Geographical articles from July 2006

Geographical archives from July 2006

Restoring the balance.
July 1, 2006... Here at Geographical, we always strive for balance in our articles. Regular readers of the letters page will be aware that some people don't think we're always successful, but nonetheless, it remains one of our guiding editorial principles....

Europe's largest railway station opened in Berlin at the end of May--just in time for the 2006 Football World Cup.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Europe's largest railway station opened in Berlin at the end of May--just in time for the 2006 Football World Cup. The Hauptbahnhof, which cost C700 million (480 million [pounds sterling]) and took eight years to complete, is expected to see...

More than 4,000 Grade I-listed churches in the UK need an estimated 925 million [pounds sterling] to fund crucial repairs and maintenance.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... More than 4,000 Grade I listed churches in the UK need an estimated 925 million [pounds sterling] to fund crucial repairs and maintenance. The portfolio of churches represents 40 per cent of the country's Grade I-listed buildings.

The ruins of a 2,000-year-old city have been discovered in a reservoir on China's northeastern border with North Korea.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The ruins of a 2,000-year-old city have been discovered in a reservoir on China's northeastern border with North Korea, having been exposed when water levels were dropped for repairs.

Twenty-thousand square kilometres of cork oak forest, 62,500 jobs and several animal species could be lost in Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Tunisia and France.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Twenty-thousa nd square kilometres of cork oak forest, 62,500 jobs and several animal species could be lost in Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Tunisia and France within ten years if the wine industry's use of cork stoppers continues...

Chinese state press recently reported that environmental protests and disputes in the country are increasing at an annual rate of 30 per cent, with more than 50,000 recorded last year.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Chinese state press recently reported that environmental protests and disputes in the country are increasing at an annual rate of 30 per cent, with more than 50,000 recorded last year. The increase is thought to be a consequence of rapid...

The future of the endangered giant jumping rat, flat-tailed tortoise and narrow striped mongoose look brighter thanks to a new protection order issued by the government of Madagascar.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The future of the endangered giant jumping rat, flat-tailed tortoise and narrow striped mongoose look brighter thanks to a new protection order issued by the government of Madagascar. The order will protect deciduous dry forests in the Menabe...

From baby boom ...(ethnic minorities increasing in number)
July 1, 2006... Ethnic minorities are approaching a majority position among under fives in the USA, according to a recent report from the US Census Bureau. The report shows that 45 per cent of US preschoolers are non-white, with the Latino population growing...

... To baby gloom ...(babies death on first day)
July 1, 2006... Every year, around two million babies die on the first day of their lives, according to Save the Children. Many die from preventable causes such as infections, a difficult birth or low birth weight, but as many as 70 per cent could be saved if...

'Canned hunting' to be crushed.(South Africa )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... South Africa has proposed new laws to end the captive breeding of wildlife for hunting in closed reserves. So called 'canned hunting' is big business in a plethora of small, unregulated parks in South Africa. In 2004, an estimated 6,700...

Lake Baikal in southeastern Siberia is the world's oldest and deepest lake.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Lake Baikal in southeastern Siberia is the world's and deepest lake. Containing a fifth of the globe's total unfrozen freshwater reserves, the 1,637-metre-deep lake is home to hundreds of unusual species of...

Climate change could cause 182 million deaths.(Sub-Saharan Africa)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Flooding, famine, drought, disease and conflict directly caused or exacerbated by climate change will result in death and devastation for 182 million sub-Saharan Africans and millions more throughout the world, according to a recent report from...

Highest foreign debt (US$million, 2003; developed countries excluded).(Statistical table)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Highest foreign debt (US$million, 2003; developed countries excluded) TOP 10 1 Brazil 235,431 2 China 193,567 3 Russia 175,257 4 Argentina ...

50 years ago today Georaphical July 1956.(oil producing countries)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Oil was the focus of the July 1956 Geographical. "Twenty two per cent of the oil produced outside the Iron Curtain countries comes from the lands bordering the Persian Gulf," wrote John Midgley, in Two oil shiekdoms. Little could he have known...

