Wednesday 21 April 2010

Data | The World Bank

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"Today we are opening up one of the world’s most reliable and comprehensive databases on developing economies. It includes more than 2,000 indicators from countries around the world, including hundreds that go back 50 years."

Data | The World Bank

Iceland volcano in maps

 image The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull has brought disruption to the skies over Europe.The maps above show how flights have been restricted to flying around the ash cloud, shown in red. Where the shading is darkest, it indicates the cloud is extending higher into the atmosphere. The flight ban was partially lifted on Tuesday - five days after the eruption. EU transport ministers agreed to allow limited flights within Europe after flight tests showed the density of the volcanic ash in the air was diminishing.

BBC News - Iceland volcano in maps

Watch Air Traffic - LIVE!

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Flightradar24.com shows live aircraft traffic in the airspace above Europe. Click on "About" above to get more info about this page or here to know more about the map and how to contribute!.Also visit our forum to discuss the radar.

Watch Air Traffic - LIVE!

Amazing Volcano Eruption in Iceland 2010

Volcano Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull Iceland 21 Mars 2010 (HQ) Video 1 of 2

Eyjafjallajökull - You're doing it wrong!

National carbon calculator

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Play UK prime minister and set the policy on energy, transport and other sectors and measure the carbon emissions generated.
• The tool shows the UK as it is today
• Move the sliders and aim to reduce emissions by 80%
• You must supply enough electricity to meet demand. Make sure the scales are balanced
• Find out more about this tool and how we built it
• See how the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives and Labour would cut emissions

Interactive: National carbon calculator - can you cut UK emissions? | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Sunday 11 April 2010

How Dubai's $14 billion dream to build The World is falling apart

Of Dubai's absurd dreams, none has failed more spectacularly than The World  -  300 man-made islands sculpted from sand;

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only 'Geenland' has been built on. And as Adam Luck reports, the $14bn dream has left a trail of death, debt and deception

How Dubai's $14 billion dream to build The World is falling apart | Mail Online

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Progress: A Graphical Report on the State of the World

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About a year ago the United Nations announced UNdata, a way to disseminate data stretched out across 22 United Nations databases through one central application. While UNdata houses 66 million records, it's tough to get a sense of what's going on without a visual representation.

Progress is an effort to make this world data visible. More than anything though, it was a chance for me to mess around with some data.

TAKE A LOOK

Progress: A Graphical Report on the State of the World

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Biodiversity

 

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are home to king penguins. Britain has been ignoring its ‘moral duty’ to protect the island’s biodiversity according to MPs

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth at all levels. Photographer: Paul A Souders/Corbis

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth at all levels: from genes to species to ecosystems. An apple variety is an example of biodiversity; so is Siberian coastal tundra. Most of the time, though, biodiversity is spoken about in terms of species.

Q&A: Biodiversity | Science | guardian.co.uk

The Great Barrier Reef scandal | World news | The Guardian

The Great Barrier Reef is threatened by the worst environmental disaster in Australia's history after a ship ran aground. So why are giant coal carriers allowed to use this well-known shipping hazard as a shortcut?

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The Great Barrier Reef scandal | World news | The Guardian

BBC report

Monday 5 April 2010

Bristol tops list of bike-friendly cities | Life and style | The Guardian

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Bristol is the UK's most bike-friendly big city, while London is one of the least hospitable to cyclists, according to a survey.The study by Cycling Plus magazine took the country's 20 biggest cities and towns by population – thus excluding traditional bike centres such as Cambridge and York – and ranked them using a series of factors including cycle commuter numbers, levels of bike theft, the number of traffic-free bike lanes, casualties, pollution and even rainfall.Bristol edged out Nottingham and Leicester, while London was rated 17th, above only Glasgow, Birmingham and bottom-placed Bradford.

The accolade for Bristol comes two years after it was named the country's first "cycling city" by the Department for Transport, giving it access to around £20m in extra funding for bike-related schemes. The city is also the birthplace of Sustrans, the green cycle route charity which began 30 years ago when volunteers converted an old rail line between Bristol and Bath into a dedicated bike route.

