Geographical articles from December 2005

Geographical archives from December 2005

Egyptology overdose?(FROM THE EDITOR)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... At the time of writing, the BBC is advertising a documentary series called Egypt, which, unless it goes dramatically against the form book, promises to be just that: another documentary series about ancient Egypt, chock-full of arresting 3-D...

Governments from 27 nations, as well as scientists, environmental groups, and representatives of business and community groups have signed the world's first declaration on great apes at the UNEP-UNESCO Great Ape Survival Project Conference in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.(GLOBAL)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Governments from 27 nations, as well as scientists, environmental groups, and representatives of business and community groups have signed the world's first declaration on great apes at the UNEP-UNESCO Great Ape Survival Project Conference in...

Western demand for palm oil, a substance found in a broad range of supermarket products, is driving the orangutan towards extinction, says Friends of the Earth (FOE).(UK)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Western demand for pain oil, a substance found in a broad range of supermarket products, is driving the orangutan towards extinction, says Friends of the Earth (FOE). Forest clearing for oil palm plantations is the primary cause of the...

Prince Edward unveiled a bust of the late Sir Wilfred Thesiger at the Travellers Club Explorers Reception in September.(UK)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Prince Edward unveiled a bust of the late Sir Wilfred Thesiger at the Travellers Club Explorers Reception in September. Until recently, the bronze had been in the private collection of the sculptor Lucy Poett, who created it from life shortly...

WWF has revealed Europe's 30 worst climate-polluting power stations, based on their total emissions and efficiency (grams of C[O.sub.2] per kilowatt hour).(EUROPE)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... WWF has revealed Europe's 30 worst climate-polluting power stations, based on their total emissions and efficiency (grams of C[O.sub.2] per kilowatt hour). Agios Dimitrios in Greece, Frimmersdorf in Germany and Abono in Spain were identified as...

Homer's Ithaca discovered (again).(Worldwatch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Homer's Ithaca wasn't the Greek island now called Ithaki, but was located on a western peninsula of the island of Kefallinia (Kefalonia), an area now called Paliki, according to an international team of geologists, classicists and...

Deep-sea shark numbers crash.(Worldwatch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Numbers of endangered deep-sea sharks in a fishery off the coasts of Ireland and the UK have plummeted, says new research. Spanish boats registered in the UK are laying down thousands of square kilometres of nets at depths of 1,000 metres....

Carbon-storage potential assessed.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The potential for capturing carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels and storing it underground or in the oceans has been appraised in a special report by a working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Geological...

Buried treasure discovered on Crusoe island.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... An estimated 600 barrels of gold coins and Incan jewels with a value of around 5.6 billion [pounds sterling] have been discovered on Juan Fernandez Island--also known as Robinson Crusoe Island--off the coast of Chile. According to Chilean...

Sir Robert Schomburgk (1804-65): German traveller who explored northeastern South America with the Royal Geographical Society and surveyed the boundaries of British Guiana for Her Majesty's government.(WORLDWATCH)
December 1, 2005... What was his background? Robert Schomburgk, the son of a Protestant minister, was born at Freiburg in Saxony on 5 June 1804. He was mainly educated at home, and at the age of 14 was apprenticed to a businessman. However, his real interest...

Climate threat to animal species.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A UK-government funded Study has highlighted the threat posed to temperature-sensitive animal species by global warming. According to the report from the Climate Change and Migratory Species study, sea turtles are under particular threat...

Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).(Geographical Organisations of Note)
December 1, 2005... When and how was the EIA founded? The EIA was founded in 1984 by friends Allan Thornton, Dave Currey and Jenny Lonsdale. Initially, they organised an ambitious trip aboard a rusty trawler to document Norwegian whaling that contributed to...

Geographical flags of the world: Oman.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Description: The flag of Oman consists of three equally sized horizontal bands of white, red and green. A broad, vertical red band also runs down the hoist side, with the national emblem of a white khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed...

50 years ago today Geographical December 1955.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The final issue of Geographical for 1955 carried an article entitled Eskimos I have known by Richard Harrington, a photographer who, sadly, passed away earlier this year. Harrington made six lengthy winter visits to the Canadian Arctic,...

