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Scooped by Seth Dixon onto Geography Education |
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Since Katrina, the cartoonish pace of vegetation growth in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans resembles something out of a Chia Pet commercial.
The ecosystem is reclaiming parts of New Orleans that have been physically or economically abandoned. This is part elevation, climate and ecosystem; but it is also about urban land uses, disinvestment and socioeconomics.
Tags: urban ecology, environment, ecology, urban, unit 7 cities, disasters, land use.
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Stratfor Europe Analyst Adriano Bosoni discusses the political implications of the increasing number of migrants from the European Union's periphery to its c...
Seth Dixon's insight:
The economic crisis has contributed to rising anti-immigration sentiment and policies in Europe. Immigrants from Eastern Europe continue to enter the core, but now more from the struggling southern periphery of Europe are also on the move. One of the free response questions in the 2012 AP Human Geography test focused on increasing Muslim population in many European countries. This video some background context for that particular Free Response Question (as would this article from Al Jazeera titled Europe's failure to integrate Muslims). Delete the scoop?
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Europe’s divisions are indeed grave. But counting the ex-communist countries as a single category is outdated and damaging
Seth Dixon's insight:
What places belong in a region together? What are the boundaries of that region? How has this region changed over time? Regional classification is inherently an exercise that relies on our geographic knowledge and requires some spatial thinking. Each semester I have students divide the United States into the regions that explain how they conceptualize the different parts of the country. This 2 minute video is a great example that argues that the regional category of Eastern Europe is less meaningful today mainly because of the changing political and economic geography that is blurring the regional borders of Europe. 
Flaviu Feşnic's curator insight,
March 4, 12:29 PM
the term 'ex/communist' is obsolete .like we could say "ex Nazi Germany" !23 yrs have passed though ! scrap it ! http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=870068
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Of all the changes announced by the 2011 census, one of the most startling is the rapid change in the ethnic composition of London's population.
Seth Dixon's insight:
The fact the immigrants moving to the UK have flocked to London is not surprising (View a map of the census data). Immigration isn't the only component to this situation. White Britons are also leaving London in large number, prompting some to refer to this as "White Flight." Today, white Britons are no longer the majority population within London (but still the largest ethnic group). Some feel that this story has gone underreported and deserves more analysis. What elements of human geography should an observer of this situation use in their analysis? 
Brittnie Helgerson's comment,
April 28, 11:15 AM
So when hearing “Changing Ethnic Patterns in London,” most people (myself included) thought that this was obviously due to a rise in immigration to the London area. It would seem to be obvious that most immigrants would flock to London in the first place because it is probably the most well know city in the U.K. However the fact there are other factors at play and that it is not just immigration that is changing the ethnic patterns surprised me at first.
It turns out that there are a lot of white people leaving London for outer regions where there is less diversity. Could it be that the influx of minorities is upsetting some of the white Britons’ sense of place? While it is possible that this is the case, it is also likely that they are leaving for other reasons as well. In the article, it discusses how “most diverse wards are urban and poor.” This could be a reason why many people are leaving; some white Britons could want something more rural and less busy. They could be leaving for neighborhoods with better school or different types of homes. 
Conor McCloskey's comment,
April 30, 10:25 AM
The British-white percentage of the population in London is dropping. While this says a lot about the demographics of London it also says a lot about global migratory patterns. London is a international city, culturally and ethnically, it has many pull factors for many different kinds of people from all over the globe, with all different cultural backgrounds. These pull factors have translated into one big push factor for British-whites, however, as they move out of the city.
There are many different things that could explain these patterns. Racism, economic shifts or better opportunities else where, however one thing is for sure, the world is become more multi-cultural. With the movements of cultures comes displacement and resistance, tension doesn’t run short in these types of situations. As so many people move away from their homelands through out the world it will be interesting to see what begins to happen with geopolitical boundaries, will situations like Hungary be more common as people move away? Delete the scoop?
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Failure by Belgium's political parties to form a government since elections in June have prompted fears of a split in the tiny European country. Al Jazeera's...
