Kingdown Geography Blog

Data | The World Bank

2010-04-21T20:31:00.001Z

"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

2010-04-21T20:13:00.001Z

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!

2010-04-21T20:11:00.001Z

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

2010-04-21T20:06:00.000Z

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

2010-04-21T20:05:00.000Z

Eyjafjallajökull - You're doing it wrong!

2010-04-21T20:04:00.000Z

National carbon calculator

2010-04-21T19:59:00.001Z

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

General election 2010: what's really happening to immigration? | News | guardian.co.uk

2010-04-12T18:17:00.001Z

General election 2010: what's really happening to immigration? | News | guardian.co.uk

Online Stopwatch

2010-04-12T18:15:00.001Z

Online Stopwatch

timer

Timer using CLOCK

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

2010-04-11T19:30:00.001Z

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

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

Progress: A Graphical Report on the State of the World

2010-04-07T21:02:00.001Z

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

Biodiversity

2010-04-06T19:13:00.001Z

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

2010-04-06T19:08:00.001Z

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?

The Great Barrier Reef scandal | World news | The Guardian

BBC report

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

2010-04-05T19:31:00.001Z

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

Reykjavik Iceland Volcano Webcams

2010-04-04T18:51:00.001Z

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. 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:

Reykjavik Excursions

Icelandic Mountain Guides

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

Webcam 1 of Eyjafjallajokull

Webcam 2 of Eyjafjallajokull

Webcam 3 of Eyjafjallajokul l
(english version by Vodafone)

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

Toads able to detect earthquake days beforehand.

2010-04-03T19:28:00.001Z

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

2010-04-03T19:19:00.001Z

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

2010-04-03T19:14:00.001Z

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

CoalFinger - Home

2010-04-03T18:38:00.001Z

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

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

2010-03-31T19:30:00.001Z

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

One Laptop per Child (OLPC)

2010-03-30T17:10:00.001Z

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

'We can't save the planet'

2010-03-30T17:07:00.001Z

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?

2010-03-30T17:02:00.001Z

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

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

2010-03-28T18:29:00.001Z

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

2010-03-28T18:25:00.001Z

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
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

2010-03-28T17:47:00.002Z

Story of bottled water

2010-03-28T16:13:00.001Z

BBC News - Cliff-edge house hosts last party

2010-03-21T19:56:00.001Z

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

2010-03-21T19:52:00.001Z

Local newspaper links

News & Star | News | Cumbria floods

Volcano erupts near Eyjafjallajoekull in south Iceland

2010-03-21T19:41:00.001Z

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

BBC News - Online in Brazil's shanty towns

2010-03-19T22:19:00.001Z

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

2010-03-19T22:04:00.001Z

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

UK import emissions are the highest in Europe, figures show

2010-03-16T18:31:00.001Z

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

2010-03-16T18:22:00.001Z

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

2010-03-16T18:20:00.001Z

In 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

How to feed the world

2010-03-14T11:02:00.000Z

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

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

2010-03-14T10:59:00.001Z

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.

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

Google - public data

2010-03-13T19:36:00.001Z

Google - public data

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

2010-03-13T14:29:00.001Z

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

2010-03-13T14:27:00.001Z

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

Know your flood risk: Welcome

2010-03-10T21:54:00.001Z

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

BBC News - Mapping the growth of the internet

2010-03-09T17:30:00.001Z

Growth of the INTERNET with interactive map from the BBC

BBC News - Mapping the growth of the internet

Population and Consumption | EarthTrends

2010-03-08T21:49:00.001Z

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

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

2010-03-07T20:26:00.001Z

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

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

2010-03-01T20:55:00.001Z

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

2010-03-01T20:51:00.001Z

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

Top 3 Scariest Airports in the Caribbean - Google Sightseeing

2010-02-27T12:16:00.001Z

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.

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.

