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Cost-Benefit Studies of Natural Resource Management in Southeast Asia
By David James, Herminia A. Francisco. 2015
This book applies cost-benefit analysis techniques in the management of environment and natural resources in developing countries of the Southeast…
Asian region and presents a compendium of studies conducted by researchers supported by the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia EEPSEA It emphasizes the close relationship between the environment and natural resources and economic development in such countries addressing a wide range of problems that can be understood using economic evaluation techniques General guidelines for conducting economic appraisals are provided with the case studies illustrating how they can be applied in a developing country context Cost-Benefit Analysis Application in Environmental and Natural Resource Management in Southeast Asia serves as essential reading for teachers researchers students and practitioners in environmental and natural resource economics economic development and key issues facing policymakers in the Southeast Asian regionThe Asian Tsunami and Post-Disaster Aid
By Sunita Reddy. 2018
Through the lens of the Asian tsunami this book problematizes concepts that are normally taken for granted in disaster…
discourse including relief recovery reconstruction and rehabilitation The unprecedented flow of humanitarian aid after the Asian tsunami though well-intentioned showed adverse effects and unintended consequences in the lives of people in the communities across nations Aid led not only to widespread relief and recovery but also to an exacerbation of old forms of inequities and the creation of new ones arising from the prioritization distribution and management of aid This in turn led to the incongruity between the needs and expectations of the affected and the agendas of aid agencies and their various intermediaries This book examines the long-term consequences of post-disaster aid by posing the following questions What has the aid been expended on Where has the aid primarily been expended and how And what were the unintended consequences of post-disaster aid for the communities This topical volume is of interest to social scientists human rights and law researchers and environmental scientists interested in disaster studiesThe Tree Where Man Was Born (Picador Bks. #Vol. 1)
By Peter Matthiessen, Jane Goodall. 1972
A timeless and majestic portrait of Africa by renowned writer Peter Matthiessen (1927-2014), author of the National Book Award-winning The…
Snow Leopard and the new novel In Paradise A finalist for the National Book Award when it was released in 1972, this vivid portrait of East Africa remains as fresh and revelatory now as on the day it was first published. Peter Matthiessen exquisitely combines nature and travel writing to portray the sights, scenes, and people he observed firsthand in several trips over the course of a dozen years. From the daily lives of wild herdsmen and the drama of predator kills to the field biologists investigating wild creatures and the anthropologists seeking humanity's origins in the rift valley, The Tree Where Man Was Born is a classic of journalistic observation. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction by groundbreaking British primatologist Jane Goodall.Balinese Flora & Fauna Discover Indonesia
By Julian Davison, Bruce Granquist. 1999
This book provides a general introduction to the natural history of Bali, looking at each of the major ecosystems in…
turn and highlighting their most salient and interesting features. Watercolor panoramas and illustrations of typical or otherwise significant plants and animals from each type of habitat complement the text and provide the reader with a visual reference for some of the sights he or she is most likely to see during a visit to the island.Tying Down the Wind: Adventures in the Worst Weather on Earth
By Eric Pinder. 2000
Where can you find the worst weather on earth? This book's surprising answer is: everywhere. You don't need to climb…
Mount Everest or voyage to the icy desert of Antarctica to witness both the beauty and the destructiveness of weather. The same forces are at work in your own backyard. Tying Down the Wind takes readers on a journey of discovery through the atmosphere, a swirling ocean of air that surrounds and sustains life. The adventure begins in a sunny New England woodlot and ends atop the polar ice of Antarctica-where we learn, remarkably, that the two extremes are not so different after all. What triggers changes in the weather? How are tornadoes, thunderstorms, heat waves, and blizzards all related? Tying Down the Wind supplies the answers. It will appeal to fans of nature writing and outdoor adventure, as well as anyone interested in understanding the weather that surrounds us.The Wisdom of John Muir
By Bill Mckibben, Anne Rowthorn. 2012
The Wisdom of John Muir marries the best aspects of a Muir anthology with the best aspects of a Muir…
biography. The fact that it is neither, and yet it is both, distinguishes this book from the many extant books on John Muir. Building on her lifelong passion for the work and philosophy of John Muir, author Anne Rowthorn has created this entirely new treatment for showcasing the great naturalist's philosophy and writings. By pairing carefully selected material from various stages of Muir's life, Rowthorn's book provides a view into the experiences, places, and people that inspired and informed Muir's words and beliefs. The reader feels able to join in with Muir's own discoveries and transformations over the arc of his life. Rowthorn is careful not to overstep her role: she stands back and lets Muir's words speak for themselves.What's So Special about Planet Earth?
By Robert E Wells. 2009
Move to another planet? Sounds interesting! In our imaginary spaceship, let's check out the planets in our solar system. Mercury…
is closest, but it has no air, and it's either sizzling hot or bitterly cold. The atmosphere on Venus is poisonous; plus, human beings would cook there. Mars might work, but you'd always have to be in a protective shelter. And if you got to the outer planets, you couldn't even land as they are mostly made of gas! Our home planet is looking good. Why is Earth so comfortable for plants, animals, and people? As Robert E. Wells explains, it's because of our just-right position from the sun, marvelous atmosphere, and abundant water. Our planet is very special and perfect for us, and that's why we must do all we can to keep Earth healthy.Peaceful Places: Boston
By Lynn Schweikart. 2012
The fifth in a new series, each one set in a U.S. metropolis, Peaceful Places: Boston leads the reader on…
an unexpected path to secret delights shared by its insider author. This new title in an unusual guidebook series is for everyone who yearns for a little peace and quiet amidst the urban hubbub. The book entices readers with 120 tranquil oases, in Boston and beyond. There are enchanting walks, historic sites, museums and galleries, outdoor habitats, parks and gardens, quiet tables, spiritual enclaves, inspiring vistas, and urban surprises, all described from the perspective of a local who knows where to find serenity, in both familiar and unexpected places.Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (Makers of the Muslim World)
By Michael Crawford. 2014
Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (1703-1792) aroused great controversy in his lifetime. More than two centuries after his death, he still…
elicits strong views. For some he is the model of a pious religious activist who fought to establish a regime of Islamic godliness in the least promising of environments. For others, especially Muslims associated with mystic orders or who belong to the Shi'i branch of Islam, he is a hate figure. Few would contest that he shaped the Muslim world. For over 250 years the Wahhabi movement has rested on the twin pillars of a clear, compelling credo and an indissoluble alliance with temporal power. Absolutist, uncompromising theology and political and religious ambition combined to make it the dominant force in Arabia, turning its champions, the Al Sa'ud clan, from petty rulers of a mid-sized settlement into the guardians of Islam's Holy Places, disposing of the earth's greatest identified oil reserves. This thought-provoking and comprehensive biography, which charts the relationship between religious doctrine, political power, and events on the ground, uncovers the life and thoughts of the man who helped establish the first Saudi state and who began a dynastic alliance that continues to the present day.Ibn Tufayl: Living the Life of Reason (Makers of the Muslim World)
By Taneli Kukkonen. 2014
Ibn Tufayl (1105-1185) was an Andalusian courtier, philosopher, Sufi master, and royal physician to the Almohad Caliphs. He inspired the…
12th-century Andalusian revolt against Ptolemaic astronomy and through his sponsorship he was also responsible for the career of the most renowned Aristotelian of medieval times, Abu al-Walid Ibn Rushd (the Latin Averroes). In Ibn Tufayl, we see an exemplar of the kind of versatile and pious scholar early Almohad culture wanted to cultivate.Ibn Tufayl's own intellectual outlook is preserved for us in Hayy Ibn Yaqzan, a philosophical romance that is one of the most beloved and best read pieces in all Arabic literature. A popular and often-copied work in early modern Europe, Hayy has for many come to represent what is distinctive of high classical Arabic philosophy. Ibn Tufayl sets one of the most famous Arabic philosophical works of all time in its historical and philosophical context: it paints a vivid portrait of the world as Ibn Tufayl saw it and as he wished for it to be seen.What's Older Than a Giant Tortoise?
By Robert E Wells. 2004
If medals were awarded to animals for living a long time, then a giant tortoise would certainly win one. Some…
giant tortoises have lived for more than 150 years! Still, there are things on this planet much older than giant tortoises. Some of the giant sequoia trees that grow in California would be more than 3,000 years old. But the trees aren't that old compared to the Barringer Crater in Arizona--that was made about 49,000 years ago. And it's almost impossible to imagine that 65 million years ago, the T. rex dinosaur roamed this planet--but we have the skeletons to prove it!Why Do Elephants Need the Sun?
