The 50 cent Burger you have at McDonald's really costs $200 Burger

Heard an interview on the radio and read about the author Jonathan Safran Foer, that just released a book called "Eating Animals" http://www.progressivereader.com/?p=59606 where he claims that meat industry is the number on cost of global warming. He also states that the very cheap burgers we eat, see above, have such an immense carbon footprint that it really cost 200 dollars. I had a similar experience a few weeks ago when I bought 4 t-shirts at HM for 200 SEK, which is the same amount that I payed for a t-shirt in the local market in Koh Lanta. I guess it's true what they say, nothing is for free!

Why teachers drink!

It's a must see! http://theforexmom.com/why-teachers-drink/?ref=nf

Life expectancy well explained by Hans Rosling

Read through this power point on life expectancy and will get a better understanding of what it is. http://www.gapminder.org/downloads/life-expectancy-ppt/ It will show you that not everyone in Sweden lives 31 years longer than in Burundi, and why this is not the case (because the infant- and child mortality is so high)

The importance of Geography - couldn't have said it any better!

Michael Palin, the very famous Monty Python comedian, and around-the-world traveller explains the importance of Geography:

"But then geography is the most up to date of subjects. It is renewing itself 24 hours a day, perhaps the only subject in a state of constant change. Hectic maybe for teachers, but what a wealth of material on offer. Ash clouds closing airports, oil leaks polluting oceans and the life-giving River Indus killing thousands; major traumas which we look to geographers to explain."
Thanks to them (the teachers) geography remains for me the freshest and most exciting of subjects. Geography is about understanding our world. It illuminates the past, explains the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?" http://www.atl.org.uk/publications-and-resources/report/report-2010/final-word-michael-palin.asp 
 

Ecotourism (sustainable tourism) pros and cons - IB08

I found a very good piece of work on the pros and the cons of ecotourism. It is easy to believe that every consequence of ecotourism is a positive one, but it's never as simple as that. This case study, from an ecotourism project in Costa Rica, is a very good summary of many of the pros and the cons of ecotourism.

It discusses the pros, including trips that are an alternative to environmentally damaging trips, and that it encourages conservation efforts and limit the effects of leakage and many others.

On the other hand, it also discusses the cons including the fact that ecotourism is growing fast, and that certain areas are experiencing visitor overcapacity, greenwashing (false marketing) and of course a certain degree of leakage is impossible to prevent.  http://www1.american.edu/ted/costa-rica-tourism.htm

If would like IB08s to read this article and summarizing the different pros and cons of ecotourism.

Vem äger världshaven?

Hi! There was an interesting (but depressive) documentary on issues that we've discussed. On "Korrespondenterna" there was a documentary called "Vem äger världshaven?", on topics such as the border dispute between China and Japan, the "slicing" up of the Arctic, overfishing and the Apo Reef. As you notice, all things that we've covered. http://svtplay.se/t/103500/korrespondenterna Watch it! It's a very good update & revision!

Gender inequity in MEDCs

When teaching and learning about gender issues, the focus is quite often on LEDCs and emerging economies, where of course the situation for women is the worse. But the situation in MEDCs are far from perfect. The health  and educational inequalities have been wiped out, but there are other areas where the inequalities remains. I would like IB09 to read this article on gender issues from Newsweek http://www.newsweek.com/2010/03/08/what-ever-happened-to-the-gender-gap.html and answer the following questions:

1. In what areas have women caught up? (Give specific examples)
2. In what areas are women still lagging behind (especially in the corporate world)? Give specific examples.
3. Why isn't the "Gender Gap" closing?
4. What would it mean to economy (GDP) of the US to close the gender gap in income?

Will discuss these questions next week on Wednesday.

Our Endangered Planet - 100 places to see before they disappear

These sites are all endangered and at risk of destruction, mainly due to global warming. So go there quickly before they're all lost to the sea, see as many as you possibly can. http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/100-places-to-remember.html

The Nail House now a popular computer game...

