A Book of Rather Strange Animals

From the creator of the hugely popular @StrangeAnimals on Twitter comes A Book of Rather Strange Animals – a collection of one hundred remarkable animal specimens from around the world. With fascinating descriptions of nasty feeding habits, bizarre mating rituals and shocking defence mechanisms, you will marvel at both the splendour and gruesomeness of nature.

Meet the lizard that shoots blood from its eyes, the isopod that replaces the tongues of fish, the bug that stacks the corpses of ants on its back and the amphibian that looks like a penis.

Come and discover the world’s most peculiar species!

Indigenous Knowledge on Traditional Upland Rice Farming in Sierra Leone

“Learning can be acquired by reading books, but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading men, and studying all the various facets of them.” (Phillip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield).

Indigenous Knowledge in Traditional Upland Rice Farming is a result of living and studying the rice farmers in the southern region of Sierra Leone, West Africa, over years of extension and rural development work. It is a result of years of effort trying to unearth how farmers generate and share information from their knowledge which remained unknown to professionals who attempt intervention projects aimed at addressing the constraints the farmers faced.

These ventures often fail to get the desired results with a waste of time and resources due to the lack of knowledge and understanding on the underpinning knowledge in a system they want to correct. It gives an insight into this farming system in a way that can be applicable to other farming systems in the country and elsewhere around the world. Fortunately, the information collected into this book was done before the rebel war in Sierra Leone, which claimed the lives of the majority of the seasoned and knowledgeable farmers. There is currently a drive by the government of Sierra Leone to encourage entrepreneurship in agribusiness around the country to improve agriculture and food production, in order to alleviate the problem of food shortages in the country.

This book offers an opportunity for those with the capital to grasp the fundamental principles underlying the practices in the farming system, the major source of food production in the country, as an insurance for their capital investments. This book can be translated into the local languages for the adult education of young farmers in the country who have not had the opportunity to have learned from their parents and older farmers through the method of oral traditional learning, as a result of the decade of rebel war which may have claimed their lives.

Bugnificent!

Mini-Beasts are amazing; we need them to survive,

without their important roles, the world would not thrive.

They pollinate, provide food, they also decompose,

controlling pests, engineering soil, with oh so many pros.

They can be found under logs, rocks and bark,

some are diurnal and some come out after dark.

We must protect these creatures, not just the pretty ones,

all mini-beasts are needed, so treat them like your chums.

Please look after our bugs; I know I sound direct,

but all creatures have a job to do, so treat them with respect!

Climate Countdown

This is a true history of resistance. It is a story of climate protest at home and abroad. Climate Camps were the precursor for groups like Extinction Rebellion and Occupy in the UK, at annual week-long camps focussed on fossil fuel hotspots.It is a study in organisation method and state surveillance – and infiltration.

It is the history of the Climate Camp for Action from 2006 to 2010. The camp’s aims were to educate, live sustainably; and take direct action against the root causes of climate change.

Just Another Day

They do not need a reason to act selflessly since they have pledged to do so, their love for mankind is unconditional; under the greatest adversity exists their tremendous potential to heal the sick, wounded, and those in pain. Time magazine illustrated them as ‘Warriors’ during the worst-hit Covid era of 2020. At last, they earned their lifelong overdue recognition. They may not change the entire world in a day but certainly change life for many unknown and unrelated irrespective of their colour, caste, and creed. For them each day is ‘Just Another Day’ of their existence – utterly different, demanding, and instilled with extenuating adoration, sacrifice, and hard work, totally oblivious to a common man. What does it take to become one of such kind amidst the egotistical, narcissistic, and defying modern-day world? Dedicated to all anaesthesiologists and critical physicians around the world. Based on experts’ true events.

Balance on Nature's Commons

Balance on Nature’s Commons is a ‘must read’ for anyone aspiring to be an environmental activist, anyone concerned about anthropogenic altercation of environmental balance, and anyone involved in decision-making relevant to those issues.

The narrative is written in an easy-to-follow non-academic style that calls the cards as the author sees them. It is intended to be thought-provoking and is well studded with ‘curved balls’.

The author clearly explains the concept of ‘Natural Commons’ and their importance for maintaining the integrity of the ‘Web of Life’, which coincidently includes humanity.

Unlike much that is written about environmental priorities, the text also includes a substantive section suggesting how the priorities might be addressed. Have we the will?

The multi-disciplinary approach may bemuse the specialist, but it provides material that everyone can empathise with.

Is Climate Change Man-Made?