Bristol tops list of bike-friendly cities | Life and style | The Guardian

Sunday 4 April 2010

Reykjavik Iceland Volcano Webcams

Early on Sunday morning (the 21st of March) eruption started at Fimmvorduhals, an area between Katla volcano and Eyjafjallajokull glacier and a popular hiking trail. Fear remains that the eruption at Fimmvorduhals might trigger a much larger eruption in Katla volcano. If that happens, these webcams will provide a direct view of the events.image The webcams offer two different view of the volcanic area. In case of heavy clouds or bad weather the webcams might not provide a clear view.Several tour companies now offer tours to the volcanic area for those interested:

The two new webcams showing Eyjafjallajokull glacier and provide a view of the eruption area were installed by Mila. The Hekla webcam (bottom of page) was installed in partnership between Iceland´s National Radio, Iceland´s Civil Protection Department and Siminn telephone. Volcanic activity is best viewed during dusk (6pm-8pm local time) as night falls and daylight reduces.

Webcam location map

Reykjavik Iceland Volcano Webcams - Hekla and more... - My Reykjavik Info

Saturday 3 April 2010

Toads able to detect earthquake days beforehand.

 image Toads may be able to detect imminent earthquakes, according to scientists. The finding will add to the accounts through the centuries where animals, from dogs to rats, snakes and chickens, are said to have behaved strangely before an earthquake.In the study published today in the Journal of Zoology, a colony of toads deserted their mating site three days before an earthquake struck L'Aquila in Italy last year – the epicentre was 74km from the area where the animals had normally gathered. No toads returned to the site until 10 days later, after the last of the significant aftershocks had finished.

Toads able to detect earthquake days beforehand, says study | Science | guardian.co.uk

South Downs Online - South Downs National Park announcement

 

Devils dyke

South Downs National Park designation takes effect – 31 March 2010

The new South Downs National Park is designated at a minute past midnight on Wednesday 31 March. Covering an area over 1600 square kilometres, the South Downs National Park is the tenth National Park to be designated in England, offering an area of protected countryside that everyone can visit and enjoy. The famous South Downs Way, loved by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, stretches the entire 160 km length of the Park from Winchester in Hampshire to the white chalk cliffs of Beachy Head, near Eastbourne.

South Downs Online - South Downs National Park announcement

William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind | Video on TED.com

William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind | Video on TED.com

CoalFinger - Home

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As a lover of our planet, Graverson Green, like us, is not a fan of dirty coal. Cue Coalfinger, a coal super villain and Green's ultimate enemy! Along with his dopey sidekick Dr. Anthracite, Coalfinger plans to cover the world in coal-fired power stations and destroy the climate. Can Green stop them with the help of his assistant Katrina Hurkane?

CoalFinger - Home

Wednesday 31 March 2010

The north-south pay gap: what do people earn where you live? | News | guardian.co.uk

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Britain's richest and poorest regions have drawn farther apart since 1995, with workers in London and the south-east seeing their income race ahead of the national average, while those in the rest of the country fell behind, official figures reveal.

The north-south pay gap: what do people earn where you live? | News | guardian.co.uk

Tuesday 30 March 2010

One Laptop per Child (OLPC)

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One Laptop per Child (OLPC): Children > Countries > Rwanda

'We can't save the planet'

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Professor James Lovelock, the scientist who developed Gaia theory, has said it is too late to try and save the planet.The man who achieved global fame for his theory that the whole earth is a single organism now believes that we can only hope that the earth will take care of itself in the face of completely unpredictable climate change.

BBC News - Today - Lovelock: 'We can't save the planet'

Why does hunger exist?

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Reason_Hunger.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)

Sunday 28 March 2010

How China overtook the US in renewable energy | News | guardian.co.uk

 

Solar panel at a workshop in in Hangzhou

China renewable energy: An employee displays a solar panel at a workshop in a factory in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Photograph: LANG LANG/REUTERS

China has overtaken the US for the first time in a league table of investments in low-carbon energy among the G-20, according to a new report by not for profit group the Pew Charitable Trusts published this week.

