Abbeyfield Humanities

Creative land use in Thailand

2012-01-23T22:25:00.000Z

Take a look at this video. It shows how some urban areas are so crowded, that every single piece of land is used by the people who live there.

Make sure you watch the video through to the end to get the full effect - It's amazing.

Uprising affects tourism in Syria

2012-01-19T18:26:00.002Z

The uprising in Syria has led to a dramatic decrease in the number of tourists now visiting the country.

It is estimated that 14% of the country’s economy has disappeared. Watch the video report below and read more about this issue here

Political instability affects tourism in Tunisia

2012-01-16T20:51:00.001Z

As a result of the political changes and resulting instability, tourists are staying aware from tourists resorts in Tunisia. Nearly half of the expected tourists from Europe have stayed away and with more than a million people working in the tourism industry, the government is keen for the tourists to return.

Watch the video report here:

More video via BBC News here

Coastal Landscapes and Landforms video

2012-01-15T16:38:00.002Z

Year 10 GCSE Geography homework questions/tasks:

What is the term used to describe the distance over which waves build up?
Why are waves on the south coast so powerful?
Draw a series of labelled diagrams to show how Lulworth Cove was formed
Draw a labelled diagram to show how longshore drift works - include the terms; updrift, downdrift, swash and backwash
What have been built along Bournemouth beach to protect it from coastal erosion
How do groynes work? - You could draw a diagram if you wish
Describe the impact the groynes at Bournemouth have had on Barton On Sea
Explain why this has happened
Why did they decide not to protect the homes at Barton On Sea?

Life in the Rainforest video

2012-01-15T16:36:00.002Z

Factors affecting birth rates

2012-01-15T16:09:00.000Z

Video illustrating the variety of factors affecting global fertility rates, using good graphics and a variety of countries to illustrate the factors

Urbanisation and Migration in China

2012-01-15T15:59:00.001Z

China will shortly have a situation where urban dwellers will outnumber those in rural areas for the first time in history. This is one reason for the growth in the Chinese economy as migrant workers provide labour in factories in the cities and buy goods and services which helps to drive the economy.

Urbanisation rates are still far lower than Europe and North America. However, this change has meant that many younger people are leaving the rural areas resulting in an elderly imbalanced population in the countryside.

Migration - Where does everybody go?

2012-01-15T15:49:00.000Z

Up, up and away!

2012-01-14T18:09:00.000Z

It's like Google Earth - but in real time! Watch this video as a balloon hooked up to a camera leaves the ground and sails into the school, filming the view as it goes

Chippenham Vision scuppered by supermarket plans?

2012-01-12T19:36:00.000Z

Interesting article asking whether big supermarkets do more harm than good? It is claimed that plans to redevelop Chippenham town centre have been thwarted by approval being given to the extension of one of the out-of-town supermarkets.

Read more about this here

You can also read more about Chippenham Vision here

Haiti earthquake - Two years on

2012-01-11T18:55:00.000Z

The earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre near the town of Leogane, 25 km west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.

Heres a reminder of the events of that week:

An estimated three million people were affected by the quake. It is estimated that more than 200,000 people died; 300,000 were injured and 1 million were made homeless.

Two years on from the catastrophic quake, work to recover is still happening. Nearly a million people have now left the camps which sprang up after the disaster. Almost half of the 10 million cubic metres of debris has been cleared so far.

See the latest images here

However, it is reported that around half a million people are still living in tents or temporary accommodation, in poor conditions.

Iceland's Super-volcano threatens to erupt

2012-01-07T18:05:00.002Z

Watch this video to find out more:

Around the World in under 5 minutes

2012-01-07T17:35:00.002Z

17 Countries. 343 Days. 6237 Photographs. One incredible journey.

Watch this!

Follow the adventure at http://kienlam.net/around-the-world and http://kienlam.net

An end in sight for China's One Child Policy?

2012-01-07T16:38:00.003Z

It is now thirty years since

China

introduced its one-child policy, in a bid to lower the birth rate and control population growth.

Today, though China's fertility rate is below the replacement level, meaning that there may not be enough workers in the future to support an elderly population.

In addition,

China

’s population has a major gender imbalance. The expectation is that there will be 30 million more men than women by 2020 as families favour having boys rather than girls.

Over the years there have been reports that the policy has been enforced through forced abortions. However, many now question whether it is now time for the policy to be ended

Watch this programme to find out more:

Happy New Year 2012: Britain battered by stormy weather

2012-01-03T20:18:00.002Z

Reuters - Today, more than 100,000 homes lost their electricity supply in Britain, as storms of up to 90 miles-per-hour uprooted trees which knocked out power lines, whilst flying debris damaged the power infrastructure. Two people have died as a result of weather related incidents.

Why was it so windy? – click on the weather map below to find out more:

Image source - BBC Weather website

BBC News video report

For more information and additional videos click here

London 2012 - facts and figures animated

2012-01-03T17:59:00.002Z

Landfill site becomes solar powerhouse

2012-01-01T17:14:00.001Z

Based on report from the CNN website:

Hickory Ridge landfill was once a mountain of landfill waste – a scar on the landscape on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia.

