The very survival of the planet is at risk: human misuse of natural resources and disturbance of natural environmental systems is pushing the Earth to the limits of its capacity. This text is a comprehensive introduction for environmental study, explaining how the environment functions, how environmental systems relate, and the ways in which people and environment interact. Focussing particularly on the environmental impacts of human activities, the book explains the ways in which an understanding of basic physical principles can help us to use the environment and its resources. Three particular approaches are adopted throughout: "a systems approach" - highlighting the interactions and interrelationships between the environment's diverse parts; "an interdisciplinary perspective" - stepping back from individual subject focus to examine the complex breadth of the environment's diversity; and "a global perspective" - incorporating stimulating examples drawn from around the world to illustrate broad global patterns and contrasts.

The very survival of the planet is at risk: human misuse of natural resources and disturbance of natural environmental systems is pushing the Earth to the limits of its capacity. The Environment is a lively, comprehensive introduction for environmental study, explaining how the environment functions, how environmental systems relate, and the ways in which people and environment interact. Focussing particularly on the environmental impacts of human activities, the book explains the ways in which an understanding of basic physical principles can help us to use the environment and its resources. Three particular approaches are adopted throughout: a systems approach - highlighting the interactions and interrelationships between the environment's diverse parts an interdisciplinary perspective - stepping back from individual subject focus to examine the complex breadth of the environment's diversity a global perspective - incorporating stimulating examples drawn from around the world to illustrate broad global patterns and contrasts. The Environment explains the principles and applications of the different parts of the Earth's system: the lithosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and explains the interrelationship across these systems. It explores the present environmental crisis, examines how the planet Earth fits into the wider universe, and explores human-environment interactions, to offer a clear understanding of the diverse and complex environment we live in and new ways of thinking about the way it is changing. Specific features include: Lively, stimulating and accessible text Superb illustrations: 4-colour plate sections Case studies drawn from around the world, boxed within the text Chapter summaries Annotated further reading lists A Lecturer's Manual is available to accompany the text

The long-awaited autobiography of Welsh rugby legend 'Charlie' Faulkner. Immortalised in Max Boyce's 'The Pontypool Front Row', he was a key member of the 1970s Golden Era Wales team in a period in which they dominated Northern Hemisphere rugby, winning three Grand Slams and four Triple Crowns. -- Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru

Shadow Warriorsis a fascinating look at the women of the UK and US secret service branches during the Second World War. These were women of enormous cunning and strength of will, and many of the Shadow Warriors' stories have remained untold until now. In a dramatically different tale of espionage and conspiracy in the Second World War, this book unveils the history of the courageous women who volunteered to work behind enemy lines in Nazi Occupied Europe. Sent by the United States' OSS and Britain's SOE into Occupied Europe, these brave women wove a web of resistance groups across the continent. So effective did the female agents become in their efforts that the Germans often placed a bounty of a million Francs on the heads of operatives disrupting their troops. Their extraordinary heroism, initiative and resourcefulness contributed to the Allied breakout of the Normandy beachheads and even infiltrated Nazi Germany at the height of the war, into the very heart of Hitler's citadel - Berlin. Young and daring, the female agents accepted that they could be captured, tortured or killed, even as others were always readied to take their place.