Kevin Hillstrom – författare

The Vietnam War was one of the most painful and divisive events in American history. The conflict, which ultimately took the lives of 58,000 Americans and more than three million Vietnamese, became a subject of bitter and impassioned debate. The most dramatic—and frequently the most enduring—efforts to define and articulate America's ill-fated involvement in Vietnam emerged from popular culture. American journalists, novelists, playwrights, poets, songwriters, and filmmakers—many of them eyewitnesses—have created powerful, heartfelt works documenting their thoughts and beliefs about the war. By examining those works, this book provides readers with a fascinating resource that explores America's ongoing struggle to assess the war and its legacies.This encyclopedia includes 44 essays, each providing detailed information on an important film, song, or literary work about Vietnam. Each essay provides insights into the Vietnam-era experiences and views of the work's primary creative force, historical background on issues or events addressed in the work, discussion of the circumstances surrounding the creation of the work, and sources for further information. This book also includes an appendix listing of more than 275 films, songs, and literary works dealing with the war.

Some food allergies are deadly, making this health topic a must-know. The most common food allergies are discussed in detail, as are the physical effects of food allergies, including mild and severe reactions. Readers will learn how people with food allergies stay safe and avoid ingredients they are allergic to, and how food allergies are treated. Doctors, researchers, and people living with food allergies are quoted throughout the text and full source citations are provided. Lists of sources for further research, including organizations to contact, are also included, along with a glossary and detailed subject index.

Author Kevin Hillstrom explores the history and current state of food regulation and safety in the United States. This book covers possible sources of food contamination, recent and historical outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, and various laws and U.S. agencies that attempt to ensure food safety. Multiple viewpoints are offered, with opinions from advocates for reforming the government''s food safety programs, supporters of the government''s programs, and people who say the U.S. food industry is among the safest in the world. Several scientists, researchers, and journalists are also quoted on various aspects of the issue.

This volume richly explores the controversy surrounding the development of genetically modified foods and their use for human consumption, including health concerns and the potential environmental impact. Author Kevin Hillstrom presents a well-researched and unbiased overview on the topic that includes discussion of the history of G.M. foods and how they are created, the benefits of growing G.M. foods, and the potential dangers and concerns. Experts on both sides of the issue are quoted with full source notes for quotes provided at the end of the text.

Author Kevin Hillstrom tackles the highly controversial miracle-worker, vaccination. Readers will discover the history of vaccines, current usage, and contention surrounding vaccinations. Full-color photographs and diagrams, a glossary, sources for further reading and research, and a detailed subject index are also included.

According to Live Science, in the year 2000 there were approximately 276,000 natural gas wells in the United States. In 2010, that number soared to 510,000. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that fracking is most profitable in Texas and in the Marcellus Shale area, which reaches from central New York to Ohio and down to Virginia. This timely volume explains what fracking is, how the process works, and describes the benefits and the drawbacks of this energy technology. Visually appealing presentations and compelling examples provide readers with context and inspire critical thought about the way fracking affects the earth.

Pew Research Center reports that there is growing support across generations for same-sex marriage. Support in America is up from 37 percent in 2009 to 57 percent in 2015. A majority of Caucasian people, nearly 59 percent, support same-sex marriage, while 56 percent of Hispanics and Latinos and 41 percent of African Americans support gay marriage. This compelling edition discusses the divisive topic of gay marriage, examining opinions on both sides of the issue. The book details the history and evolution of gay rights in the United States, its legality, and resulting cultural implications.

The Nuclear Energy Institute states that a single uranium fuel pellet the size of pencil eraser contains the same amount of energy as 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal, or 149 gallons of oil. The NEI also cites the efficiency of the nuclear energy process since there are no emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, or sulfur dioxide. Yet, controversy surrounds the disposal of byproducts and radiation that are emitted as a result of the fission process. This illuminating book provides an introduction to the use of nuclear energy as a power source. It takes a broad view of nuclear power in the world''s energy future. Chapters describe how nuclear power was discovered and how it works; the benefits of using nuclear energy, especially as an alternative to fossil fuels; the drawbacks of nuclear waste; and the safety concerns involved in operating a nuclear power plant. The book also looks at the latest developments in nuclear power and how these breakthroughs might affect future decisions about its use in the world.

