Band Aid For A Broken Leg

A powerful, heart-breaking, surprisingly funny, honest and ultimately uplifting account of life on the medical frontline, and a moving testimony of the work done by Medecins Sans Frontieres and the extraordinary and sometimes eccentric people who work for it. Damien Brown, a young Australian doctor, thinks he's ready when he arrives for his first posting with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Africa. But the town he's sent to is an isolated outpost of mud huts, surrounded by landmines; the hospital, for which he's to be the only doctor, is filled with malnourished children and conditions he's never seen; and the health workers - Angolan war veterans twice his age and who speak no English - walk out on him following an altercation on his first shift. In the months that follow, Damien confronts these challenges all the while dealing with the social absurdities of living with only three other volunteers for company. The medical calamities pile up - a leopard attack, a landmine explosion, and having to perform surgery using tools cleaned on the fire being among them - but it's through Damien's evolving friendships with the local people that his passion for the work grows. Band-Aid for a Broken Leg is a powerful, sometimes heart-breaking, often funny, always honest and ultimately uplifting account of life on the medical frontline in Angola, Mozambique and South Sudan. It is also a moving testimony of the work done by medical humanitarian groups and the extraordinary and sometimes eccentric people who work for them.

Jessica Alexander arrived in Rwanda in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide as an idealistic intern, eager to contribute to the work of the international humanitarian aid community. But the world that she encountered in the field was dramatically different than anything she could have imagined. It was messy, chaotic, and difficult—but she was hooked. In this honest and irreverent memoir, she introduces readers to the realities of life as an aid worker. We watch as she manages a 24,000-person camp in Darfur, collects evidence for the Charles Taylor trial in Sierra Leone, and contributes to the massive aid effort to clean up a shattered Haiti. But we also see the alcohol-fueled parties and fleeting romances, the burnouts and self-doubt, and the struggle to do good in places that have long endured suffering. Tracing her personal journey from wide-eyed and naïve newcomer to hardened cynic and, ultimately, to hopeful but critical realist, Alexander transports readers to some of the most troubled locations around the world and shows us not only the seemingly impossible challenges, but also the moments of resilience and recovery.

This book is the third in a trilogy of books on introductory psychology. It emphasizes the application of psychological principles for the improvement of individual and group behaviors. The two principles of greatest relevance are the Law of Effect and the Principle of Human Agency. The universally-accepted Law of Effect states that rewarded behaviors tend to be repeated, whereas unrewarded or punished behaviors are not likely to be repeated. The controversial Principle of Human Agency states that individuals can make voluntary choices of behaviors that may, or may not, be successful in achieving their goals in life. If this second principle is true, the behaviors of individuals are not totally determined by the personal heredity of the individuals or by their environmental rewards or punishments. Applied Psychology for Servant Religion discusses problem solving, interpretation of test results, and ways to improve individual and social behaviors.

The Tsunami and earthquake which struck the Indian Ocean and surrounding countries on 26th December 2004 was one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory killing more than 225,000 people in 11 countries'¦But what if it wasn't an accident?Thirty years ago at the height of a population explosion a group of young idealistic scientists set out on a quest'¦to protect the Earth from the excesses of mankind itself. Aware that the short-termism of successive Governments would do little to solve the problems they become self-appointed guardians. Their trials are destined to lead them to the edge of sanity.In bringing their plans to fruition they face the ultimate conundrum'¦can they in good conscience destroy huge swathes of Antarctica to save the Earth for future generations? As their plans come to fruition will Trey Brown, self-imposed protector of the ice-fields or the FBI and the US Government be able to stop them, or is the planet destined to be reshaped by their hands?