Let it snow: Weatherwatch with BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts.(WORLDWATCH)
December 1, 2005... When was our snowiest winter? Categorising winters in such terms isn't quite as straightforward as it might seem. Historical records are often sparse and depend upon on inconsistent observational practices; however, the early part of 1947...

Investigations in China by the Wildlife Protection Society of India and the Environmental Protection Agency have exposed a "massive increase" in the trade in tiger and snow leopard skins.(CHINA)
December 1, 2005... Investigations in China by the Wildlife Protection Society of India and the Environmental Protection Agency have exposed a "massive increase" in the trade in tiger and snow leopard skins, many of which are used in ceremonial costumes.

The Alaskan Arctic is experiencing its warmest summers for 400 years and snowmelt is occurring increasingly early, according to Professor Terry Chapin of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, Chapin also claims that the earlier snowmelt is helping to accelerate warming in the far north.(USA)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Alaskan Arctic is experiencing its warmest summers for 400 years and snowmelt is occurring increasingly early, according to Professor Terry Chapin of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, Chapin also claims that the earlier snowmelt is...

The 120 million year old fossils of two species of pterosaur have been found in Jehol, northeastern China.(CHINA)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The 120 million year old fossils of two species of pterosaur have been found in Jehol, northeastern China. Flying reptiles with wingspans of more than two metres, the pterosaurs belong to groups that were previously found only in Europe.

The leaders of more than 20 of the world's cities have met in London to exchange ideas on how best to deal with climate change.(UK)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The leaders of more than 20 of the world's cities have met in London to exchange ideas on how best to deal with climate change. "The things that work we will all copy from each other," said London mayor Ken Livingstone.

The Getty Museum in Los Angeles is to return three archaeological artefacts of dubious provenance to Italy.(USA)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Getty Museum in Los Angeles is to return three archaeological artefacts of dubious provenance to Italy. Italian authorities are demanding the return of a further 39 objects, including a marble statue of Apollo thought to be more than 2,000...

Killer whales in Norway have found an ingenious, labour-saving method for catching their favourite food, herring.(NORWAY)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Killer whales in Norway have found an ingenious, labour-saving method for catching their favourite food, herring. According to marine biologist Tiu Simila, the whales will travel up to 18 kilometres when they hear the sound of a fishing boat...

Quizzical: running the gamut from Swiss Army knives to nuclear weapons, and taking in neutral zones, passports and the Global Positioning System along the way, Chris Edwards answers your questions.
December 1, 2005... What connection does the Swiss Army Knife have to the Swiss Army? P Walsh, Kidderminster It depends on which Swiss Army Knife you mean. The original Swiss Army Knife was designed specifically for the needs of the local army, down to the...

New book.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... To the Ends of the Earth celebrates 175 years of the Society's expedition history. The book hit shelves in early November and provides a pictorial guide to expeditions from Livingstone and Stanley in Africa to more recent research-based...

Expedition event.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Opportunities for people with disabilities to join expeditions and other overseas projects have never been greater. The Expedition Advisory Centre has organised a day of talks and displays to celebrate expeditions inclusive of disabled people...

Society receives design award.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Society and its project team have been awarded the prestigious Judges' Special Award in the annual British Construction Industry Awards for our new buildings. The award is given for "a building the judges consider to be particularly...

Into the eye of a hurricane or three.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Editorial)
December 1, 2005... EDITORIAL: In the USA, the summer of 2005 will be remembered for a string of environmental catastrophes--initiated by the powerful hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, which battered several of the southern coastal states, from Florida to Texas....

The RGS-IBG gains a new Corporate Friend.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Society is delighted to announce that NYK Group has chosen to support our education work and activities for schools for the next five years. In doing so, the group becomes the first company to become a Corporate Friend, a new category...

A selection of December's Society events.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)
December 1, 2005... For details, please contact the Events Office on 020 7591 3100. * 5 December, 6.30pm Nanda Devi and the Valley of Flowers: mountaineer's dream, botanist's paradise (LECTURE, LONDON) In this remote, beautiful part of the Garhwal...

Lecture of the month: 2 December, 7.30pm Galapagos: the challenges of conservation.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... (CHESTER) Enjoy two viewpoints on the challenges of Galapagos conservation from Julian Fitter, founder of the Galapagos Trust, and Santiago Bejarano, a naturalist guide from Ecuador. Santiago trained in environmental sciences in his native...

