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Rescooped by Elizabeth Allen from Geography Education onto Geography 400 at ric
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China's 'Mountain-Moving' Project

From www.guardian.co.uk - December 11, 2012 11:51 PM
A promotional video shows planned development of a state-level development zone by government of Lanzhou, a provincial capital in China's arid northwest...


The Lanzhou province is lightly populated mainly due to it's semi-arid climate and rugged topography.  The goal is make a 500 square mile area (currently with 100,000 people) into a city with over 1 million people by 2030.  To make this new metropolis, developers are planning to literally remove mountains to create a more 'ideal' urban environment.  This makes some of the most ambitious environmental modification projects seem tame.  For more read, the accompanying article from the Guardian.  


Questions to Ponder: What potential environmental impacts come from this scale of modification?  How will this massive influx of the population impact the region?  Could this type of project happen in other part of the world? 


Tags: environment, urban ecology, planning, environment modify, China.


Via Seth Dixon
Elizabeth Allen's insight:

The developer is claiming this will be "protective development." I am not sure if I buy that.  They are moving mountains- which means everything that comes with that, wildlife, trees, etc...  And they are building an airport and an oil refinery (amongst other things)..  Urbanizing can be great for the economy- but at what cost.   Elizabeth Allen

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Elizabeth Allen's comment, December 11, 2012 11:51 PM
The developer is claiming this will be "protective development." I am not sure if I buy that. They are moving mountains- which means everything that comes with that, wildlife, trees, etc... And they are building an airport and an oil refinery (amongst other things).. Urbanizing can be great for the economy- but at what cost.
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Colombia's gold rush

Colombia's gold rush | Geography 400 at ric | Scoop.it
From www.aljazeera.com - December 6, 2012 10:29 PM
Gold fever is sweeping across South America and is at its most lethal in Colombia where it is fuelling the civil war.

 

 Colombia's gold mines are bringing out greed in all nations. Civilian wars are breaking out over the gold. Native people are scared and fleeing their homes. The Colombian government has to watch closely over who is working the mines. The government does not want miners without licenses in the mines, because the government will not be paid royalties on the gold.

Elizabeth Allen


Via Seth Dixon
Derek Ethier's comment, September 30, 2012 6:57 PM
This is a sad yet all too occurring phenomenon in underdeveloped nations. In Africa, they fight Civil Wars over minerals like oil and coltan. Here the fight is over gold. When government is unable to control militant groups, they take control over natural resources using violence. It is also unfortunate that international companies are coming in to sweep up the wealth. Colombia is unlikely to keep too much of this wealth in their own nation.
Elizabeth Allen's comment, December 6, 2012 10:30 PM
Colombia's gold mines are bringing out greed in all nations. Civilian wars are breaking out over the gold. Native people are scared and fleeing their homes. The Colombian government has to watch closely over who is working the mines. The government does not want miners without licenses in the mines, because the government will not be paid royalties on the gold.
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Rescooped by Elizabeth Allen from Geography Education
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Brazil's economy overtakes UK's

Brazil's economy overtakes UK's | Geography 400 at ric | Scoop.it
From www.bbc.co.uk - November 16, 2012 5:30 PM
Brazil has overtaken the UK as the world's sixth largest economy, the Centre for Economics and Business Research says.

 

The "BRIC" countries are surging forward and are seen as major players in the global economy (Brazil, Russia, India and China). Brazil just recently past the U.K. as the 6th largest economy.  China passed Japan not more than a year ago.    Furthermore, Russia and India are poised to pass the traditional European economic powers (U.K., Germany, France and Italy) by 2020.  In this restructuring of the global economy, what will the impacts be on various regions of the world? 

 

The statistics prove that Brazil is higher ranking economically that the UK. Brazil is succeeding economically. It must have to with their natural resources and financial gains of exporting goods.  Brazil is economically expanding.  Elizabeth Allen


Via Seth Dixon
Matt Mallinson's comment, September 26, 2012 10:04 AM
Until learning this, I had no idea Brazil was considered one of the world's top six largest economies. When I think of Brazil I think of rainforests and the amazing city of Rio de Jeneiro, I want to visit there at least once before I die.
Elizabeth Allen's comment, November 16, 2012 5:28 PM
The statistics prove that Brazil is higher ranking economically that the UK. Brazil is succeeding economically. It must have to with their natural resources and financial gains of exporting goods.
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Brazilian Ethanol

Brazilian Ethanol | Geography 400 at ric | Scoop.it
From www.economist.com - October 3, 2012 8:56 PM

"Distilling ethanol from tropical sugarcane takes less land and uses less fossil fuel than starting with corn grown in temperate climes. That makes Brazilian ethanol, unlike the pampered and grotesquely wasteful American version, competitive with hydrocarbons and genuinely good for the environment." 

