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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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Researchers are heading to Dharavi, Mumbai, to study the impact of slum tours on the residents.
Seth Dixon's insight:
The article leaves me with more questions than answers. What do the residents think about the tons of tourists wondering through their winding streets? The very idea of tourism to see poverty in situ in an authentic slum is riddled with power and cultural imbalances. Why would wealthy tourists from the developed world want to more fully explore the slums in the developing world? What do you see as the 'wrong' and the 'right' within this situation? Is slum tourism ethical? 
Seth Dixon's comment,
May 5, 4:54 PM
If it's just for personal curiosity, it's more than just a bit unsavory. If you are seriously thinking about opening up your wallet but want to see the situation on the ground, then its still a conversation worth having.
Serge Dielens * Connectivist @ EdgeCommunication.be's curator insight,
May 7, 12:41 PM
Visiter des bidonvilles, nouveau trend pour touristes en mal de nouveauté? Je me souviens avoir personnellement visité SOWETO en 2000, avec un groupe de journalistes belges. Nous avons logé chez une dame qui cédait une partie de sa maison pour se faire un peu d'argent, pour contribuer aux frais de ses deux fils étudiants à l'Unif. Ce fut une expérience inoubliable. Nous n'avons pas entendu le son de sa voix, elle nous servait à manger en silence et même si nous ne savions pas très bien comment réagir, nous avions l'impression que nous lui venions en aide, d'une manière ou d'une autre. En tous cas, la visite de ce bidonville fut pour moi éclairante.
Serge Dielens * Connectivist @ EdgeCommunication.be's comment,
May 7, 2:55 PM
Visiter des bidonvilles, nouveau trend pour touristes en mal de nouveauté? Je me souviens avoir personnellement visité SOWETO en 2000, avec un groupe de journalistes belges. Nous avons logé chez une dame qui cédait une partie de sa maison pour se faire un peu d'argent, pour contribuer aux frais de ses deux fils étudiants à l'Unif. Ce fut une expérience inoubliable. Nous n'avons pas entendu le son de sa voix, elle nous servait à manger en silence et même si nous ne savions pas très bien comment réagir, nous avions l'impression que nous lui venions en aide, d'une manière ou d'une autre. En tous cas, la visite de ce bidonville fut pour moi éclairante.
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"Just 200 years ago, there were only 1 billion people on the planet, and over the next 150 years, that number grew to 3 billion. But in the past 50 years, the global population has more than doubled, and the UN projects that it could possibly grow to 15 billion by the year 2100. As the international organization points out, this increasing rate of change brings with it enormous challenges."
Seth Dixon's insight:
This is a compilation of 42 photos that highlight ideas of population growth, urbanization and sustainability. Pictured above is the favela Joaquim de Queiros, a hillside neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
Tags: population, images, unit 2 population. Delete the scoop?
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RIO DE JANEIRO — Look at most maps of Rio de Janeiro. The beaches are easy to spot, as are the iconic ocean-front neighborhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema. In the middle is a vast forest.
Seth Dixon's insight:
A nonprofit organization run by current and former favela residents called Redes da Mare has started the first mapping program to systematically chart out the favelas for municipal governments. We take for granted what having an address on a named street means in a modern society; it is a portal to public utilities, recognition with businesses and countless other social benefits. Being left 'off the map' is synonymous with being left behind. By finding their way on the city maps they are removing some of the social stigma that sought to treat them as if they did not exist. 
chris tobin's curator insight,
February 21, 3:06 PM
Being left off the map is ludicrous. It should be surprising how many there are,what they pick for addresses, and population statistics. Hopefully this will also help them to get aid for poverty relief.
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Seth Dixon's insight:
This video shows that the human spirit of beauty and joy can come shining through from the poorest of places. Slums are not new, but rapid population growth coupled with rural-to-urban migration patterns have led to an increasing amount of slums. Despite all the stereotypical images of destitute poverty, slums can also be places with a strong vibrant communities with residents filled with innovation, hope and ambition. For more on this organization, see their Facebook page. Tags: urban, squatter, poverty, South America, community, Paraguay. 
Bob Manning's curator insight,
December 13, 2012 10:11 PM
Another example of frugal innovation and what we can learn from people who are often times discounted. 
