March 2008 Archives

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Two of my loves in life are art and geography; and, it seems, there are others that share my passions. Recently, increasing numbers of artists are incorporating the themes of geography into their art.

The Donna Seager Gallery in San Rafael, California, is currently housing Devorah Jacoby’s newest collection entitled “Geography”. Her art, done mostly in oil paints, has a raw, impressionistic quality and features parts of maps and other clues that take the viewer to places both real and imagined. Jacoby’s intent is “to help us find our bearings.”
 
Another exhibit with geography as muse is “Experimental Geography,” a compilation of work from a variety of artists put together by curator Nato Thompson. According to Thompson, the exhibition “explores ‘the distinctions between geographical study and artistic experience of the earth, as well as the juncture where the two realms collide (and possibly make a new field altogether.)’”

One of the many artists included in the show is Lize Mogel. Mogel contributed to “An Atlas of Radical Cartography,” a collection of politically charged maps and essays. The atlas includes a world map that places Australia in the upper center of the map and puts the Western world powers in the lower half of the map. Although at first glance it seems to be a radical theme, the idea of politics influencing mapping has been around as long as mapping has. 

The first time political influences on mapping were formally brought to my attention was in a “People and Places” class at UNC-Chapel Hill. We discussed Jeremy W. Crampton’s “Maps as social constructions: power, communication and visualization” and his contention that there are many more factors that go into producing a map than just landforms and roads. For example, take a look at the following maps:

A world map that has been flipped upside down, placing Australia in the upper central location, in contrast to the traditional world map that places Western Europe in that spot.

Image courtesy of Australia Fare

This is a map of Belgium in the shape of a lion. The map was in a book about the Dutch War of Independence, authored by Famiano Strada that was originally printed in 1632. The lion is used to emit a sense of strength.  

Image courtesy of Cartographic Associates

This medieval world map shows the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia in the shape of the body of Christ with Jerusalem in the center.  America is in the lower left hand corner.

Image courtesy of Verso L'estrema Thule

[Translation: “Italian Traveling to the North”]

The key fact to remember when looking at a map is that it is a representation of reality, and not reality itself. There is no way to be exact when transferring a 3D object on to a 2D surface; therefore someone has to make the decisions on what to include on the map.

These artists are putting a new twist on an old idea, as well as bringing the two worlds of art and geography together.

Another geography inspired art show:

“The Map Show” at the Rockland  Center for the Arts, NYC

Marie for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

                  Image courtesy of Astronomy Picture of the Day

At 8pm tomorrow night (Saturday, March 29) businesses, individuals, and cities around the world will turn out the lights in recognition of the international Earth Hour. Pioneered by the World Wildlife Fund in 2007 as a local initiative in Sydney, Australia, in its second year Earth Hour has evolved into an international effort to promote energy conservation, combat global warming, and demonstrate solidarity for the shared fate of our planet and its inhabitants. Several new partners like Hewlett Packard and the National Geographic Channel have joined the cause, and U.S. cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Phoenix have signed on as official participants.

 
To learn more about event, visit the Earth Hour U.S. website.  You'll find information on energy saving tips, a list of international cities participating, and additional resources. The Earth Hour 2008 information blog has more of the latest news and notes, and Wikipedia has an interesting article, too.

 
To conclude my week at the National Science Teachers Conference in Boston, I'm currently rethinking my Saturday evening dinner plans "out on the town" in lieu of more energy conscious alternatives. Any suggestions?

 
Next week Tell Us: How did YOU celebrate Earth Hour?

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

It probably would not be very fun to ski down a barren hillside, dive into an empty swimming pool, or canoe along a rocky river bottom. Many of us take water—for health, for normal daily activities, and for recreation—for granted. But imagine if you had to trek ten miles to find potable water for your family, or had no choice but to bathe in a contaminated stream. Unfortunately, this is a reality for the 1.1 billion people-- one in five of the world’s population—who lack access to clean, safe drinking water.

The UN General Assembly designated March 22 as “World Water” Day in 1992 to address this issue. In 2007, 69 U.S. cities recognized the date and organized events around the cause. Tomorrow, and throughout the month of March, many more cities and towns will follow suit.

Visit worldwaterday.net for information about international water issues, World Water Day, events occurring in your local area, and a map of global water security. You can even participate in a virtual “walk for water” from the comfort of your own home. The world water crisis is a geographic, political and moral issue. So get involved!

