The first two links are an excellent way in which you can contribute to this topical debate. Read other people’s comments and establish your own opinions on the sustainabilty of our planet. Looking at on-line debating encourages you to make synoptic links across the Human Geography course and helps you to make links with your Physical Geography work.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/04/unsustainable_world.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2007/03/how_ethical_is_my_baby.html

Read the following articles for more information on the growing population and the increasing pressure on our planet:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-are-there-just-too-many-people-in-the-world-828254.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/world_population/379083.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/world_population/381043.stm

Find out more about how earthquakes happen…..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4126809.stm

 Learn more about the earthquake that hit China….

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/12/china

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7397489.stm

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7381652.stm

Find out more about the cyclone in Burma….

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7382836.stm

Visit this link to read more about the landslide in Dorset.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7386923.stm

A tornado wrecks central US towns…read more…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7394402.stm

This week scientists reported on the collapse of part of the Wilkins Ice sheet in the Antarctic.

An excellent artcile from the Guardian with a video link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/26/poles.antarctica

We will be studying Antarctica and trying to decide on how it should be developed in the future. We shall continue to think about ways in which we can act more sustainably. Your core assessment will be on this topic and the following links will provide you with opportunities to learn interactively and carry out effective research.

British Antarctic Survey http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/ 

This is an excellent site that is being revised all of the time. It is possible to read the diaries of people who are out on the bases now. Photographs could be copied and annotated for inclusion in the project or they could be used to draw ‘field sketches. There are regular updates of the weather situation and the different types of research that are going on.

Discovering Antarctica http://www.discoveringantarctica.org.uk/

This website has interactive games to help you decide on the future of Antarctica as well as an abundance of useful and up to date information.

Just for Fun…..Animal Scramble! http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/fun/scramble_underice_flash.html 

http://gorgeousgeography.wordpress.com/

http://www.gmpay.blogspot.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/

Year 8 are looking at sustainable development. Visit the Recycle city website and see all the ways in which you could be more environmentally friendly.

http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm

We are studying Natural Hazards in Year 9 and will be looking at hurricanes and tornadoes. There are many exciting phenomena that people are still mystified as to how they start. If you were leading a research team on Natural Hazards what questions would you want to find out?

Click on the comments beneath this paragraph and send us your questions.

To start planning your hurricane disaster plans visit this link:

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved/christianaidweek/tvadvert/index.aspx

Watch the advert for Christian Aid week. It will give you lots of good ideas.