Ukraine’s Independence Square, and the revolutionary dimensions of public spaces.
This article gives some background on the political purposes behind urban planning and public squares that carry cultural meaning. While Ukraine is the reason for delving into the topic, the article explores the politicization of public squares in various regional and historical contexts.
See on www.theatlantic.com
People who live in them actually have greater social cohesion, according to one sociologist.
Thomas R. Hochschild Jr. actually first encountered the social cohesion of cul-de-sacs in his latest research when he wandered into one in Connecticut with his clipboard and polo shirt, and someone called the cops. That never happened on the other types of streets he was studying, places where it would turn out the neighbors didn’t know each other as well, and it was less clear who “belonged.” Repeatedly, though, he found at the end of cul-de-sacs families who watched each others’ children and took in each others’ mail, who barbequed and orchestrated the removal of snow together, and who considered each other close friends. In cul-de-sacs, these families had a stronger sense of shared social space and territoriality. An outsider stood out.
See on www.theatlanticcities.com
Next week, a delegations from every state alliance will go to Washington D.C. to advocate for geography education and I will represent Rhode Island. On February 26th I will personally meet with Senators Whitehouse and Reed, Congressmen Cicilline and Langevin. I those meetings I will encourage them to become sponsors of the Teaching Geography is Fundamental bill. I would like to encourage you to consider voicing your support for geography education with you representatives. Did you know that Geography is the ONLY required subject that does not receive any dedicated federal funding under No Child Left Behind?
If you are a member of your state geographic alliance (and if not, join!) you can help our cause immensely by letting Members of Congress know that there is support for geography education (it helps if they already have heard from constituents about the importance of geography education BEFORE our Feb 26th meetings), and about the existence of the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act. I urge you to join me in a chorus of support for action by Congress. You don’t have to go to DC to help.
You can go to SpeakUpForGeography.org and send pre-written letters directly to your Senators and Representative…please join me in this effort to strengthen geography education in the United States.
See on rigea.org
What is blue, a quarter of a mile long, and taller than London’s Olympic stadium? The answer – this year’s new class of container ship, the Triple E. When it goes into service this June, it will be the largest vessel ploughing the sea. Each will contain as much steel as eight Eiffel Towers and have a capacity equivalent to 18,000 20-foot containers (TEU).
These containers are symbols of global commerce that enable economies of scale to be profitable and the outsourcing of so many manufacturing jobs to developing countries. The invention of these containers have changed the geography of global shipping and the vast majority of the world’s largest ports are now in East Asia. Today though, the biggest container ships are too big to go through the Panama Canal, encouraging China to build a larger canal through Nicaragua.
Tags: transportation, globalization, diffusion, industry, economic.
See on www.bbc.co.uk
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan security forces and demonstrators faced off in streets blocked by burning barricades in several cities on Thursday in an escalation of protests against President Nicolas
As the protests and political violence in Venezuela escalate, it is important to understand the economic roots of the widespread discontent within this South American country. As prominent pop culture figures are among the fatalities and the wounded, outrage grows. Last month, the government overhauled its currency system that ignores many of the real problems of many Venezuelans; food is increasingly hard to come and that desperation feeds into more criminal behavior and social unrest. Many students have taken to the streets to protest the deteriorating economic situation, the government’s economic policies and the social conditions.
Tags: Venezuela, South America, political.
See on www.reuters.com
“Protests have centered on the capital’s Independence Square, also known as the Maidan, where protesters had set up camp over a number of months. The stand-off turned violent this week as riot police moved in to clear the protest camp. Security forces had given protesters a deadline of Tuesday 18 February to leave the square, but instead, violence took hold and battles between the demonstrators and police left a number of people dead. Independence Square, which for weeks was the setting for a mostly peaceful protest camp, now more closely resembles a siege, as the remaining protesters attempt to hold their ground.”
See on www.bbc.co.uk
“Images of toppled statues notwithstanding, ‘revolution’ has never been the right word to describe recent events in Kiev. Ukraine, after all, has been here before. At the heart of the country’s present struggle is its resistance to any ‘strategic partnership’ with Russia and its understanding of Europe as a potential economic and political savior from corrupt government. But the tensions between East and West — both psychological and geographic — are deeply rooted in Ukraine’s national identity. Those Ukrainians most concerned about their country’s future would do well to recognize that identity’s inherent fragility. The original generation of Ukrainian nationalists suffered precisely for their failure to do so.”
Tag: Ukraine, political, conflict, devolution.
See on www.foreignaffairs.com
The high-tech project would help officials decide which abandoned buildings can be demolished.
This crowd-sourced mapping project is an great example of how a community can work together (using geospatial technologies and geographic thinking) to mitigate some of the more pressing issues confronting the local neighborhoods. Many optimists have argued that Detroit has “good bones” to rebuild the city, but it needs to built on as smaller scale. This project helps to assess what is being used by residents and should stay, and what needs to go.
Tags: urban, unit 7 cities, housing, economic, poverty, place, socioeconomic, neighborhood, mapping, GIS, geospatial.
See on www.npr.org
Chicago’s bitter cold temps led to an impromptu social experiment when Leena Suleiman bundled up in a knit scarf and cap.
See on oaklawn.patch.com
GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION 