Autumn term: Fracking
What is it?
Very good National Geographic animation that outlines how the fracking process works (with a focus on US shale basins). Also lots of good links to articles, photos etc.. on US shale gas production. There is a good interactive graphic on how fracking works in the Marcellus Shale (US).
What impacts does it have?
This National Geographic article goes into great depth on the impacts of fracking in the US and the lessons that could be learned from it. There is a good video on BryPlayer outlining the same issues in 3 minutes or in a more comprehensive BBC Horizon programme.
Very good National Geographic animation that outlines how the fracking process works (with a focus on US shale basins). Also lots of good links to articles, photos etc.. on US shale gas production. There is a good interactive graphic on how fracking works in the Marcellus Shale (US).
What impacts does it have?
This National Geographic article goes into great depth on the impacts of fracking in the US and the lessons that could be learned from it. There is a good video on BryPlayer outlining the same issues in 3 minutes or in a more comprehensive BBC Horizon programme.
Autumn term: Hurricanes
What are hurricanes?
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The 2017 storms (and reports):
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Autumn term: Developing China
China - facts and figures from the CIA World Factbook.
A wikipedia article about China's controversial one child policy.
Natural Hazards affecting China.
China Mike has some very good resources on many aspects of China and Chinese way of life.
Global Fire Power compare China with another country in terms of it's "world presence."
There are some really interesting photographic images from Edward Burtynsky, such as this one of workers lining up outside a factory in Zhangzhou, or this one of ship building in Qili Port, Zhejiang Province. This is a link to the Artsy page for Burtynsky, that contains a biography and collection of over 100 pieces of his work.
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Environmental Issues in China
Pollution
A New York Times special series on pollution
Articles from Xinhuanet, an online Chinese newspaper: Pollution from Cars and Improvements in Pollution Levels
From BBC News, Air Pollution in Beijing
Desertification
On Sandstorms in Inner Mongolia
Article from The Guardian
Facts and Details website
Reforestation
China's 'Great Green Wall'
Reforestation to battle climate change
Renewable Energy
A slideshow from The New York Times on new green energy initiatives in China
"China launches green power revolution" from The Guardian
The Coal Industry
"Can Coal and Clean Air Coexist In China?" from The Scientific American
Continued Coal use in China, from the New York Times
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A story from NPR on the rise of emissions
Current issues, as China is now the top emitter of carbon dioxide
China's responsibility for climate change, from The Guardian
The Three Gorges Dam
An article written upon completion of the dam in 2006, from BBC News
A series of articles and talks from NPR
Lengthy article from The Scientific American, "China's Three Gorges Dam: An Environmental Catastrophe?"
Species Extinction
An article on turtles and the threat to species diversity in China
The Yangtze River Dolphin - China pledges to End Species Extinction
Population issues in China
Population growth
Ageing Population
A youtube video from Al Jazeera, the satellite news channel.
A BBC item on China's increasingly old and urban population.
This article from The Economist is interesting, but not a very easy read.
This article: "Population getting old before it gets rich" is very interesting.
Finally, this article from the English language People's Daily Online edition spells out the threat to wealth creation that an ageing population poses.
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Spring term: Syria migration crisis
Who and Why?
This BBC article 'Why is there a war in Syria?' outlines the events that led to war in Syria. This article called 'Middle classes on the move' contains a range of examples of well-qualified Syrians explaining their reasons for heading to Europe.
Where?
Great BBC page with graphs and maps detailing numbers of migrants leaving source countries, claiming asylum in host countries and much more..
What are the impacts?
Illustrated BBC article outlining the social and economic impacts of the war in Syria. Interesting article on immigrant/asylum seekers' experiences in Germany. This page explains the Schengen border-free zone which is under threat now. The UK's process for dealing with asylum applications is explained here.
What next?
BBC article on the current (March 2016) state of play in terms of managing the crisis.
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A wikipedia article about China's controversial one child policy.
Natural Hazards affecting China.
China Mike has some very good resources on many aspects of China and Chinese way of life.
Global Fire Power compare China with another country in terms of it's "world presence."
There are some really interesting photographic images from Edward Burtynsky, such as this one of workers lining up outside a factory in Zhangzhou, or this one of ship building in Qili Port, Zhejiang Province. This is a link to the Artsy page for Burtynsky, that contains a biography and collection of over 100 pieces of his work.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Environmental Issues in China
Pollution
A New York Times special series on pollution
Articles from Xinhuanet, an online Chinese newspaper: Pollution from Cars and Improvements in Pollution Levels
From BBC News, Air Pollution in Beijing
Desertification
On Sandstorms in Inner Mongolia
Article from The Guardian
Facts and Details website
Reforestation
China's 'Great Green Wall'
Reforestation to battle climate change
Renewable Energy
A slideshow from The New York Times on new green energy initiatives in China
"China launches green power revolution" from The Guardian
The Coal Industry
"Can Coal and Clean Air Coexist In China?" from The Scientific American
Continued Coal use in China, from the New York Times
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A story from NPR on the rise of emissions
Current issues, as China is now the top emitter of carbon dioxide
China's responsibility for climate change, from The Guardian
The Three Gorges Dam
An article written upon completion of the dam in 2006, from BBC News
A series of articles and talks from NPR
Lengthy article from The Scientific American, "China's Three Gorges Dam: An Environmental Catastrophe?"
Species Extinction
An article on turtles and the threat to species diversity in China
The Yangtze River Dolphin - China pledges to End Species Extinction
Population issues in China
Population growth
Ageing Population
A youtube video from Al Jazeera, the satellite news channel.
A BBC item on China's increasingly old and urban population.
This article from The Economist is interesting, but not a very easy read.
This article: "Population getting old before it gets rich" is very interesting.
Finally, this article from the English language People's Daily Online edition spells out the threat to wealth creation that an ageing population poses.
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Spring term: Syria migration crisis
Who and Why?
This BBC article 'Why is there a war in Syria?' outlines the events that led to war in Syria. This article called 'Middle classes on the move' contains a range of examples of well-qualified Syrians explaining their reasons for heading to Europe.
Where?
Great BBC page with graphs and maps detailing numbers of migrants leaving source countries, claiming asylum in host countries and much more..
What are the impacts?
Illustrated BBC article outlining the social and economic impacts of the war in Syria. Interesting article on immigrant/asylum seekers' experiences in Germany. This page explains the Schengen border-free zone which is under threat now. The UK's process for dealing with asylum applications is explained here.
What next?
BBC article on the current (March 2016) state of play in terms of managing the crisis.
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Spring term: Tropical diseases
Malaria
There are links here to sites that cover:
- global distribution of malaria (using the Global Malaria Mapper mapping tool),
- its cause (from the WHO), and
- a range of malaria management strategies (from America's CDC).
Malaria
There are links here to sites that cover:
- global distribution of malaria (using the Global Malaria Mapper mapping tool),
- its cause (from the WHO), and
- a range of malaria management strategies (from America's CDC).
Cholera
This video on BryPlayer, has a very good section on the 1854 outbreak and John Snow's 'mapping' of it. GoogleEarth kml file plotting the location of the 1854 deaths and water pumps in Soho (like the one shown here). The cartoon is a Punch cartoon of the time (from a great website on cholera in London). Boy: "I say Tommy, I'm blowed if there isn't a man a turning on the cholera." Interesting, as the cartoonist wouldn't have known how close to the truth they were. Superb interactive map showing current global distribution of cholera (WHO) and ReliefWeb updates on the Haiti outbreak (2010-present). Great NY Times graphic on the cause and spread of the Haiti outbreak, with link to an in-depth article. |
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Ebola
Very good 3 minute video on origin/cause (from the Guardian) and articles/maps on the 2014 epidemic (from BBC News and ReliefWeb). Map below illustrating the global connections with Ebola-affected African nations.