By Robert E Wells. 2010
There are trillions of stars in the universe, but we rely on our sun to provide (or contribute to) most…
of what we need to survive and thrive: heat, light, plants, animals, wind, and water. Complete with fun, cartoon illustrations, Robert Wells's new book gives kids plenty of information about our sun in an easy-to-read-and-digest format. By focusing on the needs of an elephant, Wells makes clear just how important the sun is to life on Earth.Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul: The Pertinence of Islamic Cosmology in the Modern World
By William C. Chittick. 2007
Islamic Intellectualism is dead: or so argues William Chittick in this radical new book challenging modern trends in religious thought.…
Whilst many may say that Islamic studies thrives as a subject, Chittick points to the words of one of his former Professors when describing young colleagues: "they know everything one can possibly know about a text, except what it says". Indeed, Chittick states that it is impossible to understand ancient Islamic texts without the years of contemplative study that are anathema to the modern education system. While the modern intellectual with faith often treats their studies and faith in two seperate spheres, Chittick argues that it is essential to return to the ways of the ancient Sufis, who viewed knowledge of the soul, the world, and God as an extension of the same thing, and he bemoans the loss of the spiritual and intellectual highs of the Medieval Islamic period.Mulla Sadra (Makers of the Muslim World)
By Sayeh Meisami. 2013
Mulla Sadra (1572-1640) is perhaps the single most important and influential philosopher in the Muslim world. The author of over…
forty works, he sought to bring to life the whole heritage of Islamic thought, from philosophy to mysticism, and create a more flexible and conciliatory approach to the problems which seemed to dissociate reason from faith. In this wide-ranging profile, Sayeh Meisami reaches beyond historical narrative to assess the true impact of the man and his ideas. This thought provoking and comprehensive account is ideal for readers interested in uncovering the life and thoughts of a man who represents the climax of intellectual tradition at a crucial point in the history of Islamic civilization.Floral Diagrams: An Aid to Understanding Flower Morphology and Evolution
By Louis P. Ronse De Craene. 2010
Floral morphology remains the cornerstone for plant identification and studies of plant evolution. This guide gives a global overview of…
the floral diversity of the angiosperms through the use of detailed floral diagrams. These schematic diagrams replace long descriptions or complicated drawings as a tool for understanding floral structure and evolution. They show important features of flowers, such as the relative positions of the different organs, their fusion, symmetry, and structural details. The relevance of the diagrams is discussed, and pertinent evolutionary trends are illustrated. The range of plant species represented reflects the most recent classification of flowering plants based mainly on molecular data, which is expected to remain stable in the future. This book is invaluable for researchers and students working on plant structure, development and systematics, as well as being an important resource for plant ecologists, evolutionary botanists and horticulturists.Elijah Muhammad (Makers of the Muslim World)
By Herbert Berg. 2013
In the mid-1930s, Elijah Muhammad was just one of several competing leaders of the embryonic movement begun by the mysterious…
Wali Fard Muhammad, who claimed to be a prophet of Islam and who had recently disappeared. By the time of his death in 1975, Elijah Muhammad led a movement that may have numbered a few hundred thousand, making him the most powerful Muslim in the United States of America. Even before his death he was overshadowed by the growing legend of Malcolm X, and after his death by the activities of Louis Farrakhan and his own son Warith Deen Mohammed. Each of these men, however, was brought to Islam by Elijah Muhammad. And although Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad's son came to reject his idiosyncratic and racial formulation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad was responsible for introducing hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of African Americans to Islam. Almost four decades after his death, he remains by far the most influential American Muslim.Chinggis Khan (Makers of the Muslim World)
By Michal Biran. 2007
In this novel perspective on a much-maligned figure, Michal Biran explains the monumental impact Chinggis Khan has had upon the…
Islamic World, both positive and negative. Often criticized as a mass-slaughterer, pillager, and arch-enemy of the faith, Biran shows that his constructive influence upon Islam was also considerable - his legacy apparent in Central Asia even today. Covering Chinggis Khan's early career, his conquests, the enduring power of his descendents, and the numerous ways he is presented in different Muslim contexts, this accessible book provides a fascinating insight into one of the most notorious men in history.Christian Criticisms, Islamic Proofs: Rashid Rida's Modernist Defence of Islam
By Simon A. Wood. 2008
Muhammad Rashid Rida is among the most influential Muslim thinkers of the modern period and yet, until this book, his…
writings on religious reform remained unpublished in English. In this paperback version of the flagship English edition, esteemed academic Simon A. Wood rights this wrong by translating and analysing one of his most important works, The Criticisms of the Christians and the Arguments of Islam. Responding to arguments made in the ninetenth century that Islam is 'irrational' or 'inferior to Christianity', and that the unification of religious and political power is a 'barrier to progress', Rida sought to defend Islam and often charged Christianity of its own brand of irrationality. Wood analyses these arguments, showing that Rida's work cannot be separated from the period of colonial humiliation in which it originated. He also takes on the traditional accusation that Rida was a fundamentalist and argues that he was in fact distinctly modernist. Simon A. Wood is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is a leading expert on Rashid Rida.A Different Kind of Luxury
By Andy Couturier. 2010
Raised in the tumult of Japan's industrial powerhouse, the eleven men and women profiled in this book have all made…
the transition to sustainable, fulfilling lives. They are today artists, philosophers, and farmers who reside deep in the mountains of rural Japan. Their lives may be simple, yet they are surrounded by the luxuries of nature, art, contemplation, delicious food, and an abundance of time. For example: Atsuko Watanabe is an environmentalist and home-schooler who explores Christian mysticism while raising her two daughters in an old farmhouse Akira Ito is an ex-petroleum engineer who has become a painter and children's book illustrator and explores the role of chi (life energy) in the universe through art and music Kogan Murata grows rice and crafts elegant bamboo flutes that he plays for alms in the surrounding villages Jinko Kaneko is a fine artist and fabric dyer who runs a Himalayan-style curry restaurant in the Japan Alps By presenting the journeys of these ordinary--yet exceptional--people, Andy Couturier shows how we too can travel a meaningful path of living simply, with respect for our communities and our natural resources. When we leave behind the tremendous burdens of wage labor, debt, stress, and daily busyness, we grow rich in a whole new way. These Japanese are pioneers in a sense; drawing on traditional Eastern spiritual wisdom, they have forged a new style of modernity, and in their success is a lesson for us all: live a life that matters.Andy Couturier is an essayist, poet, and writing teacher. He lived in Japan for four years where he taught, was a journalist, and worked on environmental causes. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.