What Influence the effects of earthquakes?

The map below shows major earthquakes (magnitude in red circles) and their effects (blue squares = no of deaths). Investigate what they show using the mouse to click symbols for further info then try to work out why they differ so greatly.


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(The Only) Solution to Desertification?

The issue of desertification is one of the prime issues of our present and our future. Alan Savory gives an excellent TED Talk below analysing what he sees as the only viable solution.

Questions to Consider:
How big an issue is Desertification?
Could there be other solutions?
Is it too late to solve this problem?

Durban Climate Summit - Discuss...

C.Krueger has collated some statements about the Durban climate summit below. What do you think? Are these effective in helping to alter climate change? Should we be worried about climate change at all?

Respond with opinions below this post or tweet @bsgeography

The Durban Climate Summit

"Climate change is the greatest emerging humanitarian challenge of our times, causing suffering to hundreds of millions of people worldwide," – Kofi Annan, former UN secretary-general and president of the Geneva-based Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF)

“The latest science is telling us we are in more trouble than we thought.” –Janos Pasztor, UN climate adviser

The annual ritual of discussions to restrict global warming to within 2 degrees was performed at Durban from November 28 to December 9 2011. Thousands of experts, government negotiators, campaigners, and businessmen gathered and talked, talked, talked… There was considerable skepticism if ever the “dirty boys” of the planet would learn to behave responsibly.

What is the basic issue?

The temperature on the Earth is rising due to global warming, and it is rising at a speed which scientists attribute to human actions leading to excessive emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat. This has changed, and is changing the weather patterns everywhere. The prediction is that a global temperature rise beyond 2 degrees Celsius can lead to catastrophic climatic disasters beyond control.

Evidence of Global Warming?

The statistics from the International Disaster Database found out that in the last 5 years of the 21^st century, there were more global disasters recorded than in during the last 200 years. In the period of time between 1900 and 1910 for example, there were just 28 disasters recorded. Everyone is realizing that the weather is changing more often and is becoming harder to predict year by year.

The question is whether summits like the Durban one can change something in human behaviour in order to change the climate… 

IB Core - Wall of opinions about reducing global disparities

Created with Wallwisher

Solving Global Water Problems

Year 10 pupils were set a task to research global water supply issues and attempt to solve them. Two excellent offerings are below:

Bangladesh Water Crisis from BSGeography

Water Shortages in China (and possible solutions) from BSGeography

Great Extension on development and Population

Hans Rosling gives a 4 minute lesson on 200 years if history for 200 countries. Shows change in life expectancy along with wealth.

Social Good Summit - get involved

The UN Social Good Summit starts today. There are some excellent ways to follow whats going on:

1) You can follow and watch it live online here:

2) You can follow it on twitter with the hashtag: #sgsGlobal

3) We have also set up a live twitter feed on this site, just click on 'Live News' to the right of this post to watch it update:

The video below is an excellent rundown of what it is about and how you could get involved.....

Haiti Earthquake - excellent read

J.Taylor has written a genuinely very interesting case study on the causes of the Haiti Earthquake. Click the image to open it in a new tab to read.

UNDP Act Now campaign

The UNDP have a campaign on to increase preparedeness and spending on disasters to reduce their developmental effects and spending in the long run. Have a look at the video below which is part of their campaign but als o highlights the issues excellently for those in the upper sixth and year ten particularly this term.

Some summer inspiration

Two videos below that may get you thinking about development in a new way or may just provide some summer inspiration:

Excellent Video on Birth Rate and Population Change