Geographical articles from June 2005

Geographical archives from June 2005

Dr Johnson's geography.(FROM THE EDITOR)(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... This year, lexicographers the world over will he celebrating the 250th anniversary of the publication of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language. So it seems a good time to see what the 'good doctor' was saying about the noun...

70 years of adventure.(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... Geographical's founder, Michael Huxley, who remained in the editor's seat for no less than 24 years, launched the magazine in 1935 to bring the world's landscapes and cultures to the armchairs of its readers. The many changes that have taken...

Long riders saddle up at the RGS-IBG.(Worldwatch)(Royal Geographical Society )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... UK The Long Riders' Guild has donated 107 equestrian travel books in five languages to the Foyle Reading Room of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)--the largest literary donation of its kind and the largest collection of equestrian...

A survey has been launched to monitor the UK's ladybirds and the advance of the world's most invasive species, the harlequin.(UK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A survey has been launched to monitor the UK's ladybirds and the advance of the world's most invasive species, the harlequin, which threatens our 46 indigenous species. * Info: www.harlequinsurvey.org

An evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Kanchenjunga will take place on 7 June at the RGS-IBG, hosted by Sir David Attenborough.(UK)
June 1, 2005... An evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Kanchenjunga will take place on 7 June at the RGS-IBG, hosted by Sir David Attenborough. The Mount Everest Foundation fundraising event will feature original team members,...

The government and car industry of Canada have signed a landmark agreement to cut carbon emissions by more than 17 per cent over the next five years.(CANADA)
June 1, 2005... The government and car industry of Canada have signed a landmark agreement to cut carbon emissions by more than 17 per cent over the next five years. The scheme will come into effect in 2007 and could cut annual vehicle emissions by 5.3 million...

Goldman prize.(Worldwatch)(Stephanie Roth and Kaisha Atakhanova, environmental activists got The Goldman Environmental Prize)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... GLOBAL A Swiss woman fighting to halt the creation of a gold mine in Romania and a Kazakh woman trying to stop the importation and dumping of nuclear waste in Kazakhstan are among the six recipients of this year's Goldman Environmental Prize....

Peru's forests gain more protection.(Worldwatch)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... PERU The Peruvian government is to create one of the world's largest combined conservation areas and indigenous territories. The Alto Purus Reserved Zone will encompass 27,000 square kilometres of Amazonian forest--an area almost the size of...

Fossil snails offer clues to Egypt's ancient climate.(Worldwatch)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... EGYPT Earth scientists from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, are using fossil snails to determine what the climate of the arid regions of Egypt was like 130,000 years ago. In the now dry lake of Kharga Oasis in western Egypt,...

The lynx effect.(Worldwatch)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... SPAIN The future of the world's most endangered cat species, the Iberian lynx, has been given a boost with the birth of three cubs at a captive breeding centre in Spain. The cubs, the first bred in captivity, were born in March at the...

The Sudanese capital Khartoum and its sister city Omdurman have become major hubs in the illegal trade in new ivory, according to Care for the Wild.(SUDAN)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Sudanese capital Khartoum and its sister city Omdurman have become major hubs in the illegal trade in new ivory, according to Care for the Wild. More than 11,000 recently produced items were counted in 50 souvenir shops in the two cities....

According to government figures, the UK is currently on course to meet its Kyoto Protocol targets.(UK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... According to government figures, the UK is currently on course to meet its Kyoto Protocol targets. Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by an average of one per cent per year since 1997.

Top 10 fastest growing cities.(Worldwatch)(Illustration)
June 1, 2005... TOP 10 FASTEST GROWING CITIES Per cent average annual growth, 1975-2000 1 Sana'a, Yemen 33.3 2 Karaj, Iran 29.1 3 Ansan, South Korea 24.2 4 Rajshahi, Bangladesh 23.5 5 Neijiang,...

Geographical has ten copies of Erich Hoyt's new children's book Whale Rescue to give away.(GIVEAWAY)
June 1, 2005... Geographical has ten copies of Erich Hoyt's new children's book Whale Rescue to give away. The book, for 9-12 year olds, is published by Firefly. To be in with a chance of winning a copy, simply answer the following question: Erich Hoyt works...