Below is a selection of events occurring throughout the United States:

March 16-March 22

Donate your tap water

Cities across the U.S.

Beginning Sunday, March 16 through Saturday, March 22, restaurants will invite their customers to donate a minimum of $1 for the tap water they would normally get for free. These donations to UNICEF will go towards improving access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, while promoting safe hygiene practices in more than 90 countries around the world. Plug in your zip code to find restaurants in your city.

Friday, March 21

Washington, DC

Water for People Celebrate World Water Day with Water For People on Friday, March 21. Raffles and speakers-including Amy Hart - Filmmaker, Water First-will make the evening one to remember.

Louisville, KY

Join Edge Outreach for a night of music, water and film. Join speakers and hear stories of what is being done for those without water and sanitation.

Saturday, March 22.

Washington, DC

DC Environmental Film Festival The DC Environmental Film Festival will have several water movies showing on World Water Day March 22. There is also a panel of water experts at 4:00 PM that day.

WaterAid America in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History present a panel discussion exploring the burden unsafe water and sanitation place on women, and the role women can play in water and sanitation development interventions.

Walk for Water Events occurring in three major cities: Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA;  New York, NY

March 26

Washington, DC

The Global Health Council will hold a briefing on Capitol Hill called "The Link Between Clean Water and Health."

Get out there and have fun, and Tell Us how you celebrated World Water Day!

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Image courtesy of Polar-Palooza

I'm feeling green. Monday, St. Patrick's Day, was chock full o' everything one could imagine in shades of emerald, olive, and kelly: clovers, clothing, even the Chicago River! Daylight Savings has increased the window of opportunity to view the newly emerging, verdant spring growth. And last Thursday Polar-Palooza succeeded in eloquently articulating the "green" message of environmental sustainability in a fun, one-of-a-kind event.

Polar-Palooza is a traveling road show, part of a broader multimedia initiative supported by NSF and NASA, through which leading polar scientists, journalists, and local residents share their research and experiences with the general public in entertaining, interactive forums. Orchestrated to coincide with the International Polar Year, Polar-Palooza aims to paint a full, vivid picture of the stories behind the headlines of global climate change. From the Polar-Palooza website:

"...The Poles are changing faster than anywhere else on our entire world. Understanding the Poles helps us make wise decisions about building a sustainable future for our species and our civilization. At the same time, the Poles offer intriguing stories of human and animal adaptation to extreme conditions, and insights into the real-world adventure which doing science in such extreme conditions inevitably offers.... Why "PALOOZA"? Like the rock tour, we hope to be a little out of the box, and always on the edge."

I had the opportunity to see Polar-Palooza at National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, D.C., last Thursday. From the moment that Penn State geoscientist Richard Alley, sea ice researcher Jackie Richter-Menge, NASA ice researcher Waleed Abdalati, University of Alaska oceanographer Michael Castellini, and geologist and Alaska native Richard Glenn walked onto the stage wearing what can best be described as full-body arctic "storm" jackets, I knew this was not going to be your typical  lecture. Moderated by New York Times environment journalist Andy Revkin, the panelists took turns narrating over power point presentations complete with arresting photos, graphs, models, and video clips.

Palooza features experts in a variety of fields, which allows for great depth and perspective on each individual topic. It's powerful to hear the message directly from those working on the ground to compile the data, that are living the realities of the Arctic firsthand. The members of the panel shift as the show tours the country, making the program flexible and adaptable for audiences of different ages and orientations.

The style of live performances enables viewers to personally engage with the researchers and ask questions. It also allows for the incorporation of dramatic stunts like a "visit" from a hundred-thirty-thousand year-old core of ice from Greenland (you should have heard the gasps of awe during the kids' show)! Additionally, Palooza did a wonderful job highlighting the experiences of the human and animal communities who make their homes in the polar regions. These groups evince remarkable resilience and solidarity as they adapt to changing environments.

Polar-Palooza succeeds in promoting a message of environmental conservation and sustainability--without being overly preachy. As Revkin explained, experts are in near universal concordance over the scientific fundamentals of global warming, the conclusion that polar environments are changing, and the role that humans play in those processes. The point of contention arises only in the perceived magnitude of the problem and the nature of the appropriate human response. This response, of course, will be determined largely by policy makers and their constituents in the general public--us . The experts' task is to ensure that we all have the information necessary to make these difficult decisions. And that's exactly what Polar-Palooza, Andy Revkin, and others endeavor to achieve--while having a little fun in the process!

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

    Each year the Chicago River is died green in honor of St. Patrick's Day.
                             Image courtesy of K.Gelster   

Today Irish immigrants, their descendants, and many Green Isle enthusiasts around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But not in Ireland: Locals celebrated the traditional religious holiday on Saturday the 15th this year to avoid a conflict with the Christian Holy Week that began yesterday on Palm Sunday. Did you know that the first St.Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City on March 17, 1762? Can you guess which countries (and smaller administrative units) officially observe the holiday?

For my own part, I get in the spirit by wearing my favorite color green and pass off my Scottish, freckled pale skin and bright red hair as Irish. But since everyone with the desire can become an honorary Irishman--or woman--today, why not take a few moments to learn more about St. Patrick’s Day festivities around the world, the history of the holiday, and the country of Ireland?

Here are a few resources to get you started:

1. Official St. Patrick's Day Festival (Dublin, Ireland) website
2. History.com St. Patrick's Day profile
3. St.-Patrick's-Day.com list of St. Patrick's Day parades and events around the world
4. Wikipedia.org St. Patrick's Day article

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Andy Revkin is author of the "Dot Earth" blog at NYTimes.com.

Image courtesy of Dot Earth.

"Nine billion people. One planet."

The tagline for New York Times journalist Andy Revkin's Dot Earth blog affords a sobering reality check. The world's human population is projected to reach nine billion by the year 2050, producing an unprecedented degree of strain on the planet's natural resources.

It would seem to paint a bleak picture for the future. And yet, Andy Revkin remains optimistic. While offering a zealous, timely call to action, his blog is a breath of fresh air. I had the opportunity to listen to Mr. Revkin speak at the ISSA conference last month, through which I discovered the source of his profound positivism: his confidence in the power of education, and in the ability of young people to act toward the creation of a more sustainable society. It's a pretty inspiring message for people of all ages.

Andy is doing his own part for the cause by dedicating himself to the mission of education in which he so strongly believes. That commitment fueled the development of Dot Earth, a forum designed to inform and engage. The blog explores issues from environmental policy to population pressures, science to public opinion, media influence to impacts on individual species. All are topics of interest and concern to students of geography with an eye to the complex interactions of earth's peoples, plant and animal species, and environments. So add Dot Earth to your RSS feed and check in daily to learn from and participate in discussions about some of the most pressing challenges facing the global community.

Andy Revkin joins a panel of experts to share stories and insights tonight at the National Geographic Live! event "Polar Palooza: Stories from a Changing Planet" in Washington, D.C.

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Image courtesy of Dr. James Hayes-Bohanan.

With the assistance of intern Marie, we're initiating a new series called "Newsflash: Top 5"--short compilations of quick-pick links to relevant articles. Consider it your RSS feed to timely geographic resources on the web. Enjoy, and let us know what you think!

1. Education: Geography of Coffee. PatriotLedger.com (Quincy, MA), March 2, 2008.
Bridgewater State College professor James Hayes-Bohanan uses coffee to teach students about economic geography and the impacts of globalization at local and international scales. Check out his classroom companion website.
See also: About.com:Geography article on the subject.
"Geography is a flavor" at Starbucks.

2. Education: "Piloting a new route in education." Chicago Herald News Online, March 4, 2008.
Thirty thousand students across the country, including those at a school in the Chicago suburb of New Lenox, will integrate geography, math, and career education skills through Southwest Airlines' "Adopt-a-pilot" program.

3. Music: "Geocentricity puts bands on the map." SeattlePI.com, February 12, 2008.
Just as presidential candidates attempt to cater their messages to each individual state on the campaign trail, bands gain 'street cred' by identifying with and appealing to specific geographic regions.

4. Cultural Geography: "'Back East' not just a matter of geography." Lawrence-Journal World Online (Lawrence, KS), March 3, 2008.
Journalist and Kansas native Elizabeth Black, who spent much of her adult life in Chicago and cities on the East Coast, describes the meaning and evolution of the term "Back East." (Note: According to Kansans, Chicago is "East").

