Las grandes sociedades se enfrentan hoy a múltiples contradicciones y graves crisis que, como nunca antes, imprimen una complejidad aparentemente imposible de resolver, los problemas globales, especialmente aquellos referidos a la relación hombre – sociedad – conocimiento, hacen temer incluso por el futuro de la especie humana. Esta agonía planetaria, matizada por la violencia, la injusticia, el abuso y la envidia que hoy se vive, provoca que el hombre se torne agresor del propio medio en el cual se desenvuelve, y por ende, se convierta en el principal enemigo de su propia especie. Ante esta incertidumbre, ¿qué puede hacer la educación como proceso social para lograr establecer nuevas formas de convivencia y de actuación que lleven al rescate progresivo e incluyente del ser humano? En su más amplio sentido, la educación tiene la responsabilidad de salvaguardar los logros de la humanidad, primordialmente a través de la acción del profesor como encargado de potenciar todas las capacidades del estudiante, y en función del encargo social, la actitud que asuma debe responder a la oportunidad compartida de formar mejores seres humanos. La Educación Física en la escuela no solo contribuye al buen estado físico y la salud del alumnado, también ayuda a los jóvenes a llevar a cabo y a comprender mejor la actividad fisiológica, lo cual tendrá repercusiones positivas a lo largo de toda su vida. Además, la Educación Física en la escuela aporta conocimientos y habilidades transferibles, como el trabajo en equipo y el juego limpio, cultiva el respeto, la conciencia social y del propio cuerpo y proporciona una idea general de las “reglas del juego”, que los estudiantes pueden poner en práctica fácilmente en otras asignaturas escolares o situaciones de su vida cotidiana. Debido a todos los beneficios que aporta, la promoción de la actividad física ha recibido una atención creciente no sólo en el ámbito escolar, esto se ha ampliado en la sociedad en general. En efecto, tanto la educación física como el deporte contribuyen a desarrollar las aptitudes “genéricas” y el potencial cognitivo y físico del niño, proporcionándole así las bases necesarias para su plena realización como persona y su bienestar, así los sistemas educativos son elementos básicos de la construcción del bienestar físico y mental del individuo.

Endurance in Sport is a comprehensive and authoritative work on all aspects of this major component of sports science. The book also embraces medical and sport-specific issues of particular relevance to those interested in endurance performance. The scientific basis and mechanisms of endurance - physiological, psychological, genetic and environmental - are all considered in depth. Measurement of endurance is extensively reviewed as is preparation and training for physical activities requiring endurance.

The 'Pocket Guide to Health Promotion' is a short, punchy and practical guide aimed at students and practitioners. The book includes precise definitions and examples of key concepts and methods in health promotion practice and a chapter by chapter description of the management planning, strategy selection, implementation and evaluation of health promotion programmes. Written in an accessible and concise style, the book offers the reader a practical and flexible resource that is ideal for students and practitioners looking to plan and implement health promotion activities. A must buy for those new to health promotion or who want a pocket guide to this core health activity. "Clearly written and practical, this excellent guide will prove indispensible to practitioners of health promotion globally, and a very useful starting point for students. It will be worth buying a pocket to put it in!" David Ross, Professor of Epidemiology and International Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK "The Pocket Guide to Health Promotion is easy to navigate with complex concepts in health promotion explained in a user-friendly way. Whether you are practicing health promotion or studying the discipline, this will be a welcome addition to any book shelf." Dr James Woodall, Co-Director of the Centre for Health Promotion Research & Course Leader MSc Public Health, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK

Since its inception, anthropology's authority has been based on the assumption that it is a unified discipline emanating from the West. In an age of heightened globalization, anthropologists have failed to discuss consistently the current status of their practice and its mutations across the globe. World Anthropologies is the first book to provoke this conversation from various regions of the world in order to assess the diversity of relations between regional or national anthropologies and a contested, power-laden Western discourse. Can a planetary anthropology cope with both the 'provincial cosmopolitanism' of alternative anthropologies and the 'metropolitan provincialism' of hegemonic schools? How might the resulting 'world anthropologies' challenge the current panorama in which certain allegedly national anthropological traditions have more paradigmatic weight - and hence more power - than others? Critically examining the international dissemination of anthropology within and across national power fields, contributors address these questions and provide the outline for a veritable world anthropologies project.

Facilitating and responding to the emergence of grass-root needs at the local level is also essential. Support to entrepreneurs and local communities should be primarily provided in matching grant forms to facilitate the mobilization of local resources and ownership. It is of primary importance to pay the greatest attention to country specificities, not only in terms of development level, size, and specialization, but also in terms of administrative and cultural traditions. At the global level, major issues need also to be considered and dealt with by appropriate incentives and regulations: the role of foreign direct investment in developing countries' technological development, conditions of technologies' patenting and licensing, the North-South research asymmetry, and brain drain trends.

Innovation drives long-term economic growth. This book examines the role of innovation in developing countries, with a focus on Africa.