Geographical articles from May 2005

Geographical archives from May 2005

Sun sets on the Pacific.(FROM THE EDITOR)(British High Commission in Tonga)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... At the time of writing, the Daily Telegraph is becoming dewy-eyed about the Union flag being hoisted for the last time over the British High Commission in Tonga. The article is written in nostalgic tones, already grieving for the demise of the...

Marine Current Turbines has announced the award of a 3.85million [pounds sterling] DTI grant towards its 8million [pounds sterling] SeaGen tidal-energy turbine project, which has the potential to generate a megawatt of electricity from marine currents.(UK)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Marine Current Turbines has announced the award of a 3.85million [pounds sterling] DTI grant towards its 8million [pounds sterling] SeaGen tidal energy turbine project, which has the potential to generate a megawatt of electricity from marine...

The universe's first invisible galaxy has been detected by a British-led team of astronomers using powerful radio telescopes.(SPACE)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The universe's first invisible galaxy has been detected by a British-led team of astronomers using powerful radio telescopes. Made up of mysterious dark matter, the galaxy comprises rotating mass, like other galaxies, but contains no stars.

Ordnance Survey has published a special-edition map to commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar.(UK)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Ordnance Survey has published a special-edition map to commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Called The Trafalgar Way, it depicts the route taken by Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotiere, who was entrusted with delivering news...

Glaciers in retreat.(Worldwatch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... HIMALAYA Himalayan glaciers are among the world's fastest retreating, according to WWF. The global conservation organisation has found that glaciers in the region are receding at an average rate of 10-15 metres per year, potentially causing...

British NGO helping to save Thai coral.(Worldwatch)(Non-Governmental Organization)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... THAILAND A group of marine biologists from British NGO Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) was recently deployed by the Thai government to assess the impact of last year's tsunami on the country's coral reefs. Supported by the UK Foreign and...

Tropical biologists take to the trees.(Worldwatch)(Global Canopy Programme )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... TROPICS The UN Environment Programme, with financial support from the Global Environment Facility, has given its backing to a proposal developed by the Global Canopy Programme (GCP) to establish a series of five 'whole-forest observations'...

Emission statement: businesses offered easy carbon assessment.(Worldwatch)(online questionaire from World Land Trust)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... GLOBAL As part of its Carbon Balanced initiative, conservation charity the World Land Trust (WLT) has launched an online carbon audit to allow companies to conduct a straightforward and free assessment of their emissions. The audit...

Wren-babbler back after 58 years.(Worldwatch)(rusty-throated wren-babbler )(Spelaeornis badeigularis)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... HIMALAYA The American Museum of Natural History in New York has announced that the rusty-throated wren-babbler (Spelaeornis badeigularis), has been seen, photographed and filmed, 58 years after its discovery in the eastern Himalaya. ...

Obituary.(Worldwatch)(Obituary)
May 1, 2005... Richard (Dick) S Allcock OBE, founder and first director of the personal-development training organisation Endeavour Training, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, died in January aged 82. Allcock was widely known as the pioneer of...

Top 10 oil producers.(Worldwatch)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... TOP OIL PRODUCERS 10 '000 barrels per day 1 Saudi Arabia 8,680 2 USA 7,698 3 Russia ...

Child poverty in the UK has fallen farther and faster than in any other developed country and is on course to hit the government's target of a 25 per cent cut by 2004/2005, according to a UN report.(UK)
May 1, 2005... Child poverty in the UK has fallen farther and faster than in any other developed country and is on course to hit the government's target of a 25 per cent cut by 2004/2005, according to a UN report. However, 15 per cent of families with...

DEFRA has announced that it will provide 12million [pounds sterling] to fund the first part of a 'communications initiative'.(UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... DEFRA has announced that it will provide 12million [pounds sterling] to fund the first part of a 'communications initiative' designed to change public attitudes towards climate change.

Chauncy D Harris (1914-2003) a pioneer in the emerging field of urban geography, Chauncy Harris was also one of the leading experts on the geography of the post-war Soviet Union.(Late Great Geographers #55)(Biography)
May 1, 2005... What was Harris's background? Chauncy Harris was born in Logan, Utah, to Estella and Franklin Stewart Harris, His father, a research scientist at Utah State University, actively encouraged his son's interest in geography, to the extent...

