There have been at least 57 in the last 30 years—and most of the killers got their guns legally.
Still not sure if I'm prepared to explain what this all means, but it would be worth discussing in class.
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Global news with a spatial perspective: Interesting, current supplemental materials for geography students and teachers. http://geographyeducation.org
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Portions of the High Plains Aquifer are rapidly being depleted by farmers who are pumping too much water to irrigate their crops, particularly in the southern half in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Levels have declined up to 242 feet in some areas, from predevelopment — before substantial groundwater irrigation began — to 2011.
Seth Dixon's insight:
The article connected to this map from the New York Times can be found here. "Two years of extreme drought, during which farmers relied almost completely on groundwater, have brought the seriousness of the problem home. In 2011 and 2012, the Kansas Geological Survey reports, the average water level in the state’s portion of the aquifer dropped 4.25 feet — nearly a third of the total decline since 1996." Tags: water, agriculture, environment, consumption, resources, environment depend. 
Michael Miller's curator insight,
May 20, 1:41 PM
The recent PBS special on the Dust Bowl also addressed this current problem and how some American farmers are not learning from past mistakes. Delete the scoop?
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Seth Dixon's insight:
I've posted on this previously, but this imgur gallery puts the images in a stunning new format for sharing. This gallery portrays 20 families from around world together with their weeks food. The differences in agricultural, development and cultural patterns are plainly manifest. For more context on this photographic project (as well as the details of the families and their food), it is chronicled in the book Hungry Planet or in this abbreviated online version. Tags: food, agriculture, worldwide, consumption, culture, development. 
Samuel Yeats's curator insight,
May 8, 12:40 AM
Q1) How does this slideshow depict the differing socioeconomic situations of countries around the world? (Use the example of at least 2 countries) Q2) Do you think that the image of an Australian weekly diet is accurate to your own family and why? Delete the scoop?
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Lawmakers in Vermont are looking to regulate food labels so customers can know which products are made from genetically modified crops, but agricultural giants Monsanto say they will sue if the state follows through.
Seth Dixon's insight:
Questions to ponder: Why is Vermont the first state to make some headway in producing this type of legislation? Will other states follow suit? What would the economic impacts be if all places required labels on products that contain genetically modified organisms? How would that change the agricultural industry?
Tags: GMOs, food, agriculture, agribusiness. 
Mary Burke's comment,
April 12, 4:21 PM
If this labeling ever gets passed, it might make people think a little more about what they're eating. They might not want to eat genetically modified organisms. That would mean the agrigiant might lose some control over the industry. I don't have much hope of this happening. I try to buy my food from vendors that say they don't use gmo's. I try to grow some veggies in the summer. I know this isn't a guarantee that I'm not eating gmo's but I realize there are some over which we have no control.
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Stratfor examines Japan's primary geographic challenge of sustaining its large population with little arable land and few natural resources. For more analysi...
Seth Dixon's insight:
Part of knowing Japan's expansionist history has to do with understanding the geographic setting of the islands. Tags: Japan, population, historical. 
Chris Magee's comment,
April 28, 12:41 PM
Japan's geography creates a very interesting situation for the country. Due to the fact it is secluded on it's own island, it is not able to have as many natural resources and is therefore forced into some unique situations. Some of these have ended in war (World War II) or simply new trade partners, both things Japan would maybe like to avoid as I'm sure they would like to be a little more self-sufficient.
The mountainous landscape of Japan is a big factor in the way the population is set up. It has created distinct plains areas where the population is crammed into. The urban models must be very unique and interesting for these areas because of how dense the population is. 
David Ricci's comment,
April 30, 9:47 AM
Japan clearly has their job cut out for them due to the geography of the country. Thier land has very limited airable land making agriculture extremely hard to maintain. The mountainous terrain also makes travel much harder for these people. Because of this their population like stated in the video has been pushed to hotspots like the yamato region. Japan has developed their culture solely based on how disconnected they are from the rest of the world. Japan is a chain of many islands so they have to import alot of their goods. This means having good trade partners, always making new trade partners, and avoiding conflict. This didnt work so well looking back at world war II. Unfortunately they must either become more self sufficient like chris said, or they have to stay on the good sides of alot of other countries.
Kevin Cournoyer's comment,
May 1, 12:51 AM
Unlike other larger, more geographically diverse countries, Japan is faced with the problem of a general lack of farmable land and natural resources. The fact that the country is itself an island does not make things any easier for it in an economic sense. The way the country is divided up also makes for a difficult political situation, as mountain ranges create division, and therefore, political disunity.
