Our modern world runs on energy to power our homes and industries. We all know the problems with burning fossil fuels to create energy— it pollutes the planet and we are running out of these resources. Discover the facts about renewable and non-renewable energy resources, how our energy use contributes to global warming, and what the future of energy looks like.
Climate change is reshaping the planet before our eyes. From melting ice caps and rising sea levels to drought and destructive hurricanes, no corner of Earth is protected from the effects of global warming. Discover the facts about what climate change is doing—and will continue to do—to our planet, and how we might reduce its impact.
The huge variety of plants and animals that live on Earth is called biodiversity. As ecosystems are destroyed by climate change and human activity, plants and animals are becoming endangered and even extinct. Find out how the loss of biodiversity affects food chains and natural habitats, why it is important to humans, and how its loss threatens the health of all living things on the planet.
The year 2017 saw the most active and costly hurricane season on record. Moving photographs help tell the human stories of Harvey, hitting Texas and Louisiana; Irma, the strongest Atlantic basin hurricane ever recorded, pummeling Florida; and Maria, the worst natural disaster ever to hit Puerto Rico and Dominica. Detailed information tracks the paths of each storm, the clean-ups that followed, what remains to do.
It cost $10 billion to combat the wildfires in California in 2017 that scorched 300,000 acres of land and left 100,000 people displaced. With dry weather and drought bringing more catastrophic wildfires to the western United States and Canada, this timely title discusses the human and physical impacts of these and other fire disasters and how fire professionals and policymakers are combatting them.
Our views and opinions on many things are heavily influenced by our culture and what we see in the media. They can even shape how we see ourselves, including what is an acceptable or desirable body. Using relatable examples, this timely title explores the body image messages we receive from movies, video games, magazines, and social media, and how they affect our self-esteem.
A major societal issue in the world today, opioid addiction is causing a devastating number of deaths and is costing countries millions of dollars. This timely book includes information on the causes and effects of opioid addiction and the methods being used to combat this deadly epidemic.
Cultural beliefs surrounding illness and societal beliefs about how we should offer health care are discussed in this fascinating addition to the Our Values series. Discussions about the treatment of common diseases, as well as topics of interest, such as how a cast is made, are compared and contrasted with the way health care is provided throughout the world.
Should the Internet be a place for free thought and free sharing? Or should the government and Internet service companies be able to censor and block content? This up-to-date book will help equip readers with tangible tools to help understand the issues involved in net neutrality and encourage them to stay informed of further developments.
What are moral and legal rights and how are they recognized in our society? This engaging title explores what having “rights” means, while pointing out that we can’t have rights without also having responsibilities. A discussion about standing up for your rights will help readers understand the importance of individual rights and how they must be protected.
Climate Change is a hot-button topic today and one that requires skill to examine and grasp different viewpoints. This book introduces readers to multiple perspectives on the topic and encourages them to objectively view local, national, and global connections to help them form knowledgeable points of view.
Social Justice goes beyond individual human rights. It means a society where justice is achieved in every aspect of life. This title takes a look at what a just society is by examining such topics as poverty, racism, homelessness, and inequality. Young enthusiasts will learn how the words of activists such as Nelson Mandela and Marian Wright Edelman inspired others to do what was right.
Bullying provides an honest and unbiased view of a prevalent issue. This book examines different forms of bullying and covers practical topics such as how to recognize bullying behavior, the role of the bystander, and empowering ways to deal with bullies. Candid first-hand accounts from different perspectives and a list of valuable resources give readers the tools to help break the cycle of this destructive epidemic.
Entrepreneurs are a vital component of a successful economy. They can create jobs and help keep money in their local communities. What is Entrepreneurship? explains the risks and rewards involved for entrepreneurs as they work to bring innovative ideas to life and make their mark on the business world. This title outlines key steps involved in starting, managing, and growing a small business, including research and idea development, writing a business plan, managing financial input and output, and planning for growth. Biographical snapshots highlight the innovative thinking, perseverance, problem-solving skills, and other traits essential to the entrepreneurial spirit.
This forward-looking book explores a unique field of entrepreneurship, in which innovative individuals directly address, or work toward addressing, environmental challenges in our world. Offering an important look at the ways entrepreneurship can tackle global issues, this title engages readers through real-world examples, discussion prompts, and critical thinking questions. The title encourages readers to recognize and take on the skills and mindset needed to achieve success as an environmental entrepreneur.
A Founding Father of the United States, Thomas Jefferson once wrote that a free press is important to a functioning democracy. In other words, without critical and reliable press, a society and government cannot be held to account. This engaging title takes a probing look at what press freedom and censorship means, as well as where people find information, who owns and controls the press in a “free world,” and what makes good, reliable journalism.
In this age of fast-paced social media, news and views are shared throughout the world in seconds. This timely title critically examines the elements of journalism, truth and perspective, sources of news, as well as bias and objectivity to help readers make informed choices about the accuracy of news and information. Readers will gain an understanding of what journalism is and how the medium can shape the message being presented.
Go ahead, buy it. You know you want it.…How susceptible are you to tactics of subtle encouragement or even outright manipulation used by media and advertising? Power and Persuasion in Media and Advertising is a critical introduction to how marketing and advertising works to convince consumers to buy products or believe in certain ideas. Readers will learn about persuasion, credible marketing, and how their tastes and opinions are targeted and shaped from an early age.
In the 19th Century, railroads were a form of transportation that changed the world. Transcontinental Railroads looks at the sweeping changes made to society and the challenges created by the building and running of these railroads in North America. Readers will be encouraged to critically analyze source material on why the railroads were built, who built them, and how they changed the movement of people and products. Topics include settlement and nation-building, as well as who gained through railroad building—and who lost.
My Bed and Other Furniture explores the problems faced by people around the world who produce and assemble furniture, and environmental problems, such as deforestation, associated with the harvesting of materials used in furniture-making. Case studies show how fair trade projects are helping people achieve better working conditions and a fair price for their products, and how using renewable materials is helping to save the world's precious resources.
From email and twitter to blogs and wikis, readers are encouraged to be safe, positive, and mindful contributors in the digital environment. Readers will learn how to choose the appropriate digital tools to communicate for various purposes.
Do you see people who look and talk like you in media? Are the people who have the most influence on you your age, gender, ethnicity, or even body type? How do we understand ourselves if we don’t see ourselves represented in the world? Representation in Media takes a careful look at how point of view is crafted to represent the views and ideologies of just a portion of the population, and why lack of diversity in media should matter to us all.
This interesting book examines the events and people who were involved in the War of 1812 between the United States and what would later become Canada. Unusal for a war, the conflict ended with friendly relations established and no major loss of territory for either country. However, an examination of primary and secondary source materials reveals the War of 1812 is remembered differently in each country, as well as by the Indigenous peoples whose territory and dreams of an independent nation east of the Mississippi River vanished.
My Chocolate Bar & Other Foods explores the problems faced by farmers and people around the world who produce food, and the environmental problems associated with growing certain products. Case studies show how fair trade projects are helping people achieve better working conditions and a fair price for growing chocolate and other products such as bananas, tea, peanuts, sugar, and honey.
Using speeches, photos, and paintings of the time, as well as material that addresses historical context, The Civil War guides readers in critically examining primary and secondary source materials. Discussions include how emerging technologies such as photography and the telegraph affected the messages being conveyed, and how ideologies of the era shaped what was seen, as well as whose voices were heard—and whose were not. Readers will gain an understanding of the sad and brutal aspects of a war whose echo continues to have an impact even today.