50 years ago today ... Geographical Magazine, May 1955.(WORLDWATCH)(Oyana people)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The May 1955 Geographical featured a story about the Oyana people of French Guiana by French photographer Dominique Darbois. This once-mighty tribe had been reduced to about 350 individuals living in a series of villages in the hills behind the...

Cornwall top of stranding standings.(WORLDWATCH)(whales, dolphins and porpoises)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... UK Whale, dolphin and porpoise strandings in the UK have more than doubled in the past ten years, from 360 in 1994 to 782 last year, according to the Natural History Museum. Cornwall has by far the highest number of reported strandings in the...

Haiti.(GEOGRAPHICAL FLAGS OF THE WORLD)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Haiti Description: The Haitan flag consists of horizontal red and blue stripes with the coat of arms--a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto "L'Union Fait la Force" (in union there is strength)--in a...

Coral Cay Conservation (CCC).(Geographical Organisations of Note)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... When was CCC founded and how? CCC is an award-winning British coral reef conservation group, set up by marine biologist Peter Raines, who, along with fellow dive enthusiasts, was concerned by the alarming rate at which coral reefs were...

Burning by early migrants to Australia some 50,000 years ago may have triggered a climatic change that converted the country's interior to desert, say US and Australian researchers.(AUSTRALIA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Burning by early migrants to Australia some 50,000 years ago may have triggered a climatic change that converted the country's interior to desert, say US and Australian researchers. The team, led by Gifford Miller of the University of Colorado,...

The world's population is expected to rise from 6.5 billion to 9.1 billion by 2050, according to the UN's latest figures.(GLOBAL)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The world's population is expected to rise from 6.5 billion to 9.1 billion by 2050, according to the UN's latest figures. In 2002, the UN Population Division estimated a 2050 population of 8.9 billion. In the latest report, the world's 50...

The Whitley Fund for Nature announces its annual award winners on 19 April at the RGS-IBG.(UK)
May 1, 2005... The Whitley Fund for Nature announces its annual award winners on 19 April at the RGS-IBG. Eight of the ten finalists, whose work includes saving the snow leopard in India and the Antillean manatee in Belize, will win a 30,000 [pounds sterling]...

Tornadoes: raw power.(Weatherwatch with BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts)
May 1, 2005... What is a tornado? Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Appearing as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds, they have a column of rapidly moving air that reaches the ground. Within this column, strong winds are drawn into the funnel, and...

Fleas in the system.(WORLDWATCH)(invasive species, water fleas)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... CANADA Ecologists hoping to prevent invasions of non-native species have turned to computer viruses for help. New research describes the use of network theory to predict how the spiny water flea--a native of Russia--will spread through the...

Quizzical: Chris Edwards reveals the mystery of Shangri-La, why Siberia and the Aral Sea have both shrunk, why the Skeleton Coast is so called and why trains in the southeast of England use electrified rails rather than cables.
May 1, 2005... What constitutes Siberia? F Ali, Bradford Historically, Siberia covered up to three quarters of the land area of the Russian Federation. But its modern, administrative definition has reduced its size significantly. During the 19th...

With Scott to the Pole.
May 1, 2005... Starting in May, the Society will be exhibiting a series of photographs from Captain Robert Scott's final, ill-fated 1910-13 expedition to Antarctica. The exhibition, entitled With Scott to the Pole, will run from 16 May to 29 July in the...

Climate Change Research Group.
May 1, 2005... The Society has recently set up a new research group to promote exciting work by geographers involved in climate change research. The Climate Change Research Group (CCRG) is open to geographers with a background in physical or human...

Taking action on the world's water issues.(In Society: a round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)
May 1, 2005... Last month marked the beginning of the 'water decade'. This unique initiative is aimed at highlighting the magnitude of global water issues in the hope that stakeholder groups will combine forces and deliver solutions that actually bring about...

New RGS-IBG corporate benefactor.(In Society: a round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... We're very pleased to announce that Trailfinders has begun a three-year association with the Society by becoming a corporate benefactor. "We're very excited about working with the RGS-IBG," said Trailfinders' director Tristan Gooley. "It would...