Seth Dixon's insight:
This 2007 video is dated, but many of the same issues are still seen today. This video briefly lays out the cultural context for the political divisions between the French-speaking Walloons and the Dutch-speaking Flemish populations of Belgium. For a longer video on the topic, see this half hour video. Tags: language, culture, Belgium, unit 4 political, Europe, devolution, unit 3 culture. Delete the scoop?
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An advertising campaign designed to illustrate the drawbacks of living in the U.K. is being planned to deter an expected surge of immigrants, according to reports
Seth Dixon's insight:
Immigration is a sensitive topic so I'll tread lightly. There appears to be some support for a campaign that would target would-be migrants specifically from Romania and Bulgaria that life in the U.K. isn't as as grand as it may seem (ironic coming of the heels of the Olympics). This obviously isn't something that is universally supported by the British, but it does highlight the fact that more and more European countries are seeking ways to deter migrants from crossing their borders as economic struggles continue. Tags: migration, UK, immigration, Europe, unit 2 population. 
Meg Conheeny's comment,
April 26, 3:09 PM
Immigration is a largely talked about topic, and many people have different views on the subject. Britain so badly doesn’t want these immigrants that they are willing to give their country a bad image just to push them away. It seems like they are happy with their people and population that they don’t want to see the population rise and they don’t want to give ad to anyone. The U.K isn't the only place that is trying to lower the migrants crossing over. Many places have strict immigration policies and don't want to push the countries population over the top.
Brittnie Helgerson's comment,
April 28, 10:41 AM
When first reading the title of the article, I thought it seemed a bit harsh to just deter people from moving to the U.K. However, after reading the article, I do see why Britain would want to do such a thing. Because the quotas on limiting the number of immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania are expiring, there is obviously going the increase the number of people immigrating to Britain. However, I had no idea it could be as many people as some of the predictions are saying. If there was an influx of immigrants that large, it could really disrupt many aspects of life in Britain. With more people in Britain, the unemployment rate could increase, and as a result there could be more homeless people. There would be more people needing health care, which could possibly lead to less quality care for all patients.
The problem with making an ad campaign to make the U.K. look less desirable to potential immigrants is that they would be spending a lot of money to make Britain “look bad” but it’s not a guarantee that anyone would actually pay attention or take the campaign seriously. Last year Britain spent billions of dollars and to make it look good for the Olympics. So if people from Romania and Bulgaria already had their minds set on moving to Britain, an ad trying to deter them would be pointless. 
Jess Pitrone's comment,
April 29, 10:30 PM
Overpopulation due to immigration is a problem that plagues many nations. Usually, the immigration is due to citizens from other countries seeking political, economic, or religious refuge. It isn’t uncommon for countries to try to deter immigrants for this reason, but they may also want to deter them not because of overpopulation, but simply because they don’t want them there. It can make a government seem harsh or unwelcoming if they enact laws to prevent people from immigrating to their country, so I think that this advertising campaign is pretty genius. Enacting laws or putting quotas on immigrating doesn’t usually go over well (look at the American “Chinese Exclusion Act” of 1882), and it can definitely come back to bite you. What’s great about this UK ad, even though it’s basically an admission that they don’t want any immigrants, it’s a little more subtle.
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Time lapse video compilation Civilization: Part I - Europe by professional photographer Dominic Boudreault. Shot in England, France, Spain and Italy.
Seth Dixon's insight:
This is a gorgeous video that was very intelligently constructed. The title 'civilization' coupled with the images of iconic architecture, makes me think differently and question how we conceptualize the ideas of civilization and society. Tags: landscape, historical, Europe, time lapse. 
Tony King's curator insight,
January 17, 10:41 AM
Best way to get up-close and personal with these spectacular locations is from a charter yacht. We can arrange a hassle-free charter booking for yu, sail or power. www.americanyacht.net 
Brett Sinica's comment,
April 15, 9:14 PM
First of all, this video was appealing and refreshing from the lighting and time elapsing which really helped capture all the landscapes with their colors and architecture. From the countryside and seashore, to the urban areas of some of Europe’s cities, it shows even centuries-old infrastructure can still pack a punch and heavy influence in other parts of the world. At the last scene in the video which captured Paris with the Eiffel Tower and the streets lit up reminded me of the Central Place Theory and how many of the streets branch off from one designated center, usually a roundabout. Other places that tend to have this are London, England or the Cambridge section of Boston, MA, among other U.S. cities where the cities borders act in a circular manner.
