Daily Archives: December 25, 2019

Grappling with the challenges of minimizing carbon footprints, memoirs of careers spent on the frontlines of conservation and stark warnings about the future inhabitability of our world, the roster of environment-related books published in 2019 covered a wide swath of pressing themes.

Weve included 10 released by mainstream publishing houses that promise to inspire, educate and prepare readers as we head into the third decade of the 21st century. They tackle climate change, altered marine environments and the global loss of species, but of course none of these issues exists in a vacuum. The challenges are all related, and the authors whose books made the list have worked to tease apart that complexity.

Beginning in 2006, Alex Dehgan spearheaded an effort to create the first national park in Afghanistan. Dehgan, an evolutionary biologist who was working for the Wildlife Conservation Society at the time, brings to life the effort that became a beacon of hope in spite of ongoing conflict.

I felt that there was so much more to Afghanistan than the way it is portrayed on the evening news a dusty, depressing landscape of pain, conflict, tribalism, and hopelessness, he told Mongabay in April. I wanted to show for both conservation, and for Afghanistan, that there could be optimism for the future of the country, for its people, and for its wildlife.

Part how-to guide, part entertaining memoir, Karl Coplans new book brings readers along for his journey into trimming his own carbon footprint. The Pace University law professor acknowledges the struggles inherent in minimizing ones own impact in a modern society, but he also demonstrates the fulfillment to be had in meeting those challenges head on and devising creative solutions to address them.

Like many of the authors whose books are on this list, Tony Juniper brings firsthand experience to his subject matter in this case, the worlds rainforests. The outlook for this biome can seem bleak, especially given the recent surge in deforestation in many of the worlds tropical forests, and Junipers decades in the field bear out the hurdles conservationists face. But he also lays out the case for using every strategy at our disposal, from high-level agreements to supporting indigenous management, to protect the forests that, he argues and many agree are so essential to our own existence.

Investigative journalist Ian Urbina spent more than 3 years at sea with fishers all over the world to understand the connection between the epidemic of overfishing across the worlds oceans and the human rights abuses that are all too common in the industry. His reporting, which first appeared as a series in The New York Times, reveals the lawlessness of high seas and that the fates of the people who work it as well as the life that lives beneath are intertwined.

To me, the problem is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind reality that results in an utter lack of governance in a sprawling space that has for too long simply been thought of as a space rarely a workplace, Urbina told Conservation International. There is a long cultural and intellectual history behind thinking of the sea and maritime as another world where things are different.

George Grinnells views on the American West were shaped by the time he spent there, steeped in the landscape and the cultures that precede the United States domination of the region. Along the way, biographer John Taliaferro writes, Grinnell also became an advocate for its protection in the face of progress. In doing so, he helped ignite a passion for conservation that continues to this day.

From the first page of his new book, David Wallace-Wells describes a perilous world that were striding closer to each day in what reviewers call terrifying and riveting prose. Wallace-Wells examines the future for humanity as the impacts of climate change deepen, and in his view, few aspects of our lives will remain untouched. Theres room for optimism in the future, but only if we act, and this book tells us why we must. As the reviewer for The Economist wrote, Some readers will find Mr Wallace-Wellss outline of possible futures alarmist. He is indeed alarmed. You should be, too.

This retrospective looks back to the scientists who first alerted humanity to the dangers of climate change in the late 1970s and the 1980s. Journalist Nathaniel Rich first reported the series for The New York Times Magazine. It details how a handful of researchers initially realized our own role in climate change. There were missed opportunities to stave off the coming storm along the way, to be sure. Still unanswered is the question about whether well learn from those missteps, or blindly barrel toward an uncertain and perilous future.

In yet another volume to explore humanitys relationship with Earths climate, Bill McKibben the first popular author to sound the warning on climate change with The End of Nature in 1989 follows the obstinacy of ideology and how it has precluded meaningful action. The details are frustrating. But McKibben also finds reason to hope, believing that the future of the world and our place depends on how we respond now.