Here is scientific and historical evidence that shows that carbon dioxide is not the villain in climate change. The science is simple but thorough and easy to read and easy to understand in this short monograph. It makes a fascinating read even for the less scientifically experienced reader and should supply anyone with plenty of subject matter for any debate on this controversial topic. Do you feel guilty about your carbon footprint? Well, you don’t need to. This book will alleviate that guilty feeling and perhaps allow you to feel happy about the carbon dioxide you breathe out. Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant but is a necessary resource for life on the earth.

The Magic of Walnut

Discover the hidden potential of the walnut tree – nature’s very own pharmacy, whose benefits have been known since antiquity.

From its use in house and furniture building, where it is regarded as a true aristocrat among woods, to its pharmaceutical properties, every part of this tree has a valuable purpose. But did you know that a mere 28g of walnut kernel provides 7g of protein – equivalent to 13% of your recommended daily intake? No wonder it’s nicknamed ‘the vegetarian meat’. And as well as its popularity as a nutritious snack, the walnut has many culinary uses. Try some of the recipes in this book to find out for yourself!

Don’t miss out on the true power of the walnut – unlock its benefits for a healthier you.

Climate Change And The Cargo Cult

Climate Change is a major threat to our way of life, and requires urgent political action to remedy its many threats, but is it a symptom rather than the disease? This book argues that the problem lies deep in our commitment to the quest for ever increasing economic growth. At some time in the 1970s the Western World passed a point of economic satiety beyond which further economic growth was of little benefit, and indeed was counter-productive, to living the good life.  We must therefore seek a better understanding of our environment and of what constitutes genuine wealth. Life without the frenetic economic activity and culture of selfish possession that drives the modern economy can indeed be more humane, more pleasant and more meaningful than what we have today , but to reach it will require a major re-evaluation of what is important in business, politics and culture.  

More Horrible Biology

An informative and well-illustrated book outlining some of the more horrible aspects of biology. In this book you will read about devastating pests; very nasty parasites; a lizard that squirts blood from its eyes; a centipede that catches bats; a farting beetle; venomous snakes; a microscopic animal that eats your brain, and of very brave people who used themselves to further the knowledge and understanding of diseases.

Although over two million different species of living things have been listed, and millions more to be discovered most are harmless to humans, but some are very horrible indeed, and not only cause disease and infections, but can also cause serious economic damage.

Our Inherently Controversial Human Nature - and How We Should Hack It

Human induced climate change, overuse of natural resources, overwhelming amount of waste and pollution, gender inequality, elevated stress levels, flood of fake news. All these have a lot to do with our controversial human nature and how our race has formed, besides making our life more difficult and less sustainable.

You are to see the controversial process of how we began to become the only highly intelligent species, how widespread is our impact on our environment and why we are inching ahead to the point where extinction will be an issue to deal with. This book provides an original context of the links to our roots and hints at what we should do. It offers a solution to the seven decade-old Fermi paradox and answers the eternal question of meaning and importance of happiness.

It is easy to get the idea. Accepting the conclusions might be a harder task. The real challenge is making a change. Are you ready to start seeing the whole picture?

Mother is Dying

It’s hard enough to get your head around the fact that Granny is dying and that we may have to sort out her personal affairs. So, it’s no wonder that we struggle to get our heads around the fact that Mother Earth is dying too. Heavens above, we might have a lot more sorting out to do. Thinking and talking about death is hard. Are you ready to face the fact that our Mother is dying?

Wendy’s previous book, Surviving a ‘New Norm’, created by Loss and Bereavement: moving from Trauma to Insight, told how Wendy moved forward from the traumas and bereavements in her own life. The two central messages in Mother is Dying adapt her understanding and experience of the effects of trauma and bereavement to those that will occur during the slow demise of humanity on our planet, as she sees the future, which is a highly plausible vision.  

Mother is Dying has both pessimistic and optimistic tones and the change in climate change throughout the world is now critical.  

The distinctive contribution of Mother is Dying is asking us to consider now the emotional trauma of climate change and the losses it will bring. It is understanding the way that people will react to the major changes in our lives brought about by climate change – the outcome of global warming – that is so important to finding ways to reduce the impact of those consequences.  

If trauma and bereavement are our reactions to future climatic changes, how should we respond? What can we, as individuals do? Wendy is an idealist at heart, describing how both individuals and society need to adapt to the dangers of global warming that lie ahead.  

One of the delights of Wendy’s book are the ideas for what we can do both individually and in our local communities and these permeate her writing.

I am less sanguine than she is; her actions are necessary, but will they be sufficient? The responses to climate change require holistic whole-world concerted actions in a rapid timescale. Mother Earth will survive, but will humanity survive with it? What will you do to make a difference?

Dr David White
MBE, Biologist, The Cavernoma Alliance.