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Both developed and developing world cities are still struggling to get urban development right, said some of the world's leading urban experts at the Transforming Transportation conference organized by the World Bank Group ...
Toronto Star Home-grown food part of a new vision of urban development: Mark Cullen Toronto Star Why not leave the valley lands to the conservationists, the table land to thoughtful development and the in-between real estate (like the 100-year...
These are great images that shows the can build historical and geographical empathy for those that were discriminated against during the era of redlining. These maps from the Home Owners' Loan Corporation mapped and shaped regions of urban disinvestment (but the maps were NOT widely circulated). This example of redlining in 1936 Philadelphia, links you to primary source documents if you click on the map. The documents are reports on the property values, resident demographics and descriptions of the residential zones. For more on the Philadelphia redlining research project, visit: http://cml.upenn.edu/redlining/intro.html
Via Seth Dixon
The City, for the first time in human history, houses more of our species than the countryside. This fundamental fact means that geographers must study the city more. GIS offers many of the tools needed for that type of sustained inquiry. Geospatial technologies are no longer only for the 'tech geeks,' researchers or even the tech saavy; GIS and other technologies are a learning platform for 21st century geo-literacy.
Via Seth Dixon
You may be focussing on chocolate over the weekend - but where does it come from? A global trade analysed. In chocolate (this is what maps are made for! What is the geography of chocolate like? There is a dark side (no pun intended) to the production of cocoa in many places such as West Africa.
Via Seth Dixon
Sometimes a single unlikely idea can have massive impact across the world. Sir Harold Evans, the author of They Made America, describes how frustration drove... The economies of scale that globalization depends on, relies on logistics and transportation networks that can handle this high-volume. In a word, the container, as mundane as it may seem, facilitated the era within which we live today.
Via Seth Dixon
A 3-minute journey through the last 250 years of our history, from the start of the Industrial Revolution to the Rio+20 Summit. The film charts the growth of... This video is a great primer for discussing human and environmental interactions as related to industrialization, globalization and climate change.
Via Seth Dixon
TED Talks Eduardo Paes is the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, a sprawling, complicated, beautiful city of 6.5 million. What should city planners be doing to maintain a vibrant city? The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro explains his vision for cities and city management for the future.
Via Seth Dixon
Documenting the megacities of our time.... Over half of humanity is living in cities and that statistic is likely to reach 70% by 2050. Studying the urban environment, especially the 'megacities' (cities with populations over 10 million people) which are growing especially fast, becomes increasingly important. This photo gallery of the worlds 23 megacites employs long exposure images, with highlights the movements and dynamism of the urban networks. To see the gallery and this stunning image of Jakarta's rush hour traffic, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/05/06/sunday-review/06METROPOLIS.html?ref=sunday#4 
Via Seth Dixon
The West African state of Niger is now the worst place in the world to be a mother, a Save the Children annual report says. Gender, demographics and development are the main geographic themes that run through this report. As many countries prepare to celebrate Mother's Day, the Non-Governmental Organization Save the Children considers the geography of motherhood and the difficulties in raising a healthy, educated, well-fed child with economic opportunities for the future. The variables used in the index included factors such as health, education, economic status and nutrition as key indicators that would be pertinent to motherhood. The most difficult place to raise a child according to the report are: 1) Niger, 2) Afghanistan, 3) Yemen, 4) Guinea-Bissau and 5)Mali. The best places to raise healthy, education children are: 1) Norway, 2) Iceland, 3) Sweden, 4) New Zealand and 5)Denmark. For more information about Save the Children, see: http://www.savethechildren.net/
Via Seth Dixon
"Many of the original and innovative contributions to the field of urban sociology came out of the University of Chicago in the early 20th Century. Influenced by the natural sciences, in particular evolutionary biology, members of the Chicago School forwarded an ecological approach to sociology emphasizing the interaction between human behavior, social structures and the built environment. In their view, competition over scarce resources, particularly land, led to the spatial differentiation of urban areas into zones of similar use and similar social groups. Two of the major proponents of urban ecology were Ernest Burgess and Robert E. Park, professors at the University of Chicago, who together in 1925 published a book entitled The City." Many students struggle with models when there isn't a corresponding example. The Concentric Zone Model and Chicago are a great marriage.
Via Seth Dixon
In urban centers around the country, local governments are looking to attract emerging industries and the next generation of entrepreneurs. This video shows a panel of urbanists presenting at the Aspen Ideas Festival. The panelists specialize in revitalizing cities and creating economically and culturally vibrant urban centers. They focus not on public policy, but rather finding ways to implement the locally produced ideas of people from the neighborhood with an intimate knowledge of the community as well as a vested in strengthening the local networks. They also highlight the arts, sense of place and the culture of a neighborhood as key components create attractive cities. More videos from the Apsen Ideas Festival on urbanism, see: http://www.aspenideas.org/session/advice-megacity
Via Seth Dixon
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BOTTOM1 India's urban population is increasing at a faster rate than its total population. For the first time in the history of demographic record the Census of 2011-12 finds that the urban population growth rate is faster than ...