Jimmy Power's comment,
December 18, 2012 9:19 AM
A lesson for us all the human spirit will always come through
Chris Olenik's comment,
April 16, 8:14 PM
They have a Kickstarter! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/405192963/landfill-harmonic-inspiring-dreams-one-note-at-a-t
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A United Nations report cites widespread shortages of food, water, electricity, jobs, hospital beds and classrooms amid an exploding population in an area of Gaza. While most slums are symptomatic of issues that would be addressed by an economic and urban geography analysis, the slums of Gaza are different. Many slum issues are tied to city politics, but in Gaza these slums are also connected to some of the larger geopolitical issues of the region. Tags: Political, urban, squatter, poverty, MiddleEast, economic, place, unit 4 political, unit 7 cities. Delete the scoop?
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As Mumbai booms, the poor of its notorious Dharavi slum find themselves living in some of India's hottest real estate.
What do you think the future will hold for this slum neighborhood? What will happen to the people that live there? What will this place look like in 20 years? What forces will create this change? Delete the scoop?
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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  Delete the scoop?
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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. 
Kyle Toner's comment,
November 13, 2012 12:46 PM
Dhaka's population is exploding, leaving many people living in the slums with very little resources or ways to make money for food. With the population growing, and natural disasters like flooding many people are in trouble.
Crissy Borton's curator insight,
December 11, 2012 10:51 PM
People are leaving the rural areas to move to Dhaka in hopes of a better life. However the slums they move to do not have running water or electricity. It looks as though they are living in garbage dumb. It is sad that this is better for them. It is also surprising that the mayor has no control over the city that the national government is in charge. 
Brian Nicoll's curator insight,
December 12, 2012 1:26 AM
A few things really stood out to me in this video. First off, the idea that people are moving into Dhaka for a better life, when in reality they are moving into slum life with no electricity or running water is very alarming. It begs the question of whether or not moving to this megacity is really worth it. The second thing that I was a bit surprised by was the fact that the mayor has pretty much no control over the city. The city is overseen by the national government. To think that urbanization has gained so much ground and continues to gain more ground is astounding. Delete the scoop?
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Infrastructure demanded by the sporting world's most powerful corporate interests render families homeless in Brazil. 
Matt Mallinson's comment,
September 26, 2012 12:02 PM
Its good to see Brazil finally attempt to fix this mess, there are to many people living in poverty with no help. I hope things go well for the people of Rio.
Nick Flanagan's curator insight,
December 12, 2012 9:34 PM
While I'm glad that they are dong something for their poor, it makes me wonder if they are only doing it for the upcoming world cup and olympics. I just wonder if they are trying to hide some of what really goes on there from tourists so they will think everything in brazil is all good. Delete the scoop?
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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.
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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What impact will this escalator have on this poor neighborhood? Was this a wise use of funds? If you had $7 million to invest in a shantytown with the goal of revitalizing the neighborhood and benefiting the lives of the residents, how would you spend these funds? Delete the scoop?
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Rio de Janeiro, which is hosting soccer's World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016, is trying to remake its hundreds of favelas.
There are urban geography applications obviously, but what about the cultural, political and economic logic of purging the slums before "the world comes to visit?" We've seen this recently in Beijing and in other sites of international events. Why now? Why not before?
Matt Mallinson's comment,
September 26, 2012 11:53 AM
Rio doesn't care to much for the favelas apparently, or else they would of helped those people years ago. It's good that they're trying to remake the favelas, but it's sad that they only seem to be doing it because the world cup and Olympics are being held there.
Derek Ethier's comment,
September 30, 2012 7:01 PM
Rio is clearly trying to clean up their slums so they do not embarrass themselves on a national stage. During events like the World Cup, all eyes are on the host nation so they do all they can to improve all aspects of their country. Unfortunately, Brazil cares little for their people and more for the money the World Cup will flood into their nation.
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Many cities are large; the rate at which these ten cities highlight a distinct spatial pattern and separate them from the rest. Which regions have the fastest growing cities? Which regions don't? Why geographic factor account for the rapid growth? CITY Increase by 2025 1. Delhi 6.4 million 2. Dhaka 6.3 m 3. Kinshasa 6.3 m 4. Mumbai 5.8 m 5. Karachi 5.6 m 6. Lagos 5.2 m 7. Kolkata 4.6 m 8. Shanghai 3.4 m 9. Manila 3.3 m 10. Lahore 3.2 m
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A heartfelt & moving story of how instruments made from recycled trash bring hope to children whose future is otherwise spiritless.
Seth Dixon's insight:
I've shared this video before, but this worthy project is now asking for assistance on kickstarter and I feel it merits reposting. This video shows that the human spirit of beauty and joy can come shining through from the poorest of places. Slums are not new, but rapid population growth coupled with rural-to-urban migration patterns have led to an increasing amount of slums. Despite all the stereotypical images of destitute poverty, slums can also be places with a strong vibrant communities with residents filled with innovation, hope and ambition. For more on this organization, see their Facebook page. Tags: urban, squatter, poverty, South America, community, Paraguay.
chris tobin's curator insight,
April 24, 5:11 PM
What a wonderful thing! This is a very heartwarming story Delete the scoop?
