An infestation of rats is creating severe food shortages in the impoverished Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh, close to the borders of India and Burma.
Sunday, 23 March 2008
How the myth of food miles hurts the planet
Ethical shopping just got more complicated. The idea that only local produce is good is under attack. There is growing evidence to suggest that some air-freighted food is greener than food produced in the UK.
How the myth of food miles hurts the planet | Environment | The Observer
Saturday, 22 March 2008
A Graphic Look at the State of the World - Earth Web Site
- Global Ecology
Climate change, pollution, and deforestation are creating never before seen changes in Earth's living systems -- including a species extinction rate that is the highest in the planet's history. Learn about these changes, what's causing them, and what's likely to happen in the future. - Energy Supply
Modern civilization is dependent upon cheap and reliable fossil fuel energy. Learn where energy resources are located around the world, who uses them, how long they are likely to last, and which regions consume the most energy (and emit the most C02) per person. - Fresh Water
Only 2.5% of the world's water is fresh, and around 70% of fresh water is frozen in ice and permafrost. Find out what's happening to the remaining 0.75% of the world's water on which terrestrial life depends. - Development and Debt
How onerous are the debt burdens of poorer countries? Is loan based development effective? Are multilateral financial institutions (IMF and World Bank) helping or hindering sustainable development? Are poor countries catching up to rich ones? A brief series of graphs helps answer these questions. - Weapons
Charts and text on weapons spending, military manpower, nuclear arsenals, Depleted Uranium, and national arms exports (which countries produce most of the world's weapons).
- Human Conditions
Clear, factual information on the state of the world's people -- population, health, poverty, access to water and food, life expectancy, and the condition of cultural diversity worldwide. - Fishing and Aquaculture
Learn where the world's fish stocks are concentrated, which regions consume the most wild and farmed fish, how fish is used, what countries claim as Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), and how heavily the world's fish stocks are being exploited. - Food and Soil
Farming techniques have changed dramatically in the past 100 years as increasing population and consumption put pressure on the world's food supply. Learn how these changes have effected the planet's soil, how food is supply is related to fossil fuels, and more. - Toxic Pollution
Learn about the history of toxic chemicals (including PCBs, DDT, Dioxin, PBDE, Lead, and Mercury), contamination levels, safety testing, and correlations between lead contamination levels and income in the United States. - Wealth
Over the past decades, wealth has become more concentrated worldwide, and the gap between rich and poor has widened. This page illustrates the distribution of wealth within countries, between countries, and between countries and large corporations.
A Graphic Look at the State of the World - Earth Web Site
Sunday, 16 March 2008
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Monday, 10 March 2008
With help from you, we can reduce CO2 | ACT ON C02
All cars on the road today contribute to climate change because their engines burn fuel and therefore produce carbon dioxide (CO2) every time we drive. Yet you can easily reduce these emissions and save money too. By following a few simple tips and suggestions you can reduce your engine's workload, which means it will burn less fuel and produce less CO2.
With help from you, we can reduce CO2 | ACT ON C02
Sunday, 9 March 2008
Urban Age | Welcome
New York. Shanghai. London. Mexico City. Johannesburg. Berlin. Mumbai. São Paulo. Istanbul. These cities will provide the testing ground for our urban future.
The late 20th Century was the age of economic globalisation. The first part of the 21st Century will be the age of the city, the ‘Urban Age.’ For the first time in the history of humanity, more than half of the earth’s population lives in an urban area. In China, India, Africa, and Latin America, urban populations are exploding and cities are growing exponentially. At the same time, many developed cities are shrinking and being radically restructured as a result of shifting economic bases and new patterns of migration. With investment in urban real estate, infrastructure and renovation becoming the driving force behind economic growth, the physical and social landscapes of the city are being powerfully altered.
Urban Age | Welcome
Two time zones 'to save SA power'
South Africa could be split into two time zones to ease a crippling energy crisis, a top official has said.This would stagger peak demand across the country, the director of public enterprise told parliament. Portia Molefe said the move could lead to an energy saving of about 200 MW but that the idea needed further study. Last month Minerals and Energy Minister Bujelwa Sonjica said South Africans should consider going to bed early to save electricity.
BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Two time zones 'to save SA power'
City of the future
It is one of the most seismic changes the world has ever seen. Across the globe there is an unstoppable march to the cities, powered by new economic realities. But what kind of lives are we creating? And will citizens - and cities - cope with the fierce pressures of this new urban age?
Deyan Sudjic on the city of the future | Art & Architecture | guardian.co.uk Arts
Locals driven out in the hunt for rural retreats
More than 300,000 Britons own second homes and in some areas they have forced prices so high that local people cannot afford to buy. As the search for affordable housing becomes more acute, Lisa Bachelor speaks to those affected by the housing crisis in the British countryside
Locals driven out in the hunt for rural retreats | UK news | The Observer
Friday, 7 March 2008
Monday, 3 March 2008
India to pay poor families to bring up girls
The Indian government today announced a scheme to pay poor families to give birth to and bring up girls in an attempt to stop families nationwide aborting an estimated half a million female foetuses a year.
Families in seven states are set to benefit from cash payments amounting to 15,500 rupees (£193) to keep and bring up their female children.
India to pay poor families to bring up girls | World news | guardian.co.uk
Poverty 'blights 1m rural homes'
Almost one million households in rural England live in poverty, a study says.The report, by the government's rural advocate, Stuart Burgess, says many people living and working in the countryside have prosperous lifestyles.
VIDEO CLIP Problems facing people in rural areas
PDF of report "Tackling Rural disadvantage"
LINK to The problem with rural Britain
BBC NEWS England Poverty 'blights 1m rural homes'
Saturday, 1 March 2008
Provinces pay price for green Olympics | World news | The Guardian
Millions of gallons of water are being diverted to Beijing from areas hit by drought
Provinces pay price for green Olympics | World news | The Guardian
Friday, 29 February 2008
China considers ending one-child policy
China could scrap its one-child policy, a senior family planning official said today, acknowledging concerns about its effects in creating an ageing society and gender gap.
China considers ending one-child policy | World news | guardian.co.uk
Immigration points system begins
The government has launched the first stage of a new points-based system for migrants from outside the EU.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
UK earthquake: town-by-town statistics - Telegraph
This is the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program's statistics for the earthquake that hit Britain at 00:55am, February 27 2008. The average distance is taken from the epicentre of the quake, near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. The average intensity is on a scale of one to ten, with one not felt and ten "extreme" and causing very heavy damage to buildings. The highest intensity in the Market Resen quake was VI, which represents strong shaking and light damage. Intensities below four are usually not associated with damage.A total of 7872 reports from members of the public were received, mainly in Britain but some in Belgium.
UK earthquake: town-by-town statistics - Telegraph
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Stats4Schools
Statistics paint a picture of who we are, where we live, and what we do. They help people, firms and government make choices which shape our lives.
stats4schools is about helping teachers and pupils to get more from statistics. For pupils, we have datasets you can download and include in your own projects, free of charge. For teachers, we have lesson plans and worksheets, which you are free to download and use in class.
stats4schools is managed by the independent Office for National Statistics, and includes data from across government.
Link to Stats4Schools > Homepage
earth album alpha - a slicker google maps + flickr mash-up
Earth album is a simpler, slicker Flickr mash-up that allows you to explore some of the most stunning photos in the world courtesy of Google maps and Flickr. To begin your journey, just click somewhere on the map, e.g. "India". Note-- since the top Flickr images are used, the images change every few weeks; bookmark this site and check back for a different experience in a month!
earth album alpha - a slicker google maps + flickr mash-up
myabodo : see your world change
this is an interactive game that lets you shape a house to suit you. Change your stuff and see how it shapes the climate.
myabodo : see your world change
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Map pinpoints disease 'hotspots'
A detailed map highlighting the world's hotspots for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) has been released.
Link to BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Map pinpoints disease 'hotspots'
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
How its economic miracle has not helped the peasants living in Stone Age poverty
China has swept to economic might on the back of a political system which resembles no other on earth.
Link to China: How its economic miracle has not helped the peasants living in Stone Age poverty | the Daily Mail
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Trial and error - the war on malaria
It is the world's deadliest disease, killing more than 900,000 a year in Africa alone. But can Bill Gates's dollars create a vaccine that would save a continent's children?
Link to Trial and error - the war on malaria | Science | The Observer
Beijing petrol stations to close
China is closing 10% of Beijing's petrol stations to improve air quality ahead of the Olympics in August.By the end of May, 144 will shut because they are not expected to meet higher environmental standards, according to state media.
Link to BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Beijing petrol stations to close
Friday, 15 February 2008
Spotlight on Lagos poverty crisis
We have report from Lagos in Nigeria on how the city's spiralling population has increased the numbers living in slums. Formerly the capital of Nigeria, Lagos's uncontrolled population growth has made one of the world's largest cities one of the world's largest slums.