It has been widely documented that the use of marijuana has been used to help with seizures, pain, and nausea from several diseases. The FDA is yet to recognize the marijuana plant as medicine simply because not enough clinical trials support it as a finding. However, according to the National Institute of Health, two FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals are available in pill form. This relevant volume examines how various forms of marijuana have been used throughout history to treat illnesses, how marijuana works to heal various ailments in the present day, and dissects the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The National Institute of Health states that methamphetamine increases the amount of dopamine in the brain, a chemical that is involved in body movement, motivation, pleasure, and reward. The drug causes an intense high which fades quickly. Nearly 1.2 million people reported using the drug in the past year, while 440,000 people reported using it in the past month. This crucial edition delves into the history of methamphetamine as a recreational drug and as a big business for criminal enterprises. It also discusses the toll that methamphetamine addiction takes on its users, as well as families and communities in general. The book concludes by discussing processes and methods used to treat meth addiction and how law enforcement agencies are trying to combat the meth industry.

This volume discusses the history of the industrial revolution. Readers will learn about its influence on the economic, social, and entrepreneurial forces of the United States.

Author Kevin Hillstrom teaches readers about the "Progressive Era," the time between 1850 and 1920 in which industrialization caused major changes. Readers will evaluate the social and political reforms, as well as business and labor reforms that were brought about by this leap into industrialization. Biographical information is included on U.S. Presidents during the era, and this book ends with a chapter that describes the era''s end.

Michigan offers a bounty of paddling destinations, and this book is the most complete and up-to-date guide available. Paddling Michigan includes more than 70 trips in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas for beginner and expert paddlers alike. Classic rivers such as the Au Sable, the Manistee, and the Wild and Scenic Jordan River are included, as well as popular sea-kayaking destinations like Isle Royal Nation Park, Grand Island, and the Keweenaw Water Trail. Whether you want whitewater or flatwater, this book has it all. Maps show access points and landmarks, and are complemented by detailed written descriptions. Additional information on fishing, camping and wildlife viewing is also included.Freelance writers and editors Kevin and Laurie Hillstrom have been paddling and adventuting around Michigan for many years. They operate their business, the Northern Lights Writers Group, from their home in Munith, Michigan.

Michigan offers a bounty of paddling destinations, and this book is the most complete and up-to-date guide available. Paddling Michigan includes more than 70 trips in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas for beginner and expert paddlers alike. Classic rivers such as the Au Sable, the Manistee, and the Wild and Scenic Jordan River are included, as well as popular sea-kayaking destinations like Isle Royal Nation Park, Grand Island, and the Keweenaw Water Trail. Whether you want whitewater or flatwater, this book has it all. Maps show access points and landmarks, and are complemented by detailed written descriptions. Additional information on fishing, camping and wildlife viewing is also included.Freelance writers and editors Kevin and Laurie Hillstrom have been paddling and adventuting around Michigan for many years. They operate their business, the Northern Lights Writers Group, from their home in Munith, Michigan.

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the vast and diverse continent that is North America.North America, tells the story of this environmental awakening and the continuing problems that the continent faces. It tackles the tough issues, the complex problems, and the political controversies of the North American environment.According to some estimates, one out of every nine barrels of oil used in the world every day is consumed by a North American motorist. In 1996, World Wildlife Fund Canada estimated that the country was losing wilderness to development at a rate of more than one acre every 15 seconds. Today, this pace of destruction has been faulted for eroding much of the continent's fabulous natural wealth, and new emphasis is being placed on finding a more appropriate balance between development and conservation.Interesting sidebar articles, tables and figures, and photographsOverview maps of the continent and a listing of environment-related organizations on the Internet

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the vast and diverse continent that is North America.North America, tells the story of this environmental awakening and the continuing problems that the continent faces. It tackles the tough issues, the complex problems, and the political controversies of the North American environment.According to some estimates, one out of every nine barrels of oil used in the world every day is consumed by a North American motorist. In 1996, World Wildlife Fund Canada estimated that the country was losing wilderness to development at a rate of more than one acre every 15 seconds. Today, this pace of destruction has been faulted for eroding much of the continent's fabulous natural wealth, and new emphasis is being placed on finding a more appropriate balance between development and conservation.