Dead sea headed for death row.(dam construction on Jordan river)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The planned construction of a new dam on a tributary of the Jordan River could make the Dead Sea a literally accurate description, say local environmentalists and politicians. According to Friends of the Earth in Israel, in the past 50...

Northern Indian water 'toxic'.(arsenic, lead and cadmium found)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Millions of people in northern India are drinking highly contaminated water, according to a new government report. Groundwater tests in 70 districts revealed the presence of contaminants such as arsenic, lead and cadmium in 42, a situation...

Plankton to provide quake-warning system.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... According to a team of US and Indian researchers, concentrations of chlorophyll--the green photosynthetic pigment in plants in coastal waters rise prior to earthquakes, offering a potential early warning system. Using satellite images and...

Dam threat to Gorge ecosystem.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The revival of a dam project halted by Mozambique's civil war has alarmed local conservationists. The Massingir Dam project in the Southern Gaza province, which will see the construction of 15-metre-tall sluice gates on the Olifants River, a...

Chinese chopstick tax no joke for Japanese.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Concerns over increasing deforestation have led China to place a five per cent tax on sales of chopsticks, causing uproar among Japanese restaurant owners. Japan consumes an astounding 25 billion sets of wooden chopsticks a year, 97 per cent of...

Vatican City.(flag)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Description: The Vatican City, the world's smallest independent state, is one of only two countries in the world to possess a square flag, the other being Switzerland. The flag has two vertical bands of yellow and white, the yellow band lying...

Global warming has caused the World Heritage-listed Aletsch Glacier to retreat almost 3.5 kilometres since 1860, according to estimates by a geographer at the University of Zurich.(SWITZERLAND)
July 1, 2006... Global warming has caused the World Heritage-listed Aletsch Glacier to retreat almost 3.5 kilometres since 1860, according to estimates by a geographer at the University of Zurich. Almost half of the shrinkage has occurred since 1950.

The number of tornadoes in the USA has soared during the first quarter of 2006, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Centre.(United States)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The number of tornadoes in the USA has soared during the first quarter of 2006, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Centre. An estimated 286 tornadoes struck between January and March; the average for this period over...

Customs officials in Hong Kong have seized four tonnes of elephant tusks worth US$1 million.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Customs officials in Hong Kong have seized four tonnes of elephant tusks worth US$1 million. The haul was discovered in a shipping container that was supposed to be carrying timber from Douala in Cameroon.

In May, an unnamed volcano erupted in a powerful explosion on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east of the Russian Federation.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... In May, an unnamed volcano erupted in a powerful explosion on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east of the Russian Federation, creating a 15-kilometre-high plume of ash and smoke that was carried 700 kilometres east over the Pacific Ocean.

The isolated Jarawa tribe of the Andaman and Nicobar islands has been hit by a measles epidemic.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The isolated Jarawa tribe of the Andaman and Nicobar islands has been hit by a measles epidemic. Around 50 people--20 per cent of the tribe, which once numbered 5,000--have been affected. Although there had been no fatalities as Geographical...

Glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet region are melting at an annual rate of seven per cent, leading to drought, desertification and sandstorms throughout China due to the increased melt-water runoff.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet region are melting at an annual rate of seven per cent, leading to drought, desertification and sandstorms throughout China due to the increased melt-water runoff, according to Xinhua, a state news agency.

Asthma- and allergy-sufferers in several countries had their conditions aggravated when Europe was cloaked by a mysterious yellow dust in May.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Asthma- and allergy-sufferers in several countries had their conditions aggravated when Europe was cloaked by a mysterious yellow dust in May. The Met Office first blamed the dust on fires in Russia, but record levels of birch pollen from...

Japan putting whale meat on the menu.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A pro-whaling organisation affiliated with the Japanese government has launched a new company that aims to sell 1,000 tonnes of whale meat to family restaurants, hospitals and makers of school lunches. The International Whaling Commission...