A selection of Society events taking place in May.(In Society: a round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... For details, please contact the Events Office on 020 7591 3100. 4 May Educational Visits Coordinator training (EAC EVENT, LONDON) The course covers the EVE's role and responsibilities; risk assessment and safety management;...

Understanding the Nile (London).(Lecture of the month)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... 18 May, 7pm Understanding the Nile (London) Starting in Egypt, the BBC Natural History Unit's Gavin Maxwell will take us on a fascinating journey up the Nile to Ethiopia and East Africa, exploring the river's hydrology, history and...

Cartography of convenience: hand-map of a portion of the interior of Spitsbergen, Svalbard (1897).(MAP OF THE MONTH)
May 1, 2005... At first sight, this map appears to be typical of those that regularly appeared in illustrated articles in the RGS's Journal or Proceedings between the 1830s and 1970s. However, above the map's top border appear the words 'Royal Geographical...

Green and pleasant land ... from above.(ENGLAND FROM THE AIR)(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... ENGLAND Aerial photography is a serious business. Not only is it extremely costly and time consuming to capture a single image, but it requires skill and courage and can be extremely dangerous. Over the past four years, Adrian Warren and Dae...

Beyond our grasp? The great apes are disappearing so quickly that some species face possible extinction within ten years. The situation is so dire that the UN will host a conference later this year with the aim of generating international support for their protection. Charlie Furniss asks why it has got so bad and what we can do to stop the decline.(GREAT APE CONSERVATION)
May 1, 2005... Travelling up the Lamandau River in southwestern Kalimantan, Indonesia, I discovered the kind of steamy jungle paradise I used to dream about as a child. The river itself is a calm, narrow waterway that gently winds through peat swamp, its...

Renewable energy.(Geographical dossier)
May 1, 2005... Few people now dispute that climate change caused by human activity is a reality. In March this year, the American Association for the Advancement of Science was presented with 'conclusive' evidence that climate change is a result of...

A journey beyond the coral sea: few regions are as little known or as poorly understood as Papua New Guinea. Over the past 20 years, author Michael Moran has travelled among the country's island provinces in the hope of gaining an understanding of a people whose cultural identity is a curious mix of the ancient and the modern.(MELANESIAN ISLANDS)
May 1, 2005... There is a sad truism about the South Pacific that if Captain Cook failed to make an extended visit to an island, it will be virtually absent from the historical record. The Endeavour merely touched the southern coast of New Guinea when...

Reconciliation and conservation in the Cardamoms: Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains were once a refuge to the Khmer Rouge. Now, as Cambodia begins to address the horrors of its recent past and NGOs struggle to combat illegal logging, a conservation initiative is turning former soldiers into guardians of this little-known treasure.(CAMBODIAN CONSERVATION)
May 1, 2005... The ranger station at Pramaoy in southwestern Cambodia has all the trappings of a colonial hunting lodge. A bullet-holed elephant skull looms above a tangle of radio equipment, and several rifles lean against a woven rattan chair. One wall...

Getting to know the Colonel.(GEOPEOPLE: JOHN BLASHFORD-SNELL)(Interview)
May 1, 2005... Colonel John Blashford-Snell's numerous expeditions were among the most impressive of the last century. Now in his 69th year, he still possesses a boundless energy. Christian Amodeo meets the founder of the Scientific Exploration Society and...

Socotra's road to ruin: isolated for millions of years, the islands of the Socotra archipelago in the Arabian Sea are home to an unusual collection of species found nowhere else. But now a programme to develop the infrastructure of the main island is threatening its unique ecosystems.(SOCOTRA ISLANDS)
May 1, 2005... Emerging from the Arabian Sea off the Arabian Peninsula, the Socotra archipelago is like some sort of Middle Eastern Galapagos. A remnant of an ancient landmass, it has been tectonically isolated from Africa and Arabia for the past 18 million...

Island life.(GEOGRAPHICAL-ARCHIVE)(Melanesia)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... MELANESIA First used by French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville in 1832 to denote an ethnic and geographical grouping of islands in the western Pacific distinct from Polynesia and Micronesia, the term Melanesia is today used by such nations...

