Las Vegas - A Thirsty City?

Las Vegas is world-renowned as a city of fantasy, flaunting its reputation for excess. It appears a green oasis of refrigerated plenty, set in a blazing desert. But environmentalists warn water supplies could run dry within the next 50 years; while urban sprawl is out of control and development is encroaching on protected areas. Click here for the full BBC story

However, the important question that needs to be asked is how sustainable is Las Vegas? Should the city be the size it is considering its physical location? What about its use of electricity? You can see the glowing city at night from space? Think about the excess heat being emitted?

Dubai' Atlantis Palm Resort - A mega structure or a mega disaster?

Where is Dubai?

What is Dubai Like?

Atlantis - the Palm Resort

Atlantis - the Palm Resort in Dubai is the majestic focal point of Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island that has captured the world’s imagination with its magnificent scale and ingenuity. From the moment of arrival, you’re immersed in a dazzling world of imagination, pleasure and luxury. The resort offers relaxation and thrills for couples and families alike, including a landmark hotel, unique marine habitats, an exhilarating water park, pristine white beaches, world-class cuisine, indulgent spa and cosmopolitan boutiques. To stay or visit is to live out your dreams amidst warm Arabian seas.

Dubai is a place where the world's best architects compete to create the most impressive buildings. Atlantis - the Palm Resort, cost $1.5bn to construct and is the latest expression of the emirate's desire to attract tourists and to maintain the flow of foreign currency.

There are 1,539 rooms, including the Bridge Suite, which unites the two wings of the complex above an arch and will cost £14,000 a night. There is almost a mile of beach; 2 massive pools and a large aquarium featuring stingray, dolphins and sharks. By 2009 the hotel will have its own monorail stop, linking it to the Palm Jumeirah and downtown Dubai.

The key question is how sustainable is Atlantis? If the 20 million pound firework display is anything to go by, not very. Already, pressure is growing to release the 4m Whale Shark from its aquarium. See the story here

You can see from the rest of these pictures that Dubai aspires to be the biggest and the best!

Dubai is currently constructing what will be the world's tallest builing - The Burjdubai. No exact deatils ahve yet been announced as to the actual height of the tower as a means of preventing competition from other countries.

With thanks to Liz Smith for the links to the video

Train tracks to link Asian nations

Train lovers and travel nuts have long had a dream of going from Europe to Singapore by rail.
The journey to the East goes well as far as China, and the upgrading of tracks - sometimes with high-speed trains - is easing passage as far as Hong Kong.
From then on south, the rail buff, and potential cargo carriers, must wait just a few more years.
From south China into South East Asia is a bigger leap than it looks on the map - and not only for trains. Read on at the BBC.

Flat Vs Round? And Still The Debate Goes On...

In the 21st Century, the term "flat-earther" is used to describe someone who is spectacularly - and seemingly wilfully - ignorant. But there is a group of people who claim they believe the planet really is flat. Are they really out there or is it all an elaborate prank?

Farm subsidies - a necessary evil?

Over the last few years, agriculture ministers have been working to dismantle the system of paying farmers subsidies for the food they produce known as the Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP. The BBC discusses further.

Amazon Deforestation Accelerates

The destruction of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has accelerated for the first time in four years, Brazilian officials say.
Satellite images show 11,968 sq km of land was cleared in the year to July, nearly 4% higher than the year before.

Virtual worlds with real purposes

Does the idea of having a virtual you following the real you around seem rather strange?

Well it's becoming a reality.

But the creation of a virtual Berlin lets people be in two places at the same time - as 20km of the city has been faithfully replicated into an online world. By the end of 2008, 50,000 buildings in the German capital are expected to have been copied into the virtual world. Twinity's Berlin, which it calls a "metaverse" has been created by taking pictures of the city and using them to build 3D facades.

Joining Berlin soon is London where another company is re-creating the city not just based on reality, but mapping it by inch-for-inch. Near Global is launching in 2009 with the promise to offer the most accurate 3D version of a city ever produced as a virtual world.

Mount St Helen's Song

With thanks to Joanna Blackmore for bringing this video to my attention. Not only is it educational but it is a bit of fun as well. Enjoy boys and girls!

Amazon Rainforest

Watch this video and consider your 5 senses:

• What would you be able to see in the rainforest?
• What would you be able to hear in the rainforest?
• What would you be able to touch in the rainforest?
• What would you be able to smell in the rainforest?
• What would you be able to taste in the rainforest?