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the world's most densely populated continent—Europe.Europe, one of six titles in The World's Environments series, tackles the tough issues, the complex problems, and the political controversies surrounding the continent's environmental past, its complicated present, and its uncertain future. Europe looks at the catastrophes—in January 2000, a massive spill of cyanide and heavy metals from a gold mining operation in Romania destroyed all biological life in the Tisza, Hungary's second biggest river. The poisons traveled 1,000 kilometers through Hungary and Yugoslavia, where they wreaked havoc on the Danube. It also examines the progress—European society has shown a greater interest in renewable energy technologies than most other industrialized regions in the last 30 years. Serving as both a blueprint for the future, as well as a roadmap of the past, this book offers a gripping look at Europe's ecological history.Interesting sidebar articles, tables and figures, and photographsOverview maps of the continent and a listing of environment-related organizations on the Internet

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the world's most densely populated continent—Europe.Europe, one of six titles in The World's Environments series, tackles the tough issues, the complex problems, and the political controversies surrounding the continent's environmental past, its complicated present, and its uncertain future. Europe looks at the catastrophes—in January 2000, a massive spill of cyanide and heavy metals from a gold mining operation in Romania destroyed all biological life in the Tisza, Hungary's second biggest river. The poisons traveled 1,000 kilometers through Hungary and Yugoslavia, where they wreaked havoc on the Danube. It also examines the progress—European society has shown a greater interest in renewable energy technologies than most other industrialized regions in the last 30 years. Serving as both a blueprint for the future, as well as a roadmap of the past, this book offers a gripping look at Europe's ecological history.

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the world's largest and most populous continent—Asia.Asia tackles the tough issues, the complex problems, and the political controversies surrounding the environment of this vast landmass. This volume encompasses everything from economics, land use, energy and transportation, to air pollution, rivers and lakes, oceans, and species and habitat protection.In Malaysia, unchecked discharges of industrial waste and human sewage led the government to label 42 of its rivers officially "dead." According to some estimates, Southeast Asia alone accounts for more than half of the world's total transport of sediment to the oceans. In the Philippines, the Chico River dam project, which would have subjected 100,000 tribespeople to relocation, was canceled when the World Bank withdrew funding after fierce resistance from the indigenous people. This fascinating book offers a comprehensive look at how the most populated continent on earth contends with its complicated environment.Interesting sidebar articles, tables and figures, and photographsOverview maps of the continent and a listing of environment-related organizations on the Internet

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the world's largest and most populous continent—Asia.Asia tackles the tough issues, the complex problems, and the political controversies surrounding the environment of this vast landmass. This volume encompasses everything from economics, land use, energy and transportation, to air pollution, rivers and lakes, oceans, and species and habitat protection.In Malaysia, unchecked discharges of industrial waste and human sewage led the government to label 42 of its rivers officially "dead." According to some estimates, Southeast Asia alone accounts for more than half of the world's total transport of sediment to the oceans. In the Philippines, the Chico River dam project, which would have subjected 100,000 tribespeople to relocation, was canceled when the World Bank withdrew funding after fierce resistance from the indigenous people. This fascinating book offers a comprehensive look at how the most populated continent on earth contends with its complicated environment.

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing Latin America and the Caribbean—from the tip of South America to the Windward Islands.Home to Earth's longest mountain range, largest river, and greatest rainforest, no region boasts greater geographic extremes, faces greater environmental dangers, and enjoys more economic potential from its biodiversity than Latin America and the Caribbean.What are the political and economic factors affecting the Amazon's rapidly disappearing rainforest? What is being done to harvest life-saving drugs from the plants of the Orinoco? And what lies behind the mysterious disappearance of Central America's frogs? The work includes essays, tables and figures, and an appendix titled International Environmental and Developmental Agencies, Organizations, and Programs on the World Wide Web. Latin America & the Caribbean examines a region waking up to its environmental problems and possibilities.Interesting sidebar articles, tables, and figuresPhotos illustrating environmental resources and threats

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing Latin America and the Caribbean—from the tip of South America to the Windward Islands.Home to Earth's longest mountain range, largest river, and greatest rainforest, no region boasts greater geographic extremes, faces greater environmental dangers, and enjoys more economic potential from its biodiversity than Latin America and the Caribbean.What are the political and economic factors affecting the Amazon's rapidly disappearing rainforest? What is being done to harvest life-saving drugs from the plants of the Orinoco? And what lies behind the mysterious disappearance of Central America's frogs? The work includes essays, tables and figures, and an appendix titled International Environmental and Developmental Agencies, Organizations, and Programs on the World Wide Web. Latin America & the Caribbean examines a region waking up to its environmental problems and possibilities.

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the continent of Africa and the Middle East.Examining both the rich biological heritage of the world's second largest continent and the very serious human threats to it, Africa and the Middle East explores the impact global pollution and a burgeoning population are having on landscape and wildlife alike. How is global warming responsible for the rapidly expanding Sahara Desert? Can local populations be recruited to preserve threatened species?Over 80 percent of Madagascar's species are endemic, the highest percentage of any major ecological region in the world, such as the highly endangered aye-aye which resembles a cross between a monkey, a bat, and a woodpecker, and the giraffe-necked weevil, a red rainforest insect with a neck like a fire truck rescue ladder. Readers will learn all about these fascinating species and much more.