I don't know if you remember, but in 2007 Yang Wu and his wife became a symbol for protesters on the demolition spree that is taking place in China. As you can see, he refused to give up his house for developers even though they dug around his entire house and shut off the water and electricity. He even refused a deal that would give him the equivalent of 3,5 Million kronor. Finally he and his wife gave up, and were forced to sell their house anyway (they were compensated, how much is not known) - and the house was torn down. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/a-chinese-mans-home-is-his-castle-kung-fu-master-keeps-bailiffs-at-bay-in-the-siege-of-chongqing-442550.html

He was called the nail because the government was trying to pin him down, but he was very reluctant to give up. Now there is an online game that is based on the story of Yang Wu's struggle against the authorities. Apparently a very popular one, you can use slingshots and sticks to protect your property. After a while though, the player realises that it's a no-win game, the authorities always wins at the end - just like in real life. But you have to admit that it is refreshing that some one is taking fight! http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/90872/7141775.html

Lonely Planet - any city!

Sorry for the few days of inactivity, been busy outside, enjoying the beautiful autumn days! The Travel Guide, there's no one nearly as influential as the Lonely Planet, is a good start when discovering tourist attractions for "your" cities. Every backpacker with self respect uses and lives by the Lonely Planet. However, quite often too many use the guidebook and everyone follows the same route. But it is a very good guide... http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Island states better than mainland Africa

Read a really interesting article in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/05/africa-ibrahim-index-governments about a development index called the Ibrahim Index. It was "invented" by a wealthy businessman and philantropist called Mo Ibrahim, that wanted to keep track of the development in the African states in a better way. The index, which is a multi-component index, measure indicators such as safety and security, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human development.

The report 2009 (haven't found any info on 2010) shows that it is the Island States that performs best in the index. Mauritus is topping the chart, ahead of the Cape Verde and the Seychelles with the first mainland country, Botswana in 4th place and South Africa in the 5th.
The worst perfomer - no surprise here - is Somalia, way behind even the other bad performing countries. (Chad 2nd & Zimbabwe 3rd from the bottom)

Child soldiers in Sudan

Film from the Guardian that looks at the situation for the 10 000 child soldiers in the horrible conflict in Darfur. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/mar/04/sudan-child-soldiers

Sudan splitting up in two, North and South

There is a risk of further bloodshed in Sudan in the months to come. The southern parts of Sudan, which has been at war with the North and the Government of Khartoum, is staging a referendum to declare independence from the rest of Sudan. There seems to be no indication that a vote would lead to that the South will stay in the Republic, they will probably try to break lose.
The million dollar question is of course if  President Bashir (North) is going to allow for this to happen. The oil, the main income to the impoverised country, is in the South. Sudan is currently providing China with substantial amounts of oil.
There has been evidence of troop movements in the "border" regions in the last few days, and obvious risks that Bashir is trying to force South to stay within the Republic. Will he risk a new war? There was also a clash in Khartoum between the groups just recently.

While this conflict is not directly involving Darfur, there is of course risk that fightings will spill over into that region as well. There is a very fragile peace treaty in Darfur, which is constantly violated. Read more about the issue here: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-09-22-international-fears-of-violent-breakup-sudan

Dengue fever and Malaria in Europe!

The first report of mosquito transmitted Dengue fever has been reported in the mainland of France. One of the strings of this disease causes internal bleeding and can lead to death. http://vaccinenewsdaily.com/news/215544-france-reports-first-mainland-case-of-dengue-fever

I heard a scientist on the radio saying that in the future, the southern parts of Sweden will probably experience mosquitos carrying malaria, thanks to global warming. The mosquitos survive on higher and higher latitudes and altitudes, and cities like Nairobi is now threatened by malaria. She also concluded that the only risk wasn't the global warming, thanks to the increase in worldwide long-haul tourism, diseases are spread around the world in a rate never experienced before.
I also read a very interesting article in DN Debatt that was related to this topic, especially global warming. Mikael Karlsson, ordförande Naturskyddsföreningen, concludes that the threats to biodiversity is not only an environmental issue, but very much also an economical one. In short he says that the Swedish welfare (and any welfare for that matter) is extremely dependent on having a wide variety of species:
Förutom mat, energi, fibrer och andra varor som har ett marknadspris, bjuder ekosystemen mänskligheten på en lång rad värdefulla tjänster. Mediciner, rening av vatten och luft, cirkulering av näring, nedbrytning av avfall, skydd mot UV-strålning, stabilt klimat, rika jordar och möjligheter till rekreation och upplevelser är några bland många ekosystemtjänster som naturen ger... Utan åtgärder riskerar förlusterna av enbart landbaserad biologisk mångfald motsvara sju procent av global BNP vid år 2050. http://www.dn.se/debatt/sverige-maste-hjalpa-eu-stoppa-kriget-mot-naturen-1.1186171