Top 3 Scariest Airports in the Caribbean - Google Sightseeing

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

2010-02-27T12:13:00.001Z

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

UK export and import in 2009: top products and trading partners | News | guardian.co.uk

2010-02-25T21:18:00.001Z

Which products does does the UK export, and where does it export them to?

UK export and import in 2009: top products and trading partners | News | guardian.co.uk

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

2010-02-24T18:48:00.001Z

Eve 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

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

2010-02-22T21:03:00.001Z

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

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

2010-02-21T19:19:00.001Z

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

Greenwich Millennium Village - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2010-02-21T18:25:00.001Z

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

Greenwich Millennium Village - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Royal Docks - development update

2010-02-21T18:10:00.001Z

We outline here the principal developments in the Royal Docks since the demise of the LDDC in 1998, including projects completed and those in the pipeline. Also described are the transport schemes on which the successful regeneration of the area depends. For earlier developments visit our Royal Docks History Page. For useful Regeneration links and contacts - click here

http://www.westsilvertownfoundation.org.uk/

Royal Docks - development update

Madeira Mudslides: British Woman Missing As Death Toll Rises To 38 Following Flooding | World News | Sky News

2010-02-21T17:06:00.001Z

Sky News VIDEO

Madeira Mudslides: British Woman Missing As Death Toll Rises To 38 Following Flooding | World News | Sky News

Portugal rushes aid to Madeira after deadly floods

2010-02-21T16:48:00.001Z

The Portuguese military has sent specialist rescue teams to the island of Madeira, where at least 40 people are known to have died in rainstorms.Tonnes of mud and stones were brought down the slopes of the island, flooding the streets of the regional capital, Funchal, and other towns. Officials fear the death toll could rise. Water, power and phones were cut in some areas. PM Jose Socrates, who is in Madeira, said he would "do everything to help".

BBC News - Portugal rushes aid to Madeira after deadly floods

Southern Italian landslide caught on video

2010-02-17T16:23:00.001Z

About 200 residents have been evacuated from their homes after a landslide split a hillside apart in the southern Italian town of Maierato.

The landslide, which caused power failure, could have been caused by heavy rains in the region, initial reports say.

BBC News - Southern Italian landslide caught on video

European Commission - Humanitarian Aid

2010-02-06T16:33:00.001Z

The European Union’ mandate to ECHO [Regulation (CE) n° 1257/96] is to provide emergency assistance and relief to the victims of natural disasters or armed conflict outside the European Union. The aid is intended to go directly to those in distress, irrespective of race, religion or political convictions.

ECHO’s task is to ensure goods and services get to crisis zones fast. Goods may include essential supplies, specific foodstuffs, medical equipment, medicines and fuel. Services may include medical teams, water purification teams and logistical support. Goods and services reach disaster areas via ECHO partners.
Since 1992, ECHO has funded humanitarian aid in crisis zones of more than 85 countries via its partners. Its grants cover emergency aid, food aid and aid to refugees and displaced persons worth a total of more than €700 million per year.

European Commission - Humanitarian Aid

Encounters at the End of the World - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2010-02-06T09:29:00.001Z

Encounters at the End of the World is a documentary film by Werner Herzog completed in 2007. The film studies people and places in Antarctica. The film was released in North America on June 11, 2008, and distributed by THINKFilm.^[2]

Encounters at the End of the World - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Camfed | Where the Water Meets the Sky | Home | Play the trailer

2010-02-06T07:51:00.001Z

Camfed Presents Where the Water Meets the Sky
A film narrated by Morgan Freeman. Read more, Visit the Press roomWhere the Water Meets the Sky is the inspiring story of a group of women in rural Zambia who learn how to make a film as a way to speak out about their lives. Produced in partnership with Camfed, all funds raised through the film will support Camfed’s work to educate girls and invest in economic and leadership opportunities for young women in Africa.