Name dispute widens diplomatic gulf.(dispute between Iran and Qatar over name)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Diplomatic relations between Iran and Qatar were strained recently, when a lingering dispute over a geographical name was given a new airing. The dispute relates to the name used for the body of water that separates Iran from the Arabian...

New name to reflect change.(Royal Geographical Society)
July 1, 2006... This year marks the start of the second RGS-IBG five-year strategy. The strategy aims to develop all of the Society's core areas of activity, including policy and teaching, supporting research, expeditions and fieldwork, and public engagement....

New website.(Royal Geographical Society)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Society's website is currently undergoing a major facelift. Regular users will already have noticed a change to the site's look, feel and navigation, but this is only the start of the overhaul. In the coming months, we will be adding new...

Real World Learning Campaign.(Royal Geographical Society launches "Out of classroom")(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Last month, the Society and partners of the Real World Learning Campaign hosted the launch of the 'Out of classroom' learning guide. The guide offers advice on a wide range of educational experiences away from the classroom and provides useful...

Fabled icecaps to disappear.(due to rising air temperature)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Equatorial icecaps in the Rwenzori Mountains of East Africa will disappear within two decades because of rising air temperatures, according to an RGS-IBG-funded study published last month in Geophysical Research Letters. The research by Dr...

Online Antarctic resources launched.(Royal Geographical Society)
July 1, 2006... Over the next two years, the spotlight will be shining on the Antarctic--first, with the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in June, and then with the launch of the International Polar Year, 2007-08. To coincide with these events, which are...

Life in post-conflict Cambodia: as undergraduate expeditioners make the final preparations for this summer's fieldwork, RGS-IBG grants officer Greg Dow discusses one of almost 40 projects receiving the Society's support.
July 1, 2006... As the academic year draws to a close, the busiest period for grant applications is almost over. Applications are made throughout the spring for expeditions taking place in the summer, and the Society has seen another successful year for...

Grants for teachers.(from Royal Geographical Society)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Behind every good geographer is the geography teacher who first helped inspire them. At the RGS-IBG, we're doing everything we can to support and encourage great geography teaching in British schools. As part of this, we offer two annual grants...

Royal Geographical Society with IBG: advancing geography and geographical learning.(Institute of British Geographers )(Organization overview)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 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 Sarah Metcalfe, Professor Keith Richards Honorary Treasurer...

Medieval meets modern: Brussels for English tourists (c. 1886).
July 1, 2006... This map of central Brussels, Belgium, shows the city during the mid-1880s; east is to the top. Located at the left edge is the 'Station du Nord' and, at the right, the 'Station du Midi', today called Gare du Midi, which is the Belgian terminus...

The high lands.(photos of mountain)
July 1, 2006... GLOBAL Mountains have long had an unusually powerful hold on our imagination, seemingly daring us to climb them. They've had a particularly strong grip on photographer Colin Monteath, who has s pent more than 35 years scaling peaks all over the...

A monstrous error of geography? Aside from death and taxes, there are few things in life that one can take for granted. But you can always rely on water to flow downhill. Or can you? Richard Starks and Miriam Murcutt travel deep into the Amazon jungle in search of a river that seems to break this golden rule of geography.
July 1, 2006... The last time someone aimed an arrow at me, it had a rubber sucker on the end and I was eight years old. This time, it looked more serious. We'd just clambered ashore at the Yanomami village of Cejal on the upper reaches of the Orinoco in...

The new GM revolution: plans for trials of genetically modified crops in Europe were met with a wall of resistance from groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth and outraged editorials in the tabloids. But in the developing world, their dire predictions have proven unfounded, and GMOs are becoming increasingly popular with small-scale farmers, attracted by the increased yields and profits they offer.
July 1, 2006... Salina Nobulhe Manukuza is very happy. Over the past six years, the 33-year-old farmer from Makhathini Flats in South Africa's Kwa-Zulu Natal province has seen yields on her cotton farm increase and her profits rise. "Life used to be hard, and...

Kalashnikov Central: Nazia Parvez gets a guided tour around Darra Adam Khel in Pakistan's troubled Northwest Frontier Province, a town with an unusual home-grown industry. Additional reporting by Shafiq Ahmed.
July 1, 2006... At first glance, it seems like any other small town in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP). The thoroughfare is typically windswept and dusty, and lined with a row of apparently indistinct shops. The austere architecture echoes the...

Pipe dreams: the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline in Central Asia, the world's largest private construction effort, promises to bring much-needed foreign cash to the three countries it traverses: Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. But, as Robin Pagnamenta discovers, the much-touted benefits have yet to materialise.
July 1, 2006... Nestled in a curve in a deep river gorge and surrounded by lush green mountains, it's not hard to see why Joseph Stalin liked Borjomi. Back in the 1930s, this Georgian spa town was the dictator's favourite summer retreat. Accompanied by...

The weather man: Sir David Attenborough described him as "in the league of the great explorers." He's discovered numerous new mammal species, both living and extinct. But now acclaimed Australian author and biologist Tim Flannery has turned his attention to the world's climate. And, as he tells Andrew Brackenbury, what he's discovered has left him reeling.
July 1, 2006... At one time or another, we've all felt as if the weight of the world was on our shoulders. Yet few of us have empathised with the worries of the world--of planet Earth itself--as intensely as the Australian writer, palaeontologist, biologist...

Beauty and the furry little beasts: when it comes to natural wonders, New Zealand seems to have it all: mountains, forests, volcanoes, glaciers, lakes, rivers and a whole host of unusual wildlife. But, as Roger Bray discovers, beneath all this spectacular beauty, all is not well.(possums carry bovine tuberculosis)
July 1, 2006... Take a walk in the woods with a New Zealander and chances are you'll soon hear a common lament. It starts with a statistic that the entire population seems programmed to trot out: every night, 70 million brushtail possums eat their body weight...

Through a lens.(Royal Geographical Society)
July 1, 2006... The invention of photography and the origins of the Royal Geographical Society are rooted in the same decade, and over the past 170 years, the two have developed side by side. As explorers travelled far and wide to further our understanding of...

The most powerful man in history.("Kublai Khan: The Mongol King Who Remade China" by John Man)(Book review)
July 1, 2006... Kublai Khan: The Mongol King Who Remade China by John Man Bantam Press, hb, pp384, 20 [pounds sterling] The early 13th century was a time of upheaval; the twin tectonic plates of trade and religion were shifting to reveal new...

Not if you were the last tortoise on Earth.(Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of a Conservation Icon by Henry Nicholls )(Book review)
July 1, 2006... Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of a Conservation Icon by Henry Nicholls MacMillan, hb, pp237, 16.99 [pounds sterling] Lonesome George, a 1.5-metre giant Pinta Island tortoise from the Galapagos, caused something of a stir when he was...

The Royal Navy in Polar Exploration: From Frobisher to Ross.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2006... The Royal Navy in Polar Exploration: From Frobisher to Ross by EC Coleman Tempus Publishing, pb, pp320, 25 [pounds sterling] Many books have covered specific episodes of polar history, but in The Royal Navy in Polar Exploration, EC Coleman...

Paperback round-up.(In Search of the Pangolin: The Accidental Eco-Tourist by Satyajit Das and Jade Novakovic)(Narrow Dog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington)(The Cyclades: Discovering the Greek Islands of the Aegean by John Freely)(Book review)
July 1, 2006... "You sailed across the Channel in your little boat of the canals like a cigarette?" exclaims an amazed Frenchman in Terry Darlington's Narrow Dog to Carcassonne. Deciding to take a narrow boat from Stone in Staffordshire to Carcassonne in the...

