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.