World Population Clock

Geography Mock GCSE Exam Topic Tips

Pupils must revise the followng topics:

• Weathering
• River Processes and Landforms (including annotated diagrams)
• River Flooding (causes, effects, methods of flood prevention - include case study)
• Glacial Processes and Landforms
• Weather variables, instruments and units of measurements
• Climatic calculations
• Three types of rainfall (Relief, Frontal and Convectional - include diagram)
• Factors affecting climate
• Weather systems i.e. anticyclones and depressions (to include hurricanes as an intense low pressure system)
• Renewable and non renewable energy (case study oil exploitation and windfarms)
• The greenhouse effect and global warming
• Sustainable energy use
• Industrial employment change
• Primary (farming), secondary (iron/steel and hi tech), tertiary (tourism and retail)

2010 hope for wave energy project

The world's largest wave energy project could be up and running off the UK coast in two years' time.
Wave Hub - which will be installed 10 miles off Hayle on the north coast of Cornwall - is a giant seabed "electric socket" connected by cable to the National Grid. It will enable the pre-commercial testing of wave energy devices on a scale not seen before. Click here for more information.

UN warning on brown pollution haze

A massive mile-thick brown pollution haze has settled over vast areas of the planet, changing weather patterns and threatening health and crops, according to the UN.
Vast areas of Asia, the Middle East, southern Africa and the Amazon Basin, are affected by the smog-like plumes, caused mainly by the burning of fossil fuels and firewood, are known as "atmospheric brown clouds". Read more here.

Ordinance Survey Games

Mystery Island

After finding the treasure, Eric's boat got swept away by tides and storms, eventually washing ashore with the boat broken and the treasure nowhere in sight. The mysterious island he's on hs obstacles blocking his way, and the inhabitants seem to speak in strange symbols. Can you help Eric solve the problems and find a way off the island?

Treasure Hunt

Eric's found notes in his grandad's diary about rumours of buried treasure, along with a map of some nearby islnds and a clue on a scrap of paper. But other treasure hunters have now heard the rumours, and a high tide's due to cover most of the area, so time's running out!

The Squirrel's Nuts

Hangman game, the Squirrel's Nuts! Can you help the Ordnance Survey squirrel keep his acorns for the winter? Simply work out the hidden geography related words, or he loses them. See how many answers you can get right.

GEOSPY

Test your Geosmarts and become a Geospy agent by identifying countries, states and continents.

World Landmark Puzzles

Follow the link and find out about famouns landmarks situated all over the world.
Click on the individual pictures and have a go at the associated puzzle.
Good luck.

Bone Marrow 'Cures Aids patient'

Doctors in Germany say a patient appears to have been cured of Aids by a bone marrow transplant from a donor who had a genetic resistance to HIV. Read on here to find out more.

African free trade zone is agreed

The leaders of three African trading blocs on Wednesday agreed to create a free trade zone of 26 countries with a GDP of an estimated $624bn (£382.9bn). It is hoped the agreement will ease access to markets within the region and end problems arising from the fact several countries belong to multiple groups.

Trade Agreements are set up so that countries can protect themselves from tariffs and quotas and promote free trade of the member countries.

Economists claim this could increase world trade, create more jobs and improve the balance of trade by bridging the gap between the rich and poor countries. The economy and standard of those living in the LEDC could rapidly improve

This agreement will provide Africa with more of a stance to cope with existing trading blocks such as the:

EU - European Union

NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement

GATT - General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

OPEC - Organisation of Petroleum Expoting Countries

Congo's Displaced Dying of Hunger

The BBC has found a camp of about 1,500 displaced people near the town of Minova in DR Congo. They they they have had no help in weeks - no food, no water - not even a plastic sheet to keep out the rain. The situation is dire for adults and children alike. What can be done to help these people? Watch the video to see for yourself.

Tourism In Majorca

Take a look at this video:
Yes, it is a bit one sided!
Remember it is trying to promote Majorca as a tourist destination.
However, study the physical and human attractions of Majorca.
Who goes on holiday to Majorca?
What can you do there?

Interactive Geography Games

There are lots of interactive geography games here on topics including: limsetone scenery; Rivers; Coasts; Volcanoes; Weather and Climate; Ecosystems; and Earthquakes that would help to make revision more interesting. It's definitely worth taking a look.

London 2012

The Olympic Games are coming to London in 2012. Eyes from all over the world will descend on London and the UK and so it is vital that we make a good impression.
Alot of money has to be invested into regenerarion and preparing for the games. Have a look yourself at the plans for the next fours years.

The focus of the London 2012 Games will be the Olympic Park in east London, which will house the new sport venues.

What is the site like now? Why has this site been chosen? Advantages/Disadvantages?

Images of the site can be found here.

As for transport and accessibility, the games are aiming for 100 per cent of spectators to get to the Games by public transport, cycling or on foot as a means of promoting sustainability. The government want London 2012 to be the first ‘sustainable’ Games, setting new standards for major events.

When considering the huge volume of people anticipated to descend on London for the games, security is an obvious issue that needs to be raised. Therefore, the aim is to ensure safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, which everyone can enjoy. Accomodation also needs to be provided for the tourists from all over the world.

Who will benefit from this development? Who wont benefits from this development?

To see the latest videos, park cams and photographs click here.

More importantly, what do you think?

Hurricane Paloma November 2008

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in south Cuba and the country has been lashed by heavy rain and strong winds.
Paloma is the fifth hurricane this season to hit Cuba. The storms have caused billions of dollars worth of damage, destroying thousands of homes.
Hurricane Paloma has already caused torrential rains and storm surges in some areas of the Cayman Islands.
The storm weakened from Category Four to One after it made landfall in Cuba, but is expected to head out to sea again towards the Bahamas, which have been put on alert. Consequently, it has the potential to increase in strength as it passes over the the warm seas.

The Video shows how waves have risen above the Cuban coastal defences that were put in place, resulting in dramatic coastal flooding.

For more information on hurricanes, visit the National Hurricane Centre. This has been established as a means of tracking hurricanes and its intention is to provide early warnings for areas that are potentially in the path of a hurricane.

Geography Competition Year 7 - Year 9

Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9.

You have the task of helping to make people aware of the importance of Geography.

You will do this by producing a resource explaining how different aspects of Geography vary around the world. This could be:

• Food (could specialise further and look at companies such as McDonalds)
• Sport (could specialise further and look at individual sports e.g. football)
• Fashion
• Housing
• Tourism
• Cultures in general
• Music
• Religion
• Climate
• Disease
• Transport
• Film
• The list is endless....

The choice of media is up to you. It could be a poster, collage, Powerpoint presentation, report, mini video etc.

Competition entries must be submitted to me by Friday 19th December 2008.

Good luck!

Geo Challenge on Facebook

For those of you that use Facebook, try adding the Geo Challenge application. It quizzes you on your knowledge of the flags of world, outlines of countries and the location of cities. Be warned though, it is very addictive! Add your scores as a comment on this post...good luck!

Again, a huge thanks to Miss Blackmore for making me aware of this application.

Sustainable Housing

Below are two great games about sustainability. All you need to do is click on the images and follow the instructions on the site. The overall aim is to design a sustainable house. Lets see how you do.

With thanks to Miss Blackmore for informing me of this site.

Option Time: Why Choose Geography?

Without Geography You Are Nowhere!!!

Everybody has a place in the world and so everybody has a Geography!!

Everything happens somewhere and so everything has a Geography!!

The world is a very dynamic place - it is always changing - and we need to be able to keep up with these changes. Geography allows us to do this!

Is geography a good choice in terms of getting a job? The answer is a resounding YES!

Compared to other subjects, geography graduates are among the most employable. They possess the skills that employers look for. In part this is because the subject combines a knowledge of science and an understanding of the arts.

Geographers can: make a concise report; handle data; ask questions and find answers; make decisions about an issue; analyse material; organise themselves; think creatively and independently

Geographers are: good communicators; spatially aware; socially, economically and environmentally aware; problem solvers; good team players; computer literate; well rounded, flexible thinkers

Take a look at the following links and find out as to why it is you should be choosing Geography.

Without Geography You Are Nowhere

This is Geography: In school and beyond

The Case for Geography

My World In 60 Seconds

My World in 60 Seconds is a film project set up by the Geographic Association to create an alternative guide to our world, a guide that is created by you. The GA wants to re-present the world as people know it, so they are looking for young people to make short films that are thought provoking, insightful and engaging. 60 seconds is just long enough to guide someone through part of your world, to show what it is really like for you.

The GA want films that show people your lived geographies... They have teamed up with the BBC so that the best films can appear on BBC Big Screens across the country. A panel of judges will watch all the films and the ones that in their opinion best reflect what the GA are looking for could be shown. These films will also appear online as part of a guide to our world.

The GA are looking for films that...

• are about something that you find fascinating
• use geographical thinking to help the audience understand your world
• encourage people to see the world in a new way
• are original, creative and thoughtful
• are well made, are sixty seconds and submitted on MiniDV before 1 May 2009

If you are interested in entering this competition you need to click on the link above for further details.

Yes We Can!

"Yes We Can" was the campaign slogan of President elect Barack Obama.

Did he do it? Yes he did!

On the 4th November 2008, over 140 million American citizens took to the voting booths to vote for Obama as the next President of the United States of America.

This election was an historic event as Obama is the first black American President. When you consider the segregation laws of America during the 1940's - 1960's, you can see how significant the outcome actually is.

The support for Obama was not just on a national scale, but on a global scale as well.

People in Kenya were supporting him through the elections. They were even seen wearing 'Obama' T shirts.

Obama takes control at a very difficult time. There is so much going on in the world right now.

• Wars with Iraq and Afghanistan


• The credit crunch


• Unrest between the US and Russia


• Climate change

Obviously the world will see change now that he is in power. It is just the case of waiting to see if it is change for the better.

Coral Reefs Under Threat From Climate Change

Coral Reefs Under Threat From Climate Change

The following link provides you with excellent information on the impact of climate change on coral reefs. These are very sensitive ecosystems and as a result of climate change, are under great threat.
Climate change therefore needs to be addressed before irreversible damage is done to this ecosystem and others.

Stephen Fry in America

Stephen Fry was very nearly an American. Just before Stephen was born, his father was offered a job at Princeton University, but chose to turn it down.
And so, Stephen was born in NW3 rather than in NJ, New Jersey.

In this six-part series Stephen travels, mostly in a London cab, through all 50 states of the country that he could have nearly called home and which has always fascinated him.

You can catch the episodes, for a limited time only, on iplayer.

Whilst in Vermont, Stephen was invited to the Ben and Jerrys factory and he was asked to create his own flavour.

He chose 'vanilla, with chocolate chunks and walnuts' - See video here

You can create your own flavour by visiting the Ben and Jerrys website.

The Great Californian Shake Out

At 10 a.m. on November 13, join millions of people throughout Southern California in the Shake Out Drill, the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history!

The Great Southern California Shake Out includes the ShakeOut Drill and other events to help us get ready for big earthquakes.

It is promoting the concept of "Drop Cover Hold"

Why is important to do a Drop, Cover, Hold On drill?

Just as with anything, to act quickly you must practice, practice, practice. In a big earthquake, there may be very little time to protect yourself before strong shaking knocks you down or drops something on you. Most earthquakes have a sharp jolt a few seconds before the strong shaking, and we need to Drop, Cover, Hold On immediately when we feel the jolt. By practicing we will act quickly, rather than waiting to see if the earthquake will be large. If it is, it may be too late to protect yourself. ShakeOut. Don't FreakOut.


On July 29th 2008, magnitude 5.4 earthquake that shook southern California. This caused a huge amount of damage. However, the Great Californian Shake Out is a means of preparing people for a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, which is 5000 times larger than that in July.

As a result, the amount of damage will be much greater. The ShakeOut Scenario estimates that an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 would cause some 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries, $200 billion in damage and other losses, and severe, long-lasting disruption.

Fantastic video on the potential of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake below.

It's not a matter of if an earthquake of this size will happen-but when. It is possible that it will happen in our lifetime.

Want To Know Where You Come From? Try This

This site allows you to map the distribution of your surname and provides you with statistics and historic information as well!

According to this site, the top countries with my surname are:

• New Zealand


• United Kingdom


• United States

Where's Wally? The Competition

Fancy putting your geography skills to good use? Want to win yourself a holiday? Then this is the place to be.

Google Earth, Borders and the Guardian have teamed up to provide you with this fantastic opportunity.

You will need to locate Wally over 7 days and provide the longitude and latitude figures for each location.

If you need a reminder, just come and ask!

The instructions and links to the competition can be found here.

Good luck!

Red Hot Chile's Smoking Volcano

Mount Chaiten is looking set to blow its top....


The Chilean volcano showed new signs of activity in the recent days and so residents are having to prepare for the potential eruption.

Click here to see video footage from a plane showing the newly ruptured dome.

Back in January 2008 and again in May 2008, the volcano was showing signs of an eruption. The image below is one taken during an electric storm.

At the time there were fears that Mt Chaiten would continue to release ash into the atmosphere for months (See video). As a result, a huge area around the volcano had to be evacuated but ash was carried by the wind across large parts of South America, prompting fears of a major health crisis.

The Demographic Challenge of AIDS/HIV

We have been studing the AIDS/HIV virus as a global demographic challenge in class.

It is now up to you to research into the aims, strategies and successes of the following AIDS/HIV charities.

You will be expected to present your findings to the class.

Refer to your booklets for further help.

•AIDS ALLIANCE
•Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation
•Children With AIDS Charity
•Terrence Higgins Trust
•African AIDS Health Crisis
•World Medical Fund For Children
•European Project AIDS Mobility
•Avert AIDS
•Medical Foundation and Sexual Health
•Elton John Aids Foundation
•National Paediatric and Family HIV Resource Centre
•AmFar
•AIDS Health care Foundation

Millenium Development Goals

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000 World Leaders placed development at the heart of the global agenda by adopting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and setting clear targets for reducing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women by 2015.

The basic explanation of the MDGs can be found here.

You need to know:

• the aims of each goal
• the strategies of governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at implementing them
  

Other links include:
United Nations Development Program
The Department for International Development
UNDP Update
UN Development Project
The World Bank
UNESCO

NGO Links Include
Unicef
Unicef Journal
World Health Organisation
End Poverty 2015
UN Non Governmental Liaison Service
Oxfam
UN Volunteers