How China overtook the US in renewable energy | News | guardian.co.uk

Beijing to sweeten stench of rubbish crisis with giant deodorant guns

High-pressure fragrance sprays will be installed at Asuwei dump, one of several hundred overflowing landfill sites that are the focus of growing public concern image
In pictures: zooming in on Beijing's rubbish

Beijing to sweeten stench of rubbish crisis with giant deodorant guns | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Cap and trade climate solution

Story of bottled water

Sunday 21 March 2010

BBC News - Cliff-edge house hosts last party

The owner of a house on a Scarborough cliff edge has hosted a special dinner as a farewell gesture to the property. Teetering on the edge of Knipe Point in Scarborough, the property is at risk of falling off the cliff as it crumbles. Owner Kane Cunningham invited twelve guests to the bungalow's "last supper" to highlight the perils of climate change.

BBC News - Cliff-edge house hosts last party

Cumbria floods

Local newspaper links

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News & Star | News | Cumbria floods

Volcano erupts near Eyjafjallajoekull in south Iceland

 image An Icelandic volcano, dormant for 200 years, has erupted, ripping a 1km-long fissure in a field of ice.The volcano near Eyjafjallajoekull glacier began to erupt just after midnight, sending lava a hundred metres high. Icelandic airspace has been closed, flights diverted and roads closed. The eruption was about 120km (75 miles) east of the capital, Reykjavik. About 500 people were moved from the area,

BBC News - Volcano erupts near Eyjafjallajoekull in south Iceland

Friday 19 March 2010

BBC News - Online in Brazil's shanty towns

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The internet has created many new opportunities for people to get richer around the world.But are the benefits of access to the net filtering down to the very poorest in society? A shanty town in Brazil is a good place to find out. Babilonia is a favela, a slum district, of about 80,000 inhabitants, most of them very poor. It's located in Brazil's second city Rio de Janeiro, close to the world famous Copacabana beach.

BBC News - Online in Brazil's shanty towns

Film trailer: Dirty Oil | Film | guardian.co.uk

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A film illustrating the devastating impact that tar sands developments in Alberta, Canada are having on the environment and native First Nation communities

Film trailer: Dirty Oil | Film | guardian.co.uk

Tuesday 16 March 2010

UK import emissions are the highest in Europe, figures show

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Britain's demand for imported goods is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions abroad than any other European country, according to a new study published today.

The report shows that 253m tonnes of carbon dioxide are released overseas each year in the manufacture of products bound for UK shores, the equivalent of 4.3 tonnes per person. The average Briton's carbon footprint is 9.7 tonnes, not including emissions from goods.

UK import emissions are the highest in Europe, figures show | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Google Street View - Simon Haughton's Blog

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  • comparing settlements (village/town/city);
  • looking for safe places to cross the road (e.g. zebra/pelican crossings);
  • online treasure hunts (e.g. challenge children to find a particular building);
  • observing architecture on buildings (e.g. cathedrals);
  • identifying naturally-occuring features in the landscape (e.g. meanders, beaches etc.);
  • spotting shapes in the local environment (e.g. road markings/railings/signs etc.);
  • using panoramas as stimuli for story writing.
  • Google Street View - Simon Haughton's Blog

    A Disastrous Year: 2010 Death Toll Already Abnormally High | LiveScience

    In image comparison to previous years, the number of casualties from natural disasters in 2010, which is already well above 200,000, is outside the norm. Yet as in other disastrous years, the high toll this year is due largely to a single event.

    Over the decade from 2000 to the end of 2009, the yearly average was 78,000, according to the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). For the 1990s, the average was 43,000, and the 1980s was 75,000. Disaster experts say the rise in tragedy is at least partly due to increases in urban populations.

    A Disastrous Year: 2010 Death Toll Already Abnormally High | LiveScience

    Sunday 14 March 2010

    How to feed the world

    How to feed the world ? from Denis van Waerebeke on Vimeo.

    NOAA Center for Tsunami Research - Tsunami Event - February 27, 2010 Chile

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    The Chile tsunami was generated by a Mw 8.8 earthquake (35.846°S, 72.719°W ), at 06:34 UTC, 115 km (60 miles) NNE of Concepcion, Chile (according to the USGS). In approximately 3 hours, the tsunami was first recorded at DART® buoy 32412. Forecast results shown below were created with the NOAA forecast method using MOST model with the tsunami source inferred from DART® data. The tsunami waves first arrived at Valparaiso, Chile (approximately 330 km northeast from earthquake epicenter ), at 0708UTC, about 34 minutes after the earthquake.

