World Almanac, CIA World Factbook, Encyclopedia Britannica, individual countries.
Several environmentalists offer alternatives to wasteful and polluting practices.
Keeping their heads above water Small Pacific nations, fearing global warming and the disappearance of their island countries, form an alliance called the Association of Small Island States. Local political efforts are helping villagers come up with new ways to improve their lives. After decades of French colonial rule, Polynesian natives of Tahiti attempt to keep their culture alive and rediscover their identities even as they stay part of the global village.