Developers to demolish Asia's biggest shantytown

The largest slum in Asia, a sprawling shantytown in the centre of Mumbai, will be demolished and replaced with free homes for the city's poor under a $2.3bn (£1.2bn) scheme to transform one of India's most obvious eyesores.

The state government of Maharashtra placed advertisements yesterday inviting Indian and foreign developers to raze the tin shanties and maze of open drains that make up Dharavi slum and replace it with a new township in India's financial hub. For the government the redevelopment is a demonstration that developers can help the poor and free land in one of the world's most densely populated spots.Dharavi stands on just a square mile of land - reckoned to be worth more than $10bn - and houses about 600,000 people in ramshackle buildings. The government will sell land below market prices and, as an incentive to create properties for the poor, says that for every square foot of accommodation created for slum dwellers, developers will get 1.3 square feet for commercial use. The argument is that while slum dwellers will get flats in high-rise blocks the rest of the land can be used for malls, middle-class apartment blocks and business parks.

The scheme has outraged local activists who say the poor are being ignored in favour of the rich. Jockin Arputham, president of the National Slum Dwellers Association, told news agencies that it was not clear where ordinary people would live in the new developed areas.

He said Dharavi's residents lived next to the small businesses - such as tanneries and potteries - where they worked. "Their businesses will be shut once the construction starts," said Mr Arputham. "[The government] is forcing us to get on to the street," he said. "We will tell bidders from Europe to China not to touch this project because it damages the country."

India, Asia's fourth-largest economy, is facing a crisis of "slumification" according to experts, with numerous people leaving the countryside in search of jobs in the booming cities. The Indian government's own figures show the number of people living in its slums has more than doubled in the past 20 years to more than 60m.

Food miles: The true cost of putting imported food on your plate

Some examples given in the article.

Gobbling up the planet: Your guide to food miles

APPLES (FUJI)

Seventy-six per cent of apples consumed in the UK come from overseas. Washington, home of the Red Delicious and grower of half of America's apples, produces 135,000 tons of Fuji apples a year. They also come from China and Japan, and have a long shelf-life. With refrigeration, Fuji apples can last five or six months.

Typical exporter: US
Food miles to UK: 3,700
C02 (kg per pack of four): by sea 0.06; by air 1.68
Price: £1.99/500g, £2.98/kg

BEEF

The United States, Brazil, the European Union, Japan and the People's Republic of China are the world's largest consumers of beef, while the world's largest exporters of beef are Australia, Brazil, Argentina and Canada respectively. While British beef is clearly labelled in UK supermarkets, Argentinian beef is still a best seller here.

Typical exporter: Argentina
Food miles to UK: 6,900
CO2 (kg/kg): by sea 0.22; by air 6.33
Price: approx £6/kg

PINEAPPLE

South-east Asia dominates world production of pineapples. Total world production in 2001 was 14.220 million tons. The primary exporters of fresh pineapples in 2001 were Costa Rica, 322,000 tons; Ivory Coast, 188,000 tons; and the Philippines, 135,000 tons. In the UK we get most of our pineapples from Ghana.

Typical exporter: Ghana
Food miles to UK: 3,100
CO2 (kg/pineapple): by sea 0.22; by air 6.26
Price: approx £2/kg

Link to Food miles: The true cost of putting imported food on your plate - Independent Online Edition > Lifestyle

Stansted expansion inquiry starts

Protesters on the opening day of the public inquiry

A public inquiry has begun into airport company BAA's plans to expand the capacity of Stansted Airport in Essex.BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million each year. Plans were rejected by Uttlesford District Council so a final decision will now be made at the inquiry.

The Stop Stansted Expansion campaign group, which opposes the plans, staged a protest opposite Endeavour House where the inquiry is taking place. BAA also wants permission to increase the number of air traffic movements permitted from the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year.

