Wednesday 31 October 2007

World Statistics


This is a good site telling you information about lots of stuff . In real time it shows the world population increasing , the number of births and deaths, CO2 emissions and even the number of people hit by lightning this year! This site also shows statistics of life expectancy. Click the link above.

This is also a very good site for S2 to use to research their countries. Look at the data and then you draw graphs. Click this here.

Diseases of EMDCs





A new report tell us to lose more weight, stop eating bacon butties and keep our drinking habits well in check if we want to reduce our risk of cancer. Even those who are not overweight should slim down if they want to cut their risk of cancer, a major international study has claimed. The World Cancer Research Fund carried out the largest ever inquiry into lifestyle and cancer, and issued several stark recommendations.
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE:
Limit red meat
Limit alcohol
Avoid bacon, ham, and other processed meats
No sugary drinks
No weight gain after age 21
Exercise every day
Breastfeed children
Do not take dietary supplements to cut cancer
Read the rest of the article here and here.


The BBC site has an excellent section on all types of cancer, their causes and treatments. This is good stuff for the Diseases of EMDCs for Int 2. Happy Reading! See the site here

Earthquake hits San Francisco


Just a little one this time but watch the video to see people's reactions. When the next big one will be is anyone's guess. Watch here.

Monday 29 October 2007

Silly signs

Some signs from around the world. Apparently some make a lot of sense in their own language and it is lost in translation. Others are just daft.


spotted this poetic warning in Colombo zoo in Sri Lanka

Should we have this sign up outside the school?
Apparently this sign refers to boats!
Apparently no posh specs here then
Just in case you didn't realise volcanic lakes are too hot for swimming. Seen in Japan.
Ever made this in HE?

Early Xmas prezzie




The Ashera is billed as the world's "largest, rarest and most exotic" domestic cat. The large pointed ears and eye-catching coat come from two wild bloodlines, the African serval and Asian leopard cat, crossed with an undisclosed domestic breed. And with a price tag of around £12,000 including delivery from the U.S., it will leave you skint. Feel free to buy me one though and tell me when it will be delivered!

Protecting polar bears


For the last 4 years, the WWF-Canon Polar Bear Tracker has followed polar bears in the Arctic.Their positions are beamed from collars on the bears’ necks, via satellite to scientists, and then to this website.
Check out this site on protecting polar bears in the Arctic. The games are good and you can have a go at protecting these amazing creatures.

Saturday 27 October 2007

Use of Biofuels is a crime


A UN expert yesterday called the growing practice of turning crops into biofuel "a crime against humanity" because it has created food shortages and sent food prices soaring, leaving millions of poor people hungry. Using biofuels instead of petrol in cars is generally considered to cut carbon dioxide emissions, which cause global warming, although some scientists say greenhouse gases released during the production of biofuel crops can offset those gains. Read the rest of this article and see what you think. Click here. If you are not sure what biofuels are then check the link here.

Endangered wildlife


OK not quite. Have a look at this game and rescue the penguins! Loosely related to the weather but I know I'm stretching the point. Any excuse for a game. Click here.

Tribes use Sat Nav technology


Tribal people and sat nav technology in the Congo. Pygmies in the Congo basin rainforest are using satellite navigation to save their trees from loggers. This is a cool story. Listen to the rest and watch the video here.

Population Growth


There's been a lot of thinking and heead scratching at the prospect of the UK population swelling to 71 million by 2031. But big surges have been predicted before and they haven't always been right.
In 1965 the government's demographers and statisticians projected that the population in 2001 would be 75 million. They were wrong. It was 58,789,194 on census day in 2001. Will the new figures be correct? Read the rest here. What are the implications for you? Read here.

Malaria eradication


Try killing a few mozzies here. Totally useless to help you pass any exams but if you have had a bad day, very therapeutic. Imagine what it is like if they are around you ALL the time. There IS a point after all.

Wednesday 24 October 2007

Malaria


Some good info here to introduce this topic to you from Wycombe High School. Watch the short video and link to the malaria factsheets at the side. Make sure you look at the section on the Panoramic scrapbook on Mali as this is excellent stuff. It will help you with your talk in class. What do you mean I haven't mentioned this one yet? YOU have more time to prepare this if you are reading this! It will be on the causes, effects and implications of malaria for a county which is an ELDC. You will have to prepare a poster or powerpoint on this topic and do a talk in class to the rest of us. Try this site which is a game about malaria to relieve your stress and kill a few mozzies too. Hope you are better than me! Once you have done a bit of research you can have a go at fling the teacher .

S2 Countries Investigations


Good site here to use for a few last minute bits and pieces of information on your countries. Each country has a map and info to put into graphs for you to pick up extra marks eg population and area. The only thing I don't like is the fact that they have put temperature in a bar graph and this is wrong!!! It should, of course be a line graph - you could change this if you want to use this rather than the worlclimate.com site.

Tuesday 23 October 2007

Climate change even worse


Scientists have discovered that this problem may be even worse than predicted because of the earths reduced capacity to absorb CO2. Read the Telegraph article here on this.

