By VERENA SCHMITT-ROSCHMANN (AP) BERLIN — The European Space Agency is launching a sophisticated satellite that scientists hope will help them pin down the effects of global warming on the Earth's ice packs more precisely by accurately measuring the thickness of ice. The CryoSat 2 mission, which starts Thursday after years of delays, will be able to pinpoint details of changes in polar ice so scientists can better understand the alarming picture of the world's retreating ice caps.

Production Pipeline: Data From Satellites To Visualization is a link to a video animation showing why visualization is important and features segments on artic sea ice among others.

The food business is far and away the most important business in the world. Everything else is a luxury. Food is what you need to sustain life every day. Dwayne Andreas When a large segment of the population is facing a drastic cut in income in the face of escalating food prices we have a catastrophic problem in the making.

Interactive website details how UN Peacekeeping Missions promote American Interests Today, the Better World Campaign announced  the launch of www.UnitedInPeacekeeping.com, an innovative new website highlighting active United Nations peacekeeping missions around the globe and how they enhance American interests.