Link to BBC NEWS | England | Essex | Stansted expansion inquiry starts

For and against AIRPORT EXPANSION

There are a number of groups that have views on the merits or pitfalls of airport expansion:

Many anti-expansion campaign groups have emerged including: HACAN ClearSkies, a campaign group that aims to reduce noise and air pollution from aircraft around Heathrow airport;

Stop Stansted Expansion; Stop Luton Airport Plan (SLAP) Stop Bristol Airport Expansion consists of a coalition of groups; Birmingham Airport Anti-Noise Group (BANG) which wants to see the reduction of aircraft noise, night flights and pollution; Swansea Airport No Expansion (SANE) opposes the increase in flights.

AirportWatch opposes airport expansion and wants to promote an aviation policy that is in line with sustainable development.

Aviation Environment Federation is a UK-based association that campaigns exclusively on the environmental impacts of aviation.

Campaign to Protect Rural England fears the government’s proposals will badly affect the countryside.

Friends of the Earth wants to protect the environment and is lobbying for airlines to pay tax on fuel.

Plane Stupid says it aims are to stop the destruction of the environment and communities caused by airport expansion and aviation.

Transport 2000 is concerned about how the environment will be affected by more aircraft flying in our skies.

BAA is an airport operator that runs several airports in the UK. It thinks expansion is key to the UK’s economic future.

Confederation of British Industry says expansion is important to Britain’s economic growth.

Department of Transport details the case for expansion in its progress report.

Future Heathrow is a group derived from trade unions, business groups, and airlines that believes Heathrow airport must modernise to secure its internationally competitive future.

London Chamber of Commerce supports expansion as seen in, “The Business Case for Airport Expansion” report.

Airlines believe expansion will create thousands of jobs and billions of pounds for the UK.

The Future of Air Transport - White Paper and the Civil Aviation Bill

The White Paper 'The Future of Air Transport', published on 16 December 2003, sets out a strategic framework for the development of airport capacity in the United Kingdom over the next 30 years, against the wider context of the air transport sector.

Link to Department for Transport - The Future of Air Transport - White Paper and the Civil Aviation Bill

Airport Expansion: an Action Network briefing

Flying has become so important that nearly half of the British population fly at least once a year. In 2005, 229 million passengers passed through UK airports. By 2030 passenger numbers are estimated to rise to 490 million.

Many airports face expansion To meet the rising demand, the government’s 2003 White Paper on The Future of Air Transport published a strategic framework for the development of air travel over the next 30 years, which includes major expansion plans of 30 airports in the UK.

What are the arguments?

Link to BBC - Action Network - Airport Expansion: an Action Network briefing

Initiation of Rainy Season in Southern Amazon

Despite its name, much of the Amazon Rainforest is not actually rainy year round. Many areas experience a monsoon climate, with a season of heavy rains followed by a dry season that can last anywhere from one to seven months. North of the equator, the rainy season occurs from June-August. South of the equator, it runs from October or November through March, April, or May. The processes that initiate the switch in where the rain falls are something of a mystery. In 2007, scientists discovered evidence that the forest itself triggers the switch. Increasing leaf area throughout the dry season may set off a chain of events that leads to a reversal in the north-south winds that carry moisture into one hemisphere or another.

This trio of photo-like images illustrates steps in the initiation of the wet season in the southern Amazon in 2006.

Link to EO Newsroom: New Images - Initiation of Rainy Season in Southern Amazon

Best of the net | Travel | The Guardian

LINK Tripadvisor.com User reviews, candid snaps and video and basic price comparison. Best feature Its sheer wealth of five million user-generated reviews.

LINK lonelyplanet Lonely Planet publishes a raft of websites, many of them at the cutting-edge of internet travel. The Thorn Tree forums - which pioneered user-generated content a decade ago - remain second to none

LINK Boo The people behind hostelworld.com - one of the biggest backpacking accommodation sites - have repackaged themselves as all-encompassing accommodation brokers comparing a range of prices from different hotel and hostel sites. Most useful because Boo's price comparison service is also linked to over one million user generated reviews

LINK Kayak.co.uk The people behind hostelworld.com - one of the biggest backpacking accommodation sites - have repackaged themselves as all-encompassing accommodation brokers comparing a range of prices from different hotel and hostel sites. Most useful because Boo's price comparison service is also linked to over one million user generated reviews (second only to Tripadvisor).