5. Global Environment: "Nyong awarded Nobel Peace Prize." allAfrica.com, March 4, 2008.
Nigerian Dr. Anthony Okon Nyong, a geographer at the University of Jos, has been named a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore and the IPCC  (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Images courtesy of Wikimedia.org commons.

An article in the New York Times last week described a pilot program in New York City public schools that provides monetary incentives to students for meritorious performance on standardized tests. Since the beginning of the school year, the district has distributed $500,000 to 5,237 students in 58 schools.

Read the article at NYTimes.com and tell us what you think of the plan.

According to the article, New York is only one of a number of school districts experimenting with incentive programs like the one designed by Harvard economist Rolan G. Fryer. Baltimore, Maryland, is considering similar measures to improve test scores. And if the initiative is successful in New York, you can bet that cities across the country will follow suit.

There are many vital issues to consider:
Effectiveness: Can the program prove successful in boosting test scores in both the short and long terms?

Ethics: Does the end justify the means? Is this the appropriate message to be sending to students?

Are there any unintended consequences that should be considered?

My own reaction to the program parallels that of New York school Principal Barbara Slatin: initial skepticism and repulsion, tempered by mild optimism and curiosity. It seems to me that there must be alternative methods to enhance student performance, not based on cash incentives. I’d like think the education system can provide fun, engaging learning experiences and articulate the value of a well-rounded education—beyond standardized test outcomes—to students. The optimal solution, that will be effective over the long-term, is it to get students excited about education and the process of learning. And well-designed, comprehensive, engaging and personally relevant geographic classes that teach students about their world, its wonders and challenges, are a great place to start. And maybe throw in a gold star or two.

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

That's amore!

In February's My Wonderful World e-newsletter we challenged you to learn how to say "I love you" in a foreign language. How did you sign your Valentine's Day cards? What other phrases did you learn?

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Earth at night. Composite image by C. Mayhew & R. Simmon.
Courtesy of NASA.gov.

Are you a stargazer? Act quickly! Unfortunately, a majority of Americans will never have the opportunity to see a sky unobstructed by ambient light and air pollution, illuminated by stars and not artificial fluorescents. This fact is the impetus behind the GLOBE at Night Campaign.

"GLOBE at Night" is an engagement initiative to inspire people to experience the worlds beyond our own wonderful world by observing the sky at night. The public is encouraged to actively participate in this grassroots scientific effort to chart the impacts of light pollution on our views of the cosmos. Easy instructions explain how to submit nighttime sky observations to the GLOBE organization, which undertakes the task of compiling and analyzing data from viewers around the Earth each year. Visit the website for more information on how to to participate. There are great extension resources for teachers, students, and parents, including family activity packets in six languages and e-postcards to send to your friends!

This year's observation period ends Saturday, March 8, and views are likely to become increasingly clouded in the future as the world continues to urbanize. In fact, 2008 marks the first time in history when over half of Earth's population will be living in cities!

I feel lucky to have had an opportunity to witness a seriously star-saturated sky a few summers ago during a family vacation to Yellowstone National Park. Breathtaking vistas and charismatic megafauna greeted us at every turn along the park's loop road during daylight hours. One evening we crossed back through the North entrance after a trip out to small-town Montana. Gazing sleepily out the car windows, we were collectively awakened by the dazzling twinkle of the starlit sky. Hailing from suburban eastern Massachusetts, we had never seen a sight quite like it. Immediately, I understood why Montana's state epithet is "Big Sky Country," and what the ancient explorers had been describing in the many colorful accounts I had read. It was truly awe-inspiring--I wish everyone could have such an experience!

Quick pick: Another fortnight feature is rapidly approaching the end of the road--the U.K.'s Fairtrade Fortnight ends Sunday, March 9. Visit the Fairtrade Foundation's website to learn more about environmentally, socially, geographically responsible fair-trade products.

Sarah for My Wonderful World.

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Image courtesy of Headcount.org

Isn’t it exciting? No matter how you’re casting your vote in the presidential primaries, or even if you’re just an avid spectator, it’s impossible to deny that the current election season has been one of the most sensational in recent history.