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The riots linked to flag protests in Northern Ireland are causing "significant damage" to the economy, the secretary of state warns.
Seth Dixon's insight:
Flags are tangible symbols of communal identity and political power. If the meaning behind these identities are unresolved, the symbols of these identities in public spaces becomes all the more there is contentious. Currently, the Union Jack is a lightning rod for controversy in Northern Ireland and the riots stemming from this are harming the local economy. Tags: Ireland, political, conflict, devolution, autonomy, economic, Europe, unit 4 political. Delete the scoop?
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The extent of the campaign is shocking.
Seth Dixon's insight:
This map is just overwhelming when you consider that each data point represents a bomb dropped on the city. 
Elizabeth Allen's curator insight,
December 12, 2012 12:29 AM
Amazing how this image can have such an impact. Seeing pics like this add the element of realness. Reading about history in books, gives the reader an understanding, but a map such as this is more telling. During the 8 months of bombing, London lost over 40,000 people, this map has a way of getting the message across Elizabeth Allen 
Sam Capron's curator insight,
February 28, 1:32 AM
This map is unreal! From the right distant the red dots representing the bomb sites block out the entire map, however it is interesting that all of the bombs fell in a very concentrated area, most assuredly where the populations are located. Delete the scoop?
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"Why would they want to pull down these walls?” asks William Boyd mildly as he offers me a cup of tea in his home at Cluan Place, a predominantly Loyalist area of east Belfast. These walls, orginally installed in the late 60s to protect Belfast residents during "the Troubles." Today, some argue that these walls are now barriers to the peace process as they continue defacto segregation. Walls, as barriers to diffusion, stifle communication, cooperation and interaction. Still, these walls are symbols of communal identity and icons in the cultural landscape. For more academic work on this, see Peter Shirlow's Belfast: Segregation, Violence and the City.
Questions to Consider: How would a wall through an already culturally and politically divided city impact both sides of the wall? Today, are the walls beneficial to peace in Northern Ireland? Delete the scoop?
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The 17-nation bloc had a jobless rate of 11.6 per cent in September, while inflation eased slightly in the last month. Although some countries in the Eurozone have lower unemployment rates like Austria (4.4%) and Germany (5.4%), more are in the worst collective tailspin since the creation of the common currency. Spain has the worst unemplyment rate at 25.8% of the adult population out of work. It has taken a nasty cultural and political turn as resentments and frustrations are boiling over in the Eurozone. Some are derisively referring to the struggling southern European countries as P.I.G.S. (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain). Tags: Europe, supranationalism, currency, labor, economic. Delete the scoop?
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Rising numbers of people of Indian origin born in the West are moving to the country their parents left decades ago in search of opportunity and a cultural connection, reports the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan. Since 2005, the Indian government has been encouraging people of Indian descent and former Indian nationals to return to India. For many Indians living in the UK, there are more and better economic opportunities for them within India. Migrants have many reasons for moving (including cultural factors), but the primary pull factor is most certainly India's ascendant importance in the global economy and rising IT industries.
Tags: India, South Asia, migration, immigration, Europe, colonialism, unit 2 population. Delete the scoop?
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Spain's dismal economy has residents of the country's richest region, Catalonia, wondering if they'd be better off going it alone. With their own language and distinct culture, Catalans have long pushed for independence from Spain. This podcast merges several geographic strands together as economic turmoil in the southern portion of the Euro Zone has fanned the flames of cultural resentment and put discussions for Catalonian independence on the agenda for local politicians. Questions to ponder: Will this internal devolution cause greater disintegration in the European Union or Spain? Would an independent Catalan be a wise move for the Catalonians? How would their independence impact Spain? Tags: political, autonomy, economic, Europe, devolution, sovereignty, unit 4 political. Delete the scoop?
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Time and time again, we're reminded of nature's beauty. It's hard to believe, but these photos of real landscapes, not abstract paintings. Andre Ermolaev, through his photography has captured the beauty of Iceland's geomorphology. Being on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland has abundant volcanic ash which adds rich color to the fluvial systems.