The proximity of the Korean peninsula and China to Japan is also important to examine. Whenever Japan wishes to acquire natural resources and other economically beneficial materials, Korea is the conduit through which Japan tends to invade the mainland, usually China. Because of this, we can see how Japan’s geographic location may cause strained relationships with its neighbors, both politically and economically. Alienating two of its closest neighbors would clearly be a disastrous move for Japan, but it may be seen as necessary due to its unfortunate geographic location. Delete the scoop?
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See a photo of an aerial view of a terraced rice field in China and download free wallpaper from National Geographic.
Seth Dixon's insight:
This image shows is one of the more beautiful cultural landscapes that shows the great extent of agricultural modifications of the environment. National Geographic's photo of the day is a great source for images that start class discussions and can enliven class content. You may download a high resolution version of the image here.
Tags: National Geographic, agriculture, landscape, China. Delete the scoop?
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Seth Dixon's insight:
The packaging on the McDonald's fry box states, "Why are our fries the gold standard? Because only a select number of potato varieties make the cut. I'm lovin' it®" This is a message is primarily aimed at millions of individual consumers. As geographers who analyze systems, we can look at this message for meaning beyond taste and quality control in how it affect both urban and rural places. Given that McDonald's is the United States' largest purchaser of potatoes, what are the economic and agricultural implications for their fry selection on the market(s)? How does this impact farmers, consumers, competitors and other groups? 
Conor McCloskey's comment,
April 30, 10:28 AM
According to this article from November 2008, McDonald’s is going to redo their packaging. The packaging will now be designed to provide customers with information “in a fun and easy way.” McDonald’s is a worldwide company and this change in packaging is going to take place in all 118 countries that house McDonald’s restaurants. McDonald’s is proceeding to show off its knowledge of cultures around the world by letting the local changes in packaging differ from region to region. I think this is a great business move to allow more localized parts of the company appeal to their customers because they definitely know the culture and people better.
It is interesting to see what this new packaging will say about different cultures, that eat McDonald’s, around the world. I think, for one, it proves that advertisement techniques are not universal. What draws a person to a product is not human in nature, but rather what draws in the consumer to fulfill their cultural wants and needs. By this train of thought, advertising a global product, like McDonald’s is more of a multi-approached task. 
Peter Siner's comment,
April 30, 4:12 PM
This is a real classic example of consumer ignorance. However, it really isn’t our fault. Companies like McDonalds spend millions on advertisements, many of the consumers are looking for what they offer “fast food” generally these consumers are on the go, in their car, or looking for a quick bite. With that being said, the larger print almost always drowns out the small print. In this example, McDonalds is essentially trying to convince the consumers that yes, this food is specially selected, as if the potatoes are only the best around! When in reality it doesn’t matter what the packaging looks like, or even where the potatoes come from. Fast food restaurants have a huge impact on the obesity rates of America. However, like in law, ignorance is not an excuse. We need to be more proactive about the choices we make. Just like the article about climate change, Americans don’t generally look into solving long-term problems, instead they focus on things right in front of them. Skyrocketing obesity rates take time. Look around guys, don’t let the ads fool you. I definitely enjoy a burger now and then but its all about moderation.
Zakary Pereira's comment,
April 30, 4:35 PM
It is somewhat erroneous that McDonald’s wants to redo their packaging to emphasize on fresh material. First off, I worked in fast food and I can tell you while some things are freshly cut and grown, many aren’t. McDonalds actually doesn’t even cut their own onions like Burger King, they receive them dehydrated and they have to reconstitute them every morning. To me that is just gross. It is crazy to think that this new push for nutrition will actually convince people that what they are eating is healthy, its jut crazy. Just because my fry carton has a potato on it does not mean that I am going to consider that equal to a baked potato I eat at home. I agree with David, just because the packaging shows fresh food does not mean that what you’re getting is fresh just like how Mary said that the food by the time its shipped over is not fresh anymore.
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By adding artificial sweeteners to flavored milk, the dairy industry hopes to boost flagging consumption in schools.
Seth Dixon's insight:
The very definitions of food are being rewritten as modern industries reformulate the products on our shelves and what we put into our bodies. What cultural and economic forces are driving these changes? Tags: Food, agriculture, agribusiness, unit 5 agriculture. 