Barry Lopez reflects on decades of travel to remote regions, during which hes see the influence of humanity across the worlds landscapes. In Horizon, he wrestles with our capacity for both cruelty and generosity, and how the destruction and preservation of the earth are related. The depth of his meditations and observations leave few clearcut answers, other than to bring into focus the profound impact that we humans and our environment have on each other.

In the only work of fiction on our list, writer John Lanchester has put together a novel with perhaps the most contemporary of themes. Central to the plot is the wall in the imagined future that projects the United Kingdom from rising sea levels. Seemingly insurmountable political divisiveness conspires to create a world thats suspiciously familiar in prevailing sentiment if not the details of everyday life, in which outsiders are viewed as enemies and our very existence seems under threat.

Banner image of a glacier in Iceland by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.

John Cannon is a staff writer at Mongabay. Find himon Twitter: @johnccannon

FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page.

See the original post here:

10 noteworthy books on conservation and the environment from 2019 - Mongabay.com

Key Point:Only eight dreadnoughts remain, all in the United States.

The age of the steel line-of-battleship really began in the1880s, with the construction of a series of warships that could carry and independently aim heavy guns external to the hull. In 1905, HMS Dreadnought brought together an array of innovations in shipbuilding, propulsion, and gunnery to create a new kind of warship, one that could dominate all existing battleships.

Although eventually supplanted by the submarine and the aircraft carrier, the battleship took pride of place in the navies of the first half of the twentieth century. The mythology of of the battleship age often understates how active many of the ships were; both World War I and World War II saw numerous battleship engagements. These are the five most important battles of the dreadnought age.

Battle ofJutland:

In the years prior to World War I, Britain and Germany raced tooutbuildeach other, resulting in vast fleets of dreadnought battleships. The British won the race, but not by so far that they could ignore the power of the German High Seas Fleet. When war began, the Royal Navy collected most of its modern battleships into the Grand Fleet, based atScapaFlow.

The High Seas Fleet and the Grand Fleet spared for nearly three years before the main event. In May 1916, AdmiralReinhardScheerand Admiral JohnJellicoelaid dueling traps;Scheerhoped to draw a portion of the Grand Fleet under the guns of the High Seas Fleet, whileJellicoesought to bring the latter into the jaws of the former. Both succeeded, to a point; Britishbattlecruisersand fast battleships engaged the German line of battle, before the arrival of the whole of the Grand Fleet put German survival in jeopardy.

The two sides fought for most of an afternoon. The Germans has sixteen dreadnought battleships, six pre-dreadnoughts, and fivebattlecruisers. Against this, the British fielded twenty-eight dreadnoughts and ninebattlecruisers.Jellicoemanaged to trap the Germans on the wrong side of the Grand Fleet, but in a confused night action most of the German ships passed through the British line, and to safety.

Read the original article.

Story continues

See the original post:

These Are The 5 Best Battleships To Ever Sail The 7 Seas - Yahoo News

I never thought cruises were for me. But then a friend invited me to join him on an Atlantis cruise for his birthday and I was won over by the thought of disco tea dances by the pool with friends on a ship that had been taken over for a gay and lesbian charter.

Before that first cruise was over wed already booked the next one, and while Ive done many cruises since then theres a lot to be said for setting sail with people who have similar interests. Or tastes in music.

Themed cruises can either take over the whole ship or have a special interest group join a regular itinerary with their own events on the side. While some are based around relatively commonplace interests like food and wine, comedy and sport, others cater for more specific tastes.

Sign up for the free daily TPG U.K. newsletter for more travel tips!

No judgment on which of these cruises floats your boat.

As the name suggests this is a cruise for those who love to let it all hang out. This annual cruise organized by Bare Necessities will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2020 with a sold-out cruise through the warm waters of the Caribbean on Carnival Legend.

Passengers are free to go au naturale around most of the ship, though casual wear is required in the dining rooms and while the ship is in port. Its worth noting that this is a clothing-optional cruise and that fetish wear is not allowed at any time. Even lingerie is too risqu for the dining room. Though at themed parties like Nudapalooza you can wear as much, or as little, as you like.