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    NOAA Center for Tsunami Research - Tsunami Event - February 27, 2010 Chile

    Saturday 13 March 2010

    Google - public data

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    Google - public data

    Deals can be good news when not made behind closed doors | Environment | The Observer

     

    image Land is life for millions of people across the developing world, central to their livelihoods, culture and identity. But there is growing concern that people's connection to their land is being undermined, and especially in Africa, where land is cheapest and where people's rights to land are weakest.Arab, east Asian, European, American and Indian investors are all leasing more and more large tracts of farmland in Africa, which some commentators have dubbed "land grabs" and say herald a new colonialism. However, blanket statements are misleading. Agricultural investments could be good news for Africa, bringing jobs, capital, know-how, access to markets and infrastructure – but only if they are done right.

    Deals can be good news when not made behind closed doors | Environment | The Observer

    The beauty of wind power

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    In pictures: The beauty of wind power | Environment | guardian.co.uk

    Wednesday 10 March 2010

    Know your flood risk: Welcome

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    Know Your Flood Risk is a campaign with a mission to help raise awareness of the issue of flood and encourage practical guidance and support to help protect homeowners and property professionals against the risks.

    Why join the campaign?
    By signing up to the campaign you will join a community of organisations whose goal is to raise awareness of flood information and the potential risks. As a collective voice, Know Your Flood Risk and its members aim to raise the profile of flooding and ensure consumers are not only aware of the risks they face, but also how to mitigate them.

    Know your flood risk: Welcome

    Tuesday 9 March 2010

    BBC News - Mapping the growth of the internet

    Growth of the INTERNET with interactive map from the BBC

    BBC News - Mapping the growth of the internet

    Monday 8 March 2010

    Population and Consumption | EarthTrends

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    The air is full of carbon dioxide and other pollutants;
    The ocean is emptying;
    We have observed record setting harvests over the last few years, and yet chronic hunger persists and has recently been increasing;
    The planet is experiencing the 6th great extinction;
    All of these are the result of human activity.

     

     

     

    Population and Consumption | EarthTrends

    Sunday 7 March 2010

    How food and water are driving a 21st-century African land grab

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    An Observer investigation reveals how rich countries faced by a global food shortage now farm an area double the size of the UK to guarantee supplies for their citizens

    How food and water are driving a 21st-century African land grab | Environment | The Observer

    Monday 1 March 2010

    Fatal storm sweeps through France | World news | guardian.co.uk

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    France was today struggling to cope with its most violent storm for 10 years, as winds of more than 100mph swept through the country, killing at least 40 people and leaving 1m homes without power. Central and western France were worst hit with gales and torrential rain felling trees and causing flooding. At least seven people drowned in villages in the Vendée, while three elderly people and a child were found dead in Charente Maritime around La Rochelle. A man was killed by a falling tree branch in the south-western town of Luchon, where winds reached 90mph. As well as the known casualties, at least five other people were reported missing and dozens others injured. As the storm, known as Xynthia, progressed northwards through France over the weekend, five of the country's 95 departments were placed on red alert for only the second time in the emergency system's history. By this afternoon the alert had been downgraded.

    Fatal storm sweeps through France | World news | guardian.co.uk

    A news report from the event can be seen here:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8541958.stm

    The damage was particularly bad because of a storm surge which broke through inadequate defences:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8544002.stm

    There is more about storm surges here:

    http://dlgb.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/the-november-2007-storm-surge/

    and about the devastating 1953 storm surge here:

    http://dlgb.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/the-1953-storm-surge-what-really-happened/

    The storms are part of a series of strong winter storms which have affected western Europe:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8540762.stm

    Amongst the worst was the one which caused severe damage on the island of Madeira:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8526288.stm

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8527123.stm

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8533149.stm

    MetLink Weather and Climate for Teachers and Schools

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    MetLink is the flagship education portal of the Royal Meteorological Society

    We provide teachers, students, meteorologists and the general public with information about teaching weather and climate, teacher development, climate change and accreditation.

    On this site you will find teaching materials including powerpoint presentations and lesson plans, information about becoming a meteorologist, how to obtain chartered status and many more things. 

    You will also find general information for teaching weather, curriculum links, information about school and junior membership and how to book a "Meteorology Ambassador" to come and talk to your class

    MetLink Weather and Climate for Teachers and Schools

    Saturday 27 February 2010

    Top 3 Scariest Airports in the Caribbean - Google Sightseeing

    What do you get when you mix fast heavy planes with small island airports? A hair-raising final approach! Let’s take a look at three scariest airports to fly into in the Caribbean.

    Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten (SXM)Passengers arriving into Princess Juliana often fly just a few metres over the head of sunbathers below on Maho Beach. The combination of screaming jet aircraft and beautiful tropical scenery in such close proximity make this airport a mecca for the world’s plane spotters. In fact, check out this video showing the arrival of a 747, shot by yours truly on a 2004 trip.

    St Maarten Video showing the arrival of a 747 at St Maarten

    Arrival isn’t the only exciting part of this airport either; departing aircraft must make an immediate right hand turn to avoid flying directly into the 317 m St. Peter Hill. At the same time, the departing planes blow a massive amount of jet blast back onto Maho Beach – so strong is the blast that it can cause you and your belongings to be blown right into the water if you’re not careful.

    Maho Beach

    Top 3 Scariest Airports in the Caribbean - Google Sightseeing

    Giant Antarctic iceberg could affect global ocean circulation | Environment | guardian.co.uk

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    An iceberg the size of Luxembourg that contains enough fresh water to supply a third of the world's population for a year has broken off in the Antarctic continent, with possible implications for global ocean circulation, scientists said today.

    The iceberg, measuring about 50 miles by 25, broke away from the Mertz glacier around 2,000 miles south of Australia after being rammed by another giant iceberg known as B-9B three weeks ago, satellite images reveal. The two icebergs, which both weigh more than 700m tons, are now drifting close together about 100 miles north of Antarctica.

    Giant Antarctic iceberg could affect global ocean circulation | Environment | guardian.co.uk

    Thursday 25 February 2010

    Wednesday 24 February 2010

    BBC NEWS | UK | Mapping migration from the new EU countries

    Eveimage ry local authority in the UK has seen migration from the eight Eastern European countries that joined the EU in May 2004, a report from the Institute of Public Policy Research has revealed.The pattern of migration has been unlike previous significant influxes because about half of those who came have already left the country, according to IPPR estimates. Use the maps below to explore where migrant workers went and how many are estimated to still be in the UK.

    BBC NEWS | UK | Mapping migration from the new EU countries

    Monday 22 February 2010

    BBC News - Panorama - Palm oil products and the weekly shop

    image In researching Dying for a Biscuit, Panorama asked the makers of the top selling products containing palm oil and the major supermarket chains about their palm oil use. We also requested information on how they sourced their palm oil and whether or not they participate in the GreenPalm trading scheme, aimed at encouraging growers to produce more sustainable oil.

    BBC News - Panorama - Palm oil products and the weekly shop

    Sunday 21 February 2010

    Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees : UK map : Mapping the UK

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    Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees : UK map : Mapping the UK

    Greenwich Millennium Village - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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    The Greenwich Millennium Village (GMV) is an innovative mixed-tenure modern housing estate on an urban village model located on the Greenwich Peninsula in Greenwich in south-east London, and part of the Millennium Communities Programme under English Partnerships (now renamed Homes and Communities Agency). The village is designed by architects Ralph Erskine and partners with EPR Architects Ltd as executive architect as part of the regeneration of the whole brownfield site of Greenwich Peninsula former town gas works. GMV is south of the former Millennium Dome, now renamed the O2.

    The village on the southern banks of the Thames, about one mile upstream from the Thames Barrier and adjacent to its own purpose-built Ecology Park, cycle paths and recreational areas. The village currently has the Millennium Primary School and a medical GP surgery. Next to the complex, at Peartree Wharf, is the Greenwich Yacht Club, a modern building provided by English Partnerships.

    The Village is being developed by a consortium of Countryside Properties and Taylor Wimpey. The housing is of modern, environmentally-friendly design, and the development aims to cut primary energy use by 80% using low-energy building techniques and renewable energy technologies. GMV is planned by the developers to continue to expand until about 2015, with its own integrated village shopping and community centres. As of 2008, 1,095 homes and a village square with shops have been completed.

    BBC video and text report about GMV

    English Partnerships (2008)

    Greenwich Yacht Club

    Pictures of Greenwich Millennium Village

    http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/gmv.htm 

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    Greenwich Millennium Village - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia