Geographical articles from March 2007

Geographical archives from March 2007

Injustice by any name.(FROM THE EDITOR)(slave trade)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... With celebrations beginning around the country to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, you could be forgiven for thinking that slavery was a thing of the past, indeed, the distant past. But as this...

Where in the world?(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... IDENTIFY THIS COUNTRY USING THE FOLLOWING CLUES: * It has been inhabited for around 15,000 years * The difference in height between its lowest and highest points is 6,280 metres * One fifth of one per cent of its land is given over...

Deadly pollution over Iranian capital claims 3,600 lives.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Pollution-related deaths have risen sharply in Tehran, leading one official to describe the environmental situation as "collective suicide". Over the month of Aban last year (23 October-23 November) more than 3,600 people were killed...

Smalltown residents enraged by map clearance.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... A total of 488 hamlets and villages in rural Georgia, USA, have been returned to a state map after an attempt by the Georgia Department of Transport (GDOT) to remove them enraged local residents. The GDOT took the decision as it wanted maps...

Asia's telecommunications crippled by quake.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... An undersea earthquake that struck southern Taiwan just after Christmas caused buildings to collapse, killing two people and injuring 42, and crippled telecommunications across Asia. Internet and telephone connections were lost in Taiwan,...

World's biggest wind farm set for Thames estuary.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Plans to build the world's largest offshore wind farm in the Thames estuary have been given the go-ahead by ministers. The 1.5billion [pounds sterling] London Array project will cover 232 square kilometres offshore between Margate in Kent...

Tides influence Antarctic ice streams.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... A recent study has shown that the tides or rather the gravitational pull of the sun and moon are exerting a significant influence on the motion of one of the biggest ice streams in the Antarctic interior. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS)...

Scientists from the University of Tokyo's Underwater Technology Research Center have discovered one of the world's largest lava plateaus under the Indian Ocean.(INDIAN OCEAN)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Scientists from the University of Tokyo's Underwater Technology Research Center have discovered one of the world's largest lava plateaus under the Indian Ocean Located approximately 800 kilometres east of Mauritius, the plateau is 14 kilometres...

A new website lists the details of more than 30 million people who left Britain by ship between 1890 and 1960 in search of a new life overseas.(UK)(www.ancestorsonboard.com)(Website overview)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... A new website lists the details of more than 30 million people who left Britain by ship between 1890 and 1960 in search of a new life overseas. The name, age, address, occupation, marital status, departure date and destination will typically be...

The world's smallest 'country'--the self-proclaimed principality of Sealand--is up for sale.(SEALAND)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The world's smallest 'country'--the self-proclaimed principality of Sealand--is up for sale. Located in the North Sea, just outside British waters, and consisting of two concrete towers built during the Second World War, Sealand is being touted...

The president of Haiti, Rene Preval, has appointed musician Wyclef Jean, formally of The Fugees, as a roving ambassador.(HAITI)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The president of Haiti, Rene Preval, has appointed musician Wyclef Jean, formally of The Fugees, as a roving ambassador. It's hoped that the appointment will help to raise the conflict-torn country's image abroad and attract investors and...

A rare map believed to be the oldest accurate chart of Scotland fetched 22,510 [pounds sterling] at an auction house in Edinburgh.(UK)(Nicolay Rutter map)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... A rare map believed to be the oldest accurate chart of Scotland fetched 22,510 [pounds sterling] at an auction house in Edinburgh. The Nicolay Rutter map, dated 1583, was drawn following a voyage by King James V around Scotland in 1540 The name...

The Spanish environment minister has started a campaign to prevent matadors from delivering the final deadly sword blow to bulls in the ring.(SPAIN)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The Spanish environment minister has started a campaign to prevent matadors from delivering the final deadly sword blow to bulls in the ring. Instead, the minister wants the bulls to be taken away and killed more swiftly and humanely.

Top 10 largest energy consumption per head: (kilograms of oil equivalent, 2003).(WORLDWATCH)(Table)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... TOP 10 LARGEST ENERGY CONSUMPTION PER HEAD (kilograms of oil equivalent, 2003) 1. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 9,707 2. KUWAIT 9,566 3. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 8,553 4. CANADA 8,240...