Captain to the bridge! Next years Star Trek cruise will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Star Trek Voyager with an all-star cast ready to set sail with fans. The actors who brought Captain Janeway, Seven of Nine, the Doctor, Neelix, Tuvok and many more in the Delta Quadrant to life will all be there, and a certain Captain Kirk will also be on board.

As Royal Caribbeans Explorer of The Seas cruises through the Bahamas, therell be celebrity-hosted excursions by day followed by nightly shows where else but in the Stardust Theatre. Youll need to hop on the waitlist and hope for the best to join in this sold-out trekkie fun.

If you identify more as a Whovian, then the Dr. Who-themed Sci-Fi cruise will be more your speed. Dr. Who creature designers join stars of the show as you sail from Miami to the Caribbean.

Other geek fest cruises include Star Wars Day at Sea complete with Chewbacca, R2-D2, 3-3PO and Darth Vader on select Disney cruises from Floridas Port Canaveral, and Marvel Day at Sea bringing super heroes and villains to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

You wanna rock n roll all night and party every day? In 2020, the KISS Kruise will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with concerts by the pool, KISS memorabilia swaps, and karaoke nights. Married KISS fans can even renew their vows in a ceremony led by Gene Simmons. So far theres no word on who next years support acts will be, but previous ones have included Warrant, The Darkness and Skid Row.

If Cheap Trick are more your thing check out the 70s Rock and Romance cruise where theyll be joined by Jefferson Starship, The Eagles Don Felder and more. And you just know theres going to be an 80s cruise too. Next years sold out lineup includes The B52s, Berlin, Grandmaster Flash and Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet. Wish wed mentioned it sooner? Hop on that waitlist for 2020 and get ready to pounce when the backup to the 80s in 2021 cruise goes on sale.

When wrestling star Chris Jericho played with his band Fozzy on the KISS Kruise it was clear just how much fun a group of fans could have at sea. And in a body slam move, Chris Jerichos Rock N Wrestling Rager was born.

Along with some of the biggest names from AEW (All Elite Wrestling) taking each other on in a ring in the middle of the pool deck, theres rock n roll shows, comedy, live podcasts, and paranormal explorations. This high seas rager has also sold out, so get yourself on the waitlist and see if you can wrestle a ticket off someone. And if youre lucky enough to get on board save a big WOOOOO for wrestling legend Nature Boy, Ric Flair.

With an image of a deep sea creature about to devour a ship, the Gothic Cruise website sets its darker-than-your-average-cruise tone from the start. Break out the black eyeliner: on the Gothic Cruise vampire, industrial and gothic wear is welcome any time. Next years bands include German electronic body music (EBM) act Rottersand and one of the most popular aggrotech bands Combichrist. And for a bit of fun, next years door decorating theme is Lost Spirits.

The only cruise where the welcome pack includes a bag full of yarn, crochet cruises have already sold out in Australia and the Southern Caribbean but still have spaces left for their Alaska and South Pacific trips.

As they put it, their cruises are worth the adventure with a bunch of happy Hookers AKA crocheters and include a real life opportunity to meet the socialite of the crochet world, Mikey. While its unclear if anyone will be crocheting a bikini to wear on the pool deck, groups do work together on an even better goal: to create blankets for charities.

Fans of Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia will be in their element as they set sail from the girls home of Miami on a cruise dedicated to the hit 80s sitcom. The Golden Girls Cruise includes a sail away party with lots of cheesecake, a Shady Pines Craft Corner, and panel discussions with Stan Zimmerman, one of the original writers on the show. And therell be not one but two Golden Girls drag shows, with both the original drag parody tribute and the Golden Gays on board.

Hello, kitty. If you think cat videos are the best thing on the Internet and love sharing photos of your own adorable moggy then youve found your captive audience at sea. Sadly, youll need to leave the cat carriers at home as no actual felines can join in the Meow Meow cruise fun, but you can flex your cat knowledge muscles in Meow Meow Trivia and join in the kitty scavenger hunt.

And if none of the above have you making holiday plans, have a little hunt around online for things that do make you happy. You may find your people have a ship just right for you.

Featured photo by Matteo Colombo / Getty Images.

Visit link:

From KISS to crochet: The worlds most unusual themed cruises - The Points Guy UK