Geographical articles from February 2009

Geographical archives from February 2009

To kill or not to kill?(FROM THE editor)(Editorial)
February 1, 2009... I think it's fair to say that we're rather conflicted when it comes to the killing of animals. It's fine if they've been reared en masse for our consumption, but we become more squeamish if they're running around in the wild (page 32). The...

Geographical competition.(WHERE IN THE world?)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Identify this country using the following clues: Its territories share borders with 11 other countries Four fifths of its energy needs are met by nuclear power It has the second-largest exclusive economic...

Countryside management scheme to get huge Natural England grant.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Natural England is to hand out 2.9 billion [pound sterling] over the next few years to help protect 110 'target areas' of environmental and historical importance across England. Between now and 2013, Natural...

Third of world's fish catch ends up as animal feed.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Third of world's fish catch ends up as animal feed: More than a third of the wild fish caught around the world each year are used to make feed for farmed animals, and could be better managed to benefit human food...

First Antarctic wildlife inventory reveals riches beyond belief.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scientists creating the first comprehensive inventory of Antarctic wildlife have discovered that the South Orkney Islands support more species than the Galapagos, according to a study in the Journal of Biogeography....

Geologists discover record lava flow.(WORLD watch)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Geologists discover record lava flow: Evidence of the world's longest lava flow has been identified following research on four continents, according to recently published research. A series of volcanic eruptions 183 million years ago formed...

New map sheds light on reef life.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... New map sheds light on reef life: A team of scientists has developed a new method of mapping the biodiversity of coral reefs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After extensive monitoring of a 13-square-kilometre area near Peterson Cay National...

Up to 100 million people could be displaced within the next 35 years in China if land degradation and soil erosion continue at existing rates, according to a survey by the country's bio-environment research team.(CHINA)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Up to 100 million people could be displaced within the next 35 years in China if land degradation and soil erosion continue at existing rates, according to a survey by the country's bio-environment research team. Deforestation and farming...

Ben Nevis has been cleared of 120 cairns--piles of rocks created by walkers--in a bid to restore a sense of wilderness to the well-worn paths of the UK's highest mountain.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Ben Nevis has been cleared of 120 cairns--piles of rocks created by walkers--in a bid to restore a sense of wilderness to the well-worn paths of the UK's highest mountain. The cairns were cleared over a period of five years by volunteers from...

Beavers will return to the British countryside this summer, 400 years after they were hunted to local extinction.(UK)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Beavers will return to the British countryside this summer, 400 years after they were hunted to local extinction. Four beavers were flown in from Norway in December and, after spending six months in quarantine, will be released in western...

As part of the government-funded Action Plan for Geography, jointly led by the RGS-IBG and the Geographical Association, 54 'geography champions' are to be appointed to promote the subject at primary schools across the UK.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... As part of the government-funded Action Plan for Geography, jointly led by the RGS-IBG and the Geographical Association, 54 'geography champions' are to be appointed to promote the subject at primary schools across the UK. Sourced from the...

The world is getting dimmer.(atmospheric brown clouds )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The world is getting progressively dimmer, with pollution generated by man-made activities creating semi-permanent atmospheric brown clouds (ABCs), according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)....

One fifth of world's reefs already dead.(CLIMATE watch)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... One fifth of world's reefs already dead: The world's oceans have lost nearly one fifth of their coral reefs as a result of climate change and other threats, according to the latest report from the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. ...

Melting ice sheets boosting carbon absorption.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Melting ice sheets boosting carbon absorption: Geologists working in Antarctica have found evidence that collapsing ice sheets are depositing minerals and nutrients into the sea that promote the growth of...

The state of South Australia has been forced to purchase water supplies for the first time.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The state of South Australia has been forced to purchase water supplies for the first time. Caught in the grip of a five-year drought, the country's driest state purchased a total of 261 gigalitres of water from supplies shared with...

In response to a 2007 US Supreme Court ruling that defined gases emitted from livestock as 'air pollution', the US Environmental Protection Agency has put forward a proposal to introduce what has been dubbed a 'flatulence tax'.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... In response to a 2007 US Supreme Court ruling that defined gases emitted from livestock as 'air pollution', the US Environmental Protection Agency has put forward a proposal to introduce what has been dubbed a 'flatulence tax'. The proposal,...

Kevin Rudd, the prime minister of Australia, has announced plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least five per cent by 2020--rising to 15 per cent should a global agreement on climate change be reached.(AUSTRALIA)
February 1, 2009... Kevin Rudd, the prime minister of Australia, has announced plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least five per cent by 2020--rising to 15 per cent should a global agreement on climate change be reached. Critics have described the move as...

A new report from the John Muir Trust has accused poorly planned or operated wind farms of causing often irreversible damage to important upland habitats.(UK)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... A new report from the John Muir Trust has accused poorly planned or operated wind farms of causing often irreversible damage to important upland habitats. This, claims the report, not only threatens grass--and peatland areas, along with their...

