Comprehensive in coverage and meticulously researched, this book calls on the latest scientific research to challenge our society's largely unquestioning commitment to new technology. While modern technology has many benefits, the authors believe that Western society's reliance on the latest tech as a cure-all for our problems is seriously misplaced - in some cases, dangerously so. Health and environment issues include: The damaging effects on human health of certain microwaves, including those from mobile phones, mobile phone base stations and television transmission towers; the ongoing debate about the effects of human health of aluminium in food and other consumer products; the growing evidence that the trans-polyunsaturated acids formed in most margarines during manufacture may be worse for your health than butter; and the growing understanding that the amount of natural light entering the eyes can contribute significantly to the body's ability to fight disease. There is much which is disagreeable and sometimes distressing, but this book is not a downer. At the end of each chapter there's a positive 'What YOU can do' section.
-
-
Ballarat profited so much from the discovery of gold that one of its founders in 1837 marvelled how, within 30 years, the scene had changed from 'a flock of sheep tended by a solitary shepherd; to that of a great, teeming city. Ballarat's wealth in gold, grazing, iron and industry, together with the freedom to choose from all that Europe offered, created an architectural panorama for the studious and delightful variety for all visitors. Ballarat's dynamic history can be traced through its variety of structures, encompassing iron-filigreed verandahs, classical facades, 'Ballarat Baroque', polychrome brick and Gothic revival. -
The Second World War was the WI's finest hour. The whole of its previous history - two decades of educating, entertaining and supporting women and campaigning on women's issues - culminated in the enormous collective responsibility felt by the members to 'do their bit' for Britain. With all the vigour, energy and enthusiasm at their disposal, a third of a million country women set out to make their lives and the lives of those around them more bearable in what they described as 'a period of insanity'. This is the story of the minute and idiosyncratic details of everyday life during the Second World War for the 5,546 Women's Institutes and how they helped to improve the lot of millions of their fellow Britons with their behind-the-scenes, nitty-gritty approach to the daily problems presented by the war. Making jam, making do and mending, gathering rosehips, keeping pigs and rabbits, housing evacuees, setting up canteens for the troops, knitting, singing and campaigning for a better Britain after the war: all these activities played a crucial role in war time. Illustrated with black and white photographs. -
Georgette 'Googie' Withers (1917 - 2011) had a lengthy career in theatre, film, and television during World War II and post-war years. She was a longtime resident of Australia with her husband, actor and producer John McCallum, with whom she often appeared. During the 1930s, Googie was constantly in demand in lead roles in minor films and supporting roles in more prestigious productions. She was given a star part in Pink String and Sealing Wax and more lead roles in major films followed. She met her husband John McCallum just after the end of World War II while on location for a film. They fell in love and got married. A Fleet Street journalist sent them a telegram saying: 'I give it six months'. Three children and three decades later later...Googie toured Australia in the stage play Simon and Laura. When McCallum was offered the position running J.C. Williamson theatres, they moved to Australia to stay in 1959. During the 1970s, she was offered the role of the governor in the long-running drama series Prisoner, a role she declined. She held the Order of Australia, presented in 1980, and was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2001. -
Charles I, king of England, waged a civil war (1642-9) that cost the lives of one in ten Englishmen, but in 1649 Parliament was hard put to find a lawyer with the skill and daring to prosecute the defeated King, who claimed to be above the law. The man they briefed was the radical lawyer John Cooke. His Puritan conscience, political vision, and love of civil liberties gave him the courage to bring the King's trial to its dramatic conclusion: the creation of the English Republic. Cooke would pay dearly for role in the trial. Charles I was found guilty and beheaded, but eleven years later Cooke himself was arrested, tried, and brutally executed at the hands of Charles II. Robertson, an internationally renowned human rights lawyer, provides a vivid new reading of the tumultuous Civil War years, exposing long-hidden truths: that the King was guilty as charged, that his execution was necessary to establish the sovereignty of Parliament, that the regicide trials were rigged and their victims should be seen as national heroes. John Cooke sacrificed his own life to make tyranny a crime. His trial of Charles I, the first trial of a head of state for waging war on his own people, became a forerunner of the trials of Augusto Pinochet, Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein. -
Volume II of Varè's Chinese 'ambassadorial odyssey'. Short stories, sketches, personal experiences - and delightful reading that recalls Somerset Maugham's East and West. Some of the stories tie in with the enchanting The Maker of Heavenly Trousers. -
A real gem for a sports or bowls fanatic - a celebration of this historical sporting event that Australia was the first nation to host. This volume contains photographs of the Championship Executive Committee, the Organising Committee, articles on the Leagues Bowling Club at Kyeemagh, the game of bowls, ladies' bowling, David Bryant, Neil Benjamin, how bowls became a business, conditions of play and of course - individual photographs of the team members who competed: Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jersey, Kenya, Malawi, New Zealand, Papua-New Guinea, Rhodesia,Scotland, South Africa,United States and Wales. There is a daily programme featured and this copy includes a stapled-in alternate programme and a pass card; AND this copy also contains numerous autographs. On a loose slip: David Bryant (World Champion) and Harry Reston 'Scottish Skip' (Scotland); Australia: autographs of Geoff Kelly (Captain) and Peter Rheuben (acquired later since he did not compete in '66); England: autographs of Robbie Stenhouse, Derek 'Mick' Cooper, David Bryant, Tom Brown and John L. Coles (England Bowling Association, replacing William H. Lewis, President, English Bowling Association); Ireland: Cecil Beck and Charlie Taylor; New Zealand: George Boulton, N.Z. Bowling Association President, Norman Lash, Gordon Jolly, Phil Skoglund; Papua-New Guinea: Eric Carburn, Allan Ramsbocham, Barry Welsh, Wally Jackson, Jack Spears; Rhodesia: W.J.R. 'Bill' Jackson; South Africa: Thomas Crossan Press. Numerous photographs. -
Brimming Billabongs: Written as the collaborative life history of an actual Uwadja man, ‘Marmel’. In all fairness, it must be stated that Marmel was entirely a fictional construct, although it is possible he was based on a real person from Harney's time living with the indigenous people. The Shady Tree: The tale of the final eighteen months of Harney's life, lovingly put together by Douglas Lockwood from his friend's last manuscripts. Both books reflect Bill Harney's affection and respect for the people of Australia. -
Originally published in 1948, Ned Kelly: Australian Son was the first modern account of the Kelly outbreak. A bold and intriguing account of the man known to some Australians as a black-hearted murderer and to others as the father of our national courage. Against the vivid background of Victoria in the last half of the 19th century, Brown's squatters, police troopers, occasional English gentlefolks and Irish-Australian settlers play out their dramas - and through their midst comes Ned Kelly - 'fearless, free and bold' on his grey mare Mirth.