But now, the former landfill site has been covered with 10 acres of solar panels, to provide green renewable energy

In addition to the solar panels, gas pumps have been driven deep into the ground to collect methane gas, from the mountain of waste as it decomposes, in order to provide another source of energy.

Watch the report from CNN here:

Cyclone Thane kills more than 30 people in India

2011-12-31T12:34:00.001Z

The severe cyclonic storm named 'Thane' that crossed the Tamil Nadu coast of India yesterday, has left a trail of destruction and has claimed 33 lives in rain-related incidents. the cyclone has left about 20,000 people in relief camps in the Cuddalore district.

BBC News video report here

More details from the Times of India website here

More details via CNN here

Solar power energy benefits Bangladesh population

2011-12-30T19:58:00.000Z

Low power solar systems are transforming the lives of tens of millions of rural people living in Bangladesh, who are unconnected to the national grid.

Read more about this initiative here

2011 - A year of Natural disasters

2011-12-30T12:45:00.001Z

Text – Al Jazeera: From tsunamis to tornadoes, from droughts to floods, 2011 was a particularly significant year for natural disasters.

Across the Horn of Africa, twelve million people were affected by the severe drought, tropical Storm Washi hit the Philippines, killing more than 1,000 people.

In addition, there is an excellent Channel 4 documentary entitled 'The year the earth went wild' which outlines the amazing and shocking natural events of the year month by month. To watch this, click on the image below:

Earthquake resistant house designs

2011-12-29T09:48:00.001Z

Image from National Geographic Magazine

The earthquake in Haiti was a reminder: Billions of people live in houses that can't stand shaking. Yet safer ones can be built cheaply—using straw, adobe, old tires—by applying a few general principles. Find out more here on the National Geographic website

10 months on - Christchurch hit by 5.8 magnitude earthquake

2011-12-23T19:57:00.001Z

Three strong earthquakes have struck the city, 10 months after an earlier quake which killed 182 people.

Watch a report from ONE news in New Zealand here

The city's airport was evacuated and all the shopping centres closed as a precaution.

For more detail, view the reports on the BBC News pages here

Liquifaction and cliff collapses have been a visible sign of the quake this time around. Watch this video from TVNZ to see the impacts

Rich and Famous in the Slums

2011-12-23T00:23:00.000Z

Watch this edited version of the Comic Relief documentary where famous faces spend time in one of the worlds largest slums - Kibera in Kenya.

This is excellent viewing for GCSE Geographers when studying the Built Environments unit

Santa's Carbon footprint

2011-12-21T22:40:00.001Z

With millions of miles travelled delivering presents - what is Santa's carbon footprint?

Watch this clip from CNN

Comparing earthquake strength over time

2011-12-21T14:33:00.002Z

This animation compares the relative "sizes" of recent and historical earthquakes. Each circle's area indicates relative energy release, color indicates tsunami potential

See http://ptwc.weather.gov/ptwc/about_messages.php, and labels indicate each earthquake's moment magnitude (according to USGS/NEIC), location, and the year they happened.

Thanks to http://geogteacher.wordpress.com/ for finding this

Abbeyfield Humanities now on Twitter and Facebook

2011-12-21T13:14:00.000Z

You can now get notifications of the posts on the Abbeyfield Humanities website in two new ways.

On Facebook - Abbeyfield Humanities
Or click the image below:

On Twitter - AbbHumanities
Or click on the image below:

A sign of the times - world imports

2011-12-19T22:05:00.000Z

Source - The Economist

The Economist - For the past couple of decades, emerging economies have grabbed a rising share of world manufacturing production and exports, thanks to their lower wage costs. They already produce more than half the world’s exports. But an important new milestone will be reached in 2012, when they will import more goods than rich economies.

That is a dramatic change since 2000, when they imported barely half as much as rich countries did. This rapid growth in developing countries’ buying power will boost the profits of companies in rich economies over the coming years.

Read the full article here

Recommended viewing - The Year the Earth Went Wild - Channel 4

2011-12-19T21:36:00.001Z

With a record-breaking cold winter, the tsunami in Japan, the extraordinary killer American tornadoseason, the floods in Australiaand a hurricane in New York,2011 has seen an onslaught of epic-scale climate and geological events acrossthe world, all caught on camera in the most spectacular fashion.

Using eye-witness footage, interviews with survivors andrescuers and analysis from geological and weather specialists, this documentarycharts the incredible natural events of a year where almost every month wasaffected by a natural disaster.

If you missed it, watch it when it becomes available on 4OD

Philippines storm triggers fatal flooding

2011-12-17T19:08:00.002Z

BBC NEWS - A tropical storm has hit the southern Philippines, triggering flash floods that officials say have killed more than 430 people and left many missing.

An army spokesman said many villagers on the north coast of Mindanao island were swept into the sea after Tropical Storm Washi brought heavy rain.

Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities have been hard hit, with many victims asleep as the floods swept into their homes.