Circumcision can halve HIV risk, says new study.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Scientists in the USA have confirmed that circumcision can halve the risk of a man contracting the HIV infection that leads to AIDS. The news caused much excitement among HIV organisations and experts. After having observed lower rates of...

'Great escape' blights Scottish and Norwegian fish farms.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... There is growing concern about the number of salmon and trout escaping from fish farms in Scotland and Norway each year and the threat they pose to the long-term viability of wild populations. Last year in Norway, some 800,000 salmon and...

Amazon rainforest relies on African dust.(WORLDWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The rich flora of the Amazon basin in Brazil is sustained by millions of tonnes of nutrient-rich dust blown across the Atlantic Ocean from sub-Saharan Africa, according to new research. The study, led by Dr Ilan Koren from the Weizmann...

Himalaya getting hotter.(CLIMATEWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Thermometers in the Qamdo region of eastern Tibet reached a record high of 21.8[degrees]C early in January, surpassing the previous record of 20.1[degrees]C registered in 1996. Eight other places across the Himalaya also logged record-breaking...

Motor manufacturers go green.(North American International Auto Show)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The world's most famous motor show has seen the launch of several new environmentally friendly cars, evidence of a change in consumer attitudes. Several prototype 'green' cars were unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in...

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels surge.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are rising more rapidly than expected, sparking fears that global climate change is reducing the uptake of natural systems. New figures reveal that last year, the C[O.sub.2] concentration in the...

Did climate change end China's Tang Dynasty?(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Historic shifts in the annual monsoon cycle in China may have pushed the Tang Dynasty into terminal decline, according to a new study. Scientists from the Geoforschungszentrum in Potsdam, Germany, suggested that prolonged drought and poor...

Limpets like it cold.(CLIMATEWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... A four-year study has found that species such as the common tortoiseshell limpet, acorn barnacle and toothed topshell are migrating in search of cooler climes. The MarClim Project mapped the distribution of 57 species at more than 400 sites...

Tropical diseases hit Italy.(CLIMATEWATCH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... A new report has found that a number of tropical diseases, including tick borne encephalitis and visceral leishmaniasis, are on the rise in Italy as a result of climate change. The report, produced by environmental group Legambiente, attracted...

Some like it hot.(CLIMATEWATCH)(climate change resulting in increased male animal population)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... If animals could talk, it's unlikely the male grey seals of the Scottish island of North Rona would describe climate change as a bad thing. A nine-year study recently published in Biology Letters found a 61 per cent increase in the number of...

Tonga.(HOTSPOT)(riots in Tonga over political oppression)
March 1, 2007... In November last year, rioting erupted on the South Pacific island of Tonga. The central business district of the capital, Nukv'alufa, was largely destroyed as protestors targeted government buildings, businesses and hotels. Eight people were...

Ethnicity: ethnic difference is a source of strength in some societies, and of danger in others.(STATE OF THE WORLD)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Economic globalisation is changing the way we live so that we have much more in common with one another. Television, films, fashions, fast food, music and consumer technologies are the most obvious markers of growing homogeneity. But deep...

Mourne: areas of outstanding natural beauty: perched on the southeast coast of Northern Ireland, Mourne AONB has been selected as the territory's first prospective candidate for national park status. Jo Sargent visited the region to find out why.(NATURAL BEAUTY)(Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty )
March 1, 2007... Looking out over the Irish Sea from the coastal path at Bloody Bridge, the slopes of Slieve Donard rearing up behind me, it already seems pretty clear why the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is being considered for national park...

Changing faces at the Society.(IN SOCIETY)(Royal Geographical Society)
March 1, 2007... If the Society's headquarters are any indicator of its membership, then passers-by on Exhibition Road could conclude that our Fellows are forward-looking but, at heart, somewhat traditional. A Victorian building with a 1930s extension, to which...

Forthcoming events in March.(IN SOCIETY)
March 1, 2007... For details, please contact the Events Office on 020 7591 3100 5 March, 6.30pm Migration and globalisation: 200 million migrants and counting (LECTURE, LONDON) Focusing on one of the most topical global issues, human geographer Dr...

Wild geography: right place, right time.(LECTURE OF THE MONTH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... 6 March Darlington Arts Centre, 01325 486 555 15 March Theatr Brycheiniog, 01874 611 622 21 March Brewhouse, Taunton, 01823 283 244 24 March King's Lynn Arts Centre, 01553 764 864 This month, popular BBC wildlife presenter...