Bay of Bengal.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A TERRITORIAL DISPUTE IS BEING PLAYED out in the Bay of Bengal between neighbouts Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma). Last November, both sides dispatched naval vessels to the disputed region, which is centred close to...

Shropshire Hills: Olivia Edward visits an AONB at the western edge of England that is fighting on several fronts to conserve its diverse flora and fauna.(AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 'CAN I SPRAY YOU?' ASKS THE MAN AIMING THE NOZZLE of a container of pink disinfectant at my lower half. 'It's just that I don't know where you've been.' It's an unusual welcome to the Shropshire Hills Area of...

Not just keeping it in the family.(Royal Geographical Society's Family History Day )
February 1, 2009... YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR thinking that history might be something of a dirty word at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). As a subject that has traditionally competed with geography in the school timetable, history isn't a discipline...

Selection of events.(ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY (WITH IBG))(Calendar)
February 1, 2009... 3 FEBRUARY CHAGOS: A jewel in the Indian Ocean (London City Lecture, Clothworkers' Hall, London) Join Professor Charles Sheppard of the Chagos Conservation Trust as he introduces the remarkable Chagos Archipelago--part of the...

Bugle carried behind Emin Pasha: Italian-made instrument blown for the governor of Equatoria during the 19th century.
February 1, 2009... BEFORE THE INVENTION OF RADIO at the end of the 19th century, bugles and trumpets (the difference is minimal: a trumpet is a cylinder topped with a cone, a bugle is just one big cone) were often used to communicate over long distances. The...

There's no place like home.(Cover story)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The recent resumption of the hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has once again focused international attention the plight of the country's internally displaced persons (IDPs). Unlike refuges, IDPs...

Cruel to be kind?
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There are few more emotive and divisive issues today than the hunting of wild animals. To many, killing animals for sport is simply barbaric and senseless. But advocates say that in many parts of the world, it's...

Rebuilding Afghanistan: since 2002, war-damaged quarters of Kabul and Herat have been the focus of a programme to conserve important historic buildings, including houses, mosques, shrines and public facilities, while upgrading works have also improved living conditions for thousands of residents.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HAVING SUFFERED THREE DECADES OF CONFLICT AND under-investment, the cities of Kabul and Herat seem to be making up for lost time. From places inhabited by those with nowhere else to go--backwaters in a country that...

Gimme shelter: having survived for more than 5,000 years, Malta's World Heritage-listed temples--among the world's oldest buildings--are under threat. The authorities, fearing a catastrophic collapse, have opted for a radical solution that involves protecting three of the sites with enormous 'tents'. But, as Olivia Edward discovers, not everyone approves of their intervention.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 'LOOK. SEE HOW IT'S FLAKING,' SAYS DR REUBEN GRIMA, pointing to a piece of golden-retriever-coloured rock set on a parched hillside on the Maltese coast. He sighs and looks down at a collection of small rock slivers...

The trouble with travel: in response to Geographical's special issue on the future of travel, Pat Thomas, editor of the Ecologist, pulls no punches as she offers her assessment of exactly what's wrong with the global tourism industry.(Industry overview)
February 1, 2009... ANOTHER TRAVEL COMPANY BITES THE DUST THOUSANDS are stranded overseas. Some are stuck at home with no prospect of that dream holiday or romantic wedding abroad this year. For the mainstream press, of course, this is pay dirt. Lots of poignant...

The sound of music.(GEOGRAPHICAL archive)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Throughout history, music has played an important role in human society, whether for celebration, mourning, worship or even long-distance communication. These images, drawn from the Royal Geographical Society...

Inconvenient truths.(The Tangled Web: A Life of Sir Richard Burton)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... THE TANGLED WEB: A Life of Sir Richard Burton by Jon R Godsall TROUBADOR, PB, 8.99 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Poor old Richard Burton: he's not the hero he used to be. In his expansive new book, Jon Godsall puts...

The Arctic: The Complete Story.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... THE ARCTIC: The Complete Story by Richard sale FRANCES LINCOLN, HB, 45 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] They send artists to the Arctic these days. Painters, musicians and writers are dispatched to witness at first...

The Buddha and Dr Fuhrer: An Archaeological Scandal.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... THE BUDDHA AND DR FUHRER: An Archaeological Scandal by Charles Allen HAUS PUBLISHING, HB, 17.99 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Discovering a casket purported to contain the ashes of the Buddha was something of a coup...

Witness to Extinction: How We Failed to Save the Yangtze River Dolphin.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... WITNESS TO EXTINCTION: How We Failed to Save the Yangtze River Dolphin by Samuel Turvey OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, HB, 16.99 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] During a visit to China's Three Gorges Dam project in the late...

Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... FALLEN GIANTS: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes by Maurice Isserman and Stewart Weaver YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, HB, 25 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When a summit is...

Top ten: writer's reads.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... 1. THE PEREGRINE BY JA BAKER (NYRB CLASSICS, US$14) A masterpiece about an obsession, which reshapes the English language 2. THE ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY BY ROBERT BURTON (NYRB CLASSICS, 24.95 [pounds sterling]) Magnificent,...

London: The Illustrated History.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... LONDON: The Illustrated History by Cathy Ross and John Clark ALLEN LANE, HB, 30 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The authors head the 'Early' and 'Later' departments of the Museum of London, and this generously...

The Atlas of the Real World: Mapping the Way We Live.(Book review)
February 1, 2009... THE ATLAS OF THE REAL WORLD: Mapping the Way We Live by Daniel Doffing et al. THAMES & HUDSON, HB, 29.95 [pounds sterling] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maps are powerful tools in the interpretation of statistics. Traditional...

Anytime anyplace anywhere: technology enables expeditions to instantly communicate with the outside world. But as Paul Deegan discovers, the ability to phone home from the ends of the Earth has been around for more than half a century.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN 1957, NOEL BARBER BECAME THE first British journalist to reach the South Pole. On arrival, he sent his article to the offices of the Daily Mail in London, exclaiming: 'I have reached the South Pole. I am the sixth...

Ten of the best.(ESSENTIAL gear)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2009... These devices will keep you connected to the world, no matter how remote you may be--time-saving if you're a blogger; life-saving if you need rescue Don't forget... to pack the correct power adaptors and converters for your chosen...

Oil and water don't mix: olive oil's supposed health benefits have helped its popularity soar, but its production is having an extremely unhealthy effect on the environment, particularly in Europe. Victoria Lambert offers some tips on how to drizzle with a clear conscience.(TRADE secrets)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WE BUY EACH OTHER BOTTLES FOR CHRISTMAS, KEEP A variety of flavours close to hand in the kitchen and never risk running out; our homes seem to run on olive oil now, almost as if it were a type of fuel. In fact, olive...

Windows to the soul: taking photographs of the locals during your overseas jaunts requires a mixture of tact, creativity and some specalised skill. Keith Wilson offers his tips for getting portraits to be proud of.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EVER SINCE THE FIRST GRAND Tours through Europe and the Holy Land during the mid-19th century, photography has played an integral role in conveying the lure of the travel experience. In those days, photographs served...

Lens option: standard zooms:.(EQUIPMENT SELECTIONS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ideal choice of lens for the traveller is the standard zoom, a lens that covers a range of focal lengths from wide-angle to short telephoto, These lenses are compact, lightweight and perfect for a range of...

Camera option: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1.(EQUIPMENT SELECTIONS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Panasonic is one of the giants in consumer electronics, but is less well known for its cameras. The Lumix G1 is a 12-megapixel digital SLR that uses the FourThirds system also favoured by Olympus, Sigma and Leica, so there is a wide range of...

Accessory option: Monopod.(EQUIPMENT SELECTIONS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tripods are essential for most forms of photography but too often they're cumbersome to carry and set up, particularly if you're working in a crowded space. For added stability at speed, and without the risk of...

Desert days.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... As someone who has lived in the Middle East since the 1980s (in Bahrain, Egypt, Oman and now the UAE), I particularly enjoyed January's Archive on Ralph Alger Bagnold and the Long Range Desert Group. It reminded me of some of the trips across...

More from Mark?(MAIL bag)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I was very interested to see Mark Thomas's book selection in last month's 'Writer's reads' column (Reviews, December 2008). I remember that great programme he produced, As Used on the Famous Nelson Mandela, which exposed the truth about the...

Not the right Nile.(MAIL bag)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Justin Marozzi, in his otherwise excellent article on Herodotus (Travels with the father of history and geography, January 2009) got his Niles mixed up. The 'remote source' deep in Rwanda's Nyungwe rainforest is that...

Cannock Chase.(MAIL bag)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thanks for the article on the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (January 2009). I don't live all that far away, but I had no idea that there was a German war cemetery containing the remains of more...

An inspiration.(MAIL bag)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... Thanks for the interesting interview with Marina Silva, the ex-minister for the environment in Brazil (I'm a geographer, January 2009). Her story is truly inspirational. It's so sad that people such as Marina feel they have to resign from...

A sheep for all seasons.(MAIL bag)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Having read your story on the Icelandic sheep roundup (A glacial gathering, January 2009), I wanted to get in touch to let you know that it seems as though there will be a happy ending for this particular breed. ...

I'm a geographer.(Andrew McGonigle's model helicopter )
February 1, 2009... Andrew McGonigle, 35, a Scottish physicist and volcanologist, is in the process of developing a model helicopter that can measure gases released before a volcanic eruption. The technology could not only eliminate the dangerous task of taking...