The field has been narrowed to three candidates following last night’s four contests in Vermont, Rhode Island, Texas, and Ohio. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee conceded victory to John McCain after the Arizona Senator won enough delegate votes to secure the Republican endorsement. While the race may be over for the Republicans, the plot has thickened in the bid for the Democratic nomination. After losing eleven straight primaries, Hillary Clinton won both Texas and Ohio and is being touted as “the Comeback Kid” (and every other manner of pun, allusion, and alliterative phrase the pundits can dream up). Of course, as Obama’s camp is quick to point out, it’s still an uphill battle to win the final delegate count. But don’t underestimate the power of momentum. Add to the mix the as-yet-untallied results of the “Texas Two-step” caucuses and those “Super Delegates,” and you’ve got a bona fide nail-biter.

“What?!” you may exclaim.  It’s as confusing as it is exciting. Luckily, there are plenty of resources available online to help make sense of the myriad state electoral systems and swiftly-shifting political dynamics. I identified a few of these in a January post. My favorite remains NPR’s interactive election map.

I recently discovered another great site called Headcount.org from a representative at the ISSA conference. Headcount is a non-profit, “non-partisan organization devoted to using the multi-faceted power of music to enable voter registration and participation in democracy.” Headcount works with artists to inspire live music fans, particularly young people, toward social and political activism. Check out Headcount.org’s many resources including a schedule of politically-oriented concerts and events, “polling places locator” and an embeddable “Register to Vote” widget. We all recognize the power of music to inspire (see my recent post on the New York Philharmonic in North Korea). Consider this: How does each candidate make an entrance at a rally or celebrate a victory? With carefully selected music, of course! Most campaigns even choose a theme song. Kudos to Headcount for recognizing the intersection of music and politics and and using it to mobilize a captive audience.

So I hope you feel inspired! Now, more than ever, it’s critical to get involved and participate in the political process. It’s geographic, in fact, to exercise your civic rights: Governments play a dramatic role in shaping our social, economic, physical, and cultural environments at every scale. In a representative government, that means YOU impact your community through elected officials, in addition to your individual activities. Even if you’re not eligible to vote, it’s important to understand the surrounding world and the current events that define it. So get educated! We encourage all young and old to follow along as the country votes, and, if eligible, pick up a ballot.

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

                                        Image courtesy of BBC News

Sunday marked two weeks since Kosovo, former Serbian province and a United Nations protectorate for the last decade, declared unilateral independence to become the world's 195th country on February 17. Following the initial fan-fare, the ensuing days have been fraught with tension and violence. While many nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, quickly accepted the Declaration, other dominant powers, like Russia, China, and Spain, refuse to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state. On February 22, hundreds of Serbian protesters attacked the United States' embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. Yesterday, Serbian officials claim to have "retaken" a Kosovo rail line.
 
Why the fracas? Ethnic Serbs claim that Kosovo is central to the Serbian heartland, and an integral piece of their historic and predominantly Christian Orthodox religious heritage. Serbs make up a minority of Kosovo's population, however. Ethnic Albanians, the majority of whom identify with the Islamic faith, now represent over 90% of the region's citizens following a period of rapid growth (one of the highest in Europe) throughout the 1900s. Most ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and neighboring Albania strongly support independence, while Serbs in Kosovo and Serbia vehemently oppose the notion. 

Those sympathetic to the cause for independence cite ethnic tensions and years of persecution at the hands of Serbian radicals and Serbian/Yugoslavian human rights violator Slobodan Milosevic as justification for Kosovo's right to self-determination. Those parties in opposition argue that Kosovo's declaration violates a UN resolution (1244) and sets a dangerous precedent for secession of ethnic minority groups around the world. The issue is extremely complicated; perhaps the only certainty is that there will not be an easy solution. 

As students of geography, it's incumbent upon us to seek an understanding of all contexts and perspectives on the matter. Delve deeper into the debate with these articles and online resources.

From BBC News:
1. Kosovo declares independence, article

2. Kosovo Declaration of Independence, full text

3. Debate: Should the world recognize and independent Kosovo?
Views from the international community
Views of ethnic Serbs & Albanians

4. Map: Kosovo ethnic breakdown

5. Slovakian, Romanian, Spanish, and Cyprus officials on why they oppose the Declaration

6. "Serbia 'retakes' Kosovo rail line"

From other news sources:
7. "International reaction to the Declaration": Wikipedia article

8. "Belgrade on Fire," NYTimes.com

History Lesson:
9. U.N. Resolution 1244

10. Q&A on the history of strife in Kosovo, MSNBC

11. Flashback to Kosovo's War, BBC

12. Yugoslavia Timeline, BBC

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates