Introduces whales, discussing their physical features, behavior, and complex communication abilities, along with a history of whaling and a description of the efforts being made by scientists around the world to save them from extinction. --Publisher.

Within little more than a generation, whale-watching has been subject to global industrial development. It has been portrayed by destinations and business operators, and advocated by environmental groups, as a sustainable activity and an alternative to whaling. However, in recent years the sustainability of these activities has increasingly been questioned, as research shows that repeated disturbance by boat traffic can severely disrupt critical behaviours of cetaceans in the wild. Bringing together contributions by international experts, this volume addresses complex issues associated with commercial whale-watching, sustainable development and conservation of the global marine environment. It highlights widely expressed concerns for the failure of policy, planning and management and pinpoints both long-standing and emerging barriers to sustainable practice. Featuring numerous case studies, the book provides critical insights into the diverse socio-cultural, political, economic and ecological contexts of this global industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise along the pathways to sustainability.

This story is about the life of a Gray whale named Gary that is extraordinary. This is about his near death experiences. He is wounded by a Killer Whale, gets beached, and escapes from whaling ships. He learns the ways of a shaman from a native boy. He is helped through all these experiences by a Spirit Whale. On the way to the summer feeding grounds he gets separated from his friends. They end up being attacked by whalers and trapped in icebergs. Its a roller coaster ride with all the exciting scenes awaiting you.

One cloudy day, feeling the urge to kick the dust of Kinsley, Kansas off our heels, Karen and I looked at each other and said "Why wait for tomorrow?" So we loaded up our car, and then, with our home of the past three years in our rear-view mirror, we said to each other "Let's go Exploring!" Not too far out of town I recalled the words of a lifelong friend - "You have such an interesting life." My reply to him was "If you are willing to let slip your anchor and set yourself adrift on the whimsical currents of fate, adventure is bound to happen!" But then, with a bit of melancholy, I recalled that I had also commented to him "I envy your roots. You have a sense of place and a bond with friends that someone like me In a Quest for Neverland, Brent and Karen explored New Zealand, as well as the United States and Canada. Along the way they discovered extraordinary beauty, heartfelt friendships, artistic inspiration, and thoughtful contemplation into the quantum nature of eternal souls.

The legend of the Great Spotted Whale has never been proven until two whale watchers set out on a journey fifty years later to find the mythical animal. When they finally see it, they discover another surprise even bigger than they imagined.

Herman Melville's novel MOBY DICK immortalised the concept of a battling white sperm whale, but did such a creature really exist? Acclaimed explorer and writer Tim Severin travelled to the islands of the Pacific to find out. From Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas archipelago to Pamilacan and Tonga, Severin compares myth with reality in a fascinating journey of discovery. Along the way he investigates the real extent of Melville's whaling experience, and unearths other potential sources for his famous story; encounters the extraordinary whale-jumpers, who even now make their living by leaping on the backs of whales to ram home their spears; and observes a retired harpooner re-enact the curious ballet of a kill -- transporting himself to his youth in the process, like a shaman from a forgotten age. Superb travel writing combined with personal and historical anecdote make this a hugely enjoyable and enlightening exploration of one of the ocean's enduring myths.

The Mexican -- United States border represents much more than the meeting place of two nations. Our border communities are often a line of first defense -- absorbing the complex economic, environmental and social impacts of globalization that ripple through the region. In many ways, our success or failure in finding solutions for the environmental, social and economic issues that plague the region may well define our ability to meet similar challenges thousands of miles from the border zone. Border residents face the environmental security concerns posed by water scarcity and transboundary air pollution; the planning and infrastructure needs of an exploding population; the debilitating effects of inadequate sanitary and health facilities; and the crippling cycle of widespread poverty. Yet, with its manifold problems, the border area remains an area of great dynamism and hope -- a multicultural laboratory of experimentation and grass-roots problem-solving. Indeed, as North America moves towards a more integrated economy, citizen action at the local level is pushing governments to adapt to the driving forces in the border area by creating new institutional arrangements and improving old ones. If there is one defining feature of this ground-up push for more responsive transboundary policies and institutions, it is a departure from the closed, formalistic models of the past to a more open, transparent and participatory model of international interaction.