CLICK ON Watch the report
Link to Channel 4 - News - Spotlight on Lagos poverty crisis
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Water profile of Sierra Leone - Encyclopedia of Earth
Water information by country
Link to Water profile of Sierra Leone - Encyclopedia of Earth
Ethical Insight
Link to Ethical Insight | Latest issue: 83, 31 Jan 2008 - 13 Feb 2008
Webcam in the forest
A World Land Trust initiative is putting a webcam in the Ecuadorian rainforest to keep an eye on the many endangered species, using the internet as a tool for conservation.
The project has been set up in the Fundación Jocotoco Buenaventura Reserve in south-west Ecuador, and it has taken six months to install the equipment and establish a satellite connection for the feed.
The trust wants to plant half a million trees on the reserve in the next three years. It employs 20 local people full-time to work in the reserve, which has won recognition from the national government and is run entirely by Ecuadorian nationals. Altogether, the WLT has bought up eight reserves in the Ecuadorian region in partnership with the Fundación Jocotoco.
Fundación Jocotoco is an Ecuadorian organisation established to protect areas of critical importance to the conservation of Ecuador's 1,600 birds species - about 17% of the world's total, and almost as many as neighbouring Colombia and Peru, both of which are countries about five times as large.
Link to - The WEB CAM
Link to Webcam in the forest | Climate Change | Guardian Unlimited
Has the congestion charge been effective in reducing London's traffic?
Ken Livingstone yesterday announced the most wide-ranging shake-up of the London congestion charge in its controversial history. The capital's Mayor is proposing that the daily fee, which next week marks its fifth anniversary, would more than triple to £25 for gas-guzzling vehicles. Meanwhile, the levy could be scrapped altogether for the most environment-friendly vehicles.
Link to The Big Question: Has the congestion charge been effective in reducing London's traffic? - Home News, UK - Independent.co.uk
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Stats4Schools
Statistics paint a picture of who we are, where we live, and what we do. They help people, firms and government make choices which shape our lives.
stats4schools is about helping teachers and pupils to get more from statistics. For pupils, we have datasets you can download and include in your own projects, free of charge. For teachers, we have lesson plans and worksheets, which you are free to download and use in class.
stats4schools is managed by the independent Office for National Statistics, and includes data from across government.
Link to Stats4Schools > Homepage
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP)
The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) provides scenarios that show how our climate might change and co-ordinates research on dealing with our future climate.
Link to UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP)
'leave it off'
Britons are being asked to "leave it off" later this month, to show that cutting home energy use can have an impact on climate change.During E-Day, which begins on 27 February, people will be asked to switch off electrical items not in use.
Link to BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | UK homes urged to 'leave it off'
Monday, 4 February 2008
Volcano Images
Maurice and Katia Kraft site... some excellent images and short film clips
Link to Au rythme des volcans
Sunday, 3 February 2008
How to survive hazards when you are on holiday!
CLICK on a label to find out how to survive the various hazards
Link to Education for Geo-Hazards - How to survive hazards when you are on holiday!
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
UK paying for 'migrant baby boom'
The NHS is spending £350m a year to provide maternity services for foreign-born mothers, £200m more than a decade ago, the BBC has found.Immigration has raised the birth rate so fast that some units have closed, so that midwives could be moved to areas of urgent need.
Link to BBC NEWS | Health | UK paying for 'migrant baby boom'
China Weather Crisis
The heaviest snow in decades is continuing to cause transport chaos throughout China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. BBC News website readers have described their experiences of travelling across southern China.
LINK Pictures
LINK Weather Chaos
Link to BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Travellers describe China chaos
Monday, 28 January 2008
Cleaning Freetown, Filthy
The last Saturday of every month has been designated "Cleaning Saturday" by Sierra Leone's new government.The capital, Freetown has gained a reputation for filthy living conditions and overcrowding following the brutal 1991-2002 civil war when tens of thousands fled their villages to shelter in the city.But now once a month men and women, old and young, can be seen tidying up their country.
10 pictures available here
Link to BBC NEWS | In pictures: Cleaning Freetown, Filthy
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Hundreds of village schools face axe | UK News | The Observer
Hundreds of village schools across Britain are being closed, despite a long-term pledge by the government to maintain education in the countryside. The policy U-turn will affect 30,000 children in up to 300 schools in its first stage, The Observer has learnt. Campaigners warned last night that the 'nightmare scenario' would see more than 1,000 small schools in England and Wales at risk. The closures are taking place despite a promise by education minister Stephen Byers in 1998 that village schools would be protected.
Link to Hundreds of village schools face axe | UK News | The Observer
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