Huge numbers of people in developing countries and up to one quarter of populations in developed countries live below the poverty line. Poverty is linked to migration, warfare, low-skilled work, and women's and children's rights. This book looks at some of the key anti-poverty campaigns and activists, from Josephine Butler to campaigners today tackling period poverty and setting up microbanks. Links to further information help readers find out more about current campaigns and become activists themselves.
Technology can make work easier, safer, and more fun. But some technology can also be harmful to the environment. Read about how we can make responsible choices in our use of technologies to help lessen the harm to the environment.
Energy powers the things that make our lives easier, safer, and more fun. Read about the Earth-friendly tools that are used to gather energy.
We can all make good choices to do our part to care for Earth. Read about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling, as well choosing items that can be used over and over.
From its roots in ancient Greece to its revitalization in the Age of Enlightenment and beyond, democracy as a form of government has changed over time. Find out what threats democracy faces today, and how it is a process that requires constant upkeep and renewal.
Democratic governments and processes are based on shared ideals for the common good of all citizens. Find out what these democratic values are and how to take part in democracy in your own country and community.
What is the difference between a representative democracy and an autocracy or dictatorship? Are all democracies equal? Why are some people attracted to authoritarian governments? This fascinating book explains why democracy can be a fragile form of government, requiring constant effort and attention from its citizens. Students are encouraged to investigate the ways their own governments respond to the needs and wants of its people.
Young people all over the world are doing it. Whether through anti-racism protests, taking part in model governments, or joining global climate strikes, youth are strengthening democracy by exercising one of the fundamental democratic rights: participation. This thoughtful book uses real life examples to show how citizens can exercise their rights and make their communities and countries more democratic, just, and fair--even when they are not yet old enough to vote.
Hurricanes form over warm ocean water. Liquid water becomes a gas or a solid, and then becomes a liquid again. Pollution and climate change affect water habitats. Incredible changes to water are happening all the time, yet the amount of water on Earth remains the same as it ever was!
What does voting mean? Who can vote? Young Americans will find the answers in this early civics book that will help them understand how their country works.
The flu is so common that people don't often see it as a deadly and debilitating disease. Despite the advances made by science, each year 5 million people worldwide get the flu, and thousands die from complications. This fascinating book sheds light on what the flu is, and the role of medical technology in diagnosing it and developing treatments such as drugs and vaccines.
Like many viruses, smallpox is highly contagious. It's also dreadful, deadly, and thanks to microscopes and modern technology--now officially eradicated. This fascinating book explains how a concerted effort to produce a vaccine and distribute it around the world helped eliminate the deadly scourge by 1980.
Polio plagued humans for thousands of years with no cure and few effective treatments. This informative book describes how there was no real understanding of what it was until scientists were able to do research on the disease using microscopes. It was not until 1961 that a vaccine was developed. Since then, polio has been eradicated in most of the world.
Malaria is an ancient disease caused by a parasite passed through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is only now--through extensive scientific research--that malaria can be prevented, treated, and cured. This fascinating book examines the difficulties malaria still presents and how science is working on a "zero malaria plan" that will one day eradicate the disease entirely.
A rare and deadly disease, Ebola is one of a number of different viruses that have "jumped" from animals to humans. This informative book shows how scientists studied the virus and began working on treatments and vaccines that will not only make Ebola less deadly, but will further the knowledge of other diseases.
This timely book follows the emergence of COVID-19 in December 2019, and describes how, within a few short months, it transformed the way the world was living and working. The first major world pandemic in more than 100 years brought new testing and technology to the forefront, resulting in the fastest-ever vaccine creation.
Cancer is not just one disease. There are many types of cancer, and research to find cures owes much to the microscope and the study of cells. This detailed book looks at how, over time, this much-feared group of diseases has become more understood, more treatable with advanced technology, and ultimately more curable.
More than 38 million people around the world live with HIV/AIDS. For decades, scientists have been studying AIDS and the HIV virus that causes it. This fascinating book describes its emergence as a new disease and the reasons why it took as long as it did to find a treatment. Find out how, thanks to new treatments and technologies, this disease that was once almost unstoppable can now be effectively treated and, in some cases, cured.
Join Hannah and her friends as they discover why talking to share ideas is important--and fun, too!
Join Wang Li and her friends as they discover why writing clearly is important--and fun, too!
Join Levi and his friends as they discover why listening carefully is important--and fun, too!
What makes a protest and why are protests important to democracies? This timely book examines the phenomena of protests historically and discusses the different ways people voice their opinion to effect change.
It is estimated about 150 million people around the world are homeless. What homelessness means, why people become homeless, and how governments and organizations work to end homelessness are some of the topics addressed in this detailed examination of a complex problem.
Taxing carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming, is one method governments are using to help decrease or control climate change. This informative title looks at the costs and benefits of this sometimes controversial tax and how different jurisdictions are implementing them.
When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in 2020, nearly every country in the world went into some form of lockdown. Yet each was different. With fascinating images and informative text, this book looks at the rules and restrictions people lived under and how they affected work, school, commerce, and daily life. A detailed final chapter examines the success and failures of lockdown and how countries could approach future pandemics.