Palaces of Rajasthan.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... Palaces of Rajasthan by Antonio Martinelli and George Michell, Frances Lincoln, hb, pp272, 35 [pounds sterling] Rajasthan's photogenic palaces are a magnet for coffee-table books. This latest offering, however, has the edge over many, since...

Reindeer People: Living with Animals and Spirits in Siberia.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... Reindeer People: Living with Animals and Spirits in Siberia by Piers Vitebsky Harper Collins, hb, pp320, 18.99 [pounds sterling] Long before the existence of the Russian Empire, the Eveny people and their closely related, more numerous...

The Lost Kingdoms of Africa.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... The Lost Kingdoms of Africa by Jeffrey Tayler Little, Brown, hb, pp274, 16.99 [pounds sterling] The Sahel is one of the more difficult regions in which to travel. It's a lawless land torn apart by ethnic rebellion, sectarian violence and...

Everest Exposed.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... Everest Exposed by George Band Collins, pb, pp352, 8.99 [pounds sterling] "I have met older people who still shed tears when they tell me what the feat meant to them," said Peter Hillary of the achievement of his father, Sir Edmund, who...

The Rough Guide to Zydeco.(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)
May 1, 2005... The Rough Guide to Zydeco Various artists Playing time: 72:19 (World Music Network, 8.99 [pounds sterling]) If you're a fan of traditional North American music, you'll probably already know about zydeco. But if you think you've never heard...

The Rough Guide to the Music of Central Asia.(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)
May 1, 2005... The Rough Guide to the Music of Central Asia Various artists Playing time: 72:08 (World Music Network, 8.99 [pounds sterling]) This hit-and-miss compilation of music from the Silk Road focuses on the five'-stans', but that's where any...

The Rough Guide to Astor Piazzolla.(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)
May 1, 2005... The Rough Guide to Astor Piazzolla Astor Piazzolla Playing time: 65:23 (World Music Network, 8.99 [pounds sterling]) This CD is as much a scintillating soundtrack to 20th-century Buenos Aires as it is an hour-long tour de force by, and a...

Rock and Gem.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... Rock and Gem by Ronald Bonewitz Dorling Kindersley, hb, pp360, 25 [pounds sterling] When you pick up this book and see that the first chapter is entitled 'The formation of the universe', you know you're in for a pretty comprehensive guide....

Letters from Egypt: A Journey on the Nile.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... Letters from Egypt: A Journey on the Nile by Florence Nightingale, edited by Anthony Sattin. First published 1987. Most recent edition published by Parkway, hb, pp224, 12.99 [pounds sterling] "Without the past, I conceive Egypt to be...

Nature's Strongholds.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... Nature's Strongholds by Laura and William Riley Princeton University Press, hb, pp640, 32.50 [pounds sterling] As someone who turns straight to the national parks section when checking out a travel guide, I was excited and intrigued as I...

Bury the Chains.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... Bury the Chains by Adam Hochschild Macmillan, hb, pp456, 20 [pounds sterling] Slavery's legacy still exerts a powerful grip on our society, more than 100 years after its abolition. From the ever-troubled Haiti to the ghettoes of Los...

The Traveler's Medical Guide.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... The Traveler's Medical Guide by GR Fujimoto et al. Prairie Smoke Press, pb, pp490, US$24.95 (12.95 [pounds sterling]) This book is a victim of its over-ambitious objectives, which include aiding "self diagnosis and treatment of common...

Thug: The True Story of India's Murderous Religion.(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... Thug: The True Story of India's Murderous Religion by Mike Dash, Granta Books, hb, pp352, 20 [pounds sterling] February 1823, and an Indian family travelling to Lucknadown are befriended by a large party, whose numbers and respectability...

State of the World 2005. .(Redefining Global Security)(book)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... State of the World 2005 Worldwatch Institute Norton, pb, pp238, US$18.95 (9.85 [pounds sterling]) The Worldwatch Institute has subtitled this edition of its annual State of the World 'Redefining global security'. As in preceding editions,...

The Ngorongoro Story.(book)(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... The Ngorongoro Story by Tim Lithgow, photographs by Hugo van Lawick Camerapix, hb, pp144, US$45 (23.50 [pounds sterling]) The Ngorongoro Story is a love affair made manifest. Covering 8,300 square kilometres, the Ngorongoro Conservation...

