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Freshwater
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Comments/Reviews
Description: Freshwater makes up 3 percent of the total water on the planet, with just over 1 percent available in liquid form. Freshwater tracks the complex history of the steady growth of humankind's water consumption. The world's increasing population has demanded more water for drinking and irrigation, and to support business and industry, while also increasing pollution of the same water resources. The case studies in Freshwater look at the efforts to protect and transport water within systems such as New York City; examine how growth has affected freshwater quality in the Lake Baikal region of eastern Russia; and study the success story of the privatized freshwater system in Santiago, Chile, among other relevant issues.
Selected Contents:
Preface
Part I. Introduction
1. The Wonders of Freshwater
2. Humans and Freshwater
Part II. Global Freshwater: Case Studies
3. Salton Sea, California
4. Niger River, West Africa
5. Lake Baikal, Russia
6. Kuwait, Middle East
7. New York City, New York
8. Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
9. Santiago, Chile
Part III. Freshwater Conclusion
10. Water Challenges
11. The Water Horizon
Glossary
Web Sites
Further Reading
Index
Comment(s): "The natural world and its uses to support the explosion of human life in the last century have made understanding the environment in all its forms essential. We live in a period where species are displaced--think of coyotes in our yards--and sometimes are eclipsed even before they are discovered. An awareness of the fragility of the fish stocks and the forests we depend on, or the quality of our water and our air, and the disaster that it would mean to despoil them, makes a series such as James Balliett's Environmental Issues, Global Perspectives a vital reference and source. With evenhandedness and intelligence, Balliett has compressed enormous amounts of complicated information and science into distinct and very readable narratives. His collection is as good a survey as I am aware of. Any library, school room, or individual would be broadened by having these necessary books." -- Alec Wilkinson, staff writer for New Yorker Magazine
"James Balliett's Environmental Issues, Global Perspectives is a comprehensive scientific investigation of the problems facing the quality of life on Earth, and an examination of some of the solutions to these problems. The five volumes that make up this work-- Oceans, Freshwater, Wetlands, Forests, and Mountains--are a well researched and written primer on today's complex global environmental challenges and should find their way to the bookshelves of readers everywhere, and into classrooms across the nation." -- Paul Brodeur, award-winning journalist and author of Downstream, The Asbestos Hazard , Secrets, and Currents of Death.
Review(s): "The illustrated encyclopedia on each topic includes photos, charts, maps, and text tied to student curricula in science, environmental science, and contemporary issues. Students will find the information they need to absorb the complicated scientific and social topics along with a global perspective on even lesser known environmental concerns. With library budgets and interest in mind, this series can be purchased as a set or as individual volumes. With a glossary, index, and sources for further study including relevant websites and readings, this set is a great resource for public and high school libraries." -- Library Journal
"This series' strength is its visual presentation of information about current environmental issues. Each title contains a variety of maps, charts, and graphs to help the reader visualize the information. This series could be used for research in science or social studies classes. Researchers will appreciate the specificity of the information given mostly through illustrations. Recommended." -- Library Media Connection
    
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