A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the continent of Africa and the Middle East.Examining both the rich biological heritage of the world's second largest continent and the very serious human threats to it, Africa and the Middle East explores the impact global pollution and a burgeoning population are having on landscape and wildlife alike. How is global warming responsible for the rapidly expanding Sahara Desert? Can local populations be recruited to preserve threatened species?Over 80 percent of Madagascar's species are endemic, the highest percentage of any major ecological region in the world, such as the highly endangered aye-aye which resembles a cross between a monkey, a bat, and a woodpecker, and the giraffe-necked weevil, a red rainforest insect with a neck like a fire truck rescue ladder. Readers will learn all about these fascinating species and much more.

A concise yet thorough overview of environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica.They are vast, distant, and scarcely populated. Yet the environments of Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica are facing the same threats confronting the rest of the planet, as well as some unique ones of their own. How have human-introduced species impacted Australia's natural order? What new global conventions are helping close Antarctica's ozone hole? And how is global climate change threatening the South Pacific's species-rich coral reefs?The region's governments are grappling with the spectre of global warming, which, if not meaningfullly addressed by industrialized nations half a world away, could produce rising sea levels capable of engulfing several states of Oceania and partially submerging portions of many other inhabited islands. Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica tackles the difficult issues, tough problems, and political controversies surrounding these lands of extremes.Interesting sidebar articles, tables and figures, and photographsOverview maps of the area and a listing of environment-related organizations on the Internet

A concise yet thorough overview of environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica.They are vast, distant, and scarcely populated. Yet the environments of Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica are facing the same threats confronting the rest of the planet, as well as some unique ones of their own. How have human-introduced species impacted Australia's natural order? What new global conventions are helping close Antarctica's ozone hole? And how is global climate change threatening the South Pacific's species-rich coral reefs?The region's governments are grappling with the spectre of global warming, which, if not meaningfullly addressed by industrialized nations half a world away, could produce rising sea levels capable of engulfing several states of Oceania and partially submerging portions of many other inhabited islands. Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica tackles the difficult issues, tough problems, and political controversies surrounding these lands of extremes.

As citizens address the issues of climate change, earth-friendly technologies, and jumpstarting a green economy, environmental politics has gained a prominent position on the American political landscape. U.S. Environmental Policy and Politics: A Documentary History shows readers the many ways throughout American history in which environmental concerns have intersected with issues of energy production and consumption, government regulation, private property rights, economic growth, and lifestyle choices. The primary sources featured in the book illuminate essential events and environmental controversies that have roiled the waters of American politics and policymaking from the colonial era to the twenty-first century.The volume opens with a narrative overview which develops the major environmental themes discussed in the chapters and documents that follow. Each chapter leads witha comprehensive narrative that provides background information necessary for understanding the significance of the primary documents. The wide-ranging document collections include over 150 full and excerpted speeches, writings by conservationists, federal and state legislation, court opinions, testimonies, policy briefs, and more. The documents are preceded by context-setting headnotes which provide information on the key players and events. Some of the topics covered include: Population growth and territorial expansionToxins and waste disposalAir pollution and climate changeWilderness and species protectionEnergy productionConservation and environmental justiceLand and water useUrban development and public healthMining and loggingA timeline listing major events from the colonial era to the present provides an overview of U.S. environmental history, while illustrations and an index further supplement this title. U.S. Environmental Policy and Politics is well-suited for collections at academic, community college, and public libraries.Key Features Thematic, primary source documentsChronological chapters from colonial era to the presentAddresses current concerns about climate change and energy conservationTracks the rise of regulatory agencies

U.S. Health Policy and Politics: A Documentary History brings together more than 150 primary-source historic documents that will help readers understand how U.S. health policies have evolved to the point where they now exert a tremendous influence over virtually every aspect of American life, from the commercial fortunes of industries to the household budgets of ordinary families. These carefully selected primary sources, including speeches, congressional and courtroom testimony, private letters, classified memoranda, etc., will be supplemented with authoritative original writing that provides vital context for featured documents. Thematic chapter organization brings together often disparate documents and chronological organization within those chapters helps give students a clearer picture of how events have unfolded over time. Among the high-interest topics that will be examined are trends in insurance costs and coverage; government health care programs; inequities in health care; trends in hospital and physician care and business practice; government regulation of personal health care decisions; and trends in medical research and technology.