Camfed | Where the Water Meets the Sky | Home | Play the trailer

The Cocoa Plan - Nestlé

2010-02-05T18:43:00.001Z

The Cocoa Plan - Nestlé

Fair Miles: Recharting the food miles map :: Oxfam GB

2010-02-05T18:19:00.001Z

To day’s food is well travelled. A pack of green beans in a Northern supermarket may have journeyed 6000 miles, or 60. But while food miles loom large in our carbon-aware times, transporting it counts for less than you might think. And there is a far bigger picture. Food is more than a plateful of emissions.It’s a social, political and economic issue that involves millions of small farmers in poor countries who export produce to the North. They have built lives and livelihoods around this trade. By buying what they grow, you’ve clocked up ‘fair miles’.This pocketbook delves into the realities of the produce trade between Africa and the UK, examining both sides of the equation in search of a diet that is ethically, as well as nutritionally, balanced.

Fair Miles: Recharting the food miles map :: Oxfam GB

Recovering a Future

2010-01-29T18:49:00.001Z

Five years ago Since the tsunami struck on Boxing Day 2004, the British Red Cross has rebuilt entire communities from scratch, and rebuilt them stronger. Faced with many challenges and difficult decisions, the British Red Cross has left communities better able to cope with future disasters that may hit.

Recovering a Future

About Us « PlayPumps International

2010-01-26T18:32:00.001Z

T he mission of PlayPumps International – U.S. (PPI) is to help improve the lives of children and their families by providing easy access to clean drinking water, enhancing public health, and offering play equipment to millions across Africa.PPI was created to fund new innovations for improving access to safe water in rural communities in Africa. Since its creation, the powerful appeal of the “play and pump” idea, together with compelling images of children at play on our equipment, has contributed greatly to increased awareness of the water crisis. There are now many new organizations working to solve that crisis, and many new technologies that have been introduced to bring clean water to communities.

About Us « PlayPumps International

10x10 / 100 Words and pictures

2010-01-26T18:29:00.001Z

Process.Every hour, 10x10 scans the RSS feeds of several leading international news sources, and performs an elaborate process of weighted linguistic analysis on the text contained in their top news stories. After this process, conclusions are automatically drawn about the hour's most important words. The top 100 words are chosen, along with 100 corresponding images, culled from the source news stories. At the end of each day, month, and year, 10x10 looks back through its archives to conclude the top 100 words for the given time period. In this way, a constantly evolving record of our world is formed, based on prominent world events, without any human input.

10x10 / 100 Words and Pictures that Define the Time / by Jonathan J. Harris

cooltoolsforschools - home

2010-01-26T18:27:00.001Z

wiki gathers together a huge range of tools that geographers should embrace.

cooltoolsforschools - home

Impossible hamster club

2010-01-25T20:30:00.000Z

100 Ways to Save the Environment

2010-01-22T22:06:00.001Z

100 Ways to Save the Environment

WorldWaterWorks

2010-01-18T18:37:00.001Z

The Water Survival Box is a rigid, reinforced 54 litre plastic container that becomes a receptacle for water when emptied of survival items, it includes a filtration pack including chlorine tablets – enough for family of 4 for some 4 months, plus essential survival items, as well as a basic shelter – via tarpaulin sheet.It is a fully paid for product full of new items and does not need filling by external organisations. The new items will be tailored to suit the disaster locations. The cost of a survival box Box is £150.
Purchases can be made online and we would appreciate your support.
WorldWaterWorks is managed by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge.

WorldWaterWorks

Getting Ready for APP In History and Geography

2010-01-16T20:24:00.001Z

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Getting Ready for APP In History and Geography

View more presentations from D Drake.

Climate 4 Classrooms

2010-01-12T20:58:00.001Z

Free t eaching resources on climate change for students aged 11+ years. The latest climate science and predictions from climate experts. Special focus on national futures in China, Indonesia, Mexico and the UK.