Join the society--get the magazine.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is a world centre for geographers and geographical learning dedicated to the development and promotion of knowledge, together with its application to the challenges facing society and the environment....

Women more likely to care for the elderly.(Worldwatch AT THE CONFERENCE: News from this year's RGS-IBG annual conference (31 August-2 September))(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Interviews carried out by a University of Glasgow researcher have shown that in Scotland, the elderly can expect to get more regular support from daughters than from sons, although male children do step in if there's no-one else around who can...

Long-distance commutes increase by a third.(Worldwatch AT THE CONFERENCE: News from this year's RGS-IBG annual conference (31 August-2 September))(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Deurbanisation has led to a drastic increase in the number of long-distance commuters in England and Wales over the past decade, according to researchers from Aalborg University in Denmark. They found that the number of people commuting to work...

Iceberg deposits point to Ice Age conveyor failure.(Worldwatch AT THE CONFERENCE: News from this year's RGS-IBG annual conference (31 August-2 September))
December 1, 2005... Analysis of particles carried and dumped into the Atlantic Ocean by icebergs during the last ice age has shown that the warm Gulf Stream probably switched off during that period. Dr Barbara Maher of the University of Lancaster mapped...

Thirty-somethings escaping from the city.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... People are moving out of cities and into the country much younger than expected, according to research carried out by Professor Tony Champion of the University of Newcastle. Using the most recent Census figures, Champion looked at migration...

Attitudes towards asylum seekers depend on where you live.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The British public doesn't uniformly regard asylum seekers as potentially troublesome, a researcher from the University of Liverpool has found. In a series of interviews conducted around the UK, Dr Nissa Finney found that attitudes to...

Burning of Asian peatland churning out greenhouse gas.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Vast amounts of carbon dioxide are being released into the atmosphere by the burning of tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia, according to Dr Susan Page of the University of Leicester. Tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia contain more than...

Preparations for invasion: world climatic chart (1943).(MAP OF THE MONTH)
December 1, 2005... This chart is one of a pair compiled in the Naval Meteorological Branch of the Admiralty during the Second World War; the second sheet depicts a generalised July situation. Both charts were "prepared by the Hydrographic Department of the...

Royal Geographical Society with IBG: advancing geography and geographical learning.(MAP OF THE MONTH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Patron Her Majesty The Queen Honorary President HRH The Duke of Kent The Council President Sir Neil Cossons OBE Vice Presidents Elspeth Insch OBE, Professor Keith Richards, Professor David Thomas Honorary Treasurer...

Last look at paradise.(ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS)
December 1, 2005... INDIA Twelve months ago, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were devastated by the Boxing Day tsunami. At least 7,500 people died. For those that survived, life would never be the same: most lost their homes and livelihoods. On the first...

From saint to Santa Claus: How did a charitable local bishop become a worldwide symbol of rampant consumerism? Jeremy Seal traces St Nicholas's remarkable 1,650-year journey.(ST NICHOLAS)
December 1, 2005... In February 2005, the authorities in Demre, a shabby Anatolian town in southern Turkey, unceremoniously carted off the bronze statue that had stood in the main square. An idle bystander might have assumed that this act marked the Balkan-style...

Climate change: Chloe Scott-Moncrieff explores the issues surrounding the biggest environmental challenge facing the planet.(Geographical dossier)
December 1, 2005... The greenhouse effect and its relation to global climate change didn't really impinge on the collective consciousness until the 1970s and '80s. but we've known about the effect since Victorian times. In 1827 French mathematician Joseph Fourier...

Weighing the evidence: although levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have increased dramatically since the 19th century, some still doubt that climate change is man made.(Geographical dossier/climate change)
December 1, 2005... This summer, researchers working north of the Arctic Circle were treated to balmy temperatures of 19[degrees]C. Many of the glaciers that stretched across the fjords of Svalbard a few decades ago have retreated to the point where they barely...

Life in a warmer world: floods, starvation, landslides, freezing temperatures, drought and rising sea levels--the effects of climate change cannot be over-estimated.(Geographical dossier/climate change)
December 1, 2005... There's no escaping it: the world is getting hotter. The question isn't whether it's going to affect the Earth itself, but by how much. Speaking at the launch of a scientific expedition to Cape Farewell in the Arctic last year, Sir David King,...