Kev Richards's curator insight,
March 8, 2:57 PM
Good example of how a real food turns into an artificial variation of a real food. Shame that kids don't even like milk! That's the parents fault. All kids like milk from birth (of course) so what turns them off? Delete the scoop?
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Saudi Arabia is drilling for a resource possibly more precious than oil by tapping hidden reserves of water in the Syrian Desert.
Seth Dixon's insight:
In northern Saudi Arabia near Jordan, oil resources are sparse and so is surface water. Water might just be the more important liquid natural resource, especially for sustaining a population. There are underground water reserves that are stored in aquifers, layers of rock that hold water. The water that collects in aquifers may take many years to replenish so this practice is sometimes referred to as water mining.
Question to ponder: If Saudi Arabia is rich enough to buy their own food and they are at a competitive disadvantage for food production, why would they invest so much money on farming marginal lands? Tags: food, agriculture, water, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, unit 5 agriculture.
Kevin Cournoyer's comment,
May 1, 12:53 AM
Adaptability has always been a part of human nature and the ability to survive. Adjusting living habits and implementing new technologies has been especially helpful in sustaining settlements in particularly harsh environments, such as deserts.
This article examines the role that water far under the ground has had on Saudi Arabia’s agricultural well-being and creation of green space. By accessing water from the last Ice Age deep under the ground, Saudi Arabia has been able to grow crops that have otherwise been unable to thrive in the harsh desert environment. This article presents an excellent example of a country using difficult to access natural resources to change its physical and economic geography. 
Thomas D's comment,
May 6, 6:34 PM
I find that Saudi Arabia drilling deep into its desert to find water is remarkable. There taking a resource that in that region of the world is rare to come by especially at certain points during the year and finding it underground. This to me is unheard of, especially in a place that is mostly desert. To find a resource like this can really help elevate the way our world is progressing. If it is possible to find and create a way to find water in the desert it will be astonishing to see if other countries don’t follow on Saudi Arabia’s path. Water is one of the main sources of life in this world and to find a way to pump out more water from the earth is very important for the coming years.
Lorraine Chaffer's comment,
May 7, 5:51 AM
I just hope they use the supplies carefully and sustainably and do not deplete water supplies like other nations have done.
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When horse meat was discovered in beef hamburgers in Ireland last month, governments, corporations and regulators assured a panicked public that it was complete Tags: food, agriculture, consumption, unit 5 agriculture, globalization, agribusiness.
Seth Dixon's insight:
Just what is in our food anyway? This scandal reveals how removed comsumers are from the production of the foods that they purchase. As these commodity chains become longer and more complex, food safety appears to take a back seat to profit margins. 
benj's comment,
February 28, 6:37 PM
Some people choose to become vegetarian because they found out various disturbing details about the meats they ate. Some people may even shift toward being vegan because they figure that other animal derived foods such as eggs and dairy products share these nasty details.
chris tobin's comment,
February 28, 6:42 PM
I do know people who have become vegetarians because of these reasons you state. Cargill and Tyson are to blame too for taking advantage of the industry....people who work for them have to make a living and have little choices or they get fired....animals do not move around much and its like an assembly line....Recommend YOU TUBE video 'Food Incorporated' ....there are some others
Adrian Bahan (MNPS)'s curator insight,
March 7, 8:12 PM
What trends in agribusiness are conveyed in this map? Delete the scoop?
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What's on family dinner tables around the globe? Photographs by Peter Menzel from the book "Hungry Planet"
Seth Dixon's insight:
This gallery of 16 families from around world together with their week food is quite a treat that shows agricultural, development and cultural patterns. Pictured above is the Ayme family from Ecuador, just one of the many family's highlighted in the book Hungry Planet. The Ayme family that typically spends $31.55 on food and commonly eat potato soup with cabbage. Tags: food, agriculture, worldwide, consumption, unit 5 agriculture, book reviews, culture, development, unit 3 culture. 
John Peterson's comment,
April 30, 10:38 AM
This collection of slides does a very good job of showing their very different diets that are present in different areas of the world. While the price of food is obviously going to be different throughout the world, it is very interesting to see he very different types of food that are consumed by different groups of people. In different areas of the world, there is more emphasis on different types of food. In some places for example they may eat a lot of fruit while in others they may eat a lot of beans or bread. The different amounts that these foods are eaten are tied into both the economic and social aspects of these different cultures. This is because in each area, different things are going to be more affordable and available, as well as being more traditionally eaten. There can also be a difference in the percentage of homemade food in a weekly diet in different areas of the world. While some areas will not have any fast food places or restaurants readily available, others will and will often use these locations which will drastically change their diet habits.
Jess Pitrone's comment,
May 5, 5:47 PM
These photos are very interesting, in the way it’s interesting to explore someone else’s house the first time you visit. Looking to see the differences in what people around the world eat, but also how much people around the world eat is fascinating. The fact that the family in Chad eat about one quarter of what most families around the world eat is really telling. What a family eats in week reveals a lot about both their culture, their economy, and their geographic location. It’s no surprise that the people in Japan eat a lot of fish, because they’re an island country; and it wasn’t surprising to see so much bread on the table of the Italian family, because bread is such a large part of the Italian culture. What I did find absolutely fascinating is that most of the families had a bottle of Coca-Cola on their table, which just goes to show you how interconnected our global community is.
Jess Pitrone's comment,
May 5, 5:47 PM
These photos are very interesting, in the way it’s interesting to explore someone else’s house the first time you visit. Looking to see the differences in what people around the world eat, but also how much people around the world eat is fascinating. The fact that the family in Chad eat about one quarter of what most families around the world eat is really telling. What a family eats in week reveals a lot about both their culture, their economy, and their geographic location. It’s no surprise that the people in Japan eat a lot of fish, because they’re an island country; and it wasn’t surprising to see so much bread on the table of the Italian family, because bread is such a large part of the Italian culture. What I did find absolutely fascinating is that most of the families had a bottle of Coca-Cola on their table, which just goes to show you how interconnected our global community is.
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And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer. God said, "I need somebody willing to ge...
Seth Dixon's insight:
This Super Bowl commercial for trucks also doubles as a tribute to a rural America of yesteryear in general, and for farmers more specifically. While some may object to the overtly religious references of video, I feel that it reflects the cultural ethos of the Midwest, but more importantly, the market research shows that this religious appeal would resonate with the truck-purchasing demographic that this commercial is trying to influence. This commercial was cleverly critiqued in this video, "See God made a (Latino) Farmer" and in this irreverant parody. Tags: agriculture, labor, rural, unit 5 agriculture. 
Ann-Laure Liéval's curator insight,
February 6, 1:04 PM
Religion et société aux EU: un document introductif pour le chapitre, pub du Superbowl 2013, à destination d'un public ciblé... Delete the scoop?
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The interest in urban gardening and organic foods has grown as a reaction against a mechanized, commercialization agricultural industry with genetically-modified produce. Modern consumers are seek...
Seth Dixon's insight:
Modern consumers are increasingly seeking diverse options and don’t want to passively accept the most economically efficient method of food production. City-dwellers sometimes feel disconnected from the land and their food and some are trying to culturally re-establish that connection in the 21st century. So how can you engage in some urban agriculture using your food scraps? This could be a way to make an agricultural unit more hands-on with a fun project Tags: agriculture, food, urban, unit 5 agriculture.
Mary Burke's comment,
April 14, 5:56 PM
I love this idea. And I every one of these foods. When I'm done with school in two years I'm going to have a garden and get my grandchildren involved. They need to know where food comes from. My dream would be to grow my own food.
Meg Conheeny's comment,
April 26, 7:37 PM
This is really cool. In this day and age so many consumers are trying to find ways to stay away from the “genetically-modified produce." Many people want to grow gardens and eat more organic and natural products. This article shows ways to grow products from scraps of food such as growing carrots from carrot tops or tomatoes from seeds. This concept is really interesting I had no idea this could be done. I think this idea will catch on and could ultimately make people healthier.
Dave Cottrell's comment,
April 27, 4:01 PM
This works very well. I don't just throw out tomatoes that spoil in the house or even on the vine late in the season. If you throw them into a heap in the fall with other garden scraps, they will produce very hardy plants that you can transplant in the spring. When you buy a (non GMO) pumpkin in the fall, save the seeds. Clean them well by washing them, dry them on an old towel, and plant them in cardboard egg cartons in some compost in the spring. These are just a few of the things you can grow from so-called waste!
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Britain's biggest supermarkets defend their practices after a report suggested that up to half of the world's food is thrown away.
Seth Dixon's insight:
The mechanization of the all stages of food production has lead to some strange practices. The geometry of a food matters for a mechanized processing and also for the aesthetics at the grocery store which leads to slightly misshaped vegetables and fruits are routinely discarded. There is waste throughout the system, from 'field to fork.'
Tags: food, agriculture, consumption, sustainability, unit 5 agriculture. Delete the scoop?
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Seth Dixon's insight:
Previously I shared a gallery portraying 20 families from around world together with a full week of groceries (from the book Hungry Planet or in this abbreviated online version). Today it's the breakfast table which shows differences in agricultural, development and cultural patterns around the world. Tags: food, agriculture, worldwide, culture, development. 
AckerbauHalle's curator insight,
May 14, 10:57 AM
Nach den Wochespeiseplänen hier ein Vergleichn von Frühstücksvarianten im Ländervergleich - lecker, lecker Delete the scoop?
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Seth Dixon's insight:
March and April are key months for harvesting sap from trees, making this sugar time in New England. New England's climate and biogeography make this the right time because the because the combination of freezing nights and warm spring days gets the sap in the native species of maple trees to flow. The sap get boiled down to syrup, but did you know that it takes roughly 40 gallons of sap that to get 1 gallon of pure maple syrup? 
Louis Culotta's comment,
April 8, 11:45 AM
this is cool. A friend of mine bought all the equipment and is making it in the woods in his backyard up in Cumberland.
Mary Burke's comment,
April 12, 3:53 PM
When I get pancakes at a restaurant I always ask for real maple syrup. They charge more but its worth it. I venture to say that the Canadian maple syrup subsidies might have something to do with less syrup production around here and also might be why syrup so expensive.
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Seth Dixon's insight:
The Network of Alliances for Geography Education is sponsored by the National Geographic Society; these alliances are tremendous local resources. I am working with the Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance and hope that everyone in the United States and Canada can connect with your local alliance and support it. Click here to find your local Alliance. Delete the scoop?
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"Aerial photo tour across countries and continents with a French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand"
Seth Dixon's insight:
I love Yann Arthus-Bertrand's photography; so many of them are geography lessons in and of themselves as he captures compelling images of the cultural landscape. This particular gallery shows 32 stunning images including this one above showing urban agriculture in Geneva, Switzerland.
Tags: agriculture, food, landscape, images, urban, unit 5 agriculture, unit 7 cities.
Chris Magee's comment,
April 28, 12:53 PM
Many of these pictures are eye-opening and really bring to light how differently things are done around the world. I was very interested when reading about the Palm Jumeirah artificial island in Dubai. I have heard and seen this project before but never knew the ridiculous amount of money and labor which went into it. As an American it is an odd phenomena to see something another country is doing and think "Wow, that's a little excessive/unnecessary." when I am so used to other countries always saying that about our actions. The "massive" amount of imported labor used for the project could have been put into their own country instead of paying other countries workers to build the resort.
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"The tiny black-eyed pea is about to wage battle in Malawi. The small country in southeast Africa is the site of a project to help with food security, nutrition and income. Western University researchers are among those who will work with 30,000 farmers to help diversify crops into protein-rich legumes, such as the black-eyed pea, a popular type of cow pea in Malawi."
Seth Dixon's insight:
Tags: food, agriculture, Africa, Malawi, unit 5 agriculture. 
Seth Dixon's comment,
March 15, 8:44 PM
A good friend of mine is currently working for USAID in Malawi. This is what he had to say: I think crop diversification is really important here in Malawi. Most farmers have a heavy reliance on maize,which results in reduced hunger but there continues to be persistent malnutrition among children as their diets consist of mostly maize.Almost everyone here grows maize, you might be a school teacher or a health worker, but you are also most likely growing maize as well. Farmers are very risk averse here, so introducing a new crop takes time, finding the few willing to experiment and then using them to show their neighbors of the benefits. Other organizations are working on crop diversification here in Malawi, the US government, Catholic Relief Services, and other international development partners. Although not spelled out in the article, the majority of farmers are actually women, and agricultural production is typically for household subsistence with minimal cash cropping. As crop diversification increases, cash crops will provide more resources for families to pay for education and health for their families, but probably more importantly families will start diversifying their nutritional intake beyond maize. In a country where 42% of under 5 children are stunted, this will be a positive development. My wife was just out in the South of the country with CRS and was seeing some of the work that they are doing towards crop diversification as a result of USAID funding. She was really impressed to see how different vulnerable groups have been targeted by similar programs. She was able to see changes in rural villages in very insecure food zones. She saw how those lead farmers, willing to adopt new techniques or diversify crops, plant cash crops, etc, are reaping the benefits. Their neighbors are seeing it in action and are now adopting the techniques. It is not an immediate adoption, you have to give it time. These people are very risk averse, when set backs aren't just an inconvenience, but translate into starvation, it is understandable why it takes time. It also makes it more impressive when you find those willing to take the risks and try to set aside some land for a new crop. I am sure my agricultural colleagues would have more sophisticated answers but just some of my personal thoughts/observations."
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A rice enriched with beta-carotene promises to boost the health of poor children around the world. But critics say golden rice is also a clever PR move for a biotech industry driven by profits, not humanitarianism.
Seth Dixon's insight:
This is a great podcast that emphasizes various geographic themes including agriculture, development and economics. This new genetically-modified rice was designed to provide vitamin A (something no natural rice provides) to impoverished diets. Skeptics point out that the history of the industry shows that the goal is to enrich a select number of corporations while some are hailing this as a major advancement that will benefit the poor. Where people side on this is often ideological, so those that are firmly against genetically modified foods find the flaw in the plan and vice versa. What do you think? How might this change food production and consumption worldwide and at a local scale? Tags: GMOs, development, NGOs, Food, agriculture, agribusiness, unit 5 agriculture. 
Alcofribas's curator insight,
March 10, 4:03 PM
Juste pour être sûr : GMO n'est pas Giesbert-Marie Oglalat et NGO pas Nicolas-Gabriel Orkozy, hein ?
Zakary Pereira's comment,
April 30, 4:43 PM
To me, this golden rice seems like a great idea. Anyway to give more nutrients to starving and malnourished peoples is good to me. Some may argue, and do argue, that this is run for pure profit by GE companies however to me it doesn’t matter as long as it’s helping people who need it. Much of the populations of Asia and Africa eat rice or wheat and don’t get enough Vitamin A as they should. So, this is the perfect solution! I can understand why people are skeptical of it, being a GMO after all, but as long as it is safe, delivers extra nutrients and feeds the hungry then I am on board.
Kevin Cournoyer's comment,
May 1, 12:52 AM
As important and widely used crops go, rice is probably the most important and the most widely used in the world. As a diet staple in Asia and Africa, it helps to feed billions of people everyday. Genetically modified race promises not only nourishment, but increased nutrients for the people who consume it as a major part of their diets. The recent test of this genetically modified rice on Chinese children without full disclosure of what the rice was, however, was seen as a huge problem by many.
The ethicality of the situation is what bothered most opponents of the test, but those in favor of the super rice argue that it is good for everyone, because it helps impoverished populations who are otherwise unable to acquire the nutrients they need. This article highlights the importance of rice in a vast physical geographic context, but also deals with the idea of economic and cultural geography because of the modified rice’s impact on a large number of people’s eating habits and standard of living. Delete the scoop?
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Seth Dixon's insight:
This conveys some important realities about the demographic necessities of agriculture, the economic impact and the cultural differences in agricultural production. As with all long infographics on this site, you can "scroll down" on the image by putting the cursor in the top right-hand corner of the image and sliding on the translucent bar. Tags: agriculture, infographic, unit 5 agriculture. 
Mac steel's comment,
March 8, 10:24 AM
With improving food our population will continue to grow at a rapid pace
Mac steel's comment,
March 8, 10:24 AM
With improving food our population will continue to grow at a rapid pace
Mercor's curator insight,
March 21, 6:18 AM
Rescooped by Allison Anthony from AP Human Geography Herm Delete the scoop?
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"77 Photos of the mass production of the Earth's natural resources. In the picture above, a Tibetan villager works in a salt field. Salt has been the most common food preservative, especially for meat, for thousands of years." Tags: consumption, agriculture, resources, labor, industry, economic, unit 6 industry.
Seth Dixon's insight:
Coal, steel, gold, iron, copper, aluminum and oil are all incredibly important commodities. Agricultural products such as rice, cotton, corn, wheat and coffee all travel far beyond their area of origin. Where do these resources come from? How are they produced? This gallery of 77 pictures is a fantastic tour of the resources that are key cogs in the global economy. Delete the scoop?
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Myths and facts about health, corruption, and saving the world Tags: food, agriculture, agribusiness, locavore, unit 5 agriculture.
Seth Dixon's insight:
So many articles about organic or genetically engineered foods are written with someone with a very defined position on the subject (much like abortion, gun control or other controversial topics). This article is an attempt to separate out the good the bad and the ugly regarding genetically engineered foods.
Adrian Bahan (MNPS)'s curator insight,
March 7, 8:09 PM
This article really cuts through the myths and skewed logic in the GMO debate. I love the Atlantic Monthly, one of the sacred texts of Geo-Scholars everywhere.
David Ricci's comment,
April 16, 10:28 AM
As i read this article I tried to keep an open mind and not choose a side. I wanted to take all of the information presented to see the pros and cons that are related to GE foods. After finishing my reading it seems to me that the debate revolves around whether or not these crops and foods are bad for you. If they are bad, then do the pros outway the cons? I can say that after reading the article I dont feel much more educated on the topic. There seems to be a large grey area covering GE crops. The only people who know the full extent of these projects are the people in charge and the government. With the information that i have gained today though, i can say that GE crops have the potential to be extremely benefitial aroud the world. Many places that have trouble growing crops can use GE crops that withstand bugs and even climate. These benefits can help with cost minimalization in areas that need it, potentially creating better and more farming in areas around the world that need it. GE crops if regulated properly can atleast for a time have a global effect on food and agriculture. A jump in production of crops can help economies and help the general wellbeing of countries that have trouble producing even close to the right amount of food for the people living there.
Zakary Pereira's comment,
April 30, 4:04 PM
An interesting article to read, it talked about the genetically modified seeds and food that is created by companies and then grown by American and other farmers worldwide. This article relates to the globalization point that we talked about in class. The seeds are genetically modified here or elsewhere in the world and then sent to farmers all over the globe to grow for increased profit typically. Many countries around the world, especially third world countries, have food shortages and by genetically modifying food so that farmers can get a bigger harvest, more people will be fed and less would die to famine and malnutrition. Like David, I tried to keep an open mind and not choose a side while I was reading. The article did seem quite vague regarding argument points however it gave facts left and right which I found to be new to me and fairly interesting, learning that 70% of food that we eat has at least one GE ingredient. Time will tell if this has prolonged pros/cons I suppose.
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A different perspective of Paul Harvey's "God made a Farmer." In reference to the foreign-owned Chrysler Corp. that showed a similar video that aired during ...
Seth Dixon's insight:
As a cultural production this is fascinating reshaping of the original Chrysler Super Bowl commercial. The original doubles as a tribute to a rural America of yesteryear and American labor. This one acts as a critique on the status on Latino workers in the United States. The audio is the same, with images that conjure out entirely different messages (here is an irreverent parody). Tags: agriculture, labor, rural, unit 5 agriculture, perspective. 
Anne McTavish's comment,
February 7, 1:56 PM
One more version, showing agribusiness owners, would round this set out. These two together are great. Congratulations to Isaac Cubillos for this thouhtful version of "farmer."
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There are joys and rewards in growing some of your own crops; there's even beauty.
Seth Dixon's insight:
Although a front lawn is not ecologically the best use of urban space, there are strong cultural pressure to conform to that aesthetic ideal. When individuals choose to grow vegetables and fruit, they often face some push-back from the city or homeowners associations with a different vision on the appropriate use of space. Some have estimated though, that if we were to convert 10 percent the country's grass lawns to vegetable gardens that they could supply roughly a third of our fresh vegetables. Tags: agriculture, food, urban, unit 5 agriculture. Delete the scoop?
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Bolivian and Peruvian farmers sell entire crop to meet rising western demand, sparking fears of malnutrition
Seth Dixon's insight:
Quinoa was once a traditional Andean grain that few outside of South America consumed, but it has quickly become a staple among the health-conscious in developed countries in recent years. Dieticians and nutritional experts give it their seal of approval because it is a low-fat starch that is high in protein and filled with amino acids. This rapid adoption of quinoa in high-priced whole food stores has changed the economics of quinoa dramatically. Peruvian and Bolivian farmers are selling at high prices with huge global demand. Local consumers who have traditionally relied on this crop however, now have to pay triple the price to eat quinoa, causing some to question the ethics of quinoa consumption. A simple change in cultural eating habits in one part of the world can have some major impacts on the economy and agriculture of another region. Tags: food, agriculture, South America, consumption, unit 5 agriculture. 
Jen-ai's curator insight,
January 24, 2:14 PM
Your love of this favorite gluten free grain might be jeapordizing the health of the Andina farmers who grow it. Delete the scoop?
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