Tags: geomorphology, physical, Europe, fluvial, water, landforms, images. Delete the scoop?
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"Germany and France spent decades at each others' throats. Now, bound by a common currency, they're working together to save the euro zone. It's a story that's begging for a musical number — which, as it happens, we have right here."
Seth Dixon's insight:
This playful song dramatizes the current E.U. financial crisis. This humourous highlights what the E.U. was designed to be, and showing the advantages and disadvantages of enhanced regional cooperation. This is certainly worth a listen. Tags: Europe, supranationalism, currency, economic. 
Alejandro Restrepo's comment,
April 10, 12:28 PM
This is great. I painted the image in my head of these countries hanging out at a bar having this as a casual conversation. Cut your spending Greece is what China should be telling the US.
Alejandro Restrepo's comment,
April 10, 12:28 PM
This is great. I painted the image in my head of these countries hanging out at a bar having this as a casual conversation. Cut your spending Greece is what China should be telling the US.
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"Mr Füzes had voiced support for the Székler people, a group of ethnic Hungarians who live in Transylvania, after two Romanian counties banned the display of the Székler flag (pictured above with men in hussar uniform) on public buildings. Zsolt Nemeth, Hungary’s state secretary for foreign affairs, described the ban as an act of “symbolic aggression” and called for local councils in Hungary to show solidarity by flying the Székler flag from town halls. The Hungarian government then raised the Székler flag above Parliament, further enraging Bucharest..."
Seth Dixon's insight:
Flags are important symbols of cultural identity and displaying them can be a strong political statement. For Hungarians, displaying symbols of a "Greater Hungary" shows some desire for irredentism--to redeem Hungarians of the 'wrong' side of the border. For those Hungarians in Romania this is an act of defiance that show that they want greater autonomy. For sports fans, ESPN did a "30 for 30" documentary on the early 90's Yugoslavian basketball team that was a major talent (1990 World Champions) but was torn apart as devolutionary forces fractured the countries and the once-teammates were estranged after what some perceived as disrespectful acts to the Croatian national flag. Vlade Divac (a Serbian) was pitted against some of his best friends from Croatia as the civil war was playing itself out on the court as well. This is a great way to get a sports fan to learn about ethnic conflict and about the importance of cultural symbols ("Once Brothers"--$1.99, free for Amazon Prime users). Tags: political, conflict, devolution, autonomy, Europe, culture.
Conor McCloskey's comment,
April 30, 10:26 AM
The past is the past. Or is it? The past seems to mean more to the people of Hungary and Romania these days. The Treaty of Trianon of 1920 sectioned the region of Transylvania from Romania to Hungary. For the ethnic Hungarians living in Transylvania, this posed quite the issue. For many people around the world, the homeland does not always match up with geopolitical boundaries of the country that they live in. While this identity crisis causes conflict for many groups of people all over the world, in Hungary the fight to regain greater-Hungary continues today.
This article also poses interesting questions of voting and citizenship. The Hungarian government granted citizenship beyond its borders, and jurisdiction, to ethnic Hungarians in Romania. What does this say about those Hungarians in Romania? Does it bring Hungary any closer to regaining the borders of the once Greater Hungary? Regardless of the questions of citizenship, such public and federal efforts to expand their borders and regain their ethnic population and homeland is doing more then turning heads. Look to this region for future conflict because the failure of geopolitical nations to represent ethnic homelands rarely ends peacefully. 
John Peterson's comment,
April 30, 10:37 AM
This article helps to illustrate tensions that can be caused by seemingly simple acts within a society that is home to two conflicting groups. While flags do not have any actual influence or power in society, they are a source of emotion, and pride in ones nation and heritage. Because of the emotion that is tied with flags, it can be a very tense situation when the use of these flags is banned, or if these flags are taken down or destroyed. It is amazing how something so simple as a flag can bring about so much anger, and be the source of such bad blood and violence between different nations or ethnic groups. In the example given, there has been conflict for years, which was recently fueled even more over the use of a flag. While the act of displaying a flag is simply a display of loyalty, the actions of the Romanian government against this practice shows how although it is not a violent act, it can lead to very hostile actions and interactions.