Averting the disaster: with Kyoto virtually dead and buried, a new coalition of governments has recently begun to focus on technological solutions. But will they be enough?(Geographical dossier/climate change)
December 1, 2005... The Kyoto Protocol, which commits signatories to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to five per cent below 1990 levels by 2012 is currently the only significant international attempt to combat global warming. However, climatologists have...

On.the.origins of a theory: this year marks the 150th anniversary of one of the most significant intellectual breakthroughs in the history of science. Paul Spencer Sochaczewski and David Hallmark travel to Sarawak, Malaysia, in search of its origins.(ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE)
December 1, 2005... Several years ago, we visited the village of Santubong in Sarawak on the western coast of Malaysian Borneo. We were looking for the site of a beachside bungalow that, during the mid-19th century, belonged to the first governor of Sarawak, an...

The Berber inheritance: Amar Grover travels through the breathtaking scenery of Tunisia to visit some of the last remaining traditional Berber buildings.(BERBER ARCHITECTURE)
December 1, 2005... Today, the Berbers--North Africa's indigenes before the arrival of Arab tribes--area minority in the Maghreb. When the Arabs first encountered them, they were struck by their peculiar, almost hissing language. Ibn Khaldum, the 14th-century...

Time travel: history is repeating itself. After the sun, sea and sand mass tourism of the 20th century, travel to sites of historical interest, one of the prime motivations behind the Grand Tour, is back in vogue. And, as Tom Chesshyre discovers, today's historical tourists are often just as well educated as their forebears.(TRAVEL MATTERS)
December 1, 2005... Between A-levels and university, I went with a few friends--all lads--on an island-hopping trip to Greece. It started with a couple of nights in Athens, followed by a week and a half of making it up as we went along, starting in the Cyclades...

Split's personality: although tourists have been rediscovering Croatia's potential as a holiday destination for several years now, Split remains something of a hidden gem. Jo Sargent unearths one of Eastern Europe's best-kept secrets hidden among some of the Adriatic coast's oldest Roman ruins.(CROATIA)
December 1, 2005... Sprawling around the remarkably well-preserved remains of a Roman palace in southwestern Croatia, Split is one of Europe's oldest cities. It's also the country's second largest. Considered the cultural heart of Dalmatia, it has become the main...

In pod we trust: when it comes to ecologically friendly holidays, snow sports have a pretty bad rep. So when Geordie Torr discovered a new green ski destination in the Swiss Alps, it was like a breath of fresh mountain air.(WHITEPOD)
December 1, 2005... Think of the cosiest place you've ever been. I reckon I can beat it. Right now, I'm lying on a sheepskin, beneath two 14-tog duvets. There's a wood-burning stove flickering away beside my bed. Outside, it's about -10[degrees]C and there's...

The 8,000-metre mountaineer: earlier this year, Alan Hinkes completed one of the world's most demanding feats of endurance when he became the first Briton to climb all of the world's 8,000-metre peaks. Ben Winston tracked him down in a North Yorkshire pub.(GEOPEOPLE: ALAN HINKES)
December 1, 2005... "I just realised where I was and thought: 'I'm on the third-highest mountain in the world on really dangerous steep ground, it's around half seven at night and about to get dark. It's blizzarding, so I'm not going to be able to find my way...

The Alps frozen in time.(GEOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE)
December 1, 2005... During the 19th century, photography and mountaineering developed virtually side by side, and it was clear that sooner or later, they would be combined. One of the finest early exponents of Alpine photography was Vittorio Sella, whose work we...

Travels across Turkey in search of Father Christmas.(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Santa: A Life by Jeremy Seal Picador, hb, pp320, 14.99 [pounds sterling] Although the travel writer's lot is a fairly impecunious one, it isn't all sackcloth and ashes. Pre eminent among the benefits is a licence to travel to all parts of...

Universe.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Universe edited by Martin Rees Dorling Kindersley, hb, pp512, 30 [pounds sterling] Exploring the history and dynamics of our solar system, home galaxy and, well, pretty much everywhere else, this book is a valiant attempt at creating a...

A surfeit of serpents; a plethora of poisons.(Venomous Snakes of the World)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Venomous Snakes of the World by Mark O'Shea New Holland, hb, pp160, 24.99 [pounds sterling] Most people would run a run a mile if they came across any snake, let alone a dangerous one. Not Mark O'Shea--he's fashioned a successful career...