LINK Travelsupermarket Travel Supermaket provides an increasing amount of interaction on its website. But rather than give everything over to random users, it has left its experts to marshal the user-generated content by its lively community forums, almost guaranteeing qualified advice.

LINK Where are you now "Where are you now?" is the simple question at the heart of one the most popular travellers' networking sites in Britain. WAYN has grown from nothing to 1.5m members in the UK (and 8m globally) in just four years. The site lets users let each other know where in the world they are and keep in touch - and make new travel buddies - via a handy world map.

Link to Best of the net | Travel | The Guardian

Trees v travel: campaigners take on industry over airport expansion

Environmental campaigners yesterday revealed how they are preparing to lobby a public inquiry starting tomorrow into plans to expand Stansted airport; its owner, BAA, is seeking permission to increase the number of passengers flying in and out from 25 million to 35 million a year.

Both sides recognise that the public inquiry decision could have consequences throughout Britain. Air passenger numbers are predicted to more than double in the next 20 years to 465 million and at least 20 other British airports, including Gatwick, Heathrow, Bristol and Norwich, are planning to expand.

Campaigners say the government's 2010 target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% is contradicted by its aviation policy, which is committed to new runways at Heathrow and Stansted if environmental standards are met. "At the heart of this issue is the contradiction between the government's aviation policy and its climate change policy," said Brian Ross, of the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign.

Link to Trees v travel: campaigners take on industry over airport expansion | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited

Communities and Climate change

Communities on the frontline of climate change

In the Canadian Arctic, western Inuit are having trouble reaching their traditional hunting grounds as warmer springs have brought an earlier thaw. Inuit campaigners say their human rights are being violated by human-induced climate change

In Norway, Sami reindeer hunters have recorded severe changes in weather patterns that are affecting breeding cycles and destroying grazing areas. The Sami are having to alter their travel routes because of changes to prevailing winds previously used for navigation

Residents of the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu claim to be the first climate change refugees, as many have been forced to flee to neighbouring New Zealand to escape rising seas. The islands, only three feet above sea level, are expected to disappear below the waves

Indigenous communities in Puerto Rico have seen plants they gather for traditional medicines disappear, making it impossible to continue healing practices

Severe droughts are forcing the nomadic Turkana people of north-west Kenya into towns and relief camps as entire herds of camels, cows and goats are being wiped out. Although they are accustomed to months of dry weather and resulting food shortages, droughts are becoming more intense and more frequent

Read the article from the Guardian about "Central American indigenous people are among first to suffer from climate change but least equipped to adapt" The Rio Coco, deep in the Nicaraguan rainforest.

Link to Hope dries up for Nicaragua's Miskito | Climate change | Guardian Unlimited Environment

Eat the seasons

There are a number of good reasons to eat more local, seasonal food:

• to reduce the energy (and associated CO2 emissions) needed to grow and transport the food we eat

• to avoid paying a premium for food that is scarcer or has travelled a long way

• to support the local economy

• to reconnect with nature's cycles and the passing of time

The majority of the UK population grow up in urban areas, with little or no awareness of when and where various foods are produced. Imports from around the world ensure that supermarket shelves look the same week in week out. Eat the seasons aims to promote an understanding of food seasons. Each week we focus on one food, which is currently in season, and share enlightening facts, useful tips and enticing recipe ideas picked from the web and our favourite books.

Link to eat the seasons | seasonal food

The Longbridge revival

MG Rover was sold in July 2005 to another Chinese car firm, Nanjing Automotive, which paid around £50m.In July 2006 Nanjing reaffirmed its commitment to produce cars at Longbridge when it purchased a 33-year lease for one third of the land at Longbridge. The company also said it would be investing around £10m in the plant, but there would be far fewer jobs than in previous years. By March this year, as the company unveiled its first China-built cars to the world's media at its factory in Nanjing, plans were well advanced in Longbridge too.