India's government recently announced that it will phase out the veterinary use of Diclofenac.(INDIA)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... India's government recently announced that it will phase out the veterinary use of Diclofenac, a drug used to treat livestock that has caused a rapid decline in populations of three southern Asian vulture species.

Sir Roderick Impey Murchison: (1792-1871) Pioneering Scottish geologist Roderick Murchison was instrumental in the identification and naming of several geological time periods.(Late Great Geographers #56)
June 1, 2005... What was his background? Roderick Impey Murchison was born on 22 February 1792 in Tarradale, Scotland. The son of a wealthy Highland family, he was sent away to Durham School at the age of seven and spent his teenage years at Great Marlow...

70 years ago today ... Geographical magazine, June 1935.(WORLDWATCH)
June 1, 2005... In this, the second edition of Geographical, there appeared an article on the hadj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, written by the first Englishwoman to make the journey, Lady Evelyn Cobbold. "It was with a feeling of awe and reverence that I...

Jordan goes botanical.(WORLDWATCH)(Botanic Gardens Conservation International)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... JORDAN The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has established the country's first national botanic garden with the assistance of UK-based charity Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). Located in a country park at Tel el Ruman, 25...

Israel.(GEOGRAPHICAL FLAGS OF THE WORLD)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Description: The flag of Israel shows the Magen David (the Shield or Star of David) in blue against a white background. Thick blue stripes lie above and below it. History: The Star of David has been used on Jewish flags for centuries....

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).(Geographical Organizations of Note)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... When was NERC founded and how? NERC was established under the Science and Technology Act and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1965. NERC is a non-departmental public body funded by grants allocated by the Office of Science and Technology...

Sea turtles are returning to Sri Lanka's tsunami-devastated beaches to nest, according to conservationists.(SRI LANKA)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Sea turtles are returning to Sri Lanka's tsunami devastated beaches to nest, according to conservationists. However, it's feared that the lack of tourists will lead to former egg poachers and turtle hunters who now make a living from turtle...

This year, Friends of the Earth's annual activity week for schools and youth groups will focus on climate change.(UK)
June 1, 2005... This year, Friends of the Earth's annual activity week for schools and youth groups will focus on climate change. 'Shout about climate change' will run from 7 to 11 November. A free resource pack for teachers and youth groups with lesson plans,...

WWF has launched a new project to save Asia's threatened river dolphins.(ASIA)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... WWF has launched a new project to save Asia's threatened river dolphins. It's estimated that the Yangtze River has just 13 dolphins left, while fewer than 2,000 and 1,000 remain in the Ganges and in Pakistan respectively, The River Dolphin...

The Asian monsoon: weatherwatch with BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts.(WORLDWATCH)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... What is a monsoon? Monsoon refers to a seasonal shift brought about by a change of wind direction. It can be used to describe any extended period of weather, be it a wet or dry season, although people generally associate the term with the...

Earth on the brink.(GLOBAL)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... GLOBAL An appraisal of the state of the planet by 1,360 leading scientists from 95 countries suggests that humans are living beyond their means and could be on the brink of numerous localised environmental catastrophes. The Millennium Ecosystem...

Where and when was the first modern democratic election?(Quizzical)
June 1, 2005... A lot depends on how you define a modern democracy, something upon which historians still can't agree. Some believe that modern, representative democracies date back to the early 19th century at least. At that time in post-revolutionary France...

Why is the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm part of Denmark when it's located so close to Sweden?(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Bornholm's position in the Baltic has made the island something worth fighting over for centuries. It even saw the last battles of the Second World War in Europe as Nazi troops decided to fight on for several days, rather than obey orders to...

How much of the Earth's surface is covered by towns and cities?(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... According to the UN, in 1830, just three per cent of the world's population lived in urban areas. By 1900, the proportion had more than quadrupled to 14 per cent and, by 2000, close to half of the world had moved out of the countryside. The UN...

Where is the coldest place on the equator?(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... There's nothing like a bit of altitude to bring the temperature down, so the coldest place on the equator also happens to be the highest. Both accolades belong to 5,790-metre Mount Cayambe, close to Quito in Ecuador. The temperature on the...