From climbing mountains to making momos.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Sir Edmund Hillary: An Extraordinary Life by Alexa Johnston Dorling Kindersley, hb, pp232, 20 [pound sterling] Authorised biographies always trigger alarm bells in my head, so I approached this book with some trepidation. As it turns out, I...

A (not so) brief history of thyme.(Naming of Names: The Search for Order in the World of Plants)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Naming of Names: The Search for Order in the World of Plants by Anna Pavord Bloomsbury, hb, pp480, 30 [pounds sterling] What's in a name? In the case of plants, rather a lot--arguments concerning their naming have been going on for more...

Wave of Destruction.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Wave of Destruction by Erich Krauss Vision, hb, pp288, 10.99 [pounds sterling] The Boxing Day 2004 South Asian tsunami devastated coastlines as far afield as Sumatra and Sri Lanka. For his book on the tsunami and its effects, Erich Krauss...

From Cape Wrath to Finisterre.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... From Cape Wrath to Finisterre by Bjorn Larsson Armchair Traveller, hb, pp341, 12.99 [pounds sterling] If the title presupposes a travel book, Bjorn Larsson is quick to disabuse us. It is, rather, "a source of inspiration for those who...

Frontline.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Frontline by David Loyn, Michael Joseph, hb, pp480, 20 [pounds sterling] Frontline tells the dramatic, true story of a small group of freelance cameramen who were responsible for bringing the world some of the most memorable television...

Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the World.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the World by Justin Marozzi, Harper Perennial, pp480, 9.99 [pounds sterling] Conqueror of the world, emperor of the age, unconquered lord of the seven climes, scourge of god: an impressive collegian...

Morocco: The Traveller's Companion.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Morocco: The Traveller's Companion by Margaret Bidwell and Robin Bidwell, Tauris Parke Paperbacks, pp309. 10.99 [pounds sterling] Of a far gentler nature is Morocco: The Traveller's Companion. If your preferred holiday reading is about the...

Three Years Slavery Among the Patagonions.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Three Years Slavery Among the Patagonions by Auguste Guinnard, Nonsuch, pp154, 12 [pounds sterling] One 19th-century writer who was surprisingly full of understanding is Auguste Guinnard. Three Years Slavery Among the Patagonians tells the...

Top 10 writer's reads.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Justin Marozzi is the author of Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the World, published in paperback by Harper Perennial. He is currently researching a history of Herodotus and writing a novel based upon his recent experiences in Iraq ...

Libyan Sands: Travels in a Dead World.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Libyan Sands: Travels in a Dead World by Ralph Bagnold. First published 1935. Most recent edition by Immel, pb, pp288, 7.95 [pounds sterling] Libyan Sands is, without question, the classic work of 20th-century Saharan exploration. The...

Rough Guide to the Music of Balkan Gypsies; Rough Guide to Tito Puente; Rough Guide to the Music of Brazil: Rio de Janeiro.(Sound Recording Review)
December 1, 2005... Rough Guide to the Music of Balkan Gypsies; Rough Guide to Tito Puente; Rough Guide to the Music of Brazil: Rio de Janeiro Rough Guides, various lengths, 11.99 [pounds sterling] Need the history, evolution and breadth of an entire musical...

The Meaning of Tingo.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... The Meaning of Tingo by Adam Jacot de Boinod Penguin, hb, pp216, 10 [pounds sterling] Adam Jacot de Boinod scoured 280 dictionaries and 140 websites, translating more than two million words and phrases in the process of putting together...

Cold-weather footwear: essential gear: no-one wants to lose their toes to frostbite, so it's welcome news that keeping your feet warm has never been easier.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)
December 1, 2005... At 6,194 metres, Denali, otherwise known as Mount McKinley, in Alaska isn't particularly high by international mountaineering standards. But it certainly is chilly. In fact, at times it's cold enough to crack the enamel on your teeth. During my...

Digi discount.(Manfrotto's Digi range)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Manfrotto's Digi range of four tripods--two of which have a permanent friction ball head and the other two a three-way head--are being discounted by up to 40 per cent in the run-up to Christmas. Each tripod comes with either full-length legs or...