Tens of thousands of people have fled to higher ground, the authorities say.

For more details via BBC News click here

Making money out of tourist waste - Bali

2011-12-12T20:21:00.000Z

A village in Bali is recycling the mass of tourist waste in order to create employment and generate income for the local economy. Find out more by watching the video below:

UK braced for storms this week

2011-12-11T13:26:00.000Z

BBC Weather - Two further storms will be making their way from the Atlantic towards the UK over the coming days, this as parts of Scotland recover from the widespread disruption brought by last Thursday's storm.

From BBC Weather website - forecast for 13/12/11

The Met Office have issued a yellow early warning for a period of very stormy weather next week, with severe gales or storm force winds expected to affect southern and western parts of the UK by Monday night and during Tuesday.

A quieter period of weather mid week will be a brief respite before a second storm sweeps in from the west on Thursday afternoon.

There is the potential for some severe disruption from both storms.

Watch the video forecast here

Wind turbines affected by 'too much wind'.

2011-12-11T09:04:00.000Z

During the recent gale force winds that affected much of Scotland and Northern Ireland last week, a 100 metre tall wind turbine failed to cope with the winds and caught fire.

Watch it here:

Building the Olympic dream?

2011-12-11T08:49:00.000Z

Many people are excited by the prospect of the Olympics being held in London. However, this is not a view shared by everyone. Watch the video below to learn about the arguments for and against London 2012

Storms batter Scotland

2011-12-08T19:50:00.003Z

From BBC Weather website

Police have told people in

Scotland

not to travel, as winds of up to 165mph (264km/h) affect the country, leaving more than 30,000 people without power.

As the Met Office issued its highest warning, a red alert, hundreds of schools have shut and bridge and road closures are causing disruption.

For more information and video click on the links below:

Battered Scotland
How have people been affected?

Text via BBC News website

Why choose Humanities subjects at GCSE?

2011-12-07T20:10:00.001Z

If you are in Year 9 - Watch this video to find out more....

Fair trade helps farmers after hurricane

2011-12-07T19:15:00.000Z

The Guardian: The number of banana growers in the Windward Islands of St Lucia, St Vincent, Dominica and Grenada is dwindling after a hurricane devastated crops in 2010.

Simon Rawles hears how fair trade rules are helping remaining farmers recover from the disaster, despite global economic turmoil and a European decision to allow greater competition in the industry

UK Drought in December?

2011-12-01T17:48:00.002Z

Daily Express: THE driest 12 months on record has left

Britain

facing a drought we may not recover from until 2013, a report warns today.

Drought map from BBC News article - 1 December 2011

Householders and businesses are urged by the Environment Agency to save water after parts of the country have had the lowest level of rainfall for 80 years.

Desperately-needed rain is unlikely in the next few weeks and the Environment Agency report warns the drought could last until next summer.

The Agency claims central, eastern and south-east

England

are unlikely to see a full recovery from the drought until after 2012.

South East Water have applied to the Environment Department for a drought order to help refill Ardingly Reservoir, where levels of usable water are now at just 12%, to secure supplies for East and West Sussex.

Dirty water filter - appropriate technology

2011-11-30T10:15:00.006Z

Too much of the world lacks access to clean drinking water. Engineer Michael Pritchard did something about it -- inventing the portable Lifesaver filter, which can make the most revolting water drinkable in seconds.

An amazing demo from TEDGlobal 2009

Migration to the UK rises in 2010

2011-11-28T19:36:00.000Z

BBC NEWS - Annual net migration to the

in 2010 was 252,000 - the highest calendar year figure on record, figures show.

The data from the Office for National Statistics showed immigration remained steady at 591,000, but there was a drop in the number of people leaving the UK.

Provisional data from the ONS for the 12 months to the end of March suggests net migration has since fallen slightly to 245,000.

The government has pledged to cut net migration to tens of thousands by 2015.

Watch the BBC NEWS report here

Climate talks to keep global temperatures down

2011-11-28T19:04:00.001Z

BBC NEWS - As this year's UN climate summit opens, some of the developing world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters are bidding to delay talks on a new global agreement.

To the anger of small islands states, India and Brazil have joined rich nations in wanting to start talks on a legal deal no earlier than 2015.

The EU and climate-vulnerable blocs want to start as soon as possible, and have the deal finalised by 2015.

But the process of finding that common solution, in the form of an agreement that can constrain greeenhouse gas emissions enough to keep the global average temperature rise below 2C, will entail some complex and difficult politics.

Developing countries will certainly target rich governments such as Japan, Canada and Russia over their refusal to commit to new emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol, whose current targets expire at the end of next year.

Read the full details here and see the animated climate change graph

Mild weather affects the high street

2011-11-28T18:59:00.002Z

Daily Mail: The

's beleaguered high street has suffered the biggest fall in shopper numbers since last December's Arctic blizzards, a survey revealed today.

Footfall dropped 4.7 per cent in October as a 'toxic mix' of soaring fuel bills squeezed consumers' income levels and the eurozone debt crisis sapped confidence, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The weak figures, partly caused by shoppers delaying buying winter clothes in the warmest October on record, came despite high levels of special offers and discounts.

