Bridging Islands

An island is a piece of land surrounded by water. But: what happens when bridges, causeways, tunnels- "fixed links"- irrevocably connect islands to mainlands? Is insularity, and its way of life, threatened? Or is it saved by virtue of a stronger integration with the world at large? Bridging Islands is a critical, interdisciplinary scoreboard of the pros and cons of bridging islands to mainlands. Internationally recognized scholars review the assorted socio-cultural, economic and political impacts of fixed links on small island communities. Included are chapters on Prince Edward Island's Confederation Bridge (celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2007), Cape Breton's Canso Causeway, islands in Quebec and Newfoundland, the Florida Keys, Ireland, France, Scotland, Sweden, and Singapore.

June 1997 marked the opening of the Confederation Bridge which spans the Northumberland Strait and connects Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick. The bridge, designed and built by the international consortium Strait Crossing, is one of the most innovative engineering projects undertaken in Canada. It is the longest bridge ever constructed over ice covered water and one of the longest continuous multi-span bridges in the world. Bridging the Strait describes the arduous trips taken by ice boats, ferries, steamers and ice breakers which have been the link to PEI. The author, Copthorne Macdonald, traces the events leading up to the building of the bridge. He explains the problems faced by the Strait Crossing team, and tells the story of how they overcame challenging obstacles such as ice, wind and treacherous ocean currents. The stunning achievement of the Confederation Bridge is celebrated in this handsome book. It highlights the contribution of Strait Crossing, and Public Works Canada, who steered the project from conception to completion, and it provides a fitting tribute to the engineers and designers who solved the technical problems and the workers who sacrificed to bring the project to fruition.

In 1819 England, "evidence from a mysterious death takes Benjamin to an island on the Thames. There Isabelle is trapped by fear and a recurring dream about a man's death. Or is it a memory? When a second death brings everyone under suspicion, she realizes her island sanctuary will never be the same"--Provided by publisher.

Bridging the gap between local knowledge and western science is essential to understanding the world's ecosystems and the ways in which humans interact with and shape those ecosystems. This book brings together a group of world-class scientists in an unprecedented effort to build a formal framework for linking local and indigenous knowledge with the global scientific enterprise. Contributors explore the challenges, costs, and benefits of bridging scales and knowledge systems in assessment processes and in resource management. Case studies look at a variety of efforts to bridge scales, providing important lessons concerning what has worked, what has not, and the costs and benefits associated with those efforts. Drawing on the groundbreaking work of the Millennium Eco-system Assessment, Bridging Scales and Knowledge Systems will be indispensable for future efforts to conduct ecosystem assessments around the world.

Those who have been blessed enough to spend time among the St. Lawrence River's Thousand Islands know its breathtaking beauty and will forever speak of their adventure. You'll read about a family's weekend water skiing, swimming, boating, and best of all, being at peace. These colorful illustrations and playful words will allow you to relive old memories and be inspired to create new ones.