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Read the Transcript: http://to.pbs.org/b6sR86 The capital of the South Asian country Bangladesh, Dhaka, has a population that is booming. However, it stands ...
Seth Dixon's insight:
This is a great introduction to the demographic explosion of the slums within megacities. This is applicable to many themes within geography. Tags: Bangladesh, water, pollution, poverty, squatter, planning, density, South Asia, development, economic, megacities. 
Lauren Jacquez's curator insight,
April 8, 9:00 PM
Another look at a growing megacity and its shantytowns. 
Chris Magee's comment,
April 28, 3:40 PM
As Tony Hall says, this is a very sobering and educating video. This shows how much a population boom and high birth rate can create problems for a developing country. With all of the people there it is hard for enough jobs to be available and most are forced to work for pennies. The migration to Dhaka, about 4000 people a year, can create a huge issue for the city in the future as we have seen how extremely dense populations can effect a city.
These changes will shape the country for many years to come. The political geography will have to adapt to the booming population. How will new policies be put into effect to handle this growing population? The population will become more diverse and less unified as it is taking in new people from many neighboring cities. 
Peter Siner's comment,
April 30, 5:37 PM
A city that is home to 15 million people… this is a scary thought especially since the idea of massively overpopulated cities is a new trend around the globe. The megacities help house those who cannot live in the rural areas surrounding them. It also shows how growing populations can have quite negative effects. While the city is growing quickly there is also widespread poverty and the city is riddled with slums. High poverty rate generally converts to high crime rate. The impacts of overpopulation have lasting effects on not only the land use but also consumption rates. The example we are given is a small family in which their income was based off of a farm that was washed away, now they are forced to move to Dhaka.
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I love these favela images by Fernando Alan.
Seth Dixon's insight:
Tags: Brazil, urban, squatter, images, urban ecology. 
Trisha Klancar's curator insight,
December 18, 2012 8:01 PM
Amazing images to bring this to life for kids who have no concept what the favela looks like. Delete the scoop?
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ESPN Video: With the FIFA World Cup two years away, will Brazil be ready to host soccers premiere event? This short sports documentary (12 minutes) looks at some of the socioeconomic and urban planning issues that are a part of the logistics for a country to prepare for a sporting event on the magnitude of the World Cup. The discussion of demolitions in the favelas (squatter settlements) is especially intriguing. Major sporting events of this magnitude that last for two weeks can reshape local geographic patterns for decades. 
Sam Capron's curator insight,
February 20, 9:19 PM
There is a massive amount of prep work that is going to hosting the FIFA world cup and the next Olympic games. I wonder what will happen to these beautiful stadiums after the games are over. My bet would be a slowly worsening level of disrepair. Delete the scoop?
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Report by an Israeli non-governmental organisation says 2011 was a record year for Palestinian displacement.
This infographic comes from the group Visualizing Palestine. This corresponds with the UN's recent statement that Gaza 'will not be liveable by 2020' given Israeli policies. 
Nic Hardisty's comment,
September 4, 2012 12:16 PM
What a powerful infographic. To think that the international community (in large part) has idly watched 160,000 Palestinians become homeless, with little more than a few harsh words, is staggering. While these displacement policies are not exclusive to Israel, Israel does stand as the most public modern example of this. This problem transcends race, ethnicity, culture, or religion- it is simply one group dominating and subjugating another, and these actions should be recognized and condemned by global community.
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Residents of hillside shanties above the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince protest against plans to clear their homes for a flood-protection project.
Even before the earthquake, Port-au-Prince was a city filled with slums. The earthquake exacerbated so many of the urban, economic and environmental issues. This eviction of the flood plains has class implications as the poor feel that they are being unfairly targeted in plans to improve the city. Delete the scoop?
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Jakarta's traffic is legendary and locals have now become experts at finding ways to get around the jams, with some even making money out of them.
The population of Indonesia is heavily concentrated on the island of Java, and the capital city of Jakarta faces a tremendous strain on it's transportation network. This video show that resourceful people will find inventive ways to make an unworkable situation manageable.
Matt Mallinson's comment,
November 28, 2012 10:42 AM
It's crazy how close they drive their motorcycles to the oncoming cars. I'd be afraid to crash a motorcycle on an open road, a traffic jam every day would be scary to drive through.