Fawcett's altimeter: the altimeter used by Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett on one of his numerous trips into the interior of Brazil has been in the Society's archives since 1920.(FROM THE COLLECTION)(Royal Geographical Society)
March 1, 2007... In 1906, Sir George Goldie, President of the Royal Geographical Society, approached Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett with a proposal. Undefined borders were causing tensions between Bolivia and Brazil--both countries were eager to lay claim to...

The trade that won't go away.(MODERN SLAVERY)
March 1, 2007... Celebrations this month to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade will sound a hollow note for the millions of men, women and children enduring a life of 'slavery' around the world. Estimates vary--between...

Land of the giants: the spectacular baobabs of Madagascar are some of the largest and most distinctive trees in the world. They represent an important tourist draw for a nation keen to establish its ecotourism credentials and have potent spiritual significance for many indigenous tribes. But, as Helen Scales discovers, the trees face an uncertain future".(MADAGASCAR'S BAOBABS)
March 1, 2007... Even from the air, it's obvious how truly enormous the baobabs of western Madagascar are. Peering through the clouds, I could easily make out individual trees reaching upwards like stubby fingers from the flat landscape. A few hours later, red...

Gathering the cold, hard facts: fifty years ago, the International Geophysics Year kick-started serious science in the Antarctic. This month, to mark the occasion, the International Council for Science is launching the International Polar Year 2007-08, which will see more than 200 research groups comprising thousands of scientists from more than 60 countries head to the ends of the Earth.(INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR)
March 1, 2007... During the mid-1950s, Britain was basking in the afterglow of the golden age of polar exploration. The expeditions of Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton were still in living memory when Vivian Fuchs and Edmund Hilary, the latter fresh...

Volcanoes: they're the most powerful expressions of nature's might, responsible for mass extinctions, global climate change and the demise of entire civilisations, but how much do we really know about volcanoes? And just how close are we to the Holy Grail of accurately predicting when they're going to explode?(SPECIAL REPORT: Geographical dossier)(Cover story)
March 1, 2007... FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, volcanoes have occupied a special place in the human imagination. Dynamic. destructive, awe-inspiring, beautiful, they represent one of the most primeval processes on Earth. Their principle components are the essence not...

The burden of isolation: deep in the Colombian jungle, transport doesn't mean a truck or even a mule. Whether you want supplies collected from the other side of the mountain range, or need to keep a hospital appointment, you call on the paseros.(JUNGLE CARRIERS)
March 1, 2007... Bare feet moving assuredly across the slick stones, the heavily muscled man climbs the jungle path at a steady pace. On his back is a chair and in that chair sits a woman, trying hard not to move. This unusual mode of transport has a...

The search for the first Britons: cannibalism, climate change and interspecies copulation--the human history of the British Isles has it all. Professor Chris Stringer talks to Andrew Brackenbury about trying to unravel this extraordinary tale.(GEOPLE: CHRIS STRINGER)
March 1, 2007... Holding his victim's head in his left hand, the powerfully built man took hold of his stone knife and began to slice into the skin at tire top of the skull. With each cut, flesh peeled from the bone fresh blood dripped to the cave floor and the...

Albania awakes: isolated for decades by its paranoid Communist leader, then ravaged civil unrest and economic collapse, this forgotten corner of Europe is making a remarkable recovery.(ALBANIA)
March 1, 2007... There is a good news story in the Balkans--and it's coming from one of the least expected quarters. Albania, for so long synonymous with corruption and organised crime, is undergoing a remarkable but practically unnoticed transformation. ...

All the world's a stage. (GEOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE.
March 1, 2007... Dance and performance are used throughout the world to express a range of social, cultural, spiritual and artistic messages that go far beyond the realms of entertainment and celebration. Before the introduction of the written word, for...

A timely reminder for all of us.(Why Geography Matters: Three Challenges Facing America: Climate Change, the Rise of China, and Global Terrorism)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Why Geography Matters: Three Challenges Facing America--Climate Change, the Rise of China, and Global Terrorism by Harm De Blij Oxford University Press, pb, pp320, 9.99 [pounds sterling] Does geography matter? In this book, Harm de Blij...

