Geographical articles from June 2003

Geographical archives from June 2003

Culture of change.
June 1, 2003... No matter who we are or where in the world we live, every person belongs to a group defined by social, religious, political or geographical parameters. In the developed--as well as the developing--world, the laws, customs and rituals that...

Real exploration. (Prize Letter).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... The theme of this year's Everest-based Young Geographer of the Year Award, 'Yesterday's exploration, today's package holiday', is most timely, and will, I hope, prompt thought among an audience beyond the schoolchildren who will take part....

Not mad on metric. (letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... As a subscriber to your magazine for the last year, I have been entertained and educated on numerous occasions. However, I have also been confused and a little annoyed by your insistence on printing distances only in kilometres and heights only...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2003... During the editing process, text was removed from Paul Deegan's article on forest-related issues in Nepal (Appetite for destruction, March 2003) that highlighted the difference between the healthy forest cover below the treeline in Nepal's...

Which waterfall? (letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... In your January 2003 issue (25 unmissable adventures), you refer to Iguacu Falls as the world's second largest waterfall. Meanwhile, in the January 2002 issue (Canada's glittering secret), you list Niagara Falls as the world's second largest...

Cartographic equality. (letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... Gerard Mercator's maps are highly praised by Nicholas Crane (Changing our world view, April 2003), and rightly so. However, Mercator died more than 400 years ago and we should have moved on by now. The Mercator projection--which is still widely...

No sea in sandstone. (letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... There is a major error on page 90 of the April issue (Travel photo), at least major if you're a geologist! The Navajo sandstone was formed in an arid desert environment, not in the sea as is stated. The desert environment is indicated by the...

Seeking stimulation. (letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... I read with interest the letter from Patricia Leeson (April 2003) regarding the content of Geographical. I too have become disillusioned with what was once a stimulating read. I now await each issue in hopeful expectation that it won't be...

It's just not cricket. (letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... Regarding your news story about rhino conservation in India (Worldwatch, February 2003). The story states that cricket is the national sport of India, but in fact the national game is hockey. Guru Puttanarasimhaiah, Bangalore, India

Yes, we have no banana crisis. (letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... In the April 2003 issue of Geographical (Worldwatch), Ed Payne precised an article published in the 18 January 2003 issue of New Scientist that predicted the imminent demise of the banana due to fungal disease. Unfortunately, New Scientist got...

Everest 1953-2003: the latest news on the celebration of the first ascent. (Long Live Dreams[TM]).(Galas, presentations, books, websites are part of the celebrations)
June 1, 2003... Following on from last month's special Everest issue, here is a reminder of some of the events planned to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first ascent, along with a selection of books specially published to mark the achievement. ...

Elephant fossils. (Crete).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The largest known fossil of an elephant tusk has been unearthed in Crete, proving that the region once hosted dense tropical forests. The 1.4-metre tusk was among remains of a long-extinct cousin of today's elephant, Deinotherium giganteum,...

Desert blooms. (Europe).(Toshka, an irrigation scheme on the Egypt-Sudan border is a success)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Fruit and vegetables from Toshka, a massive irrigation scheme along the Egypt--Sudan border (Just add water. February 2002), have begun hitting European markets. With Toshka's first phase complete, Egypt is now extending canals further into...

Changing mountains. (Europe).(EU launches research into changing agricultural practices)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The EU has launched a three-year research programme into the response of Europe's mountain regions to changing agricultural practices. "Young people from farming families are leaving for more prosperous city employment," said project...

Whitley Awards. (Global).(Conservationists honored)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Six conservationists were recognised at this year's Whitley Awards presentation at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). The 2003 Gold Award winner, Raman Sukumar, is a teacher and field scientist from Bangalore, India, who received 25,000...

Global.(Plantlife International Project hopes to save two thirds of the world's flowering plants)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... A new UK scheme hopes to save two thirds of the world's flowering plants. One hundred and sixty countries have agreed to join the Plantlife international project, which aims to reverse the decline by 2010. Ecologists predict that one in eight...

Space.(Twelve more moons spotted orbiting Jupiter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Twelve more moons have been spotted orbiting Jupiter, bringing the total to 52--the most for any planet. The new satellites are from two to four kilometres across, with orbits of 500-980 days.

Tigers undermined. (India).(Environmental Investigation Agency reports that mining interests threaten tigers)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Confusion, government negligence and the influence of mining interests are threatening India's tigers, according to a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). The report states that the major threats to tigers are external--in...

Calming countryside congestion. (UK).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Following hot on the heels of the London congestion charge comes a similar plan for rural areas. Councils responsible for national parkland say that roads in surrounding areas are suffering staggering levels of use. Derbyshire's Peak...

Iraq.(United Nations Environment Programme studies the marshlands of Mesopotamia)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Another battle is looming in Iraq--in this case, it's a struggle for water. The marshlands of Mesopotamia, in southern Iraq--which may have been the basis for the story of the Garden of Eden--will disappear completely within five years unless...

Website.(World Land Trust and the UK Department for International Development launches childrens' educational website on forests)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The World Land Trust and the UK Department for International Development have launched an educational website aimed at children aged 11-14 (national curriculum key stage three). The user-friendly site is packed with case studies, data on...

Chris Brasher CBE (1928-2003).(Olympic gold medalist athelete, dies)(Obituary)
June 1, 2003... Chris Brasher died recently of cancer, aged 74. A gold medallist in the 1956 Olympics and founder of the London Marathon, he was a larger-than-life character--inspirational, innovative, generous, often infuriating and great fun. His athletic...

Facing the future.(Living Tribes)(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... Throughout history, indigenous peoples have been forced to abandon their traditional customs in the face of pressure from more dominant cultures. This pressure has taken a wide variety of forms, from trading and religious conversion to forced...

The hunters are the hunted.(9th Conference on Hunting and Gathering (CHAGS)reviews status of communities the world over)
June 1, 2003... For 99 per cent of its history, humanity survived by hunting the available fauna and gathering what it could from the land. Today, fewer than 300 hunter-gatherer groups remain. Dr Daniel Stiles, who has studied hunter-gatherer societies for...

Urban tribes.(social groups in England)
June 1, 2003... In 21st-century Britain, the tribal roots run deep. Defined not by their geography or ties of kinship, but by their looks, lifestyles and loyalties, modern 'tribal' groups are every bit as complex as traditional societies in more remote parts...

The secret of Cladh Hallan.(discovery of two mummies dating from 1500 BC on the Scottish island of South Uist)(indications of ancestor worship)
June 1, 2003... Remote, windswept, ceaselessly pummelled by Atlantic waves, the small island of South Uist off the western extremity of Europe is not a place anyone would expect to find the remains of ancient mummies. Yet new archaeological discoveries on this...

From a wind bridge to a drum tower.(Guizhou Province is fascinating for those interested in minority peoples)
June 1, 2003... China's long history is one of migration and conflict, of cultural fusion and fragmentation. Today, this vast nation is home to 56 recognised ethnic groups, many of them nestled away on distant frontiers. Each has maintained its own rich...

World Press Photo Contest 2003.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... Thames & Hudson, pb, pp140, 12.95 [pounds sterling] Each year for the past 46 years, individual photographers, press agencies, newspapers and magazines from all over the world have been invited to submit their best news-related pictures to...

AA Gill is Away.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by AA Gill Phoenix, pb, pp323, 8.99 [pounds sterling] "I'd like to interview places," said AA Gill when asked what he wanted from journalism. So in his latest book a collection of 22 travel pieces, Gill goes in search of the worst place in...

Imprint of the Raj.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by Chandak Sengoopta Macmillan, hb, pp234, 15.99 [pounds sterling] Imprint of the Raj takes us back to the origins of fingerprinting and its development into a standard tool of forensic science. Sengoopta tells the fascinating story of how...

Beyond the Coral Sea: Travels in the Old Empires of the South-West Pacific.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by Michael Moran, Harper-Collins, hb, pp410, 18.99 [pounds sterling] Beyond the Coral Sea is an intriguing mix of contemporary travel book and historical enquiry. Although Michael Moran carefully researched his journey through the islands...

