As any other issue concerning the wildlife and environment, whale hunting has been a much debated topic for decades now. With most countries including the likes of United States and Australia - supporting the ban on commercial whaling, others have continued to insist that whale hunting is part of their culture and thereby should not be made illegal. Environmental activists point out that this practice endangers whale population and subsequently the whole marine ecosystem. It has become clear that while a consensus between pro and anti whaling sides will not be reached - this issue will remain...

For decades now Cuba has attracted the global gaze as one of the main actors on the stage of socialism. Loosing its main partners after the end of Cold War, the country has faced serious economical and political challenges. Millions of foreigners visit the island to have a taste of its famous vitality, culture and joy of living, yet hundreds of thousands of Cubans flee from their homeland, hoping to settle somewhere where political opponents are not jailed and the media is allowed to report freely. While fellow socialist states support the Cuban government, most Western powers, especially the...

With the modern world being so dependent on natural resources and their supplies, it becomes clear that those who control both the energy means and their delivery routes are in the position of power. While creating the proper gas pipeline network is expensive, operating it is hugely profitable and can significantly increase one's authority. History has shown that countries can exercise their political and economical influence just by turning the gas tubes off and blocking supplies. Europe is a region whose energy independence has been a major issue for years now, as officials have been trying...

Although extinct for more than 65 million years, dinosaurs still capture our imagination today. Piecing together their legacy bone by bone, paleontologists are constantly unearthing new and fascinating facts about the emergence, life and eventual disappearance of the ancient beasts. This has caused a change in the perception of the prehistoric creatures in the last few decades no longer are they viewed as slow, lumbering giants, but rather active, intelligent, diverse and highly successful creatures. This book takes a look at the wast amounts of knowledge scientists have assembled by...

Each year hundreds of people gather up all the physical and mental strength they have and put it to test in one of the planet's most famous rally-raids the Dakar race. Participants have described the competition as dancing with the devil and pushing luck, all while covering thousands of miles in harsh conditions. Many fail to finish the race, but that does not keep them from trying again. The rally-raid's organizers have had to tackle some challenges of their own as well moving the race from Africa to South America, applying strict security measures and ensuring that bystanders and spectators...

The speculations about the existence of life elsewhere in the universe are centuries old. Thinkers and scientists from Giordano Bruno to Steven Hawking have argued that universe teeming with life would make more mathematical sense than if we were alone, but will we ever find evidence? This book examines the various theories on the subject, as well as hypothetical types of biochemistry, exosolar planets and the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence program to give an insight of what or who could be waiting for us out there.

Four-time Premier League champions, six-time FA Cup winners, four-time League Cup winners and triumphing in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup twice the Chelsea football club's history is rich and full of accomplishments. Players like John Terry and Frank Lampard have become the synonyms for top quality English football, while international stars like Didier Drogba and Michael Essien have earned the appreciation and admiration from the tough Stamford Bridge crowd. The team's manager Carlo Ancelotti is once again ready to prove that Chelsea is a serious player in both the English national...

It would be hard to find another sports team that would be so historically successful and would possess such future potential like the legendary Manchester United. Known among fans as the Red Devils, the squad has been a consistent participant in football's most prestigious tournaments, winning numerous cups and titles. Its players are known for their dedication to the game and loyalty to Sir Alex one of the most respected and admired football coaches on the planet. Forbes magazine had estimated that Manchester United is worth more than 1.8 billion US dollars, thus being the most valuable...

Steel city locals will tell you in Pittsburgh, there is family, religion and the Steelers. The professional football team has indeed established itself as something in between a social movement and an object of worship in the eyes of its fans the Steeler Nation. The Black and Gold team's home games have been completely sold out since 1972, and if this is not an undeniable proof of the Steelers popularity, then it would be hard to imagine what is. On game night the whole city breathes for the team, waving the famous Terrible Towel the best known fan symbol in the world. In order to find out...

There is a saying that no capital is more useful than intellect and wisdom. The modern world truly shows that today knowledge is indeed - the ultimate wealth, allowing those in possession earn a lot of money by sharing it. The consulting industry and its key figures are a veritable example of this. With revenues topping billions of US dollars, most influential consultation companies offer their services to anyone willing to invest in professional advice and assistance from governments, to banks, from oil and gas giants to charity organizations and everyone in between. In order to find out...