Who Owns the Water?(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Who Owns the Water? edited by Klaus Lanz et al. Lars Mueller Publishers, hb, pp535, 34.90 [pounds sterling] There's no doubt that water is becoming a big issue--and this is certainly a big book, clocking in at more than 500 pages. ...

A whole new way of looking at a map.(The Sovereign Map: Theoretical Approaches in Cartography Throughout History)(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... The Sovereign Map: Theoretical Approaches in Cartography Throughout History by Christian Jacob University of Chicago Press, hb, pp464, 38 [pounds sterling] Be warned: this isn't an easy book to read. It's a work of challenging,...

Impossible Journeys.(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Impossible Journeys by Mathew Lyons Cadogan, pb, pp160, 6.99 [pounds sterling] Columbus's copy of Pierre d'Ailly's Imago Mundi of 1410 is still extant, and his frequent underlinings and marginal notes appear whenever d'Ailly is confirming...

Previous Convictions: Assignments from Here and There.(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Previous Convictions: Assignments from Here and There by AA Gill Weidenfeld & Nicolson, hb, pp288, 16.99 [pounds sterling] A full-length travel book can often present a reasoned argument. A collection of travel pieces is something more like...

Top 10 writer's reads.(Bibliography)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Josie Dew has cycled 450,000 kilometres across nearly 50 countries, some of them by accident. Her latest book, Long Cloud Ride, recounts her recent travels across New Zealand 1. Full Tilt: From Dublin to Delhi with a Bicycle by Dervla...

Pioneering Spirits: Ten Inspired Individuals Help the World and Fulfil Their Dreams.(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Pioneering Spirits: Ten Inspired Individuals Help the World and Fulfil Their Dreams Thames & Hudson, hb, pp144, 19.95 [pounds sterling] Published to accompany the 12th biennial Rolex Awards for Enterprise, Pioneering Spirits is a...

The loneliness of the long-distance cyclist.(Moods of Future Joys)(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Moods of Future Joys by Alastair Humphreys Adlibbed, pb, pp200, 9.99 [pounds sterling] In an age when no media savvy adventurer sets off for so much as a training run without a chest full of sponsors' logos, here comes the mesmerising...

Atlas of Exploration.(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Atlas of Exploration Philip's, in association with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), hb, pp256, 25 [pounds sterling] Nineteenth century explorer Richard Burton famously donned local garb and deployed his extensive knowledge of...

Geographical classic #40.(Khyber Knights)(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... Khyber Knights by CuChullaine O'Reilly Long Riders Guild Press, pb, pp700, 20 [pounds sterling] CuChullaine O'Reilly is a man who likes to go on long journeys, and his chosen mode of transport is the horse. In 1983, he set off on a "long...

Getting away from them all: keen to escape the teeming masses and experience nature in the raw? Then grab yourself a tent and head out into the wilderness.(essential gear)
March 1, 2007... One winter in the early 1990s, while working for an outdoor retailer, I scrounged a tent from the store's loan stock for a weekend's wild camping in Snowdonia National Park. Nine hours later, as I erected the borrowed shelter in a howling gale,...

Ten of the best.(ESSENTIAL GEAR)(Buyers guide)
March 1, 2007... If you're going to join the growing breed of intrepid wilderness campers, the last thing you need to worry about is your basic equipment. To ensure peace of mind, take a look at our pick of the best [1] Geodesic tent. Wild Country Q2...

Sporty sandal giveaway.(OUT AND ABOUT)(Dozers from Teva)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Don't you hate having to choose between shoes and sandals when you're trying to pack light? Enter the latest addition to Teva's footwear range: the Dozer (55 [pounds sterling]), a "perfect compromise between sandal and shoe," apparently. ...

Tortoise and ladybird chic for kids.(OUT AND ABOUT)(backpacks from LittleLife)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... LittleLife, the outdoor brand for children, has launched two practical and eye-catching daypacks (14.99 [pounds sterling]) that are set to turn toddlers' heads nationwide. With an eight-litre capacity, the Tortoise and Ladybird packs are...

Racing rickshaws.(auto-rickshaw race in India to raise money for charity)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... A total of 34 teams from seven countries convened in Cochin, southern India, in December for the 3,200-kilometre Rickshaw Run to Darjeeling. Teams chose their own routes and had to contend with a variety of challenges, including elephants in...