The Last Secrets of the Silk Road.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by Alexandra Tolstoy, Profile Books, hb, pp209, 16.99 [pounds sterling] In 1997, four university friends set out on a journey that hadn't been undertaken since the Middle Ages, to travel the ancient 8,000-kilometre Silk Road by camel and...

Hearing Birds Fly.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by Louisa Waugh Little, Brown, hb, pp271, 16.99 [pounds sterling] Louisa Waugh first visited Mongolia, fleetingly, on her way to China, in 1993. Its people and countryside had such a profound impression on her that she felt compelled to...

My Life as an Explorer.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by Sven Anders Hedin National Geographic, pb, pp449, 9.99 [pounds sterling] First published in the 1920s, this journal of the heroic voyages of Swedish geographer and explorer Sven Hedin transports the reader to exotic realms of risk and...

A Traveller's Companion to St Petersburg.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by Ed Laurence, Kelly Constable & Robinson, pb, pp285, 9.99 [pounds sterling] Under attack from snow, bitter winds and disease, many thousands of workers died in the construction of St Petersburg, the city that Peter the Great founded on...

In Search of Shangri-La: the Extraordinary True Story of the Quest for the Lost Horizon.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by Michael McRae Penguin, hb, pp229, 16.99 [pounds sterling] Western explorers have long been attracted by the mysterious enigma of Shangri-La. Michael McRae's new book recounts the tales of adventure and myth that surround the hidden falls...

A Very Peruvian Practice: Travels with La Senora.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by John Lane John Murray, hb, pp290, 16.99 [pounds sterling] John Lane originally went to Lima for six weeks to help La Senora Pandora del Teodosia Zapallo-Chupado Palermo Bonomini set up the Ladies' Health Care Clinic, but ended up staying...

The Bird Man: a Biography of John Gould.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... by Isabella Tree Ebury Press, hb, pp246, 14.99 [pounds sterling] The Victorian who knew the exotic realm of birdlife like no other is colourfully depicted in this perceptive biography. With a brilliant mind and a penchant for life in the...

Researching the world. (In society: a round-up of news, views and events happening at the RGS-IBG this month).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Each year, the Society supports both individuals and teams embarking on geographical research projects. So far this year, it has awarded Expedition Research Grants worth more than 40,000 [pounds sterling] to 26 expedition teams--with a further...

Benefits of joining the society and subscribing to the magazine. (In society: a round-up of news, views and events happening at the RGS-IBG this month).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... 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....

Society events for June. (In society: a round-up of news, views and events happening at the RGS-IBG this month).(Royal Geographical Society)(Calendar)
June 1, 2003... 2 June, 4.00pm ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND RECEPTION Address by the president Professor Sir Ron Cooke; presentation of medals and awards; and election of council (for RGS-IBG Fellows only). Followed by the Society's annual reception...

Geographical travel: pull on your hiking boots and head off on some of Europe's best walks, discover another side to India and learn about how the Association of British Travel Agents is changing the face of travel.(Whitsunday Island, Queensland, Australia)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... WHITSUNDAY ISLAND, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA A group of 74 idyllic tropical islands surrounded by deep blue-green waters, the Whitsundays lie off the east coast of Queensland within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Most are continental...

Tunisia holds first conference on climate and tourism. (Travel news: climate and tourism conference; terror tours; dolphin holidays).( First International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... As Geographical went to press, the First International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism was underway on the Tunisian island of Djerba. Convened by the World Tourism Organisation and hosted by the Tunisian government, the two-day...

Tourism concern: terror tours. (Travel news: climate and tourism conference; terror tours; dolphin holidays).(4 day tours of Gaza and the West Bank offered)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Improvement of cross-cultural understanding is an oft-quoted benefit of tourism, but all too often it just reflects and builds on existing prejudices. A bizarre new type of package tour now on offer in Israel is a case in point. Visitors to the...

Dolphin holidays. (Travel news: climate and tourism conference; terror tours; dolphin holidays).(Non profit organization Tethys offers tours with a team of biologists)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... If you are crazy about wildlife and you want to do more on your next seaside holiday than just lie on a beach, an Italian non-profit organisation may have the answer. Tethys, established in 1986, is offering breaks on the Greek island of...