Climate 4 Classrooms

Frozen Britain

2010-01-08T17:52:00.001Z

BBC NEWS | Special Reports | Frozen Britain

BBC News - Frozen Britain seen from above

2010-01-07T20:36:00.001Z

BBC News - Frozen Britain seen from above

Defra, UK - Food and Farming - Food - Strategy

2010-01-05T19:13:00.001Z

Food 2030, the Government’s new food strategy, is the first of its kind in over 50 years. In it we set out our vision of what we want the food system to look like in 2030, and how we can get there.

January 2010: Hilary Benn launches Food 2030. Government has published a number of documents:

Food 2030 strategy (PDF 2.9 MB)

Food 2030 summary (PDF 1.9 MB)

Indicators for a sustainable food system

The 2007/08 agriculture price spikes

UK Cross-Government Food Research and Innovation Strategy

Defra, UK - Food and Farming - Food - Strategy

iGuess | Introducing GIS Use in Education in Several Subjects

2010-01-04T22:21:00.001Z

iGuess is a EU-funded project that aims at developing a teacher training course to promote GIS and instruct teachers in using it. Using GIS in class or in an extracurricular way will produce new, innovative approaches of teaching

iGuess | Introducing GIS Use in Education in Several Subjects

Will it Rain Today? | Rain radar for the UK | Going to rain? | Meteogroup

2010-01-04T22:19:00.001Z

Will it Rain Toda y? | Rain radar for the UK | Going to rain? | Meteogroup

Carbon Footprints of Nations | NTNU

2010-01-04T22:08:00.001Z

Carbon Footprints of Nations | NTNU

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

2010-01-01T18:39:00.001Z

This web site is part of an academic, open, community-based project. It is dedicated in collecting and presenting data which are exploited in research areas, such as:
- Study of marine telecommunications in respect of efficiency and propagation parameters
- Simulation of vessel movements in order to contribute to the safety of navigation and to cope with critical incidents
- Interactive information systems design
- Design of databases providing real-time information
- Statistical processing of ports traffic with applications in operational research
- Design of models for the spotting of the origin of a pollution
- Design of efficient algorithms for sea path evaluation and for determining the estimated time of ship arrivals
- Correlation of the collected information with weather data
- Cooperation with Institutes dedicated in the protection of the environment
It provides free real-time information to the public, about ship movements and ports, mainly across the coast-lines of Europe and N.America.

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

WWF Climate Posters

2009-12-30T18:11:00.001Z

WWF Climate Posters

Environment Cartoons: a large selection of cartoons on the subject

2009-12-30T15:43:00.001Z

Environment Cartoons

Global Warming Cartoons

Carbon Footprint Cartoons

Cartoons Featuring Globes

Consumerism Cartoons

Transport Cartoons

Fuel and Power Supply Cartoons

Pollution Cartoons

Water Cartoons

Floods and Flooding Cartoons

Deforestation and Rainforest Cartoons

Wildlife Cartoons

Gardening Cartoons

Food and Food Production Cartoons

Trees as Symbols Cartoons

Environment Cartoons: a large selection of cartoons on the subject

Map of the World

2009-12-28T18:29:00.001Z

CUSTOMISE a world map

Map of the World

Why Britain faces a bleak future of food shortages

2009-12-16T18:54:00.001Z

Britain faces a 'perfect storm' of water shortage and lack of food, says the government's chief scientist, and climate change and crop and animal diseases will add to future woes. Science is now striving to find solutions

Why Britain faces a bleak future of food shortages | Science | The Observer

Water Conflict Chronology Map

2009-12-16T18:51:00.001Z

Water Conflict Chronology Map

Weather satellite images

2009-12-14T19:23:00.001Z

Sat24.com provides realtime satellite images. The images provide an excellent view on the clouds in the sky and an indication of the meteo weather over the European continent.

The website provides for a specific zoom for countries and regions like France , Germany , Netherlands , Spain , Sweden and Scandinavia, the UK , Italia , Greece , etc.

http://www.sat24.com/gb

Ant Veal's GreatWeather for UK weather forecasts, satellite pictures, rainfall radar, weather charts and webcams

2009-12-14T19:21:00.001Z

Ant Veal's GreatWeather for UK weather forecasts, satellite pictures, rainfall radar, weather charts and webcams

1st World Ranking of Clean Energy Technology (CET) Sales — CET to Become 3rd Largest Global Sales Sector by 2020 : CleanTechnica

2009-12-13T20:31:00.001Z

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) just released a comprehensive global report, and the first country by country ranking, of clean energy technology sales.

The clean energy sector is on the verge of becoming the third largest sector in the world now. The report — Clean Economy, Living Planet - Building Strong Clean Energy Technology Industries — finds that Denmark is currently the leading country in clean energy sales (relative to GDP), Brazil is second and Germany is third (the top three in absolute terms are Germany, the US and Japan).

1st World Ranking of Clean Energy Technology (CET) Sales — CET to Become 3rd Largest Global Sales Sector by 2020 : CleanTechnica

Interactive: Voices from the edge of climate change

2009-12-13T20:27:00.001Z

Thousands of negotiators, politicians and activists are discussing the climate change deal in Copenhagen this week - but what about those already at the sharp end? Click on the individuals to read their stories with stunning images

Interactive: Voices from the edge of climate change | Environment | guardian.co.uk

China struggles to treat youth net addicts

2009-12-13T20:22:00.001Z

After Li Congcong’s parents stopped him going to an internet café, the 17-year-old poured pesticide into some cabbage soup. His mother and father were dead within hours after lunch. Mr Li will be more than 30 when he is released from prison.

His story is just one of 30 chilling tales told in Who Took Our Children?, a documentary that recently started showing in Jiyuan, Mr Li’s hometown in the central Chinese province of Henan.

FT.com / China / Society & People - China struggles to treat youth net addicts

Why Britain faces a bleak future of food shortages | Science | The Observer

2009-12-13T20:06:00.001Z

Why Britain faces a bleak future of food shortages | Science | The Observer

'Rare earth'

2009-12-10T21:54:00.001Z

Could a shortage of mud and minerals, essential to low carbon technologies, curtail the world's plans for a green future?The key to a low carbon future is not negotiations in Copenhagen but mud and minerals in China. All low carbon technologies, from wind turbines to electric cars and low energy lightbulbs, use elements known as 'rare earths'. And 95 per cent of these are found in China. Earlier this year the Chinese decided to restrict export of these essential metals and minerals and now a shortage is predicted which could effect the development of green technologies.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/paulmason/2009/11/rare_earth_the_new_great_game.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8097845.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/8097931.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8366694.stm

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/aposrare+earthapos+shortage+threatens+green+revolution/3451837

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/rare+earth+shortage+threatens+green+revolution/3451837

'Rare earth' shortage threatens green revolution - Channel 4 News

This decade 'warmest on record'

2009-12-08T22:29:00.001Z

BBC News - This decade 'warmest on record'

Met Office figures confirm noughties as warmest decade in recorded history | Environment | guardian.co.uk

2009-12-08T21:04:00.002Z

The past 10 years have been the warmest in recorded history, according to the UK Met Office.

Figures released today at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen show that despite 1998 being the warmest year on record, the noughties has been the warmest decade recorded in 160 years.

The Met Office also released the raw data from around 1,500 global monitoring stations in an effort to satisfy critics who have demanded that researchers be more transparent with their data in the wake of the email hacking row at the University of East Anglia.

Met Office figures confirm noughties as warmest decade in recorded history | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Big break for Fairtrade as Kit Kat receives certification | Environment | The Guardian

2009-12-07T21:19:00.001Z

The UK's best-selling chocolate biscuit bar, Kit Kat, is to receive ethical certification through the Fairtrade quality mark, it will be announced today.