Read the full article here

Wind turbines - health hazard?

2011-11-28T18:55:00.002Z

Daily Express: Ministers were yesterday urged to abandon the race to build wind farms after experts claimed that living within six miles of a turbine can cause “life threatening” illnesses.

Scientists have called for exclusion zones to be set up around new structures after finding that people who live nearby have developed conditions including high blood pressure, insomnia and migraines.

Read the full article here

November 2011 - Why so warm?

2011-11-27T09:11:00.000Z

This has been one of the warmest Novembers on record – but why?

The transfer of heat energy from the tropics to the poles drives our weather in the UK. This transfer occurs via the jet stream. However, this year the jet stream has been diverted either side of the UK. As a result, negative vorticity – clockwise rotation of winds in the upper atmosphere, has meant that air is descending through our atmosphere, drying out and leading to the air warming as it descends. Consequently, temperatures have been around 3 degrees above the average for the time of year.

Watch this video for a full explanation

Year 7 - 9 Homework projects due soon

2011-11-24T07:27:00.001Z

The Extended Learning Homework Projects for Term 2 will be due in soon for all students in Years 7, 8 and 9.

If you have lost your instruction sheet please click on the KS3 - ELP Homework task sheets tab above, to print off another copy.

Specific hand in dates are available from your class teacher

Thailand starts clear up after floods

2011-11-22T17:45:00.000Z

Not only are people living in terrible conditions after months of flood water, but many people have no way of earning an income as businesses have been forced to close as a result of the flood water.

Year 9 ELP - Bowling Alley task flood map

2011-11-17T17:31:00.001Z

Environment Agency flood map

The link below will take you to the Environment Agency flood map. Have a look and see if the three sites would be affected by flooding here. Enter the postcode SN15 3XB to get started

7 billion- How did we get there so fast?

2011-11-13T21:29:00.002Z

Great video explains it so well:

Will the Olympics really boost tourism?

2011-11-11T18:45:00.002Z

(Reuters) - Tour operators organising trips to

Britain

are seeing an average 90 percent downturn in bookings during the London 2012 Olympics, a survey by an industry group said, with sports fans failing to compensate for those wanting to avoid a packed city.

The warning has sparked a debate about the immediate impact on tourism of the July 27-August 12 2012 Games and its longer-term effects.

Read the full article here

Another quake hits Turkey

2011-11-10T07:13:00.000Z

Just two weeks after a major earthquake in Turkey on 23rd October 2011, another quake, this time with a 5.6 magnitude has hit the country. In the first quake, measuring 7.2, 2000 buildings were destroyed and 60 people were killed.

It seems that many people had returned to unsafe buildings before they had been declared safe in the last feew weeks. As a result, it is thought that many more people have been killed or injured in this quake than may otherwise be expected.

More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15669753

Earthrise - Environmental solutions

2011-11-08T22:13:00.001Z

Earthrise explores solutions to today's environmental challenges, taking an upbeat look at ecological, scientific, technological and design projects the world over. The reporters meet inspiring individuals and communities leading the way in a field no one can afford to ignore.

Watch a clip here:

The website can be accessed here for lots more videos like this

Or watch the episodes in their entirety here:

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6

The Hajj begins

2011-11-08T21:57:00.000Z

ITN News report:

Once a year, Muslims of every ethnic group, colour, social status, and culture gather together in Mecca and stand before the Kaaba praising Allah together.

It is a ritual that is designed to promote the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing that everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah.

The Hajj makes Muslims feel real importance of life here on earth, and the afterlife, by stripping away all markers of social status, wealth, and pride. In the Hajj all are truly equal.

The Hajjis or pilgrims wear simple white clothes called Ihram. During the Hajj the Pilgrims perform acts of worship and they renew their sense of purpose in the world.

Mecca is a place that is holy to all Muslims. It is so holy that no non-Muslim is allowed to enter.

Tsunami revisited

2011-11-03T21:14:00.002Z

Eight months on, Channel 4 News returns to the site of the devastating tsunami which affected thousands of people in Japan.

See how people are dealing with the aftermath and the continuing problems associated with such a major earthquake.

Visit the pages to read articles and view video reports here

Energy self-sufficiency on Scottish Island

2011-11-02T17:54:00.000Z

Text source - AJE

The Scottish islanders leading the way in energy self-sufficiency; the residents of Arcata City in California who flush their toilets with pride; the man turning the Jordan Valley green again; and gardens in the sky in the Big Apple.

Watch below:

Link to Earthrise series website here

Be in a major BBC TV show!

2011-11-01T20:14:00.001Z

Britain in a Day is a unique portrait of twenty-four hours in the life of the

, filmed by you.

On Saturday 12 November 2011 pick up a camera and record your thoughts, hopes and aspirations, then upload your film to the

Britain

in a Day channel on YouTube.

You’ll be helping to create an amazing archive and your film could be included in an historic BBC documentary in 2012.

Get started at the Britain in a Day channel.

Landslip leaves caravans teetering

2011-11-01T19:57:00.003Z

BBC News - More than a dozen caravan owners have had a lucky escape after a landslip in south Wales left them teetering on the edge of a cliff.

The rockfall happened at Porthkerry Leisure Park, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, at about 22:00 GMT on Monday.

Work is under way to move caravans away from the edge to another part of the site, which has 300 pitches in total.

The Vale of Glamorgan council said it was a "matter of concern" and the authority is investigating.

The council has adopted a 'Shoreline Management' plan for this section of the coast which suggests that any repairs to cliffs or the introduction of any built sea defences would be inappropriate, recommending instead, 'no active intervention.

Watch the video report here

Planning sustainable cities

2011-11-01T19:02:00.002Z

How can cities help save the future? Alex Steffen shows some cool neighborhood-based green projects that expand our access to things we want and need -- while reducing the time we spend in cars.

Ultimate recycling - House of plastic bottles

2011-10-31T20:37:00.001Z

A man in Argentina who built his house and furniture out of plastic bottles has been so successful that he is now teaching other people how to do the same.

Alfredo Santa Cruz survived during Argentina's economic crash in 2001 by sorting through rubbish heaps in search of items he could sell but now he has found a new way of making a living.

Wendy Urquhart reports on BBC News here.

Thai floods continue to cause problems

2011-10-28T21:16:00.000+01:00

Thai floods explained on CNN:

Text source – BBC News

Many residents have continued to leave Bangkok ahead of possible flooding at the weekend. Roads were clogged as residents tried to flee the flood waters as a five-day holiday comes into effect.

Officials have warned high tides on Saturday, combined with the flow of run-off water, could cause wider flooding.

The floods have been caused by heavy monsoon rains which have been falling since July.

Videos outlining the impacts on the Thai people:

India - Quarrying and the environment

2011-10-28T08:08:00.000+01:00

India's rapidly expanding economy has created a growing demand for building materials.

The stone mining industry has become a large and lucrative business, but corruption and a lack of transparency have had a damaging effect on the environment.

Al Jazeera's Nilanjan Chowdry reports from the western state of Rajasthan.

Thai floods expected to worsen

2011-10-27T10:01:00.001+01:00

Authorities in Thailand have created a five-day holiday to let the residents of Bangkok leave the city as current flood levels are expected to rise even higher.

As a result, roads are clogged with traffic and bus and train stations are full of people trying to leave the capital.

More than 360 people have died so far in Thailand's worst flooding in decades. Whilst many areas have been under water for between 2 and 3 months already.

Additional information here via:

One in 7 billion

2011-10-27T09:37:00.000+01:00

BBC News - The world's population is expected to hit seven billion in the next few weeks. After growing very slowly for most of human history, the number of people on Earth has more than doubled in the last 50 years.

Where do you fit into this story of human life? Fill in your date of birth below to find out.

When I was born, I was the 4,068,830,973rd person alive on earth apparently!

Population analysis - 7 billion & counting

2011-10-26T10:07:00.003+01:00

BBC News - The UN is set to announce that the population of the planet has now reached seven billion people.

But will this number continue to rise in future years - and if so, what could this mean?

Watch as the BBC's Fergus Walsh crunches the numbers to find out here.

For more information, analysis and images click here

Population management - China's One child policy

2011-10-25T13:31:00.001+01:00

Text source: The guardian

When the one-child policy started in the 1970s, women in Henan gave birth to an average of 5.8 children in their lifetimes. Their counterparts today have less than 1.7. The change, means 30 million fewer births – equivalent to preventing one every 30 seconds for three decades. And that is just in Henan. Across all of

China

, the government claims there would be more than 300 million more children without the family planning policy.

video platform video management video solutions video player

This policy was initiated primarily for economic and education reasons, but it is increasingly cited as an environmental blessing. According to some, the population controls have kept sulphur dioxide emissions down by 17.6% and the main source of water pollution by 30.8%. Without it, it is claimed that, the average person in Henan would have a third less land and a quarter less forest. It is also claimed, that it has prevented between 137m and 200m tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

The description of the system as a "one-child policy" is misleading. Most married women in

China

have the chance to bear two offspring, but the entitlement to breed beyond single figures is determined by a complex set of rules that vary from province to province and are often applied differently from village to village.

There are financial benefits for those that abide by the rules. Read about them here. However, for those who disobey the rules there are extreme consequences. Read about those here

For an overview, watch a recent BBC News report here

World population: 7 billion

2011-10-24T21:31:00.000+01:00

How is the changing global population affecting people's daily lives? With the UN set to announce that there are now seven billion people on the planet, BBC News reporters spoke to seven people from around the world to hear their stories.

Watch the videos and find out more here

Turkey hit by earthquake

2011-10-24T10:54:00.000+01:00

Rescue teams are desperately searching for people trapped under rubble after a strong earthquake hit

Turkey

's eastern Van region on Sunday.

Hundreds of people have died, whilst many thousands have been left injured in the 7.2 magnitude quake. Tens of thousands have been sleeping outside in freezing conditions.

Turkey

is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it sits on major geological fault lines.

Two earthquakes in 1999 with a magnitude of more than 7 killed almost 20,000 people in densely populated parts of the north-west of the country.

The earthquake struck at 13:41 (10:41 GMT) at a depth of 20km (12 miles), with its epicentre 16km north-east of Van in eastern Turkey.

For more information visit the BBC News website here

Thailand - Worst Monsoon floods in 50 years

2011-10-17T22:18:00.002+01:00

BBC News - One of

Thailand

's oldest and largest industrial estates has been evacuated after flood waters breached its recently-fortified defences.

It comes as officials say most of Bangkok appears to have escaped the flooding, although some parts of the capital are still under threat.

Water began seeping into Navanakorn industrial estate in Pathum Thani, 45km (30 miles) from Bangkok, on Monday.

VIDEO - The picture from above

Navanakorn houses some 250 factories, employing up to 200,000 people.

As many as 1,000 soldiers and factory workers worked over the weekend, filling sandbags, reinforcing dykes and repairing holes.

For more details and additional video click here

Rise in child poverty forecast

2011-10-13T19:34:00.001+01:00

Falling incomes will mean the biggest drop for middle-income families since the 1970s, says a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

The IFS forecasts two years "dominated by a large decline" in incomes, pushing 600,000 more children into poverty,

By 2013 there will be 3.1 million children in poverty in the UK, according to the IFS projections.

Oil and gas may run out in 17 years

2011-10-13T19:29:00.000+01:00

The UK could exhaust its oil and gas reserves in just 17 years if production continues at its current rate, according to new figures.

Oil & Gas UK's 2011 economic report revealed there could be as little as 14 billion barrels of oil and gas left off the UK continental shelf.

Find out more here

VIDEO - Cliff collapse in Cornwall

2011-10-12T18:34:00.000+01:00

Learning GCSE Geography through music

2011-10-12T11:38:00.000+01:00

Are you in my GCSE Geography class and been finding it difficult to get to grips with aspects of weather systems and environments?

Take a look at these videos - they may help!

Water Cycle

Weather systems and fronts

Biomes

A2 Geography - Geographical Skills

2011-10-11T17:56:00.000+01:00

The FSC website provides an excellent overview of all aspects of conducting a geographical investigation. You can take a look here in case there are any gaps in your knowledge

Pakistan Floods - Monsoon Climate

2011-10-10T09:59:00.000+01:00

BBC News video - Pakistan Floods during Monsoon season

Video - BBC Learning Zone Monsoon Season

Video - Coping with floods

New Zealand threatened by Oil Spill

2011-10-09T20:24:00.002+01:00

More details via the BBC News website here

Floods hit south-east Asia

2011-10-05T21:38:00.000+01:00

Hundreds of people have died in Thailand and Cambodia as Monsoon rains have caused extensive flooding in many areas of south-east Asia. The death toll so far is reported as 164 in Cambodia and 224 in Thailand.

Channel 4 News report:

Millions of people have been affected, with experts predicting this to be the worst flood event in recent history as the rains are expected to continue into November.

Additional video reports here:

For more info, click here

What makes geography graduates the most employable?

2011-09-25T19:37:00.000+01:00

Source: the guardian

A study of the graduate class of 2009 found 8.9 per cent were out of work in January 2010 - the highest unemployment level for 17 years. The poll, by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit charity, discovered graduates with degrees in IT had the bleakest prospects with an unemployment rate of 16.3% among their number - media studies graduates also fared badly with 14.6% unemployed six months after graduation.

By contrast, geography and psychology graduates had a better than average chance of getting work - some 7.4% and 8.3% were out of a job respectively.

Find out more about why geography students are more employable here

2011: 7 billion and counting

2011-09-25T12:25:00.000+01:00

As the population worldwide is expected to reach 7 billion in 2011, National Geographic outlines the issues that this raises. Watch the video here:

For more details on a special series highlighting the population issues click here

The beginning of the Cold War

2011-09-25T10:25:00.003+01:00

The following information has been selected and posted in order to support knowledge and understanding in GCSE History

Click on the links to find out more:

Revision diagrams

Quizes

Podcast

Podcast on the start of the Cold War

Videos

Revision activities

Three Cold War Crisis

Czechoslovakia

Information

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/czechoslovakia1968rev1.shtml

Video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/czechoslovakia1968_video.shtml

Test

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/gcsebitesize/history/quizengine?quiz=czechoslovakia1968test&templateStyle=history

Berlin War

Revision Map

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/coldwar/coldwar_berlinwall.htmlhttp://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/coldwar/coldwar_berlinwall.html)

Information

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/berlinwallrev1.shtml

Video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/berlinwall_video.shtml

Test

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/gcsebitesize/history/quizengine?quiz=berlinwalltest&templateStyle=history

Cuban Missile Crisis

Revision Map

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/coldwar/coldwar_cuba.html

Causes of the Crisis Info

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/causesofthecubacrisisrev1.shtml

Causes of the Crisis Video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/causesofthecubacrisis_video.shtml

Causes of the Crisis Test

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/gcsebitesize/history/quizengine?quiz=causesofthecubacrisistest&templateStyle=history

Crisis Info

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/eventsofthecrisisrev1.shtml

Crisis Video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/eventsofthecrisis_video.shtml

Crisis Test

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/gcsebitesize/history/quizengine?quiz=eventsofthecrisistest&templateStyle=history

Shale gas - the new energy hope?

2011-09-21T19:51:00.001+01:00

Channel 4 News:

The techniques have already revolutionised the US energy market, and shale gas wells will soon be appearing all over Europe.

The gleaming white tower of the Cuadrilla rig stands in a former wheat field a few miles from Blackpool in Lancashire.

Within days they hope to start drilling ,or "spudding" the well in industry jargon. The company hopes that within a few years, shale gas from Lancashire and other parts of Britain could contribute between five to 10 per cent of the country's gas needs.

Watch the TV report here:

Read the full report on the Channel 4 News website here

Litre of light - Improving quality of life

2011-09-21T19:07:00.002+01:00

I think this is brilliant. Just goes to show that the best solutions are often the simplest

In the slums of Manila, an innovative project is shedding light on the city's dim and dreary shanties. Plastic bottles jut from the roofs, bringing light to the dark dwellings below. The technology is as simple as it could be. Each bottle contains water and bleach. When placed snugly into a purpose-built hole in the roof, the home-made bulb refracts and spreads sunlight, illuminating the room beneath. Eco-entrepreneur Illac Diaz is behind the project.

Also featured on BBC Newsround. watch here

Where did everybody go? Migrations map

2011-09-19T21:49:00.000+01:00

Find out who is in and who is out.

This interactive migration map enables you to select a country to find out how many people arrive and where from. It also allows you to see how many people left a country and where they went.

Have an explore by clicking on the image above or via this link

Japan tsunami from inside a car

2011-09-19T18:29:00.000+01:00

I have just come across this video - posted by someone I follow on twitter. It is footage from a camera mounted inside a car as the earthquake and resulting tsunami struck in Japan.

Image how you would be feeling inside the car as the events unfolded - terrifying.

Watch the video below:

The geography of the bedroom

2011-09-19T18:17:00.000+01:00

This fascinating series of photographs on the telegraph website shows children from different parts of the world and where they sleep.

Picture source: telegraph.co.uk

What can we tell from the images about the lives of children in different countries? Take a look at the images here - It makes you think!

Thanks to Mrs Haig-Williams for sending me the link

Child Labour encouraged in Bolivia - by the children

2011-09-18T20:55:00.001+01:00

Watching 'A South American Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby this evening, I was amazed to learn that rather than campaigning for an end to child labour in Bolivia, Child workers have been fighting to protect it.

Child workers formed a trade union, taking their views to the government to have the right of children to work enshrined in the constitution. Children see being able to work as their right, rather than a form of abuse. How likely is it that this view would be shared in the UK?

Watch the programme here. The section on child workers in La Paz is approximately 45 minutes into the programme (after the section on wrestling!).

How is poverty measured?

2011-09-18T15:10:00.000+01:00

Watch the video below to find out more:

Pakistan - Two million affected by flood water diseases

2011-09-15T19:10:00.000+01:00

BBC News: More than two million people in

Pakistan

are suffering from flood-related diseases following torrential rain in Sindh province.

Watch the BBC News video report here

Aid agencies estimate that six million people have been affected by the floods. The number of people suffering from malaria and diarrhoea is rising

For more details via the Al Jazeera website click here

Mapping global warming

2011-09-15T18:56:00.002+01:00

Watch the video below to find out how cartographers are taking into account the impact of global warming when drawing up the latest maps:

Fatalities as Pakistan and India hit by flooding

2011-09-14T18:44:00.003+01:00

The Monsoon season of 2011 has led to widespread flooding in Pakistan. Torrential downpours - up to 350 mm of rain has fallen this month alone.

In southern Pakistan, at least 200 people have been killed, whilst hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless. It is estimated that around 5 million people have been affected. The fear now is that the flood water will lead to the spread of disease as aid workers struggle to reach the areas worst affected.

For more in depth information and analysis, watch this special programme:

More details and information can be found on the BBC News website here

Does democracy stifle economic growth?

2011-09-12T21:16:00.004+01:00

In terms of future economic growth, is India actually the one to watch rather than China?

Watch the TED talk below:

Remnants of Hurricane Katia felt in UK

2011-09-12T18:53:00.000+01:00

Text source - BBC News

Southern and central parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England and

Wales

have been experiencing winds of up to 80mph (129km/h). In Chippenham today, although no where near as strong, the winds noticeably stronger than usual.

Flood alerts have been issued, with road, rail and ferry travel disrupted. Cars were crushed when a roof collapsed in County Durham and in

Scotland

, power was out after a telegraph pole fell.

A lorry hit a tree on the A811 near Arnprior causing the telegraph pole to collapse.