Now's the time. (Travel news: climate and tourism conference; terror tours; dolphin holidays).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... With the budget-airline boom looking shaky, the second generation of low-cost airlines has arrived in the form of Now. Flying from Luton to seven destinations in Europe including Hamburg, Rome and Ibiza, and taking its first bookings in May,...

Hotel gets green light. (Travel news: climate and tourism conference; terror tours; dolphin holidays).(Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel in Oslo complies with with Nordic Swan Eco-label)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel in Oslo, Norway, has become the largest hotel in northern Europe to comply with the Nordic Swan Eco-label, the official eco-label in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. The Oslo Plaza is the first in...

These routes were made for walking: with its temperate climate, varied geography and fascinating history, Europe is hiking heaven. So make the most of summer by taking to the great outdoors, and let Nicholas Crane guide you to and through some of the region's top walks.
June 1, 2003... Ten years ago I was walking through the beech woods of the Polish Carpathians, en route to Istanbul. The shepherds had returned to the high pastures and the last winter snows were softening in the north-facing hollows of the High Tatras. The...

Pyrenees: they rise as a 400-kilometre wall dividing France from Spain, clothed in forests on their northern flanks and riven with canyons to the south.
June 1, 2003... One end of the Pyrenees rises from the muscled swell of the Atlantic and the other drops to the soporific Mediterranean. Winding along this thin range are some of Europe's most challenging long-distance walks and any number of shorter outings....

The West Highland Way: short of leaving these shores, Britons in search of a walk on the wild side have to head for the Highlands.(hiking in Scotland)(guide book and map information included)
June 1, 2003... Instead of raving about old favourites such as the hike to Cape Wrath, or the Cuillin ridges, or the numerous glens and Bens between Foinaven and Knoydart, I'd like to concentrate on the classic introduction to adventurous Scottish hiking. ...

Southwest Coast Path: this year, Britain's longest waymarked trail celebrates its 25th birthday. At 1,015 kilometres, this is the most dramatic, continuous coastal promenade in Europe, with bucketloads of scenery and sufficient history and geography to keep you locked in a library for years afterwards.
June 1, 2003... Don't be misled by the 'sea-level' nature of the SWCP; walkers who complete the entire route climb a total of 27,000 metres--more than three times the height of Mount Everest. The two end points of the SWCP are Minehead on the Somerset coast,...

Vercors: this outlying ripple of the Alps is ideally suited to anyone looking for several days of solitude.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... This little-known limestone massif has no English-language walking guide and to date it has escaped being described in Lonely Planet's guide to France, or indeed in their Walking in France guide-book. Defended by tortuous gorges and roofed...

The Robert Louis Stevenson trail: the man who wrote "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go", is enshrined in the leafy hills of Southern France. Many still make a pilgrimage in celebration of his memory.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Robert Louis Stevenson's 12-day journey in 1878 with his recalcitrant companion Modestine was popularised the following year in his Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes. While Stevenson's star continued to brighten with the success of Dr...

The Journals of Captain James Cook.(Book Review)
June 1, 2003... Reissued by arrangement with the Hakluyt Society THIS CLASSIC edition of Cook's journals, edited from the original manuscripts, improves on previous editions by incorporating into its rightful place the rare 'Cook and the Russians'...

Cinque Terre: the train to Levanto runs through a tunnel whose rock-walls are pierced at intervals by windows onto the blue Ligurian Sea. Through these windows, passengers are taunted by fleeting glimpses of their destination: a stretch of beach; a nodding boat; a sheer cliff; a waterfall of wisteria.
June 1, 2003... Cinque Terre--the lands belonging to five cliff-villages that cling to the shorn-off end of the Apennines in northern Italy--is adored by Italians for its scenic isolation, for its wine and for Its seafood. At 50 kilometres, this isn't a walk...