Roussanou Monastery, Thessaly, Greece.(Geographical travel)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The 16th-century Roussanou monastery is one of seven buildings that sit atop the dramatic sandstone meteora on the south-facing slopes of the Andikhasia Mountains in central Greece. The first monastery was established here in the 14th century,...

Teaching teamwork to teenagers.(Travel news)(Way Out Experiences)
May 1, 2005... Adventure-holiday company Way Out Experiences has designed a new group expedition for 12-14-year-olds to Malaysia. The trip is designed to build self-confidence and encourage teamwork. The first half of the holiday--which will take place on...

Safaris getting smaller.(Travel news)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A lodge in Amazulu Game Reserve, South Africa, has pioneered a new breed of safari, aiming to draw attention to the wide variety of frogs in the area. Instead of seeking out big game, guests of the Amakhosi Lodge are now trying to keep it away...

New Boeing jet set to stop stopovers.(Travel news)(777-200LR Worldliner)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Stopovers could become a thing of the past thanks to a new aircraft recently unveiled by Boeing. The 777-200LR Worldliner will be the world's longest-range commercial airliner when it opens its doors to passengers at the beginning of 2006....

Thailand: one worker's story.(Travel news)(Sun, Sand, Sea and Sweatshops campaign)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... For countless hotel workers in the popular Thai tourist destinations of Phuket and Khao Lak, lives, homes and families have been devastated not only by the tsunami, but also by the unfair and exploitative treatment they receive from the hotels....

>Building-preservation charity the Landmark Trust is celebrating its 40th anniversary.(UK)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Building-preservation charity the Landmark Trust is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an open-door policy at 40 of the country's key historic landmarks over the weekend of 14-15 May. * Info: www.landmarktrus.org.uk

The Pennine Way, the first designated National Trail, is also 40 years old this year.(UK)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Pennine Way, the first designated National Trail, is also 40 years old this year. Celebrations began at Easter and will continue throughout the summer. * Info: www.nationaltrail.co.uk

Iran is making its mark in the field of adventure travel. Ex-BBC journalist Ali Hendessi has set up the first Iranian travel company to operate from Europe.(IRAN)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Iran is making its mark in the field of adventure travel. Ex-BBC journalist Ali Hendessi has set up the first Iranian travel company to operate from Europe. Kootch Adventure Travel promotes ethical tourism and offers trekking and mountain...

A symphony in stone: Utah boasts some of the western USA's most spectacular landscapes. Jo Sargent explores the state's national parks and discovers that the path less trodden is sometimes best left that way.(NATIONAL PARKS OF UTAH)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... Gazing out over Utah's Bryce Canyon can be a dizzying experience. Hundreds of red spires sprawl out across the horizon under a brilliant blue sky. From above, this sea of twisted sandstone towers appears impenetrable, but a winding path leads...

Barry Roberts, a former director of Raleigh International, is the commercial director of Wilderness Medical Training (WMT), which teaches advanced medical skills for use in remote areas.(TRAVEL FOR A LIVING)(Interview)
May 1, 2005... How did you and your partner, Dr Jon Dallimore, meet and why did you decide to set up WMT? Jon and I met on Mount Kenya on a Raleigh International expedition in 1988. We hit it off, and he nurtured my interest in expedition medicine for a...

Sleeping bags.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... essential gear No matter what nature throws at you during the day, all can be made better by a warm night in a dry sleeping bag. Paul Deegan offers some advice on how to get the ultimate night's sleep. On my first winter camping trip...

When you're on the go and need to go.
May 1, 2005... The Indipod is the world's smallest portable toilet system, designed for use in campervans, SUVs and large cars. Packing down into a small suitcase when not in use, it uses a vehicle's power to inflate a 'privacy bubble'. As the press release...

A quicker cuppa.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... JetBoil, the personal cooking system that boils a mug of water in just 120 seconds, is now available Jin the UK. The cylindrical burner weighs 425g, not including its ISO Butane fuel. * Cost: around 70 [pounds sterling]; www.jetboil.com,...

Gore-Tex stretches its product range.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Gore-Tex has released a stretchy version of its lightweight and breathable Paclite fabric. Stretch Gore-Tex Paclite, which has two-way stretch properties, will be used primarily in areas such as around the elbows and shoulders in order to...