After lengthy talks between the UK arm of the Swiss food giant Nestlé and the Fairtrade Foundation, the familiar blue and green logo will appear on the wrappers of Kit Kats in the UK and Ireland from January. Initially the certification will only apply to the larger four-finger Kit Kats but it will be extended to the smaller bars.

Big break for Fairtrade as Kit Kat receives certification | Environment | The Guardian

The arguments made by climate change sceptics

2009-12-07T21:09:00.001Z

A t the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, 192 governments are aiming for a new global agreement to constrain greenhouse gas emissions and curb human-induced climate change.

But some commentators are unconvinced that rising greenhouse gas emissions are the cause of modern-day warming. Or they say the world is not actually getting warmer - or that a new treaty would hurt economic growth and well-being.

So what are their arguments, and how are they countered by scientists who assert that greenhouse gases, produced by human activity, are the cause of modern-day climate change?

BBC News - The arguments made by climate change sceptics

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

2009-12-06T16:08:00.001Z

In response to the urgent and pressing global call for sustainably produced palm oil, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was formed in 2004 with the objective of promoting the growth and use of sustainable oil palm products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders.
The seat of the association is in Zurich, Switzerland, while the secretariat is currently based in Kuala Lumpur with a satellite office in Jakarta.
RSPO is a not-for-profit association that unites stakeholders from seven sectors of the palm oil industry - oil palm producers, palm oil processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation NGOs and social or developmental NGOs - to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

Copenhagen summit: How climate change will shape these lives | Environment | The Observer

2009-12-06T16:04:00.001Z

These five babies, all born in the last month, will face different challenges on different continents as they grow up, but they have one thing in common, writes Robin McKie. Their fate as adults will be dominated by the shifting weather patterns their parents are starting to confront

Copenhagen summit: How climate change will shape these lives | Environment | The Observer

Copenhagen

2009-12-06T15:57:00.000Z

Key Players
IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was established by the UN in 1988 to provide authoritative assessments of the latest climate change science. Its reports, which are compiled and reviewed by thousands of leading scientists, have provided the basis for international efforts to combat global warming by reducing carbon emissions. The IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, but critics claim that the panel's structure and origins predispose it to blame global warming on man's actions.

UNFCCC
More than 190 counties have now signed up to the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty drawn up at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The agreement, which laid the ground for legally-binding targets adopted in Kyoto five years later, has also given rise to a permanent UN body of the same name, which coordinates countries' efforts to reduce emissions.

G77
An alliance of 130 developing nations including China and India. The G77 lobbies for the developed world to accept a greater share of the burden for fighting climate change, arguing that strict emission restrictions will hamper the economic growth of poorer nations. It has threatened to scupper any deal at Copenhagen unless the US agrees to meet tough CO2 targets.

LDCF
The Least Developed Countries Fund provides financial support for countries – mainly in Africa – that are deemed most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. It funds projects to help communities to adapt to threats such as flooding

MEF
Britain is one of 17 members of the Major Economies Forum, a group of the world's largest polluters established by President Barack Obama earlier this year. Intended to foster discussions rather than produce firm agreements, its first communiqué in July offered little policy detail.

Copenhagen climate change conference 2009: timeline

2009-12-06T15:56:00.001Z

Copenhagen climate change conference 2009: timeline - Telegraph

Owning The Weather

2009-12-06T15:54:00.001Z

Owning The Weather

Global Flood Map

2009-12-06T15:18:00.001Z

Use the interactive map by entering in any number of inches – the map will show what areas would be flooded or at risk and the left side bar will display the number of people displaced. Click on individual points for current elevation, elevation after sea level rise, and the number and percentage of people losing homes. Global Flood Map uses NASA satellite data to show the areas of the world under water and at risk for flooding if ocean levels rise. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), sea levels have been rising about 3 mm per year since 1993 – totaling a 200 mm increase (7.87 inches) in global averaged sea level since 1870.

Global Flood Map | World Wide Map of Potential Flooding