Elizabeth Allen's comment,
December 7, 2012 1:09 PM
Traffic. Just waiting for your turn to move a few feet. I can only imagine the frustration of commuters in Jakarta. The governemnt needs to make improvements, quikly. If they provided more public transport and better infrastrucure, traffic conditions would greatly improve.
Michelle Carvajal's curator insight,
December 11, 2012 8:59 PM
"This other video of the poeple in Jakarta shows us how people have to in a sense ignore all laws that could indeed get them in much trouble. Traffic jams are annoying as it is for us when the we're stuck for more than fifteen minutes. Living in Jakarta, being stuck in traffic for an hour is a normal thing on a daily. We see that there are strict regulations for people to have a certain amount of individuals in a car in order to enter the rush hour. It has forced many who are uneomployed to be the extra people in a car but for a price. No matter what you may think, the price is very low. Others have purchased bikes and use them as taxis to maneuver people through the traffic. This is also illegal. What will happen as the increase in population goes up in this city? Very interesting." - M. Carvajal Delete the scoop?
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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. Delete the scoop?
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Years of hatred and mistrust are thawing in some of Rio's most violent slums.
This compelling video depicts some of the challenges that the police in Rio de Janeiro face in trying to bring more effective goverance into some of the more poverty-striken, drug-riddled neighborhoods in the city. This slums, known as favelas, are receiving increased attention as Rio is hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Matt Mallinson's comment,
September 26, 2012 10:20 AM
The government in Brazil better be on top of everything in a few years, the World Cup and the Olympic Games make people crazy sometimes. Most nations are crazy about their nation's sports, especially Brazil.
Derek Ethier's comment,
September 30, 2012 7:06 PM
This, like the previous articles, shows how Brazil is now finally trying to improve life for people in favelas. Unfortunately, it is not because they care much about them, but because they do not want the world seeing these horrific neighborhoods during the World Cup. They are also trying to eliminate violence so that people even want to visit their country for the cup. It is all about money and their image on the international stage.
Sam Capron's curator insight,
February 20, 9:23 PM
I can respect what the police are trying to accomplish in this area, but on the other hand I have great reservations about their motives. While I believe that the officers themselves have the best intentions at heart, the people that are funding the government and make the top level decisions are clearly only thinking about how the country will be during the time they host the FIFA world cup and the Olympics. Otherwise this endeavor would have taken place years ago when help was really needed, instead of when it is the most beneficial for the elite. Delete the scoop?
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The following is a post from David Schalliol, the Visiting Assistant Professor of Social Sciences at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
This is photoessay focuses on urban decay in a deindustrializing cities in the United States. The goal is not to strictly bemoan the urban blight and see these ares as 'victims of decline,' but to also acknowledge the community that has emerged despite the economic hardships. Delete the scoop?
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This is an inspiring project that seeks to elevate poor slum-dwelling Indians by providing educational resources to children. As free computer terminals are made available, their literacy skills soar and possibilities are widened. Visit the projects homepage at: http://www.hole-in-the-wall.com/ 
Lisa Fonseca's comment,
November 27, 2011 9:51 PM
I think the hole in the wall program is a positive outcome for the children. They are learning to work cooperatively with others. They are also learning to play and work with programs that are used frequently in other areas of the world. These children may not have resources to teach them vocabulary, or phonics, or the alphabet but with these computers that are able to learn. As they learn they can then teach others, it is has a great educational value to help later in their lives. These children also get to see other parts of the world. They don't just see their world of poverty but it will also get them to think and view life with more light and better views.
Seth Dixon's comment,
November 29, 2011 5:50 PM
This is a fantastic program that I'm excited to hear about...education for the disenfranchised is one of the best vehicles for positive social change.
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This is modern cosmopolitan Bangkok, the second most expensive Southeast Asian city after Singapore. Along with explosive city growth, the demand for urban housing has increased substantially. Due to a lack of sufficient and affordable housing, communities have settled into the cracks, eliciting a diagnosed social and institutional ‘pocket-urbanism’ that forms barriers of interaction among communities, and certainly between communities and authority figures... Via Lauren Moss Delete the scoop?
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The spread of AIDS/HIV since the 1980s has varied greatly over time and space. The red lines represent Sub-Saharan countries and the dark blue line on this interactive is the regional average of Sub-Saharan African countries. The regional trend was on the rise at the end of the 20th century, but is now on a slight decline (but still an major impact on the continent). Countries such as Botswana and Zimbabwe have made some significant strides in limiting the spread of AIDS (Zimbabwe is the country that 'peaked' in 1997 and has had the steepest decline).
Tags: Africa, medical, development, infographic, diffusion.