Motoring off to the Lost World.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)(paramotoring expedition to Uruyen, Venezuela)(Japanese DK Whisper GTX)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The first paramotoring expedition to the 'Lost Worlds' of Uruyen, Venezuela, has recently tested the feasibility of using the flying machines to explore the region's unusual tepuis--largely unexplored plateaux that rise up to 2,750 metres above...

Win a tiny but tough Gerber tool.(GEAR ESSENTIALS)(Gerber Solstice keyring mini-tool)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Gerber Solstice keyring mini-tool may be small--a mere six centimetres in length when closed--but its heavy-duty stainless-steel construction and long-life titanium coating give it the robustness you'd expect of larger Gerber products The...

Altitude sickness: medical advice from Jason Gibbs, head pharmacist at Nomad Travel stores and health clinics.(Travel health)
May 1, 2005... There are several illnesses associated with high altitude, the most common of which is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which occurs above 2,400 metres and is characterised by shortness of breath, headache, dizziness and drowsiness. Anyone can...

Rough Guide.(The Geographical Good Guide Guide)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A bit of history The Rough Guides were created by Mark Ellingham in 1981, when, during his travels in Greece, he discovered the need for a middle-of-the-road guidebook. The Rough Guide to Greece, published by Routledge that year, was an...

Explorer's essentials: Gary Rolfe, Arctic expeditioner, dog musher and athlete.(Travel health)(Directory)
May 1, 2005... 1 I wouldn't do what I do without dogs--purebred Canadian Eskimo dogs. I own ten. Only 200 remain in the world. They're the canine equivalent of a panzer tank and I love them dearly. 2 Seal or moose hide mukluks, with wool duffels on my...

Recent grant winners.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Society's major grants for fieldwork and undergraduates, the Geographical Fieldwork Grants (previously the Expedition Research Grants) were announced this month. Grants of up to 3,000 [pounds sterling] and the Society's approval were...

Forthcoming grants deadlines.(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2005... CORRECTION Last month's Grants news announced the launch of the Thesiger-Oman International Research Fellowships, two awards of 8,000 [pounds sterling] for senior research in arid environments. The deadline for applications should have read 6...

Grants forum 2005: researching the world.(Grants news)(Geographical Fieldwork Grants presentations)
May 1, 2005... Every year, grants from the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) help geographers at every stage in their careers to conduct projects all over the world, supporting geographical research, fieldwork and teaching. Last year was no exception:...

Clarkson defended.(Mailbag)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I refer to Mr Jackamans letter, 'Clarkson Castigated', in the April 2005 issue. Mr Clarkson was driving on private property, with permission, and there has been no suggestion that any of the land was protected, so while it may have been...

Justice for jockeys.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I was interested to see the Worldwatch story about child jockeys in the United Arab Emirates that appeared in the March issue of Geographical. The establishment of the rehabilitation centre in Abu Dhabi is very welcome news; however, a visit to...

Be generous.(Mailbag)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... GJ Westerton raises some interesting issues in his letter about haggling and tipping (Mailbag, February 2005). Apart from Japan, I am unaware of any country where tipping might cause offence, although in some, for example Switzerland, it's very...

Money not people.(Mailbag)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... In the captions of your photostory on Afghanistan (Postcards from a forgotten land, February 2005) you refer to the local people as Afghanis. Afghanistan's people are called Afghans--the Afghani is the country's currency. I found the...

Spirit of the age.(Cartoon)
May 1, 2005... If you want my tip you'll try somewhere else! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Lost in the post.(Mailbag)
May 1, 2005... Notoriously difficult to grow, this plant needs a cool, cloudy climate, has sharp spines on its leaves and blue and purple flowers. This rare flower grows wild at high elevations in the small landlocked country from which this stamp originates,...

Wishful thinking.(Mailbag)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I read Geographical every month and am always delighted to read articles about localised projects to reduce and manage pollution. For example, the Dossier in January's issue highlighted the problem of increasing desertification, but then went...

Presidential faux pas.(Mailbag)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... In your February 2005 edition, you state that John Quincy Adams was the fourth president of the USA (Quizzical). He was the sixth. The fourth president of the USA was James Madison. Mehdi J Benkhatar, by email