Most Popular Books by Alastair Smith

If you want to use a bike in your daily life - to get to work, play, school and the shops - this is the book you have been waiting for, an informative, comprehensive and inspiring guide that helps beginners get started and experienced cyclists ride more confidently, safely and enjoyably. Discover how to: select the right bike - or improve the bike you have choose accessories for safety, visibility and efficiency learn safe, effective cycling skills manoeuvre through traffic and complex road layouts carry loads safely and well handle challenging terrain and weather deal with mechanical problems such as flat tyres safely introduce your children to cycling

This thesis provides an account of the way in which meaning associated with the term ''fair trade'' is negotiated within a number of discrete, yet interrelated communities, in a way which influences stakeholder understanding of the concept - and as a result, structures the way in which public procurement strategies integrate fair trade governance into their operation. Building from the identification of ''fair trade'' governance as a means to embed the intra-generational social justice concerns of sustainable development within the public procurement system, the thesis investigates how the ambiguous meaning of fair trade is reconciled in discourse and practice. Specifically focusing on the case study of Scotland - where Local Authorities are involved in a complex network of state and private governance initiatives - investigation reveals that despite various influences to the contrary, fair trade is strongly conflated with certification administered by the dominant global fair trade certifying body, Fairtrade International (FLO). However, exceptions are argued to demonstrate an active negotiation of this domination over meaning. In particular, one Authority has purchased ''fairly traded'' Kilombero rice - produced by members of the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM) - as part of its fair trade strategy, by accepting claims of fairness not on the basis of external certification, but on trust from a socially orientated import organisation. Extending the study along the supply chain, investigation reveals that while the producer organisation sees fair trade as beneficial to their overall objectives, they identify significant limitations with the FLO approach. For this reason they have pursued World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) accreditation in order to back their claims to fair trade operation. As such, the dominance of FLO certification is seen to be actively contested as part of a wider dynamic in which different approaches vie to influence the understanding, and therefore the praxis of stakeholders.

This books is a comprehensive and inspiring guide to drawing and painting subjects ranging from people and animals to dinosaurs and buildings.

This sticker book is based on a story from the Farmyard Tales series. The book is a rebus puzzle to solve, where sticker pictures replace words in the story. Missing parts of each full colour main picture can also be completed by adding the appropriate sticker.

This is a practical introduction to single molecule fluorescence experiments, the analysis of the data, and applications of the techniques to the study of biological structure and function.

Theories that link domestic politics, domestic institutional structures, and leader incentives to foreign affairs have flowered in the past 25 years or so. By unpacking institutional variation across states and by drawing attention to agency issues between leaders, key backers, and citizens, models and empirical studies of linkage help explain even such fundamental phenomena between states as war and peace. In addition, theories of linkage politics explain phenomena not envisioned under earlier unitary-actor state models. We address how the linkage literature explains war and peace decisions, the democratic peace, nation building, foreign aid, and economic sanctions by tying international politics and foreign policy to domestic political considerations.

Buying an engagement ring is confusing. Most of the information that''s out there is provided by jewellers themselves - the very same people that are trying to sell you a ring. It''d be easy to get it wrong and get the wrong ring, or just spend way more money than you need to. There''s never been a high quality and honest resource of information that will answer your questions, tell you exactly what you need to know and make sure that you don''t get ripped off. Until now. How To Buy An Engagement Ring will talk you through everything you really need to know about getting a fantastic ring at a great price, including: Setting a budget that''s right for you, so you don''t spend more than you can afford How to decide whether you should involve your girlfriend in the search How to find out what ring she really wants without her ever knowing what you''re up to The difference between what guys think girls want and what girls REALLY want, so you don''t spend money on something that she doesn''t care about anyway What really matters with diamonds, including the one C you can pretty much ignore The only type of retailer that you should ever consider, which could save you thousands And much, much more. Before I bought my ring I spent 6 months researching. I looked on 3 continents, read two technical books on precious stones, spoke to two jewellers and one certified gemologist, to make sure that I really understood diamonds and the jewellery industry. All of the hard work was worth it. I got a bigger, better ring than my friends, but spent less money. And my new fiancée loved her ring - great result! I''ve put it all of this knowledge into this book, to help you do the same. How To Buy An Engagement Ring is all about letting you take advantage of my research so you don''t have to do the hard work, but do get the same awesome result. Ultimately this book will help you get the ring that she wants at a price that you''ll love.