The Medical Detective: John Snow and the Mystery of Cholera.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2006... The Medical Detective: John Snow and the Mystery of Cholera by Sandra Hempel Granta, hb, pp282, 17.99 [pounds sterling] Sometimes etymology tells the story by itself: cholera's name is derived from the Greek words for 'bile' and 'to flow'....

Top 10 writer's reads.(John Man's best books)
July 1, 2006... John Man is a travel writer and historian with a special interest in Mongolia. Author of Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection and Attila the Hun, his latest work, Kablai Khan: The Mongol King Who Remade China is this month's Book of the...

Geographical classic #31.(Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World by Mark Twain )(Book review)
July 1, 2006... Following the Equator: A Journey around the World by Mark Twain First published 1897. Most recent edition published by Dover Books, pb, pp720, 5.99 [pounds sterling] In 1894, Mark Twain embarked on an around-the-world lecture tour,...

Writings of a rambling man.(The Audubon Reader by John James)(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2006... The Audubon Reader by John James Audubon Everyman's Library, hb, pp634, 14.99 [pounds sterling] John James Audubon's fame rests on his book Birds of America, but his life was littered with incident and included such Huck Finnish adventures...

Exploring every facet of her subject.(Buried Treasure: Travels Through the Jewel Box by Victoria Finlay )(Book review)
July 1, 2006... Buried Treasure: Travels through the Jewel Box by Victoria Finlay Sceptre, hb, pp482, 14.99 [pounds sterling] Victoria Finlay's new book is a captivating rummage through the various gems our planet produces. Each chapter tackles a different...

China Inc: The Relentless Rise of the Next Great Superpower.(Book review)
July 1, 2006... China Inc: The Relentless Rise of the Next Great Superpower By Ted C Fishman Pocket Books, pb, pp352, 7.99 [pounds sterling] Since the 1970s, China's economy has changed dramatically: from a centrally planned system, largely closed to...

Hearing the voice of the hidden waterfall.(The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place by Ian Baker )(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2006... The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place by Ian Baker Sourvenir Press, hb, pp514, 20 [pounds sterling] Beyul are hidden lands, reminiscent of paradise, and lie "beyond the coordinates of conventional geography"--that is,...

The Shark God: Encounters with Myth and Magic in the South Seas.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2006... The Shark God: Encounters with Myth and Magic in the South Seas by Charles Montgomery Fourth Estate, hb, pp370, 18.99 [pounds sterling] Despite comprising a third of the Earth's surface, the Pacific is rarely engaged by serious travel...

Occupational Hazards: My Time Governing in Iraq.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2006... Occupational Hazards: My Time Governing in Iraq by Rory Stewart Picador, hb, pp424, 17.99 [pounds sterling] "When the invasion of Iraq began in March 2003 I sent in my CV," begins Rory Stewart, of his application for a job where one has to...

Climbing lite: essential gear: heading into the mountains this summer for your first taste of alpinism? Then Andy Kirkpatrick is keen for you to benefit from some of his past gear-selection mistakes.
July 1, 2006... Someone once said that you should begin an alpine climb as you mean to finish it--on your knees--which just about sums up this glorious pursuit. Alpine climbing is tough, and it's a game of lessons, where you're always trying to learn how best...

Ten of the best.(camping equipment)(Buyers guide)
July 1, 2006... Paring your kit back to the absolute minimum means that it's even more important that you don't compromise on quality. And we've made your job easier by selecting some of the best gear on offer [1] Base layer Macpac Innerwool L/S...

Drink and go.(backpacks from North Face Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Keeping thirst at bay has never been easier thanks to The North Face's new range of backpacks with in-built hydration bladders. Eight styles and sizes are available. The smallest--the Bullhead (30 [pounds sterling])--is essentially just a...

Win! Bag a Macpac backpack.
July 1, 2006... New Zealand-based company Macpac has been designing and making outdoor kit for more than 30 years. To coincide with this month's feature on the land of the long white cloud (see page 64), Geographical is giving away one of Macpac's Pursuit 40...

