Tuesday 30 December 2008

Asteroid Impact: Risky World

This is being passed around the web a lot at the moment...



Risky World starter ?
Happy New Year !

Tuesday 23 December 2008

Merry Christmas to all my readers...

Image by Ronald Lampitt

See you in 2009

Sunday 21 December 2008

Slumdog Millionaire


Image by Eric Schockmel under Wikimedia Commons


New film from Danny Boyle: "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE"...



There's an associated feature in today's Observer, which looks at the area of Mumbai called Dharavi where the film was made...

There are some very useful descriptions of some of the inhabitants of the area, which could form the basis for classroom activities, and help to build up a picture for students.


Interesting detail on the financial surplus that Dharavi creates, which compares sharply with the huge debt that the UK has...

Other movies with associations with being filmed in 'slums':

City of God
Michael Jackson's video for "They don't care about us"- filmed in Rocinha
City of Men
Favela Rising
Line of Passage
The Constant Gardener
La Haine (?) - not quite slums...

Have I missed any ?
How do colleagues use these films ?

How about FAVELA TOURISM ?
Check the GEOGRAPHY PAGES page on Favelas.
How accurate is the portrayal of favelas ? (Guardian article)


Wednesday 17 December 2008

Planet Earth Online

A new website from the NERC: PLANET EARTH ONLINE.
Plenty of relevant material for AS / A2 topics....

Training course in Slapton

Thanks to David Holmes for passing on details of a course which is being put on by the Field Studies Council in February, specifically for centres doing the Edexcel 'A' Level Specification.

Innovative approaches to fieldwork within the NEW Edxecel specification

In February 2009 FSC Slapton Ley is offering an exciting INSET opportunity for teachers following the new Edxecel A Level specifications.

The two day course will provide an insight into how to use innovative approaches to fieldwork to deliver the new specification, along with how to make the best use of ICT materials.

To find out more please download the course leaflet below or contact the centre directly on 01548 580466.

Flyer pictured below: visit the EDEXCEL NING page for more details.

If you're doing the spec, join the NING !!

Tuesday 16 December 2008

Ice, Ice Baby

Nice presentation on Iceland from Alan Doherty...


Iceland - Just ice
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: moraine ice-margins)

Sunday 14 December 2008

The disappearing High Street

A casualty of Urban rebranding schemes ?
How can it be made "vital" and "viable"....

An excellent audio-visual SLIDESHOW of a High Street, part of an excellent resource (try the tabs) on the BBC Magazine page.
Living Geography is happening on your High Street right now. Why not go down there and come back with a photostory: no more than 5 images, capture your High Street, before it disappears....

I've set up a FLICKR GROUP called "The Disappearing High Street", and kick started it with a few images from HUNSTANTON.

Add your pictures...

Wednesday 3 December 2008

Urban Earth: for unequal spaces...

One of the most creative geographers I've had the pleasure of working with over the last few years is Daniel Raven Ellison.
Earlier this year, he visited London, Mexico City and Mumbai and walked across them, taking an image very 8 paces to create these compelling movies for URBAN EARTH.
Below is the MUMBAI film....
A Newcastle Urban Earth event is planned for the 25th of January 2009 - more details later.



Thanks for the mention in the end-credits too Dan... Unless if was a different Alan P...

Credit Crunch Geographies

Just putting this resource together at the weekend.
Has anyone else spotted any trends in the Credit Crunch that have been reported in the media relating to geography: these could relate to employment, consumer products, lifestyle changes, population change or other aspects...
Add comments below, particularly if there is an article which accompanies it, and provides some additional detail...