Wolf in sheep's clothing?(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Rohan's new range of "technically clever" travel clothing is made from a fabric that uses Superfine Merino wool, which looks and feel like normal wool but is lighter, less bulky, longer lasting, machine-washable and has the quick-drying...

From Nuptse to Manchester.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The North Face says its Nuptse 700 fill goose down jackets and vests are so enduringly popular that it has set up a phone line to help people locate their nearest stockist. The jacket and vest have a unique men's and women's styling and cost...

Breakthrough avalanche scanner will save lives.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)
December 1, 2005... From February 2006, mountain-rescue teams searching for avalanche victims will have a helping hand, thanks to Ortovox's new S1 sensor-controlled avalanche scanner--the first of its kind. When searching for people buried in snow, time is of...

Singing in the rain.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)(Aquapac's range of water-, dust- and sand-proof protective cases)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Soon you'll be able to listen to music wherever you are, no matter how wet or dusty the conditions, by protecting your MP3 player with the latest addition to Aquapac's range of water-, dust- and sand-proof protective cases. Specifically...

It's a dog's life.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Ruff Wear, the US manufacturer of performance gear for dogs, has developed harness-mounted panniers for dogs that allow them to carry their own supplies (and not, Ruff Wear insists, their owner's kit). The panniers accommodate dogs of all...

Hepatitis: medical advice from Jason Gibbs, head pharmacist at Nomad Travel stores and health clinics.(Travel health)
December 1, 2005... There are five well-defined forms of viral hepatitis, imaginatively named A, B, C, D and E, as well as a few termed 'non A-E'. Although caused by different viruses and having different patterns of long-term illness, they all share a very...

Explorer's essentials: Benedict Allen, broadcaster, author and explorer.
December 1, 2005... 1. A survival kit This would vary with the terrain. It must be small, so that you're not tempted to leave it behind in camp. It would contain waterproof matches, a spare compass, distress flares (desert), fishing hooks and line (jungle), a...

Odyssey guides.(The Geographical Good Guide Guide)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A BIT OF HISTORY Now in their 25th year, Odyssey Guides are for "readers who demand more from a guidebook than mere practical details". WHAT ARE THEY LIKE? Covering off-the-beaten-track destinations, they're long on historical and...

A view from the top: geo photo: an aerial view offers a whole new perspective on familiar landscape and scenes. This month, Keith Wilson's tips will help you to make the most of your time in the air.(#5: AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY)
December 1, 2005... Of all photography's myriad guises and applications, the practice of taking pictures of the Earth from the air has had the greatest value to the world's geographers. Photography was still in its infancy when French artist Felix Tournachon...

Engineers become geographers: a new project is giving engineering students the chance to solve real-world problems faced by rural Ghanaians, an example of geography's wide remit, says RGS-IBG grants officer Greg Dow.(Grants news)
December 1, 2005... Many of the researchers who apply for funding from the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) come from academic fields ostensibly outside geography. The work of zoologists, ecologists and those from other environmental sciences, not to mention...

Commitment confirmed.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... ENGhana (see main text) isn't the grants programme's only link with the world of engineering. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the government's leading funding agency for research and training in engineering and...

Forthcoming deadlines.
December 1, 2005... 25 NOVEMBER: The Ralph Brown Expedition Award: 15,000 [pounds sterling] for research in aquatic environments 2 DECEMBER: Hong Kong Research Grant: 2,500 [pounds sterling] for PhD research in the greater China region 31 DECEMBER: Small...

French letters.(Mailbag)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I was interested to read the explanation for why British passports contain French text (Quizzical, November 2005). As well as being a diplomatic language, French also enjoys the distinction of having been one of Britain's official languages...

Complete cover.(Mailbag)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... In your August issue, you covered insurance (Travel insurance: a question of cover). In the dos and don'ts box, you said: "Ensure your policy covers the countries you intend to visit. Those considered unstable by the Foreign and Commonwealth...

Explorer poll a load of hot air.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Congratulations to Christian Amodeo for a fearless expose of the current trend in the exploration community for false modesty and short-circuited thinking (Pole to Poll, November 2005). How he managed to get so many eminent explorers (with the...

Lost in the post.(LETTERS)
December 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This densely branched shrub produces clusters of yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers and bears string-bean-like pods filled with tiny winged seeds. Sprouting bright green leaves with a hairy underside, the plant is native...