Polish Tatras: old and new mountain cultures meet in the highest peaks of the Carpathians.
June 1, 2003... Jan Staszel Furtek was talking about his spinka, the shepherds' brooch that he wore on his chest, elaborately fretted in silver to symbolise faith, love and strength. Beside me on the bench rested a slab of sheeps' cheese and a mug of warm...

Picos de Europa: Europe's largest lump of maritime limestone rises like a gigantic breakwater midway along the northern coast of Spain.
June 1, 2003... A compact range measuring 40 by 20 kilometres, the Picos de Europa consist of three massifs, of which the central is the most abrupt and the western the largest and most diverse. Between these two massifs cuts the Cares Gorge, with its...

The great outdoors: Regatta's new range of X-ert Performance clothing offers excellent quality and value for money, allowing you to get out and about and take full advantage of another glorious British summer. (Geographical promotion).
June 1, 2003... According to a recent survey, Regatta is Britain's most recognised outdoor clothing brand, But then, given the company's reputation for hard-wearing, stylish and reasonably priced products, and the fact that it's the country's largest supplier...

Hit the trail, or ...: take the leg work out of walking holidays and active breaks with Geographical's list of specialist tour operators for walking routes and outdoor adventures in Britain, Europe and beyond. (Georgraphical Promotion).(Directory)
June 1, 2003... Walks Worldwide Tel: 01524 262 255 Walks Worldwide--a specialist Email: walking company offering guided geo@walksworldwide.com tours, supported inn-dependent Web:...

Walk for a cause: A fundraising expedition is a great alternative to a walking holiday. If you fancy a challenge, why not raise money for a charity at the same time? (Georgraphical Promotion).(Calendar)
June 1, 2003... Conquer Mt Kilimanjaro The charity Scope is organising an Tel: 0800 019 1200 expedition to the 'Roof of Africa' (quoting reference: JuneGEO) in January 2004. They promise one of Email: events@scope.org.uk the most...

Incredible India: Northern India is often described as the real India. But visitors to India's south will discover that there is a lot more to this extraordinary nation than the Taj Mahal, elephant rides and saris. (Geographical special promotion).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Hidden away from the well-trodden tourist route, the southern states offer visitors a taste of a different India. The southernmost states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have rich traditions that have developed untainted for centuries, if not...

The splendid, sizzling south: the southern states are home to some of India's most exquisite attractions. They boast a mix of ancient and medieval cities, verdant beaches, colourful festivals and amazing wildlife, making a journey south an unforgettable experience. (Incredible India).
June 1, 2003... When India celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence in 1997, it used the slogan 'Unity in Diversity'. In many ways the southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, illustrate this diversity. Their history is one of oscillating...

Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu--home to one of the world's oldest cultures--abounds with magnificent temples, colourful festivals and tea plantations that hark back to another time. (Incredible India).
June 1, 2003... Not for nothing is Tamil Nadu known as the Temple State of India--it positively teems with religious architecture, a rich legacy that reflects its unique cultural roots. Protected from external influences by the kingdoms of the Deccan...

India: useful facts and information. (Geographical special promotion).
June 1, 2003... Getting there British Airways (0845 77 333 77, www.britishairways.com) has daily services to Delhi and Mumbai and twice-weekly services to Mumbai and Calcutta. Virgin Atlantic (01293 450 150, www.virgin-atlantic.com) flies directly to...

Agent of change: Keith Richards is head of consumer affairs at the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), which represents the interests of tour operators and travel agents that carry its logo. Tina Desai spoke to him about the changing face of travel.(Interview)
June 1, 2003... What is the ABTA doing about responsible travel within the industry? We've started to develop policies and strategies that relate to tourism's environmental, social and cultural impacts. It's in the industry's interests for tourism to be...

Gregor MacLennan was recently awarded the Sting and Trudy Styler Award for human rights and the environment as part of this year's Whitley Awards. Christian Amodeo talks to the 25-year-old Scot about his work with the Nahua people in the Purus River region of southeastern Peru.(Interview)
June 1, 2003... Why did you first go to Peru? My colleague Conrad Feather wanted to work with Amazonian indigenous people, focusing on human rights and conservation. My interest stems from studying biological anthropology and sustainable development at...