Zakary Pereira's comment,
April 30, 4:12 PM
This article got me thinking. The tensions between Hungary and Romania seem trivial to me. The Romanians are the right ones in my opinion and the act of displaying the Székler flag about the Hungarian Parliament was plainly a theoretical middle finger to Romania. The more than a million Hungarians living in present day Romania relates to our unit on culture and nations/states. There is a Hungarian nation of people in Romania that the Hungarian government has now granted rights to, again purposely antagonizing Romania, and Romania is rightfully concerned of their dual-loyalty. Overall, the situation is taken way out of proportion by Hungary and what former piece of an empire wants that flag flown in their country. In Ireland do you see the Union Jack… that’d be a no.
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New nations seem to pop up with alarming regularity. At the start of the 20th century, there were only a few dozen independent sovereign states on the planet; today, there are nearly 200!
Seth Dixon's insight:
This list of countries that no longer exist in their current form include Czechoslovakia, Tibet, Sikkim, the Ottoman Empire and the Soviet Union. Tags: unit 4 political, historical, devolution.
John Peterson's comment,
April 30, 10:38 AM
As a result of the ever changing nature of humans and society, it is no surprise that even in recent history the makeup of the countries of the world has greatly changed. Throughout our history, the countries that make up the world have constantly changed as well as the influence of these countries greatly changing as well. While the number of nations that are present in the world has greatly grown throughout the 20th century, there were some nations that uncommonly disappeared. This disappearance can be caused by numerous different factors that all nations must face, and that some are not able to deal with. These can include economic problems, numerous conflicting ethnic groups, change in government, or simply lack of organization. Most countries at some point in their existence will have to face one of these problems including the United States with The Great Depression. Although we faced hard times we were able to continue as a nation, although some groups were unable to do so.
Zakary Pereira's comment,
April 30, 4:20 PM
I had originally wanted to add this article into the group because I really enjoy history; it’s my major after all! Many nations have left the Earth because of wars and other circumstances and why not read an article about 10 of them all with rich histories. It is interesting how after wars that the losing nations have their lands divided and changed. After WWI we saw the dissolution of The Ottoman Empire, the Astro-Hungarian Empire and other nations. These countries had histories, cultures, a flag, language yet they were just carved up and distributed to the victors. I can’t say that I approve however today would be drastically different if it had not happened this way. Political Geography played an important role in much of these nation’s demises however none so much as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This country was built on political geography and its satellite states by Joseph Stalin and led by later leaders like Khrushchev and Gorbachev. Like Max said, the U.S.S.R. was full of different ethnic groups, religions, people and once it fell, independent nations became independent because Moscow couldn’t keep them under control no longer.
Kevin Cournoyer's comment,
May 1, 12:54 AM
I found this article really interesting for a few different reasons. As a history major, the article provided a lot of information that I thought was interesting and of which I was unaware. It’s important to understand the reasons for the breakup and/or formation of countries when studying history. Part of understanding that is recognizing and analyzing the geographic implications of these changes.
Perhaps most importantly, the disappearance of countries would certainly have severe economic repercussions. The complete absence of an economy that had been around for decades, or the emergence of several new economies all at once would have serious effects on the interaction between neighboring countries and the global economy. Cultural unity and tension also plays a large role in the disappearance of countries. Examining patterns of cultural dissimilarity and hostility explains the breakup of these countries and makes for nations that possess a great deal of cultural homogeneity and a palette of cultural diversity in a small geographic area. Delete the scoop?
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The independence-minded region of Catalonia asks the Spanish central government for an extra 9bn euros (£7.7bn) in bailout money.
Seth Dixon's insight:
Catalonia appears to want the benefits of independence AND of being politically connected to Spain. Tags: Spain, Europe, devolution, autonomy. Delete the scoop?
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A Greek exit from the euro has become a bomb fizzling at the heart of the eurozone. What could happen if it explodes?
