Recently in Take Action Category

Read the July 2010 Newsletter: Use geotechnology to uncover ancient and modern-day mysteries this summer!

Inside
July Challenge: Give geocaching or earthcaching a go!
GeoFeature: Gravestones and GPS
GeoNews: Join Expedition: Mongolia
Blog: Find bargains near you

Plus: more newsletter highlights on the next page!

"They say that you can't truly learn a language without immersing yourself in its culture. The same can be said the other way around, you cannot truly experience a culture, without knowing the language."

May 21 was the World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Taking it Global, the largest online community of youth interested in global issues and creating positive change, is hosting a multilingual blog contest as part of a year-long celebration of multilinguism initiatives. Check out the first posts from two Canadians--one living in-country, and the other in Havana, Cuba--and join in the dialogue!

Let us know when you submit your entries to the multilingual blog contest; we'll run an ongoing feature of the project here on the My Wonderful World blog.

Sarah Jane for My Wonderful World

This past weekend, April 30-May 1, marked the fourth annual BioBlitz. If you've been following the My Wonderful Blog for the past couple years, you'll be familiar with the concept behind this 24-hour species inventory that is part scientific endeavor, part festival and part outdoor classroom.

The 2010 event held at Biscayne Bay National Park was the first ever underwater 'blitz. More than 1300 students from the Miami area strapped on snorkels and scuba gear to get out in the field--well, ocean--with scientists and identify as many marine organisms as possible--810 by the final count.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Bioblitz this year. But luckily, plenty of my colleagues were there to report on the action!

Below is a selection of my favorite BioBlitz posts from BlogWild, the Nat Geo wire edited by Ford Cochran that follows the Society's intrepid explorers as they traverse the globe--as well as some of the 9-to-5 part-time explorers who get to tag along from time to time ;-)

Later in the week, I'll have additional posts from Nat Geo Education staffers who worked with school groups at the event analyzing data using our new Fieldscope tool.

So dip in and stay tuned; in the meantime, follow our coverage of previous BioBlitz events at Indiana Dunes, Santa Monica Mountains, and Rock Creek Park (D.C.).

Earth Hour!  

Earth Hour is this Saturday, March 27th at 8:30pm local time. What is Earth Hour, you ask?  It is what it sounds like: an event organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and celebrated by individuals and municipalities around the world, as a symbolic stance against global warming. How can you participate? Simply flip the switch to "OFF" for one hour.

Last year 87 countries and 4,100 cities came together in this effort, including many well-known and well-lit landmarks--the Las Vegas strip, the Great Pyramids of Giza, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong, and the Sydney Opera House, to name a few. For these famous locations, time spent in literal darkness allowed for ample reflection of how our choices can change the world.  

Universities, schools, businesses, and even individuals are getting involved. This is a great chance for families to take a stance together to express ideals for the future, and for individuals to join with people from many cultures in a collective effort to change the world.  

Up for the challenge?  

If you're curious about how much energy you use, take this quick quiz at www.BP.com/energylab. There are several country identifications to choose from, so you should be able to get a fairly accurate calculation. If you can calculate how much energy you save in one hour by turning off the lights, let me know! I am curious to know how much energy could be saved throughout the world in just one hour.  

Visit www.myearthhour.org to learn more about Earth Hour and to share your stories and photos.

This Saturday is a chance for the world to stand together in candle light and be mindful of our global energy footprint. So flip the switch!
By: Sarah Evans

It's World Water Day, an occasion to celebrate the miraculous liquid that bathes more than 2/3 of our planet and sustains all life.

We're continuing the fiesta de agua all year long as we look toward Geography Awareness Week 2010: "Freshwater." Check out the March edition of the newsletter for more information on what's in store for November 14-20.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, here are our picks for the top 5 ways to celebrate liquid life today, World Water Day.
 


1. Check out National Geographic magazine in all its watery blue glory.
In recognition of World Water Day, National Geographic magazine will offer a free interactive version of its April single-topic issue, Water: Our Thirsty World. Between March 22 and April 2, anyone can visit nationalgeographic.com/freshwater to download the April issue for free. In addition to all the material in the print issue, readers of the digital issue will get animated images, photo slide shows, and more.

We encourage you to take advantage of the special, limited-time offer; after April 2 access to the new e-zine will cost you $5.95 an issue. Be one of the first to experience this innovative technology and tell us here on the blog what you think!

Each month we offer a challenge to MWW members to get involved doing geography; that is, taking an action that requires a geographic perspective or advocating on behalf of geographic education.

Our March Challenge: Choose 5 of 100 ways to conserve water and tell us how it goes!

Here's your chance: Please comment on this post with your water-saving stories.

"We the undersigned believe that to deprive ourselves of the knowledge systems supplied by geography, in a society that is increasingly globalised and complex, means depriving students of knowledge that is absolutely essential if they are to face the challenges of the world."


Sign the petition to save Italian geography education here.

Italy is engaged in a process of education reform this week, and many in the Italian geographic education community fear the proposed budget cuts could have severe consequences for geography curriculum nationwide.

One Italian friend pleads:

"We are trying to let the public know that geographical culture is fundamental in every country, in particular in present time and in a globalized societies.

Over 100 world leaders, President Obama included, will converge in Copenhagen this week and next for the UN Climate Change Conference, but they are not the only ones flocking to the Danish capital. Thousands of young people from all over the world, 500+ from the United States alone, are pouring into the Bella Convention Center to make delegates take notice. They may come from every corner of the planet, but they all share the same message: Now is the time to fight climate change. Here are two awesome groups leading the charge.

Expedition Copenhagen
Will Steger, the renowned polar explorer, educator, activist, and National Geographic Explorer in Residence Emeritus, is among the conference attendees. With him is Expedition Copenhagen, a dozen of the Midwest's most dedicated youth, intent on spreading the word about the impacts of climate change and elevating the status of youth voices around the world on this topic. As a Midwesterner myself, I am extremely proud of these young people and their dedication to the environment!

Happy Tuesday of Geography Awareness Week, everyone! Last week we told y'all to update your Twitter and Facebook accounts today with your latitude and longitude... so help GAW go viral and hop to it! Here's how:

On Twitter, copy and paste the following message (make sure to insert your own lat/long!) to your status:

My lat/long is 38.9, -77.0...what's urs? RT w/ your lat/long, and celebrate Geography Week with @lovegeography! findlatitudeandlongitude.com

On Facebook, first become a fan of MWW here.

Then set your status to:

My lat/long is 38.9, -77.0... What's yours? Re-paste this status with your lat/long and celebrate Geography Awareness Week with @mywonderfulworld! Calculate your lat/long at http://findlatitudeandlongitude.com

Tell your friends, family, and colleagues to do the same! Help spread the word!

Silvia was born in Germany, raised in Argentina and is living now in the USA. Silvia graduated with a Degree in Spanish & International Studies and a Master's in Instructional Technology. She serves as the 21st Century Learning Specialist at a K-8 Day School. Geography, global awareness and connections are among her many interests as she works with teachers and students to bring the world into the classroom.

The Middle School Social Studies teacher at my school was not satisfied with the paper and pencil assignment and was looking to bring the old and tried task into the 21st century. She wanted students to not merely be looking up random and disconnected news events that were handed in to her on a weekly basis. She wanted students to be really making connections among these events by involving higher level thinking skills such as evaluating, analyzing and creating. The new assignment was to not only involve geography skills, but also bring into the lesson information literacy and global awareness...

Keep reading Silvia's full post on her blog!
http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/11/15/geography-awareness-week-get-lost-in-mapping-find-your-place-in-the-world/