Kingdown Geography Blog: August 2007

Friday, 31 August 2007

Earth Calendar

The Earth Calendar is a daybook of holidays
and celebrations around the world.
For the purpose of this web site a "holiday"
is any day that recognizes a cultural event,
and not necessarily a day when businesses are closed

Link to Earth Calendar

Jurassic Coast Resource packs

Link to Resource packs

2007 'probably wettest UK summer'

Torrential rain across the UK is likely to mean the summer of 2007 will have been the wettest since records began in 1914, Met Office figures suggest.

Provisional tallies show a total of 358.5mm (14.114in) of rain fell on the UK, narrowly beating the previous 1956 record of 358.4mm (14.110in).

Link to BBC NEWS | UK | 2007 'probably wettest UK summer'

Thursday, 30 August 2007

Sustainable Africa

Link to allAfrica.com: Sustainable Africa: Home

Saturday, 25 August 2007

WHO warns of global epidemic risk

New killer diseases are emerging faster than ever across the world, says the World Health Organization. In its report, "A Safer Future", experts highlighted several major threats to our health in the 21st century. But what are they?

Link to BBC NEWS | Health | WHO warns of global epidemic risk

Record number of people leave UK

More people left the UK last year than in any year since current records began in 1991, statistics show.Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that some 385,000 people left the UK for the long term in the year to mid-2006.

Link to BBC NEWS | UK | Record number of people leave UK

UK Population Grows

n mid-2006 the resident population of the UK was 60,587,000, of which 50,763,000 lived in England. The average age was 39.0 years, an increase on 1971 when it was 34.1 years. In mid-2006 approximately one in five people in the UK were aged under 16 and one in six people were aged 65 or over.
The UK has a growing population. It grew by 349,000 people in the year to mid-2006 (0.6 per cent). The UK population has increased by 8 per cent since 1971, from 55,928,000. Growth has been faster in more recent years. Between mid-1991 and mid-2006 the population grew by an average annual rate of 0.4 per cent and the average growth per year since mid-2001 has been 0.5 per cent.

Link to National Statistics Online

Thursday, 23 August 2007

Flooding in Asia

Millions hit by South Asia Floods (03/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6922484.stm
• South Asia considers flood lessons (03/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6929734.stm
• Devastating Floods hit South Asia (03/08/07)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6927389.stm
• Monsoon Floods displace 19 million (Guardian) (03/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/india/story/0,,2141060,00.html
Desperate bid to save Asian Flood Victims (05/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/india/story/0,,2141938,00.html
• Fears of epidemics follow lethal floods in Southern Asia (06/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/india/story/0,,2142266,00.html
• Agencies struggling to get Aid to flood victims (7/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,,2143280,00.html
• South Asia Flood Toll Rises (7/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6932636.stm
• Aid struggles to reach marooned millions after South Asia Floods (8/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,,2143744,00.html
• UK plea for South Asia Flood Cash (08/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6936154.stm
• South Asia Victims face health crisis (08/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6935847.stm
• South Asia Floods – Worst hit Areas (09.08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6929004.stm
• Surviving on snails and rats in Bihar (09/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6937267.stm
• Flood Rains hit New India Regions (09/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6938350.stm
• Infections spread as toll from Asian monsoon reaches 2000 (11/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,,2146672,00.html

Floods in South Asia Pictures
• In Pictures: Floods in South Asia (03/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6927778.stm
• In Pictures: Bangladesh Floods (06/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6933033.stm
• In Pictures: South Asia Flood Relief (07/08/07)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6935745.stm
• Flooding in Asia (Guardian Gallery) http://travel.guardian.co.uk/Guardian/environment/gallery/2007/aug/03/flooding.internationalnews

General Info about Monsoon
• The Asian Monsoon (BBC Weather) http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/understanding/monsoon.shtml
• What is the South Asian Monsoon http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6929988.stm

Magnitude 8.0 Earthquake off the Coast of Peru

Powerful Earthquake Rocks Peru (16/08/07) (Newsround) http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6940000/newsid_6948900/6948983.stm
• Scores Killed in Peru Earthquake (16/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6948888.stm
• Hundreds Dead in Powerful Peru Earthquake (16/08/07) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/16/wquake316.xml
• Peru Earthquake Kills 500 (16/08/07) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/16/wquake416.xml
• 450 killed in Peru Quake (16/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,,2149760,00.html
• Background: Peru Earthquakes (16/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,,2150290,00.html
• “The Earth was like Jelly” – hundreds die in Peru quake, but Lima escapes (The Guardian) (17/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,,2150628,00.html
• Peru coast hit by powerful aftershock (17/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,,2150891,00.html
• Fresh earthquake strikes Peru (17/08/07) – Newsround
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6950000/newsid_6950700/6950770.stm
• Peru rattled by fresh earthquake (17/08/07)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6951836.stm
• Dawn shines light on Pisco’s sorrow (17/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6951443.stm
• Peru Quake – Eyewitness Accounts (17/08/07)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/6949537.stm
• Peru sends soldiers to quell quake looting (The Guardian) (19/08/07) http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,,2151928,00.html
• Hopes fade for Peru quake victims (20/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6955295.stm

Map of Earthquake Area - Where the earthquake happened (Good graphic from the Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/graphic/0,,2149958,00.html

Pictures - Peru Earthquake:

• In Pictures: Lima Earthquake (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2007/aug/16/internationalnews?picture=330581318
• In Pictures – Peru Earthquake (16/08/07)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6949478.stm

Monday, 20 August 2007

Hurricane Dean's path of destruction

The first big hurricane of the season has battered its way through the Caribbean en route for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Video links:
• Hurricane Dean strikes Mexico http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6950000/newsid_6956100?redirect=6956151.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&asb=1
• Prediction for Dean’s Path http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6950000/newsid_6956400?redirect=6956461.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&asb=1

Hurricane Information
• Hurricane Dean – including tracking information http://www.moreweather.com/tropics/moreweather.php3#DEAN
• Map of Hurricane Dean’s Path http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/024526.shtml?hwind120#contents
• Interactive Guide – Hurricanes Explained (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,,773980,00.html
• Hurricane Dean – are you affected? Have your say http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7144&&edition=1&ttl=20070821145150
• Hurricane Dean hits the Caribbean http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/news/17082007news.shtml

Hurricane Dean - Pictures:
• In Pictures – In Dean’s Path (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2007/aug/20/1?picture=330600770
• In Pictures: Hurricane Dean (20/8/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6952788.stm
• In Pictures: Dean rushes for Mexico 21/08/07 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6956117.stm
• In Pictures: Hurricane Dean 20/08/07 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6955296.stm
• In pictures - Hurricane blasts Caribbean (20/08/07) http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6950000/newsid_6953900/6953956.stm

Link to BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Hurricane Dean's path of destruction

Saturday, 18 August 2007

Tropical Storm: Tracking Map HURRICANE DEAN

This is www.wunderground.com. There are some excellent amps here showing the development and progress of Hurricane Dean. Maps include:

Tracking, 5 Day forecast, Winds, Alerts, Storm History,

Try out FLASH TRACKER excellent images and data.

Link to Tropical Storm: Tracking Map : Weather Underground

Friday, 17 August 2007

Migration Information Source

The Migration Information Source provides fresh thought, authoritative data from numerous global organizations and governments, and global analysis of international migration and refugee trends. A unique, online resource, the Source offers useful tools, vital data, and essential facts on the movement of people worldwide.

Working with a team of international correspondents, we chronicle global migration movements, provide perspectives on current migration debates, and offer the tools and data from numerous global organizations and governments needed to understand migration. We do this in a way that is accessible to researchers, policy makers, journalists, and other opinion shapers.

Our advisory board and other prominent migration scholars who contribute to The Source include some of the most respected voices in the migration and refugee fields. The Source also relies on the good will of several global organizations and governments who make their data and research publicly available on our site.

Link to Migration Information Source

Thursday, 16 August 2007

London's drowning

With this summer's torrential downpours still fresh in the memory a new £25m disaster movie, The Flood, charts the devastation of central London. It's a dramatic vision, but could it really happen?

Animations of how the Thames Flood Barrier works and maps of areas affected

Link to BBC NEWS | Magazine | London's drowning

Wednesday, 15 August 2007

England's green belt

Think tank the Social Market Foundation has warned that two million homes will have to be built on green belt sites to meet government plans to tackle the housing shortage.

But what is the English green belt and why does it exist?

What is the green belt?

Link to BBC NEWS | UK | Q&A: England's green belt

Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Africat Foundation NAMIBIA

The AfriCat Foundation was founded in 1991 and officially registered as a non-profit organisation in August 1993. AfriCat has grown significantly since then and what started out primarily as an animal welfare organisation has over the years, identified the need to include a focus on education and research as being essential to our mission – the long-term conservation of large carnivores in Namibia.
The AfriCat Foundation concentrates on four objectives in working towards its mission:

• To create awareness and promote the tolerance of large carnivores among the farming community by assisting farmers in effective farm management techniques, including targeting problem predators as opposed to indiscriminate removal.

• To educate youth about large carnivores and environmental awareness.

• To research large carnivores, particularly cheetahs and leopards, on farmland and in captivity.

• To provide humane housing, treatment and care for orphaned and injured animals.

The website has links to

Animal Welfare , RESEARCH , EDUCATION , Newsletter, Adoption Programme ,

ACHIEVEMENTS

ECO-TOURISM PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BAOBAB EXPEDITIONS AND THE AFRICAT FOUNDATION

AfriCat is pleased to announce its latest eco-tourism/wildlife conservation partnership with Baobab Expeditions – specialists in luxury travel adventures.

Baobab Expeditions has pledged to donate £110 to AfriCat for each of its travellers that stay in one of the four lodges at Okonjima – the home of the AfriCat Foundation. The travellers will choose whether this gift is spent adopting one of the large carnivores in AfriCat's welfare programme or providing general support for the foundation's work to resolve the conflict between predators and farmers. During their stay at Okonjima they will have the opportunity to witness some of AfriCat's work and see some of the big cats in the welfare and rehabilitation programmes. The Baobab Expedition travellers will also become members of AfriCat UK for one year, free of charge.

Baobab Expeditions promotes tourism as an economic engine, enabling individuals to experience a wild and free Africa. Support through travel is a direct channel for lending a hand and raising the public's awareness of the conflict between predators and the farming community and the vulnerability of the future populations of these cats.

The Baobab Expeditions' philosophy encapsulates the three principles at the heart of AfriCat's work: care of the wildlife, care of the people and care of the land. For more information please see www.baobabexpeditions.com

Link to Africat - Cheetah, Leopard, Lion Rescue

EarthPortal

The Earth Portal is a comprehensive resource for timely, objective, science-based information about the environment. It is a means for the global scientific community to come together to produce the first free, expert-driven, massively scaleable information resource on the environment, and to engage civil society in a public dialogue on the role of environmental issues in human affairs. It contains no commercial advertising and reaches a large global audience.

The Earth Portal has three components:

The Encyclopedia of Earth, with over 2,000 articles, is produced and reviewed by 700 scholars from 46 countries.
The EarthForum provides commentary from scholars and discussions with the general public.
The EarthNews offers news stories on environmental issues drawn from many sources.

Link to EarthPortal » Home

UCAS Information

This information will assist you in completing your personal statement

Careers advice from Lancaster University

New Swindon

About us

The New Swindon Company was formed in 2002 to stimulate investment and co-ordinate plans for revitalisation of the town centre as a key component to achieving sustainable economic growth. The urban regeneration area is around 220 hectares and the major projects cover about 25% of the total.

Jointly funded by English Partnerships, the South West of England Regional Development Agency and Swindon Borough Council, The New Swindon Company is one of a limited number of Urban Regeneration Companies formed as a result of a Government initiative to breathe new life into key areas.

About us

The Regeneration Framework sets out the strategies for the seven major project areas. It is the result of detailed economic and performance analyses as well as public feedback. For more information on a specific project area, click on the project name above.

Link to New Swindon - About us

Sunday, 12 August 2007

Walk Score

What is Walk Score? We help homebuyers, renters, and real estate agents find houses and apartments in great neighborhoods. Walk Score shows you a map of what's nearby and calculates a Walk Score for any property. Buying a house in a walkable neighborhood is good for your health and good for the environment.

Link to Walk Score - Helping homebuyers, renters, and real estate agents find houses and apartments in great neighborhoods.

Devastating floods hit South Asia

Almost 20 million people have been displaced as some of the worst floods for years have hit a wide swathe of northern India, Bangladesh and Nepal.