challenge. As a result of these findings, they demonstrate how even low income economies in the rest of the world can use regulatory polices, industrial policies, and an openness to trade and foreign investment that will increase the competitiveness of their firms whilst improving their environmental performance, thus proving an important antidote to those who argue that poor countries cannot afford to clean up their environment whilst their economies remain under-developed.Table of Contents1. East Asia's Sustainability Challenge ; 2. Late Industrialization and Technological Capabilities Building ; 3. Policy Integration: From Technology Upgrading to Industrial Environmental Improvement ; 4. The Role of Environmental Regulatory Agencies in Sustainability: Korea and Indonesia ; 5. Globalization, Opennes to Trade and Investment, Technology Transfer and Technology and the Environment: The Cement Industry in East Asia ; 6. Win-Win Environmental Intensity or Technique Effects and Technological Learning: Evidence from Siam City Cement ; 7. Impact of Multinational Corporations' Firm-Based Environmental Standards on Subsidiaries and their Suppliers: Evidence from Motorola-Penang ; 8. Global Standards and the Environmental Performance of Industry ; 9. Implications for other Industrializing Economies ; 10. Prospects for Policy Integration in Low Income Economies ; 11. Bibliography

    1 in stock

    £145.00

  • Waking the Giant

    Oxford University Press Waking the Giant

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThe last 20,000 years has seen our world flip from icehouse to greenhouse, provoking earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic outbursts. Like a giant stirring from a long sleep, the Earth beneath our feet tossed and turned. Bill McGuire argues that climate change is once more setting the scene for the giant to reawaken, and we can already see the signs.Trade ReviewMcGuire traces this fascinating and disturbing story from the past in order to alert us to present and future perils * Geographical Magazine *The author succeeds at interpreting complex earth science into compelling reading for a popular audience. Anyone with an interest in climate change, geology, and atmospheric science will enjoy this work. * Jeffrey Beall, Library Journal *Professor Bill McGuires new book is a well-timed and beautifully written work on the links between the Earths climate and its geological processes. * The Climate Hub *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. The storm after the calm ; 2. Once and future climate ; 3. Nice day for an eruption ; 4. Bouncing back ; 5. Earth in motion ; 6. Water, water, everywhere ; 7. Reawakening the giant ; Selected sources and further reading

    Out of stock

    £12.59

  • Macroecology

    The University of Chicago Press Macroecology

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis work demonstrates the advantages of macroecology for conservation, showing how it allows scientists to look beyond endangered species and ecological communities in order to consider the long history and large geographic scale of human impacts.

    15 in stock

    £26.60

  • Emerging Threats to Tropical Forests

    University of Chicago Press Emerging Threats to Tropical Forests

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisReveals the diverse panoply of perils to tropical forests and their biota, with emphasis on various dangers. In addition to documenting the vulnerability of tropical rainforests, this volume focuses on strategies for mitigating and combating emerging threats. It is suitable for researchers, students, and conservation practitioners.

    Out of stock

    £128.00

  • Emerging Threats to Tropical Forests

    The University of Chicago Press Emerging Threats to Tropical Forests

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisReveals the diverse panoply of perils to tropical forests and their biota, with emphasis on various dangers. In addition to documenting the vulnerability of tropical rainforests, this volume focuses on strategies for mitigating and combating emerging threats. It is suitable for researchers, students, and conservation practitioners.

    15 in stock

    £42.75

  • Cartographies of Danger

    The University of Chicago Press Cartographies of Danger

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisExplains how maps can tell where to anticipate certain hazards, but also how maps can be misleading. The text considers that although it is important to predict and prepare for catastrophic natural hazards, more subtle and persistent phenomena such as pollution and crime also pose serious dangers.Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1: Map Scale, Danger Zones, and Safe Places 2: Shaky Preparations 3: Lavas and Other Strangers 4: Uncertain Shores 5: Death Tracks 6: Floodplains, by Definition... 7: Subterranean Poisons 8: Ill Winds 9: Short-Lived Daughters and ELF Fields 10: Nuclear Nightmares 11: Imagining Vulnerability 12: Crimescapes 13: John Snow's Legacy 14: Emerging Cartographies of Danger Notes Index

    Out of stock

    £41.80

  • Cartographies of Danger Mapping Hazards in

    The University of Chicago Press Cartographies of Danger Mapping Hazards in

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisExplains how maps can tell where to anticipate certain hazards, but also how maps can be misleading. The text considers that although it is important to predict and prepare for catastrophic natural hazards, more subtle and persistent phenomena such as pollution and crime also pose serious dangers.

    15 in stock

    £31.35

  • Under the Weather  Reimagining Mobility in the

    John Wiley & Sons Under the Weather Reimagining Mobility in the

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisUnder the Weather explores the relationship between human mobility and severe weather exacerbated by the climate emergency. Offering an ecological approach to mobilities, Sodero argues that mobility can be reimagined to work with, rather than against, the climate in ways that also benefit the health, education, and economy of communities.Trade Review'This is a brilliantly written and articulate exploration of how communications, transportation and exchanges are affected in the era of climate change and how quickly we need to adapt our 'vital mobilities' to these challenges. This fascinating book brings the subject to life. Recommended reading for anyone interested in disasters, climate change and medical responses. " Bertrand Taithe, professor of cultural history and past director of the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute, University of Manchester"[Sodero]'s puts a name to the vexing complexities of a global circulation of people and things embedded in local, regional, and global ecosystems disrupted by those very movements. Climatic disruptions—in Canada and elsewhere—show no signs of abating any time soon, and an ecological mobilities approach that helps us learn productive lessons from those productions will certainly be an important part of an effective response." H-Environment

    1 in stock

    £91.80

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