Limestone caves




No waffling on about this one yet................... Just have a look or come back to it at a later date when we are studying this in class. Cool pics here.

Traffic congestion ideas


The Highways Agency is to pilot a scheme to cut congestion and speed-up motorway journeys by creating lanes for vehicles with two or more passengers. Read here.
High occupancy vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes, either created by using the hard-shoulder or widening roads, are intended to encourage drivers to share. Read also here.

The EU's baby blues



Europe's working-age population is shrinking as fertility rates decline. Demographic decline causes anxiety because it is thought to go hand-in-hand with economic decline.
With fewer, younger workers to pay the health and pension bills of an elderly population, states face an unprecedented fiscal burden.
The dependency ratio of those aged 65 and over to those of working age looks set to double from one-to-four to one-to-two in 2050. Read the rest here .


Read the German cast study here Do you think it is a good idea to offer nearly £17,000 to have a baby? This happened in Germany!

The Love Oasis

In Russia there is a totally different approach. Camps for young people where sex is encouraged. Nashi's annual camp, 200 miles outside Moscow, is attended by 10,000 uniformed youngsters and involves two weeks of lectures and physical fitness.
“Attendance is monitored via compulsory electronic badges and anyone who misses three events is expelled. So are drinkers; alcohol is banned. But sex is encouraged, and condoms are nowhere on sale. “ Read the rest of the article here

Britain’s view is a bit confused.
Read these articles here and here.

Glaciation



Some good photos here for S grade glaciation later in the year and for Higher/ Int 2 Physical Landscapes. Have a look here and we will discuss these in class shortly.

Green cars


Solar cars are driving across the Australian desert in a 3,000km race to promote green technology. Will these guys have any of their natural habitat left in a few years? (OK it was an excuse to put in the cute picture. Don't nag me!) Watch this video.

How "green" is M and S?


M and S like to tell us they are "greener" than some others but according to the Guardian article today this is not quite true. Read it here and see what you think. Look at the ratings here.
Percentage of packaging that is recyclable
Marks & Spencer 60%
Lidl 61%
Tesco 62%
Morrisons 68%
Asda/Sainsbury's 70%

Monday 22 October 2007

Harsh reality of India's unwanted girls


A BBC programme tells the story of Indias baby girls who are sometimes killed or mistreated all their lives in a similar pattern to Chinese girls. Read about the baby girl buried alive in India here and here. Boys are still prized more than girls because they will carry on the family name and traditionally provide for parents in their old age.

Water – A world crisis




Some good info here for Higher revision. Look at the site here. The main conflicts in Africa during the next 25 years could be over that most precious of commodities - water, as countries fight for access to scarce resources.
Potential 'water wars' are likely in areas where rivers and lakes are shared by more than one country. The possible flashpoints are the Nile, Niger, Volta and Zambezi basins. Look at this site for more details about The Nile.

This day in History. Aral Sea Disaster




Watch this video about the worst man made disaster. 1990: Aral Sea is 'world's worst disaster'


Shanty towns in Madrid, Spain


Watch this video and think why these immigrants stay here and not elsewhere in the city? Why does this not happen in some other cities to the same extent eg Glasgow, London?

California Flames

Higher should remember the effect of the Santa Ana winds in California but the current fires in this area today are proof of the drying effects. This is why water management is needed in California and other states west of the Rockies. Watch the video here. Read also the info here and watch this video as well

Sunday 21 October 2007

Cities of the Dead information and Tour of Egypt



Good info here to back up the Development and Health information on Shanty towns as well as info on housing issues of the ELDC case study for Int 2. Click here.




Brilliant site here on the One Child Policy in China. We don’t have time in class to do the enquiry but there are some good links for you to use to help revise this either now or later.


More population revision


Try this one click play and then choose Wordshoot – you will “explode” the words if you are correct. Watch your time!

Demographic Transition Model Info


Have a look at this site to revise this topic. Good for S grade population too!
Make sure you look at all the sections and try all parts – otherwise you CHEAT!

S4 Population section


A little bit of early quiz work for you. Have a go and don't cheat! Here first andthen this one.

S1 and all the rest!


Have a look at this site to learn the names of the continents and oceans. Higher – might be a good idea to have a look to let you know that Africa is NOT a country!