Several pre-production models of the MGTF had been completed and the old production line was being brought back into use. It is thought that around 250 people are already employed at the factory. Staff numbers are expected to rise over time as production ramps up. Nanjing has said it aims is to make 3,000 cars in the first year, rising to 12,000 by 2009. It will ultimately have the capacity to make 15,000 cars a year. The company also says it has had a good response from dealers who want to sell the new cars.

Link to BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | The Longbridge revival

LINK Car production to resume at Longbridge The Guardian 29th May

VIDIPEDIA

This isVIDIPEDIA. Video UPLOADS are available. Good video on ANTARTICA

LINK: Antartica Video.

Go to GEOGRAPHY PORTAL for full list of Videos available.

Can Shanghai turn green and grow?

Shanghai has been transformed into a global city - but its rapid growth has produced pollution, traffic jams and overcrowding.In becoming one of the centres of the world economy, Shanghai has grown faster than almost any other global city in the past 15 years. The population increased from 13.5 million to 21.5 million as migrant labourers flooded in from the surrounding countryside, and the standard of living rose even faster, with per capita income now at $7,000, the highest in China.

The physical size of the city increased sixfold, from just 100 sq km to 680 sq km, as people sought more space and the city government rushed to develop nearby areas, such as Pudong. Rapid growth of car ownership has led to congestion and pollutionThree ring roads and six motorways now criss-cross the city, and gridlock grips the bridges and tunnels across the Huangpu river during rush hours.

The city has also seen an explosion in car ownership, with over 1 million car owners in 2006, and private car ownership has doubled in two years. The increased traffic levels contributed to rising levels of atmospheric pollution. Now the city of Shanghai has begun to tackle some of the environmental problems that could threaten its future growth.

The goes on to discuss; new towns, discouraging car ownership; Investment and public transport; and Bicycles.

Link to BBC NEWS | Business | Can Shanghai turn green and grow?

Millions who risk death for a better life

Across Africa, millions are dreaming of fleeing to Europe. Families scrimp and save to find the money needed to secure a seat on a boat. Young men, often fathers, squeeze on to overcrowded, rickety fishing boats that leave Senegal, Libya or Somalia in the dead of night. They take with them nothing more than the hope that a better life lies across the sea.

Some leave because of conflict, most because of poverty. All hope to find enough money in Europe to be able to send some back home to their families. The money earned by a migrant on a construction site in Spain or hawking sunglasses on the streets of Italy can be several times more than he would have made back in Mali, Nigeria or Eritrea. African migrants' remittances are growing at a faster rate than official aid from foreign governments.

Source: Millions who risk death for a better life - Independent Online Edition > Africa

Make Trade Fair - Oxfam International

More than a year ago, the Ethiopian government approached Starbucks global HQ in Seattle and asked the company to recognise Ethiopia’s legal ownership of the names of its coffees.
Ethiopia's ownership of its coffee names could bring substantial benefits to the 15 million poor Ethiopians who depend on coffee for their livelihood. By owning the rights to its fine coffee names- Harar, Sidamo, and Yirgacheffe- Ethiopia can help its farmers negotiate a better price, potentially increasing income for the country’s coffee industry by an estimated $88 million a year. This would help lift millions of farmers and their families out of poverty, helping them to send their children to school and access healthcare.
After initially dismissing Ethiopia 's plan to trademark its specialty coffees, Starbucks, which came under international pressure from campaigners, has now said it is ready to recognize Ethiopia 's right to pursue this path. So far, more than 90,000 people across the globe have called on Starbucks to sign such an agreement. This support has pushed Starbucks to hold meetings with the Ethiopian government to discuss the issue. Despite its much-publicised commitments to Ethiopia’s farmers, Starbucks has not taken the Ethiopian request seriously. It’s time for Starbucks to recognise Ethiopia’s right to the legal ownership of its own coffee names.