Why is Starvation Cove in Canada so named?(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Starvation Cove lies at the top of the Adelaide Peninsula in the Northwest Territories of Canada and is one of the most inhospitable parts of the country. It received its name after the discovery there of the remnants of an ill-fated 1847...

Global population watch.(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The world population at the time of going to press was according to: the United Nations 6,525,679,869 the CIA 6,475,471,384 the US Bureau of the Census 6,440,103,976

Picture this.
June 1, 2005... The Society's Picture Library has recently received an online-makeover, and with it comes a new and quick web address: images. rgs.org. The library contains thousands of contemporary and historical images spanning all corners of the world.

Medal count.
June 1, 2005... This year's recipients of the Society's prized medals are to be announced at the beginning of June during the Annual General Meeting. Check the Society's website (www.rgs.org) for full details.

Say it loud.
June 1, 2005... If you're part of a school interested in how the next generation of geographers will approach the world's sustainability issues, you may wish to attend Say It Loud, a free event (part organised by the RGS-IBG) that celebrates the work of...

Learn about the great outdoors outdoors.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... EDITORIAL Broadly speaking, geography is the study of the world around us. So it makes perfect sense that children being taught geography are regularly taken out of the classroom and into the wider world. The good news is that politicians...

Photographic exhibitions hit the road.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)
June 1, 2005... Fancy hosting of one of the Society's exhibitions? If so, here's your chance, as a number of our photographic exhibitions are now officially 'on tour'. This means that if you're a cultural, heritage or education venue in the UK, you have the...

A selection of society events taking place in June.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Calendar)
June 1, 2005... For details, please contact the Events Office on 020 7591 3100 7 June, 8pm What it takes: Alone on the ocean (LECTURE, DARLINGTON) Jim Shekhdar, the first person to row solo and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean, shares his...

Sacred summits (Stamford, Lincolnshire): 16 June, 8pm.(Lecture of the month)
June 1, 2005... Over the years, Doug Scott, winner of the Society's Patrons Medal in 1999, has had some extraordinary experiences on some of the world's tallest and most dangerous mountains. He has climbed Mount Everest's South West Face, Kangchenjunga's North...

A well-travelled Welshman: sketch map of the northern and central regions of Patagonia (1901).(MAP OF THE MONTH)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... This manuscript map came to the Royal Geographical Society's Map Room in October 1910. It was made by Llwyd ap Iwan and, according to the Map Room's daily accessions register, was dated to 1901. Llwyd ap Iwan was the son of Michael D Jones...

Royal Geographical Society with IBG: advancing geography and geographical learning.(In Society: A round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)
June 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 David Lyon...

Beijing: China's cultural heart.(IMAGES OF BEIJING)
June 1, 2005... CHINA As the capital of China for more than 1,000 years, Beijing is renowned for its cultural heritage, architecture, cuisine and linguistic diversity. But as the city prepares for the 2008 Olympics, it's undergoing a dramatic transformation:...

A passage to Pakistan.(THE KHYBER PASS)(book)(Critical Essay)
June 1, 2005... One of the most bloodstained parts of the world, the Khyber Pass has been the scene of conflict and unrest for thousands of years, from Alexander the Great's invasion of India to the US pursuit of the Taliban. A regular visitor to northern...

Protected areas.(Geographical dossier)
June 1, 2005... Ever since Yellowstone National Park became the first national park of the modern era more than 130 years ago, protected areas have represented the keystone of conservation strategies all over the world. The past 40 years have seen a ten-fold...

A theory in evolution: since the first national park was designated as a wilderness area more than 130 years ago, the concept of the protected area has changed significantly.(Geographical dossier/protected areas)
June 1, 2005... From the mid-1800s, the US government encouraged settlement and development of the nation's west in an effort to fulfil its self-proclaimed 'manifest destiny' to spread over the entire continent. But even as it was offering settlers cash...

Could do better: although the coverage of today's protected areas has surpassed targets set during the 1990s, the planning and management of many needs to improve.(Geographical dossier/protected areas)
June 1, 2005... The WCMC's database on protected areas has enabled scientists to begin assessing the effectiveness of global conservation planning. The first global gap analysis, prepared by Conservation International in 2003, found that although the global...