New mosquito repellent causes a buzz.(MozzyOff )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Great for sensitive skin and children, MozzyOff is a new insect repellent made from a blend of 100 per cent natural plant oils. Fifteen years in the making, it has undergone clinical trials at Paisley and Edinburgh universities, as well as...

For the explorer who has everything.
July 1, 2006... Be prepared for that victorious moment when you conquer your own personal Everest with Mumm Champagne's new luxury expedition kit. Inside a padded, insulated, nappa-leather backpack, you'll find a well-secured bottle of Mumm's Grand Cru...

Fest your eyes on this.
July 1, 2006... This year's October Outdoor Fest is being held in Gaynor Sports, Ambleside, in the Lake District from 21 to 28 October. Visitors will be able to test equipment from some of the major outdoor brands, attend guided walks, spend an evening with...

Sparks will fly.(firelighter from Nordic Outdoor)
July 1, 2006... Light my Fire's Scout FireSteel (8 [pounds sterling]) is now available from Nordic Outdoor. Originally developed by the Swedish Defence Department, this firelighter works by striking the steel blade against a magnesium-alloy rod. It should...

Water purification: essential drinking-water safety: medical advice from Jason Gibbs, head pharmacist at Nomad Travel stores and health clinics.
July 1, 2006... Ensuring that you have a suitable supply of drinking water is vital to every traveller, from solo backpackers to members of a large expedition team. Bottled water is now widely available and should be used wherever possible, but beware: there...

Explorer's essentials: Steve Razzetti, mountaineer, freelance guide, author, photographer and journalist.(OUT AND ABOUT)(Buyers guide)
July 1, 2006... 1. Camera. I've stuck with film for the time being and use a Nikon F5 because it's unbelievably rugged and has the most superb metering, auto-focus and flash systems. Where possible, I also take an incredibly resilient Bronica ETRSi...

The Ethical Travel Guide.(from Earthscan)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... What is it like? Published by Earthscan, this guide lists more than 300 holidays in 60 countries: from treks and art holidays to culinary and luxury retreats. Each trip has been vetted by ethical-travel campaign group Tourism Concern. ...

Face value: context is everything when photographing people during your travels, says Keith Wilson. And don't forget to show some cultural sensitivity.
July 1, 2006... For most of us, the idea of photographing someone in their work-day surroundings doesn't enter our thoughts until we travel abroad. Grabbing a snapshot of your local grocer putting out a crate of tomatoes may not sound like an appealing...

Protection for paradise.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... In the Worldwatch section of the June Geographical, concern was raised about the water level of Lake Naivasha in Kenya, which has dropped by about three metres in the past 30 years. Dr David Harper attributes the decline to the introduction of...

The perils of poor preparation.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I've been following with interest the progress of Karl Bushby during his around-the-world walk (Worldwatch, June 2006). But following his detention in eastern Russia, I wondered if anyone could tell me why on Earth he, or a member of his...

Archive brings history alive.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I just wanted to congratulate the Geographical team and the Royal Geographical Society for the beautiful Archive section each month. As a former history teacher and a bit of an old relic myself, I relish the chance to delve into the past...

Scientists in denial.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... Following on from Sarah Joseph's letter in the June Geographical, scientists acknowledge the effects of the Chernobyl disaster as they have little option, but are apparently in denial about the effects of the atmospheric H- and A-bomb tests,...

Again on the guinea.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... In reference to the Q&A item on the value of the guinea (May 2006), and subsequent correspondence, when the coin was first issued by the Royal Mint in 1663, it was indeed worth 20 shillings. However, by the end of the First World War, the...

Natalie Hoare in conversation with ... Silas Siakor.(Interview)
July 1, 2006... Silas Siakor, 36, is the director of the Liberia-based Sustainable Development Institute. He recently received a Goldman Environmental Prize for his work gathering evidence that proved that Liberia's former president, Charles Taylor, was using...