One billion people worldwide live in slums, a number that will likely double by 2030. The characteristics of slum life vary greatly between geographic regions, but they are generally inhabited by the very poor or socially disadvantaged. There was significant publicity last year when the world population reached 7 billion. Barely a whisper was heard when the global population of slum dwellers exceeded 1 billion. When the world's population reached 7 billion, it was used as a moment to reflect on sustainable growth, resources and the common good for humanity. This 'milestone' of 1 billion slum dwellers needs to also serve as a teaching moment to reflect on urbanization, migration, human development and the underlying causes that have lead to this explosive growth primarily in the developing world.
Via Seth Dixon
"What would your future city look like? Find out now by playing Urbanology online. Urbanology is a game that examines the complex ways in which cities develop." This is a great teaching tool since you are asked 10 questions that city planners need to answer that will shape the cultural and economic patterns of the city. For example, would you remove an automobile lane to put in a bike lane or expand the sidewalk? Based on your answers, it will tell you what city is most similar to the one you envision and what is your highest (and lowest) priority in laying out the city.
Via Lucas Richardson, Seth Dixon
Between 1990 and 2009, cigarette consumption in regions of the world like Western Europe dropped by more than 25% - but that is only one side of the coin. Historically, cigarette consumption has been a privilege to the rich and high-income countries. Now, with those countries understanding the risks of cancer and the dangers of smoking, the number of smokers decline. But in the past twenty years, for example, the use of cigarettes in the Middle East and Africe has increased by 60%: "Among the 14 countries where 50% or more of men smoke all but one country (Greece) are classified as low- or middle-income." "As consumption rates continue to increase in low- and middle-income countries," the ACS report reads, "these countries will experience a disproportionate amount of tobacco-related illness and death." In 2009, China consumed 40% of the world's cigarettes.
Via Seth Dixon
The Guardian's health editor introduces our health factfile - and the full dataset behind it... Discussion questions: What regional patterns are there in the per capita healthcare spending? What connection would you expect between per capita health care spending and the quantity of doctors? What areas spend the least on healthcare? How come?
Via Seth Dixon
A five-part, multimedia series on the coming dystopia that is urbanization. This is a great introduction to the explosion of the slums within megacities. This video as a part of the article is especially useful. Click on the title to read the accompanying article.
Via Seth Dixon
When Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed legislation this month making Indiana the nation's first new right-to-work state in more than a decade, it turned up the heat on a long-simmering debate about the true intent and impact of the controversial... Why do industries locate in particular places? The accompanying graph and map are loaded with great thematic and spatial information for geography students. Look at the 'right-to-work' states and mentally overlay what you know of the political map...How does that fit within the ideological leanings of these states? How does that change employment, industry and income patterns in the various states of the United States? Why might right-to-work laws be spreading in the near future? What is the political leaning of the author? What evidence to leads to that conclusion?
Via Seth Dixon
Kennedy Smith is considered one of the nation's leading experts on downtowns, downtown economics, independent business development and the economic impact of urban sprawl, with a long career in downtown revitalization. This video discusses the decline of the American Central Business District, the rise of shopping malls, the importance of the automobile and spatial organization of particular economic sectors. Parts Two http://vimeo.com/37041011 ; and Three http://vimeo.com/37050944 ; continue the discussion with an emphasis on practical urban planning policies for small cities to revitalize the downtown region with some domestic and foreign examples.
Via Seth Dixon
A new study suggests vehicular travel affects children's ability to navigate their neighborhood and connect to their community. We learn about the places around us by exploring. Literally our mental map is formed by making choices (in part through trial and error) and that process strengthens our spatial perception of the neighborhood. Research is showing that kids with a 'windshield perspective' from being driven everywhere are not able to draw as accurate maps as children for who walk and bike their neighborhood. The built environment and the transportation infrastructure in place play a role in developing spatial thinking skills for young minds. This is a compelling article with some important implications. What are the ramifications for geographers? City planners? Educators? Families moving to a new neighborhood?
Via Seth Dixon
With the slight resurgence of U.S. manufacturing in the recent years—termed a potential "manufacturing moment" by some—it is important to consider not just the future of manufacturing in America but also its geography. This interactive map is brimming with potential to both teach and learn about the changing industrial geographies of the United States.
Via Seth Dixon
On July 2, 1962 -- 50 years ago today -- Sam Walton opened the very first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas. The Walmart business model has profoundly reshaped the economic paradigm of retail these has 50 years. Walmart is commonly cited as a business that exemplifies the processes of globalization. How has Walmart reshaped aspects of society such as industrial production, environmental standards, labor, urban shopping locations, the outsourcing of manufacturing and consumption?
Via Seth Dixon
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