Seth Dixon's insight:
This is still all speculation, but this speculation is grounded in the very real possibility that Greece may leave the Eurozone. This one possible scenario would have a profound ripple effect throughout the European Union and beyond. This interactive explores each of these 8 possible results. Tags: Greece, Europe, supranationalism, currency, labor, economic. 
Marco Gaggero's curator insight,
February 20, 6:57 AM
Articolo interessante sulle ripercussioni di un eventuale fallimento della Grecia (con uscita dall'euro a seguito) che ci ricorda (per chi ne avesse bisogno) che il debito pubblico non è frutto della fantasia di qualcuno ma piuttosto qualcosa di molto molto tangibile. Il debito, i tassi di interesse, lo spread, sono tutte variabili cui la nostra classe politica deve prestare una grossa attenzione. LA CREDIBILITA' SI PAGA IN EURO Delete the scoop?
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Flashmob en Madrid (España) organizado por el programa de radio CARNE CRUDA 2.0 Martes y jueves, 16:00, http://www.carnecruda20.es Lunes, miércoles y viernes...
Seth Dixon's insight:
I have previously posted on how successful flashmobs often times use public places in a way that symbolically merges the meaning of that space with the message of the that place. This is a fabulous example of that and I find it incredibly moving and poignant, given the recent economic woes of southern Europe. As Jordan Weismmann said about this flashmob in the Atlantic, "I'm not sure if this video is more heartbreaking or heartwarming, but it pretty well captures what's going on in Europe's economy right now. While the day-to-day drama of the continent's debt crisis has subsided, painful austerity measures have helped leave huge swaths of the population jobless. In Spain, unemployment is at 25 percent." 
Trisha Klancar's curator insight,
January 13, 2:15 PM
We never know when we will make a difference in people's lives. Spain has undergone a very difficult time the last couple years...this is short video reminds us we all need to smile and enjoy no matter what! 
plerudulier's curator insight,
February 17, 8:21 AM
Big fan of flashmob here.
I guess those who attended that day had a bit of sun. Delete the scoop?
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The inhabitants of a small Greek island live on average 10 years longer than the rest of western Europe. So what's the secret to long life in Ikaria?
Seth Dixon's insight:
As more countries have entered the later stages of the Demographic Transition, we expect people to live longer than ever. On this island and other "blue zones" they attribute their long life to a traditional diet and an unpolluted environment. Tags: aging population, medical, population, demographics, unit 2 population, Greece, Europe. 
Mary Burke's comment,
April 28, 6:31 AM
I think it's wonderful that this man knew enough to go back to his roots. He thought he was going back to die but he actually gave himself a new lease on life. It's funny how he settled in the US and did pretty well for himself, making a good living but the hectic pace in this country, especially in the New Jersy area, was too toxic for him. Living on that lovely island like he does I could see why he would get better. They say cancer is moslly strees related. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all retire to an island and eat olives and drink wine in our retirement.
Brittnie Helgerson's comment,
April 28, 10:40 AM
This article contains a fantastic story Stamatis, a man who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and was told he had nine months to live. He moved back Ikaria, where he was born, and forty-five years later he is still alive and healthy. While the timeline you are given when you have a terminal illness is not always correct, it is not often that a person lives almost fifty years longer than predicted. So is it the case that the island has magical powers or is it that the way of life on the island can have that big of an impact on your health. Based on the article, it’s obviously that the residents of Ikaria live healthier lives than many others. There aren’t many smokers are the island, there is a huge bustling city near-by, they eat a lot of fish and vegetables, and don’t have a lot of stress. So their way of life is as close to ideal as you can get. But it’s mind-blowing to me that changing the environment you live in could allow you so much longer than was expected. But given that there are studies and articles making it public that the lifestyles on cities like these, why aren’t there more people flocking to these places in hopes of living healthier lives? And what is “protecting” these places like Ikaria from turning into an average city with less healthy lifestyles?
John Peterson's comment,
April 30, 10:39 AM
In today’s society, it is very common for people to search for different things that will help them to extend their lives. This can include different practices, diets, and occupations, along with many other things. Once it is discovered that something can help achieve a healthier and/or longer life, people from all over will be drawn to this and attempt to utilize it for themselves. This makes it very interesting when there is an area of the world that is supposedly home to healthier people with longer lives and even more intriguing when there are healing properties that are claimed. The island in question in this article is supposedly home to wine that is special because of its natural aspects and the fact that it has no artificial additives. While it cannot be said for sure whether this wine is indeed special, or if it is just a matter of dumb luck, these claims will always draw the intrigue and attention of other places in the world.
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As Catalonia goes to the polls, Sid Lowe looks at one of the region's great cultural sporting icons and its role in Catalan identity... Sports and cultural identity of a region are often intertwined. As Catalonia is poised to break from Spain, this video shows how the local teams (especially FC Barcelona) are at the center of political identity and part of the very fabric of the political movement that is pushing for independence. For more, see this recent GITN. Tags: sport, Spain, Europe, devolution, autonomy. 
Jessica Martel's curator insight,
April 28, 4:37 PM
its understood that catalonie has a completely different country from the rest of spain. In fact many people associate catalonia as a seperate country. It would be cool to see spain let them have thier independence. However that would mean spain would lose land and money. For the most part, atleast the catalonia poeple are expressing thier feelings and wishes in a humane manor, rather than with vilolence Delete the scoop?
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This would be the perfect place to study. Next time I'm at L'Istituto delle Scienze, Palazzo Poggi, Bologna, I will definitely find this spot. Delete the scoop?
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What is more likely to happen first: Greece will leave the eurozone, or Scotland will leave the UK? Although there is currently only about 30% of Scotland that would support independence, this is something that will be gaining importance. The United Kingdom is a complex political entity, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland connected with England. The "divorce referendum" will be help on October 2014 to see if Scotland wishes to dissolve this union and many of the political and economic events throughout Europe will be seen through this prism, especially the Euro Zone crisis in southern European countries (e.g.-Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal). The possibility that this might happen are small, but as the article stated, "not zero." Tags: devolution, supranationalism, political, states, sovereignty, autonomy, Europe, unit 4 political. Delete the scoop?
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The remarkable pictures show scenes from France today with atmospheric photographs taken in the same place during the war superimposed on top. In this fastinating set of images, Dutch artist and historian Jo Teeuwisse merges her passions literally by superimposing World War II photographs on to modern pictures of the where the photos were originally taken. This serves as a reminder that places are rich with history; to understand the geography of a place, one must also know it's history (and vice versa). 
Matt A.'s comment,
April 16, 9:16 AM
These photos are incredibly interesting. It takes you back in time but shows you the present. It gives you perspective of what the battles looked like. You not be familiar with something when you see a picture of it from 70 years ago, but when it is combined to today it gives you a different perspective. It relates to geography because it gives us a sense of where these places are. How they were different then from today. It shows why things may be different. Why there may be monuments or plaques of rememberence.
Meg Conheeny's comment,
April 25, 4:43 PM
These photos really can open your eyes. You could be at a place that looks and feels normal but 50 years ago it was a bloody battlefield. So many places around the United States are filled with stories of history and culture. By standing in an area that was once a battlefield one can sense the presence of the men that once fought there. We can feel their strength and what they went through to give us freedom. Even though the environment and the landscape of a place can change overtime, the history and culture along with the individuals involved will always be engraved in that particular place.
Magnus Gustafsson's comment,
April 26, 3:53 PM
Yeah, this is interesting and give us possibilities to understand history is real.
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Hiking to the top of Preikestolen (the Pulpit Rock) near Stavanger, Norway. An amazing and wondrous hike. For the inner explorer in all of us, this is a geographic dream. Click here to read more about this fantastic climb from a National Geographic explorer. Tags: Europe, landforms, NationalGeographic. 
Mr. Rodrigues's comment,
October 2, 2012 7:40 PM
Funny, the first thing that came to my mind is that if this were a famous tourist site in the US, someone from the Nanny Estate would ruin the natural beauty of the place with guard rails and "approach at your own risk" signs.
Mr. Rodrigues's comment,
October 2, 2012 7:40 PM
Funny, the first thing that came to my mind is that if this were a famous tourist site in the US, someone from the Nanny Estate would ruin the natural beauty of the place with guard rails and "approach at your own risk" signs.
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