 

Although ethanol is working well for Brazil, there is a growing literature supporting the idea that wide-scale ethanol production is not sustainable or environmentally beneficial.  This is a great example to demonstrate that economic and environmental policies are locally dependent on geographic factors and are not universally transferable.  For a simple explanation of the differences in the economic and environmental differences in the production of sugar and corn-based ethanol, see: http://cei.org/studies-issue-analysis/brazilian-sugarcane-ethanol-experience  

 

Interesting information. Like anything the pros and cons need to be weighed by the experts. Everyone would love a low price alternative for fuel, but the environmental risks may be too high. Elizabeth Allen


Via Seth Dixon
Joshua Choiniere's comment, September 26, 2012 11:45 AM
With diminsihing sources of Fossil Fuels available and the need to use better cleaner energy. It only makes sensed to try and incorporate sugarcane ethanol into the US in order to achieve this goal. We can't be blinded by poltical voting needs by not trying something just so we can help our corn farmers. Therefore I say we view the pros and cons and try it out, whats the worst that could happen we have a new fuel type for less money?
Michelle Carvajal's comment, September 27, 2012 4:24 PM
Well in this given situation though the benefit would be great to have alternative fuel and hopefully a reduction in price, does it affect the enviroment to the point where it can cause issues for the people of the land where it is being created..Meaning, all politics to the side, will the creation of such fuels and transport of fuels damage the land, cause a lack of resources for the people there etc. I believe this is what is being weighed and it should be since we have already used up most of the natural resources we were provided with.
Derek Ethier's comment, September 30, 2012 6:52 PM
Biofuels are very useful because they are renewable, cheaper and much less harmful to the environment compared to fossil fuels. Although it is a much more viable option in Brazil than the U.S. Sugarcane ethanol production uses few non renewable resources when compared to the U.S. option, corn ethanol.
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Rescooped by Elizabeth Allen from Geography Education
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In Honduras, Police Accused Of Corruption, Killings

From www.npr.org - December 6, 2012 10:10 PM

The Central American nation is the most violent country in the world, according to the United Nations. A mix of drug trafficking, political instability and history adds up to a murder rate that is now four times that of Mexico.

 

Corruption is inflicting Honduras. There are many factors causing this. High drug trafficking, poor governemnt system, and high murder rates. to hear that anywhere has a higher murde rate than Mexico- is astounding. And further, to know that many murders at at the hands of police is disturbing. Affiliation in gangs and gang warfare is costing lives. The police seem crooked, so I cannot imagine crime rate will decline anytime soon. It must be bad if the Peace Corp has vacated. According to BBC News, a politician running for office is offering free burials for those that cannot afford them.  Honduras violent death rate is 1 every 74 minutes. And the police do not punish criminals....   Elizabeth Allen


Via Seth Dixon
Derek Ethier's comment, September 20, 2012 10:21 PM
Unfortunately, the drug trade business is a lucrative one, especially in Third World countries where there are few other options. With drugs comes violence 100% of the time. To add to the misery, there is corruption in government and in civil servants as well. When the police are contributing to the murder rate, you know you have issues as a nation. This really surprised me, because I had no idea how dangerous Honduras really was. I would have guessed a Sub-Saharan African nation would have been the most violent...
Elizabeth Allen's comment, December 6, 2012 10:03 PM
Corruption is inflicting Honduras. There are many factors causing this. High drug trafficking, poor governemnt system, and high murder rates. to hear that anywhere has a higher murde rate than Mexico- is astounding. And further, to know that many murders at at the hands of police is disturbing. Affiliation in gangs and gang warfare is costing lives. The police seem crooked, so I cannot imagine crime rate will decline anytime soon. It must be bad if the Peace Corp has vacated.
Elizabeth Allen's comment, December 6, 2012 10:03 PM
Corruption is inflicting Honduras. There are many factors causing this. High drug trafficking, poor governemnt system, and high murder rates. to hear that anywhere has a higher murde rate than Mexico- is astounding. And further, to know that many murders at at the hands of police is disturbing. Affiliation in gangs and gang warfare is costing lives. The police seem crooked, so I cannot imagine crime rate will decline anytime soon. It must be bad if the Peace Corp has vacated.
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Rescooped by Elizabeth Allen from Geography Education
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In Venezuela Housing Crisis, Squatters Find 45-Story Walkup

In Venezuela Housing Crisis, Squatters Find 45-Story Walkup | Geography 400 at ric | Scoop.it
From www.nytimes.com - November 16, 2012 5:18 PM
An unfinished skyscraper occupied by squatters is a symbol of Venezuela’s financial crisis in the 1990s, state control of the economy and a housing shortage.

 

This skyscraper that was once a symbol of wealth, in an incredible paradigm shift, has now become is occupied by squatters. The lack of a vibrant formal economy and more formal housing leads to a lack of suitable options for many urban residents--especially with problems in the rural countryside. A complex web of geographic factors needs to be explained to understand this most fascinating situation. The video link "Squatters on the Skyline" embedded in the article is a must see.

 

Truly amazing. People and businesses occupying an un-safe government owned building. I give them credit for what they have achieved in attempt to survive. The government is obviously falling short in the promise to supply low-income housing. This building was to symbolize "mettle" proving Caracas to be a courageous capital, now it describes the people left to live there. It is sad to see the deplorable conditions that the people are left to live or in, or even worse, to die in. 

Elizabeth Allen


Via Seth Dixon
Matt Mallinson's comment, September 26, 2012 12:10 PM
It's safe to say that Venezuela needs to build homes for these people, or they will use whatever they can use to survive. I would do the same thing.
Michelle Carvajal's comment, September 27, 2012 4:11 PM
It's sad but at the same time a harsh reality. Even in the US we see places where there are many people living in abandoned buildings or buildings that have been condemned due to pesticide issues. The main question here is whether or not the government will continue to allow these people to live in this location.
Derek Ethier's comment, September 30, 2012 6:46 PM
It is amazing how people band together in times of need. Although it is unfortunate that they have to live in dangerous and sometimes unsanitary conditions, it is better than living on the streets. In some cases, they even have indoor plumbing and other luxuries. I believe that it could be worse for them.
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