That could be thing that makes governments and companies bring about the changes that are needed. When the wallet hurts, that's when they tend to take action!

Mamma Mia!

First homework assignment on the blog/facebook for IB08! Read these two articles on the consequences of Mamma Mia on the Greek Island of Skopelos, and decide if the film was good or bad for the island. Think about the socio-cultural, environmental and economic consequences of the tourism invasion that followed from the film.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1203536/Mamma-Mia-How-feelgood-movie-2008-ruined-Greek-paradise-island-Skopelos.html & http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/dec/20/mamma-mia-greek-island-money

More travel porn...

While we're on the subject, 50 travel writers/journalists remember their best trips, and they should know what they're talking about. http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/nov/28/50-ultimate-travel-experiences-sites

Travel porn from the Maldives

If you're looking forward to the winter and think that Sweden in the winter is quite a swell place really, have a look at these photos. I rest my case... http://beautifulplacestovisit.com/islands/maldives/

EU helping Libya to stop immigrants

The EU is providing Libya with 50 million Euros in order to stop the illegal immigration into the EU from Libya, which is an important transit-country from immigrants. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101006/local/libya-eu-reach-milestone-agreement-to-stem-migration

This is disturbing in many ways. First, that Libya is blackmailing EU in order to stop the migrants. Secondly, and more important, that the EU is closing its borders for people that desperately needs our assistance. Third, giving people smugglers/ traffickers an ability to make even more money out of the desperate migrants and finally, EU is then responsible for migrants ending up in makeshift refugee camps in Libya under terrible conditions. See article from Humans Right Watch: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2006/09/12/libya-migrants-abused-europe-turns-blind-eye

China handing out aid to the EU

China has promised to buy bonds in order to stabilize the Greek economy. China holds unpresedented political and financial clout, to the extent that they are bailing out both the US and the EU. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6069926,00.html

There are two sides of the coin though. What will happen is that the value of the Euro to the Yuan will increase even further, making it even cheaper to buy Chinese goods, hence disrupting manufacturing in Europe even further. The value of the yuan is already artificially low since the Chinese government wants it that way - remember they're the factory of the World.

Camino del Rey - extreme tourism

Here's the youtube clip that I showed earlier from the Camino del Rey, the world's most dangerous hike, and a good example of how tourists push the boundaries. The more extreme and more remote the better. There's a very strong hierarchy among backpackers for instance, the more remote, the less you spent, the more native you've gone the better. Explorer tourists and adventure tourists are most often the ones the discover new and un-chartered tourist destinations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDhRvvs5Xw

To travel is very important for more and more people. Especially for a majority of people in highly economically developed countries, but even so in emerging economies such as China and India. When you get to the stage of not merely surviving and getting food and clothes you want to broaden your perspectives. I agree with Robert Louis Stevenson who said "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."

The best travel author, according to me is Bruce Chatwin. Especially his book on Australia (Drömspår).

Amazing travel link...

Forbes writes the most amazing travel pieces found on the net, very remote and luxurious http://search.forbes.com/search/sectionSearch?section=Travel But if you want to look at beautiful pictures and dream away, then Forbes is difficult to beat.

Usama Bin Laden going green...

I'm starting to change my views on the fellow, I knew he was an Arsenal supporter, and now this! Makes me wonder if his views on global warming is changing his everyday life. Molotov-cocktails from recycled bottles, filling up his Jeep with ethanol, solar panels instead of diesel generators in his cave. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/29/osama-bin-laden-climate-change