Feeding the World

Feeding the World PDF Author: Vaclav Smil
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262692717
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 396

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Book Description
A realistic yet encouraging look at how society can change in ways that will allow us to feed an expanding global population. This book addresses the question of how we can best feed the ten billion or so people who will likely inhabit the Earth by the middle of the twenty-first century. He asks whether human ingenuity can produce enough food to support healthy and vigorous lives for all these people without irreparably damaging the integrity of the biosphere. What makes this book different from other books on the world food situation is its consideration of the complete food cycle, from agriculture to post-harvest losses and processing to eating and discarding. Taking a scientific approach, Smil espouses neither the catastrophic view that widespread starvation is imminent nor the cornucopian view that welcomes large population increases as the source of endless human inventiveness. He shows how we can make more effective use of current resources and suggests that if we increase farming efficiency, reduce waste, and transform our diets, future needs may not be as great as we anticipate. Smil's message is that the prospects may not be as bright as we would like, but the outlook is hardly disheartening. Although inaction, late action, or misplaced emphasis may bring future troubles, we have the tools to steer a more efficient course. There are no insurmountable biophysical reasons we cannot feed humanity in the decades to come while easing the burden that modern agriculture puts on the biosphere.

Feeding the World

Feeding the World PDF Author: Vaclav Smil
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262692717
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 396

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Book Description
A realistic yet encouraging look at how society can change in ways that will allow us to feed an expanding global population. This book addresses the question of how we can best feed the ten billion or so people who will likely inhabit the Earth by the middle of the twenty-first century. He asks whether human ingenuity can produce enough food to support healthy and vigorous lives for all these people without irreparably damaging the integrity of the biosphere. What makes this book different from other books on the world food situation is its consideration of the complete food cycle, from agriculture to post-harvest losses and processing to eating and discarding. Taking a scientific approach, Smil espouses neither the catastrophic view that widespread starvation is imminent nor the cornucopian view that welcomes large population increases as the source of endless human inventiveness. He shows how we can make more effective use of current resources and suggests that if we increase farming efficiency, reduce waste, and transform our diets, future needs may not be as great as we anticipate. Smil's message is that the prospects may not be as bright as we would like, but the outlook is hardly disheartening. Although inaction, late action, or misplaced emphasis may bring future troubles, we have the tools to steer a more efficient course. There are no insurmountable biophysical reasons we cannot feed humanity in the decades to come while easing the burden that modern agriculture puts on the biosphere.

World Out of Balance

World Out of Balance PDF Author: Stephen G. Brooks
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 9780691137841
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
Introduction -- Realism, balance-of-power theory, and the counterbalancing constraint -- Realism, balance-of-threat theory, and the "soft balancing" constraint -- Liberalism, globalization, and constraints derived from economic interdependence -- Institutionalism and the constraint of reputation -- Constructivism and the constraint of legitimacy -- A new agenda

Spirits in the Material World

Spirits in the Material World PDF Author: Gilbert G. Germain
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 9780739133682
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 246

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Book Description
Spirits in the Material World: The Challenge of Technology provocatively argues that technology is best understood as an otherworldly or spiritual force. Under its influence, humans are fast becoming spirit-like creatures, beings who assume their bodies are incidental to what it means to be human and the "real world" an accidental quality of the human condition. Technology authorizes such an understanding and legitimates a manner of action that obscures the centrality of embodiment and its significance. Gil Germain challenges many of the assumptions underpinning the technological worldview through a reading of leading contemporary theorists who have addressed the interconnection between technology and disembodiment. The book both reveals and contests the multifarious ways in which technology's spiritual thrust is manifested in contemporary thought and practice. While respecting technology's hold on modernity and its predisposition toward disembodiment, Germain gives important reasons why this inclination toward spiritizaiion ought to be resisted and what shape this resistance must take if it is to be meaningful. Gil Germain is associate professor of political studies at the University of Prince Edward Book jacket.

The Challenge of World Poverty

The Challenge of World Poverty PDF Author: Gunnar Myrdal
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780140213218
Category : Developing countries
Languages : en
Pages : 464

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Book Description


The World's Toughest Endurance Challenges

The World's Toughest Endurance Challenges PDF Author: Richard Hoad
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 140815885X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
Across the world seemingly ordinary people are undertaking extraordinary challenges that will push their limits to achieve the improbable - by sea, bike, foot or sled. From the Badwater Ultramarathon in the unforgiving heat of Death Valley in California to the freezing wilderness of Alaska, these once-in-a-lifetime experiences are increasingly popular, and strangely addictive. For a certain breed of competitor, there is an unbreakable drive to see exactly how much the body and will can endure.Ultra-endurance events in the hottest, coldest, highest, most remote locations - these are no Sunday morning excursions but gruelling fights for survival and victory. This book looks at 50 of the most extreme marathons, triathlons, bike rides and other iconic endurance events from around the globe.The World's Toughest Endurance Challenges is a truly inspiring and beautiful collection of what we can achieve when racing to the limits. With full-colour stunning photography, coverage of every detail of these cruel challenges and including accounts of competitors who have lived to tell the tale, this book is a wonderful testament to those who face Mother Nature and survive.

The World We'll Leave Behind

The World We'll Leave Behind PDF Author: Bill Scott
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781783537730
Category : Sustainable development
Languages : en
Pages : 241

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Book Description
It is now clear that human activity has influenced how the biosphere supports life on Earth, and given rise to a set of connected environmental and social problems. In response to the challenge that these problems present, a series of international conferences and summits led to discussions of sustainable development and the core dilemma of our time: How can we all live well, now and in the future, without compromising the ability of the planet to enable us all to live well? This book identifies the main issues and challenges we now face; it explains the ideas that underpin them and their interconnection, and discusses a range of strategies through which they might be addressed and possibly resolved. These cover things that governments might do, what businesses and large organisations can contribute, and the scope for individuals, families and communities to get involved. This book is for everyone who cares about such challenges, and wants to know more about them.

Grave New World

Grave New World PDF Author: Michael E. Brown
Publisher: Georgetown University Press
ISBN: 9781589013353
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 356

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Book Description
The optimism that arrived at the end of the cold war and marked the turn of the Millennium was shattered by September 11. In the aftermath of that event it is not unwarranted pessimism that lines the pages of Grave New World, it is unavoidable reality. Terrorism is but one aspect of many other wider concerns for national and international security, and the contributors to this volume not only warn us, but reward us as well with the clarity of their views into—and possible solutions for—a difficult, complicated future. They speak convincingly of the numerous military and non-military challenges that create security problems—whether those are interstate, intrastate, or transnational—many of which are being dangerously overlooked in public policy debates. The challenges and complexities might seem insurmountable but the first step in solving problems is recognizing that they exist. Grave New World provides an eye-opening assessment of the prospects for peace and security in the 21st century. Michael E. Brown frames these issues in his Introduction, "Security Challenges in the 21st Century;" and in his summation, "Security Problems and Security Policy in a Grave New World."

The World Trade System

The World Trade System PDF Author: Jagdish N. Bhagwati
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262035235
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 415

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Book Description
The world trade system : trends and challenges / Jagdish Bhagwati, Pravin Krishna and Arvind Panagariya -- Issues in trade policy -- Border tax equalization / Steve Charnovitz -- Trade, poverty and inequality / Devashish Mitra -- Dispute settlement : the influence of preferential trade agreements on litigation between trading partners / Petros Mavroidis and Andre Sapir -- Anti-dumping provisions within preferential trade agreements / Tom Prusa -- The wto trade facilitation agreement : milestone, mirage, or mistake? / Bernard Hoekman -- Agriculture : food security and trade liberalization / Stefan Tangermann -- Regional perspectives -- Trans Pacific Partnership : perspectives from China / Mary Lovely and Dimitar Gueorguiev -- Trans Atlantic Free trade : the view from Germany / Gabriel Felbermayr -- Administered protection in the eu : implications for TTIP / Jonas Kasteng

Schooling Around the World

Schooling Around the World PDF Author: Kas Mazurek
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 388

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Book Description
Written in a comprehensive, narrative style, Schooling Around the World acquaints students with the major debates, practices, and challenges facing teachers throughout the world today. Drawn from first-hand experience and knowledge, the authors include the latest, most up-to-date viewpoints on comparative and international education. Designed to give students in teacher education programs a global perspective on their future profession, the text is constructed around a consistent structural format for each chapter so students can easily draw thematic comparisons among the numerous case studies presented. Features: Provides an insider's knowledge of the culture and education systems explored, as chapter authors are either nationals of the countries they write about or have had extensive experience working as educators and living in the countries presented. Features many of the great challenges facing the world and educators today. Case studies throughout the book address many persistent and emerging world issues: turmoil in the Middle East; the rising political and economic significance of China; the world-class education systems of South Korea and Japan; the rise of Islamic nationalism; turmoil in Eastern Europe in the aftermath of the fall of Communism; the burden of overpopulation; the quest for excellence in the United States; and more. Presents the relevance of comparative and international education in the Introduction, where all major themes and issues of the text are clearly outlined. Contains the latest, most up-to-date information on different nations in the world, written in a narrative style that is very accessible for undergraduate students, yet with a depth and scope appropriate for graduate students. Package this text with MyLabSchool-a powerful set of online tools that bring the classroom to life! Visit www.mylabschool.com for more information!

The Freedom to Read

The Freedom to Read PDF Author: American Library Association
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Libraries
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description