Malaria Information


I know this a lengthy piece of info here but it will be worthwhile looking into this when you are studying this disease soon.
Unusually high rainfall during May, June and July in the UK has left the country strewn with pools of still, stagnant water that are ideal breeding grounds for mosquito larvae. Long, hot days and warm, humid nights over the next month, if the forecast proves accurate, will encourage the movement of the hatched eggs, of which there could be millions more than is standard in the UK.
Professor Chris Curtis of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said: "Mosquitoes need still water by day and warm air by night. We've had a lot of rain this year and, as temperatures rise the infectious parasites carried by mosquitoes will thrive". He added that high temperatures over August made it "very likely" that mosquito numbers will be "markedly higher than they've been for years".
Paul Pearce-Kelly, agreed. "It's the combination of wet weather followed by warmer conditions that encourages the greater numbers, which we're already seeing," he said. "Changing weather patterns are creating conditions more favourable to mosquito breeding. A combination of climate change, bringing with it milder winters, and increased travel - not just of humans but of cargo too - is producing an environment in which mosquitoes thrive. As a general principle, increased travel means increased risk."
Mosquitoes are not hatched carrying malaria or any other parasitic disease, but can become carriers if they bite an infected human. The blood sucking insects transmit the parasite to the next victim they bite. Scientists have warned for more than a decade that the effects of climate change and global warming could trigger a resurgence of disease in Britain. Mr Pearce-Kelly added: "There is no question that with climate change species which are not native to this country could take a toehold, and become established here." At least 2,000 Britons return each year from trips to the tropics infected with malaria, and there are fears that, if they are bitten by mosquitoes native to the UK on their return, the disease could become established in the low-lying salt marsh districts of the South-east.
Indeed, it was the return of British citizens already infected with the disease that sparked the country's last outbreak of malaria almost a century ago. In 1918, soldiers returning to England from serving abroad in the Great War prompted a mini-epidemic in the green and pleasant Kent countryside. Coming home after being diagnosed with worrying symptoms in northern Greece, the troops returned to army barracks to recuperate.
In fact, Kent was possibly the worst place in the country to which they could have been transferred. Ronald Ross, an English academic who in 1902 had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for demonstrating the role of mosquitoes in the spread of malaria, was the British Army doctor treating the servicemen. When he spotted malarial symptoms amongst a small minority of those who were ill, he recommended they be sent back to the UK to get better.
Unfortunately the north Kent marshes were - and still are - home to a large population of the Anopheles atroparvus, and the soldiers' return sparked a minor epidemic in the area. Thanks to vast improvements in public health standards over the past century, the likelihood of the disease spreading again to the UK remains small. But the threat has not gone away altogether.
A particular concern is the Asian tiger mosquito, so-called because of the white stripes on its legs and thorax. This species "is very good at spreading to new territory" according to Professor Curtis. He sought to quell speculation of a sighting on Wednesday at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, pointing out that several species of mosquito are striped. Though it cannot carry malaria, the Asian tiger does transport Dengue fever, encephalitis and yellow fever. All of them – a problem and diseases we don’t want.
Reports of an increase in mosquito numbers first surfaced in Norfolk in mid-July. Since then, flood-hit areas across England have witnessed a surge in numbers of the insect. The proliferation of patio heaters has added to the problem (see below).
This week, attention switched to two sewage treatment centres in London, where large areas of semi-stagnant water, rich in nutrients, make an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Guide to mosquitoes
What attracts them?
Only female mosquitoes bite, but both females and males detect their prey using the same three sensory mechanisms. Heat sensors direct the mosquito to those parts of the body with the greatest supply of blood. Veins that are nearest to the skin give off the most heat. Women tend to have slightly thinner skin than men, and are therefore more vulnerable. But how do the mosquitoes detect blood from afar? Chemical sensors attract them to the vapours of carbon dioxide that emanate from the skin, and they also have a taste for the bacteria found in sweat. Patio-heaters, which also give off carbon dioxide, work like magnets to mosquitoes. Using their antennae to follow these vapour trails, the insects then use their eyes to home in on you.


Promising results for malaria jab
Scientists and global health campaigners have welcomed the early results of a malaria vaccine trial in African infants.
Tests showed the vaccine gave a high level of protection, and was safe
See the rest of this article on the BBC site here.

The effects of a hurricane.

Katrina in New Orleans Top Gear comment. Watch and look at the damage.

Egyptians



Hope you like this nonsense. Not relevant at all to Geography but a bit of History never hurt anyone!

Sunday 14 October 2007

A little reminder about the environment

Hats cause global warming.

Environmental Issues video here with some good points to remind S4 in the run up to your prelims about this topic and for the rest of us to think about our actions in every day life. Pity the council thinks You tube is bad for us though and has blocked it. Lets hope you can all see this at home. Theres also a good animation here to look at on Global Warming.
What about this one? Hats cause global warming.

Now the real thing.

Wave cut platforms

This one is about wave cut platforms Higher will be studying this later in the year. Here is a sneak preview. Use it later for revision.

Migration

Disturbing video here for Higher and Int 2 on forced migration but good case study to use in exams.

Retail habits


Good links here for a study of retail shopping habits. See the links for Tesco – some very anti Tesco and some for. A good geographical topic!

Store wars


May the Farm be with you - a funny video featuring Cuke Skywalker, Princess Lettuce, Ham Solo and other brave vegetables!Just have a look at this one. I’ll not comment ‘til later. I like Ham Solo though! click here.

Friday 12 October 2007

S3 weather review. 1987 storm effects







Have a look at this video showing how devastating low pressure systems can be. This is called the British “hurricane” but this is a misnomer as we don’t have real hurricanes in the UK. The real thing is much worse than this. See previous posts on the effects these have on the Caribbean. Look at this site also for great photos of all the damage done in Kent at this time. Lets hope we don’t experience too many days like this during our winter.