Link to Make Trade Fair - Oxfam International

LINK Starbucks case study

LINK Interactive diagrams on the ISSUES

PlayPump water system example of Intermediate Technology

While children have fun spinning on the PlayPump merry-go-round (1), clean water is pumped (2) from underground (3) into a 2,500-liter tank (4), standing seven meters above the ground. A simple tap (5) makes it easy for women and children to draw water. Excess water is diverted from the storage tank back down into the borehole (6). The water storage tank (7) provides a rare opportunity to advertise in outlaying communities. All four sides of the tank are leased as billboards, with two sides for consumer advertising and the other two sides for health and educational messages. The revenue generated by this unique model pays for pump maintenance.
The design of the PlayPump water system makes it highly effective, easy to operate and very economical, keeping costs and maintenance to an absolute minimum. Capable of producing up to 1,400 liters of water per hour at 16 rpm from a depth of 40 meters, it is effective up to a depth of 100 meters.

Film can be seen at http://www.green.tv/one_water

Link to Playpumps International and the PlayPump water system. Kids play. Water Pumps! :: PlayPumps International

Driving Ban Lowers Beijing Pollution

In an effort to control smog during the 2008 Olympics, Beijing officials planned to institute a number of pollution-curbing measures. One such measure is to limit the number of vehicles on the roads. The Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, held in Beijing on November 4-5, 2006, gave officials the opportunity to see just how much pollution would be reduced if traffic were restricted. Between November 4 and November 6, officials banned government and commercial vehicles, restricted the use of private vehicles, and limited access to certain roads. Buses ran more frequently to provide transport within the city. News reports estimated that approximately 30 percent of the city’s vehicles were taken off the road during the three-day restriction period.

Orbiting overhead once a day, the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on NASA’s Aura satellite recorded nitrogen dioxide levels. Looking through the column of air that sat between the satellite and the city, the instrument summed up the average number of nitrogen dioxide molecules per square centimeter. The data it sent back to Earth showed a drop in nitrogen dioxide levels over Beijing between November 4 and November 6, as illustrated by these images. High concentrations of nitrogen dioxide are represented by bright yellow squares over China’s major cities. The cities, and their corresponding pollution “hotspots” stretch across the North China Plain from north to south, with Beijing reigning in the north. On November 5, center, nitrogen dioxide levels dropped over the entire country, but the decrease is most dramatic over Beijing which went from turquoise-yellow (high) to dark blue (low) back to yellow before, during, and after the restriction period.

The graph illustrates the drop in nitrogen dioxide over Beijing in greater detail. Though concentrations jumped from day to day between October 25 and November 19, sometimes to concentrations as low as levels seen during the summit, the only time nitrogen dioxide levels remained below 20x10¹⁵ molecules per square centimeter for more than a single day was during the summit when traffic was restricted. The graph is from a paper by Yuxuan Wang and colleagues from Harvard University and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, published in Geophysical Research Letters on April 28, 2007. The scientists estimated that nitrogen oxide emissions were reduced by 40 percent during the restriction period.

Link to EO Newsroom: New Images - Driving Ban Lowers Beijing Pollution

EARTH GUIDE

This is a great interactive site that provides answers to the following questions:

1. Where is the earth located in the Milky way Galaxy?

2. How is the earth different from other planets?

3. Where does the sky become space?

4. Where does sunlight that hits the earth go?

5. How do water and carbon circulate.

6. What type of substances is the earth made of?

7. What kind of land areas exists on the face of the earth ?

8. How big are the oceans of the world?

Link to EARTH GUIDE

What Is GeoSquishing?

the basic idea is, you find a famous or infamous location which you believe to have some relevance and GeoSquish it. For example Bodie Island Lighthouse being GeoSquished.

Link to What Is GeoSquishing?

There will be a summer competition with prizes, look out for it in Kingdown News.