More than a dozen cars were crushed when the roof of a building on Littleburn Industrial Estate at Langley Moor collapsed due to strong winds.

Although the winds are strong - we did not have a hurricane. To find out how hurricanes are born watch this video clip from BBC Weather

We do not experience hurricanes in the UK due to our geographical location and the fact that the sea surrounding us is not warm enough to allow hurricanes to be created or to sustain them when they move in our direction.

Hurricane for the UK?

2011-09-12T09:29:00.000+01:00

Britain is braced for strong weather over the next few days as the remnants of Hurricane Katia move across the country.

However, do not get confused. Due to our geographical position - Britain does not get hurricanes.

Find out why here

For more about the formation of hurricanes, watch this clip

Latest Hydro-engineering scheme in China causes conflict

2011-09-11T19:03:00.001+01:00

Source - The Guardian

A huge project to relocate 345,000 people from the path of diversion channels that will carry water from the south to the arid north of China is seen as a success by some, but a disaster by others.

The water diversion project is designed to alleviate on-going drought problems in Beijing.

Those who have lost their homes are not happy, shoddy housing and friction in their new communities has led to many people feeling hard done by as a result of this major water transfer project.

Read more and view the pictures here

Typhoon Talas hits Japan

2011-09-07T22:33:00.002+01:00

Whilst Japan is still recovering from the massive earthquake and tsunami that caused such widespread devastation earlier this year, the country has been hit by a major typhoon.

Typhoon Talas has triggered landslides and caused major flooding. In some areas, more than 1800 mm of rain has fallen.

More info via BBC News here

Reel Britain

2011-09-07T19:06:00.000+01:00

There is a fascinating series, that has recently started on BBC Two. Presented by Melvyn Bragg, it explores the social history of Britain in the 2oth century.

There are some amazing stories about how people lived and worked in the past, along with some great rare film archive.

So far the series has looked at life for wartime evacuees and the life of teenagers at the end of the Second World War.

This evening the programme looked at life during WW1

If you have missed the ones that have been on so far, you can view them via the links above or via the Reel Britain website here. The series continues weeknights at 6.30 pm on BBC Two.

Well worth a look!

Are our summers getting warmer?

2011-08-31T18:36:00.001+01:00

According to the data from the Met Office, it appears that despite a cooler summer this year, temperatures are warmer now than they were 100 years ago. Take a look for yourself:

Full data here

VIDEO - Irene continues to cause problems in US

2011-08-30T12:52:00.001+01:00

For an interactive map displaying You Tube videos and tweets from affected areas click here

An end to 'binge tourism' in Spain?

2011-08-28T21:50:00.000+01:00

Since the introduction of the package holiday in the 1960s when British tourists swapped Scarborough and their buckets and spades for a plane ticket and the Spanish coast, the coastal resorts on the Mediterranean have been a mecca for British tourists trying to find guaranteed sunshine during the summer holidays.

However, during the 1980s British tourists started to get a bad reputation and were given the label 'lager louts' as many resorts became Anglicized serving up full English breakfasts in British themed pubs in an effort to make the most out of the British abroad.

However, are things changing? Read the report on the Independent Website here to find out more

Hurricane Irene heads towards New York

2011-08-27T21:45:00.004+01:00

New York's mayor has issued the city's first-ever mandatory evacuation notices, as the US faces up to the arrival of Hurricane Irene.

Low-lying areas around Manhattan and into Staten Island are at particular risk, according to projections issued by city authorities.

The city's transport systems, including the subways and airports, are to shut from 12:00 on Saturday (16:00 GMT).

Irene, a category one storm, is due to hit a swathe of east coast states.

For more information visit the CNN pages here or the ABC News pages here

More videos and information on the guardian website

Text via BBC News

Typhoon Nanmadol hits the Phillippines

2011-08-27T16:26:00.001+01:00

A trail of destruction has been left in the Phillippines, as typhoon Nanmadol struck with country with winds of up to 100 mph affecting many areas. The winds left roads blocked with trees and power lines. Mudslides killed two people, whilst others are still missing.

More details available via the BBC News website here

Hurricane Irene hits Cuba and Dominican Republic

2011-08-25T16:46:00.000+01:00

The Dominican Republic was struck on Wednesday. Thousands of people have lost their homes. Cuba has also been affected by flooding, although early warning ensured that many people were evacuated prior to the storm arriving.

Evacuations are now under way in North Carolina in the US. See the video report from Reuters below:

Hurricane Irene hits Caribbean

2011-08-24T17:49:00.003+01:00

Hurricane Irene is now heading for the east coast of the USA after turning into a category 3 storm. Already Irene has caused widespread damage to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Power supplies were knocked out and up to 100,000 people lost access to their water supply.

Florida is now on alert as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season heads north. In addition, if the hurricane does make the Florida coastline, there is likely to be a significant storm surge which would create additional problems. However, some predictions suggest that the hurricane may actually head off eastwards and miss the US coast completely

More detail and information, including animated maps and video can be found via some excellent CNN reports here