Conflicting interests: a broader approach to conservation will only succeed if the international community takes responsibility for ensuring that it's carried out equitably.(Geographical dossier/protected areas)
June 1, 2005... Since the early 1990s, conservation planners have been developing a broader approach to natural-resource management known as bioregional or ecosystem-scale planning. "This is planning on a larger scale," says Adrian Phillips, "not just thinking...

From the iron curtain to the heavenly mountains.(KYRGYZSTAN)
June 1, 2005... For many post-Soviet republics, the legacy of Communism is one of unremitting hardship. Kyrgyzstan is no exception. To make matters worse, in Kyrgyzstan, crippling poverty has led to a conservation crisis. As the country prepares to choose a...

Writer's bloc: author Martin Cruz Smith is the ultimate geographical fiction writer. From the Cold War paranoia of Gorky Park to the environmental catastrophe of Chernobyl in his latest book, Wolves Eat Dogs, he has done more to define 'Russia' in the eyes of the West than any other. Here he speaks to fellow novelist Mick Herron.(GEOPEOPLE: MARTIN CRUZ SMITH)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... Nineteen years after the event, and the word 'Chernobyl' still carries a lot of baggage--but then, we're still 25,000 years away from being clean. The meltdown at Reactor 4 of the Soviet nuclear power station was caused by an unnecessary...

A forest for the future: ten years ago, the National Forest Company embarked on an ambitious plan to establish the largest new forest in England for nearly 1,000 years. Nigel Hicks reports on the progress of the project and reveals how it is helping to transform rural economies in the Midlands.(THE NATIONAL FOREST)
June 1, 2005... What do you do with a post-industrial landscape scarred by abandoned mines where jobs have become scarcer than winter sunlight? The answer: cover as much of the region as possible with a new forest and then develop forestry and tourism...

Southbound with Captain Scott.(GEOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE)(With Scott to the Pole: A Photography Exhibition of Scott's Expedition to Antarctica 1910-13)
June 1, 2005... ANTARCTICA Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated final expedition to Antarctica from 1910 to 1913 has been immortalised in the British mindset as one of history's great stories of heroism and courage. And thanks to the work of Herbert Ponting, one of...

Antarctica: The Blue Continent.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... Antarctica: The Blue Continent David McDonegal and Lynn Woodworth Frances Lincoln, hb, pp224, 19.99 [pounds sterling] If you're thirsty for knowledge about Antarctica--its history and geography, the effects of global warming, even the...

The Khyber Rifles: From the British Raj to Al Qaeda.(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... The Khyber Rifles: From the British Raj to Al Qaeda by Jules Stewart Sutton Publishing, hb, pp256, 19.99 [pounds sterling] In Pakistan, there are four letters that stir the blood of any romantic: NWFP. The North West Frontier Province is...

Last Orders at Harrods.(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... Last Orders at Harrods Michael Holman Polygon, pb, pp288, 9.99 [pounds sterling] The Harrods of the title of Michael Holman's powerful debut novel about the aid and development industry in Africa isn't Mohamed Al-Fayed's department store...

The Singing Bowl.(Travel book)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... The Singing Bowl by Alistair Carr Cloudburst Media, pb, pp128, 8.99 [pounds sterling] Alistair Carr's first venture into travel writing covers an extraordinary year-long journey through Inner Asia, notably passing through the Altai...

The Coast Exposed.(National Trust Photographic Library and Magnum Photos exhibition)(SeaBritain 2005)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Coast Exposed Queen's House, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Until 8 January 2006 As part of SeaBritain 2005, the National Trust Photographic Library and Magnum Photos have joined forces to present a magnificent...

The Blue Nile Revealed.(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... The Blue Nile Revealed by Richard Snailham First published in 1970. Most recent edition published by Signal Books, pb, pp256, 14.99 [pounds sterling] The Blue Nile Revealed has all the hallmarks of a Hollywood blockbuster: fierce gun...

A Sheltered Life: The Unexpected History of the Giant Tortoise.(Book)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... A Sheltered Life: The Unexpected History of the Giant Tortoise by Paul Chambers John Murray, hb, pp306, 17.99 [pounds sterling] In 1835, the governor of the Galapagos Islands told Charles Darwin that he could tell from which island a...

In Tasmania.(Book)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... In Tasmania by Nicholas Shakespeare Harvill, hb, pp374, 20 [pounds sterling] In Australia, any mention of 'Tassie' produces a patronising smile from the urban sophisticates of Sydney and Melbourne or the heat seekers of Brisbane. In...

Inside Asia.(Photographic book)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... Inside Asia by Reto Guntli and Sunil Sethi, Taschen, hb, pp880, 69.99 [pounds sterling] If you're going to publish a pictorial account of Asia, then this is how to do it. Rich on well-reproduced photographs, accompanied by a stylish...

Extremes along the Silk Road.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... Extremes along the Silk Road by Nick Middleton, John Murray, hb, pp320, 20 [pounds sterling] Nick Middleton's fascination with extreme environments has taken him to some of the world's most hostile terrains, and the journey related in this...

Admiral Collingwood: Nelson's Own Hero.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... Admiral Collingwood: Nelson's Own Hero by Max Adams Weidenfeld and Nicholson, hb, pp320, 20 [pounds sterling] In this, the bicentennial year of the Battle of Trafalqar, prepare for a broadside of books about that 'action' and its hero,...

Thomas Cook: The Holiday-maker.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... Thomas Cook: The Holiday-maker by Jill Hamilton, Sutton, hb, pp280, 20 [pounds sterling] The contrast between today's package tourist and Thomas Cook, the man credited with the invention of mass tourism, couldn't be more marked. While...

Geographical travel.(Elowah Falls)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... ELOWAH FALLS, COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, OREGON, USA Plunging almost 90 metres from an imposing rocky overhang into a verdant primordial landscape, Elowah Falls are one of the most impressive spectacles in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic...

Airport expansion update.(Travel news)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Pressure groups campaigning against airport expansion have taken a significant step forward at the High Court, with the judge ruling against the government on two counts. Campaign groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth were joined...

See Kyoto by phone.(Travel news)
June 1, 2005... Sightseeing in Japan could soon be a great deal easier, thanks to a downloadable GPS program for mobile phones. Currently only available on trial models, the system is being tested throughout Kyoto and Nara, and trials will continue until 2006,...

Tourism Concern make tourism poverty history.(Travel news)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Tourism Concern is proud to be part of the Make Poverty History campaign, the largest coalition of NGOs, trade unions and faith and student groups ever formed. We're hoping to make tourism poverty history--and we want Geographical readers to be...

Footprint has launched a new 'Backpackers' series, aimed at the grown-up backpacker with less time and more money.(UK)
June 1, 2005... Footprint has launched a new 'Backpackers' series, aimed at the grown-up backpacker with less time and more money. The guides will offer tailored advice to those looking for more than just the budget option. * Info: www.footprintbooks.com

In August and October, the Bush Camp Company is holding 'Bush Skills' courses in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park.(ZAMBIA)
June 1, 2005... In August and October, the Bush Camp Company is holding 'Bush Skills' courses in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. The week-long courses will teach basic survival and the identification of animals and their tracks. * Info:...

On 23 June, Earthwatch will host a lecture at the RGS-IBG to highlight its conservation work in Ecuador and Peru.(UK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... UK On 23 June, Earthwatch will host a lecture at the RGS-IBG to highlight its conservation work in Ecuador and Peru, focusing on the use of ecotourism to protect rare birds and the attendant problems that tourists can bring. * Info:...

Green island: with more and more destinations around the world suddenly discovering their 'green' side, Geordie Torr visits Cousine Island in the Seychelles, where the conservation came first.(SEYCHELLES)
June 1, 2005... Stepping away from the helicopter, it feels as if I've been immersed in wildlife. The sky teems with birds, and those that aren't aloft are sitting in the trees, chattering away to each other, or tip-toeing around in the undergrowth. Giant...

Harold Goodwin is the chairman of the judging panel for the Responsible Tourism Awards and has been a key player in developing responsible tourism strategies for more than a decade.(TRAVEL FOR A LIVING)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... When did responsible tourism first become an issue for you? In my previous job, I worked in adult education in central London and was involved in taking groups of students on trips to exotic destinations to experience wildlife and different...

Tents: essential gear: the humble tent has a history that dates back to before the birth of Christ. This month, our equipment guru, Paul Deegan, explores the evolution of the expeditioner's home away from home.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)(Column)
June 1, 2005... The great thing about sleeping in a tent is that no matter how harsh the elements are and how tough the day has been, when you close your tent door you can almost always convince yourself that you're really just camping in your back garden. ...

Ten of the best: polar traveller, mountain climber or weekend hiker--we've got just the right tent for you, whatever your chosen outdoor pursuit or exotic destination might be.(ESSENTIAL GEAR)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... 1 for price Vaude Taurus 1 130 [pounds sterling]/2.23-2.47 kilograms Vaude is a renowned tent manufacturer, and this three-season tent represents outstanding value [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 for solo campers Terra Nova...

Three into one.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Young fashion designer Benjamin Shine has won an Enterprising Young Brits award for the Skoody, an unusual new garment that can be worn as a scarf, fleece or waterproof jacket. * Info: www.skoody.co.uk

Vroom for one more.
June 1, 2005... Intelligent Energy, a British energy-solutions company, has unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle that produces zero emissions. Designed by Seymourpowell, the 80kg Emissions Neutral Vehicle (ENV) can reach speeds of up to 80km/h--and is only...

Join the rat race.
June 1, 2005... Rat Race Urban Adventure, which brings multiple-discipline adventure racing to the urban environment, returns this summer with three events in Bristol (11-12 June), Edinburgh (16-17 July) and Manchester (6 August). Entry is open to all. *...

Regatta's new spring look.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)
June 1, 2005... Regatta, the UK's largest outdoor clothing brand, has launched a comprehensive footwear range, as well as a new website. The popular travel and adventure kit specialist's first range of shoes, boots and sandals comprises 18 styles, and features...

Design your own sleeping bag.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)
June 1, 2005... Peter Hutchinson's down-filled clothing and sleeping bags have been used on hundreds of expeditions, ranging from Chris Bonington's Annapurna South Face Expedition in 1970 to Pelt Hadow and Simon Murrays South Pole Expedition in 2004. Now...

Marburg haemorrhagic fever: medical advice from Jason Gibbs, head pharmacist at Nomad Travel stores and health clinics.(Travel health)
June 1, 2005... Marburg haemorrhagic fever is a close relative of the Ebola virus. Although the disease is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, it was first recognised in Marburg, Germany, in 1967, when African green monkeys being used for research infected lab...

Explorer's essentials: Nick Middleton, author, geographer and extreme-ophile.(Travel health)(Brief Article)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... 1 Billingham small canvas rucksack. Many prefer something in nylon that's probably more waterproof, but Billingham makes the sturdiest bags I've found. * Info: www.billingham.co.uk 2 Leica M6 camera. For a rugged go-anywhere,...

Footprint.(The Geographical Good Guide Guide: Helping you choose that vitally important, but often rather confusing, item of kit: the guidebook)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A bit of history Now into their ninth decade, Footprint books were originally specific to South America. In 2003, Footprint reprinted its South American Handbook, the longest-running guidebook in the English language. It now publishes more...

Recent grant winners.
June 1, 2005... The Society recently awarded grants for postdoctoral research through its Small Research and EPSRC Geographical Research grant schemes. These are awarded to researchers in the early stages of their careers and are intended to act as...

Forthcoming grants deadlines.(Calendar)
June 1, 2005... 6 JUNE Thesiger-Oman International Research Fellowships: two awards of 8,000 [pounds sterling] for senior research projects in and environments, with a human or physical focus. 24 JUNE Geographical Fieldwork Grants: several grants of 750...

Finding the funds for foreign fieldwork: RGS-IBG grants officer Greg Dow speaks to University of Oxford masters student Michael Riddell, who has won three RGS-IBG Geographical Fieldwork Grants, for expeditions to Namibia, Kazakhstan and the Congo.(Grants news)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... What first drew you into the field? I've always had a Keen interest in natural history and developed a fascination for Africa during my teens worked after school for four months to fund six months of travelling southern and eastern Africa....