Keep sun safe--wear a wristband.(SolarSafe's Sun Monitor wristband)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, with more than 65,400 cases diagnosed annually, according to Cancer Research UK. To address this, SolarSafe has launched a special wristband that monitors your exposure to the sun. The...

Performance rock boots.(designed by Scarpa's Heinz Mariacher )(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Since joining Italian mountain-footwear-makers Scarpa in January last year, renowned climber and shoe designer Heinz Mariacher has been hard at work developing a range of performance rock-climbing shoes. Designed for mid- to upper-grade...

A tasty little heat beater.(CorTemp Ingestible Core Body Thermometer Pill)(HQ Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Heat exhaustion, or hyperthermia, can lead to potentially fatal heatstroke and occurs when the body retains too much heat, usually because of extreme temperatures or internal heat production. During last year's Marathon des Sables--the...

Malaria II: the facts: medical advice from Jason Gibbs, head pharmacist at Nomad Travel stores and health clinics.(Travel health)
March 1, 2007... Malaria has a worldwide distribution, especially in tropical areas. As many as 3.2 billion people live in malaria risk zones, of whom some 500 million will be infected each year. Up to two million of these will die, with the majority being...

Explorer's essentials: Seb Mankelow, off-the-beaten-track trekker, author and Himalaya specialist.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... 1. Flicklock walking/ski pole. My flicklock Gipron Sherpa 3 poles have endured multi month trips, annually, for the past 12 years. They lock every time, don't slip and have a hardened tip. * www.gipron.it or www.telemark-pyrenees.com ...

Alastair Sawday's special places to stay: Green Places to Stay.(The Geographical Good Guide Guide: Helping you Choose that vitally important, but often rather confusing, item of kit: the guidebook)(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2007... What is it like? Produced by a clean, green, ethical-publishing machine based in Bristol, the Special Places to Stay range consists of 19 titles covering individual countries or bed and breakfasts or hotels within specific countries. The...

Stretching the view: bring a wider perspective to your landscape photography by embracing the resurgent panoramic format.(Geo photo)
March 1, 2007... Since the beginning of the 21st century, panoramic images have enjoyed a resurgence of interest, achieving a degree of popularity that hasn't been experienced for decades. Panoramic landscapes provide a sweeping view of a scene and convey a...

Explosive find in the Mendips.(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... Thanks very much for the feature on the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (February 2007). I found the article fascinating, especially since our house looks out over the Somerset Levels to the Mendip Hills and much of what...

Hot for Hotspots.(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... I've been really enjoying the new sections at the beginning of the magazine; there are lots of interesting bits and pieces to get my teeth into. I think my favourite addition has to be the Hotspot page--it's a great way to get a crash course in...

Come on UK geographers.(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... What a pity that you didn't publish a rallying call in Geographical encouraging readers to take part in the online Geography Cup (www.geographycup. com). Okay, so it's a fairly new competition with, consequently, a low profile, but had we...

Another Ugandan plague.(LETTER OF THE MONTH)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... Following on from your excellent article about Uganda's banana plague and how the fruit is under attack from both pests and disease (Battling the banana plague, February 2007). I thought your readers might be interested to hear about my...

Spelling lesson.(MAILBAG)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... I just wanted to point out a spelling error in the piece about the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the January Geographical. It's Bridgwater, rather than Bridgewater--the latter can be found in the Manchester area. ...

Where are all the fishmongers?(MAILBAG)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... Like John Marshall (Mailbag, February 2007), I'm less than convinced by the supermarkets' attempts to prove their green seafood credentials. I would certainly like to know more about how the fish and shellfish in my local store was...

Plugging a knowledge gap.(MAILBAG)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... Geographical never fails to educate me. How did I manage to make it this far not knowing what wound plugs were (From the collection, February 2007)? Jane Cohen, Poole

Natalie Hoare in conversation with ... David Hill.(Survival International USA)(Interview)
March 1, 2007... David Hill ,28, a campaigner and researcher for Survival International, has recently visited the Peruvian Amazon to investigate areas inhabited by some of the 15 uncontacted tribes that are estimated to live there. The three-month trip took him...