7 Billion and counting

Although it is not an exact science it is estimated that the worlds population hit 7 billion today.
Watch this clip to see who claims the 7 billionth person.
You can also see where you fit in by clicking this link.
Or you can go the UN's Population Bureau to see their reaction

A good week for Geographers!

On Monday new images of a remote Brazil tribe were released.

On Tuesday the Police launched their Crime Maps - they enable you to see the crime that takes place on your street.

On Wednesday Cyclone Yasi hit Queensland, Australia

On Thursday the British topped the anxiety about immigration pole

On Friday the Independent reported about drought in the Amazon.

But other than those it was all quiet!

Have they the answer?

The world is hurtling towards population overload, placing billions of people at risk of hunger, thirst, lack of energy and slum housing.
But the problems can all be overcome through existing engineering solutions, if politics and economics can only change tack.

Do you agree?

To read the article in full click this link.

Year 10 - Population homework

Using the Population Reference Bureau you need to find the Infant Mortality Rate, Fertility Rate, Birth Rate, Death Rate and Natural Increase for:

Two North American Countries

Four South American Countries

Three European Countries (including the UK)

Five African Countries

Five Asian/Middle East Countries and

Two Oceania Countries.

To start you off click this link.

Mapping Crime

Sixth form students will find the following link useful to supplement their AS studies. It will add even more evidence to contrast inner and outer suburbs of Rochdale.

Other towns can also be viewed. Please follow the link. http://www.mindyourstreet.com/rochdale-crime.html

Life Expectancy Rises

Life expectancy at birth in the UK has reached its highest level on record for both males and females. A newborn baby boy could expect to live 77.2 years and a newborn baby girl 81.5 years if mortality rates remain the same as they were in 2005–07.

Females continue to live longer than males, but the gap has been closing. Although both sexes have shown annual improvements in life expectancy at birth, over the past 25 years the gap has narrowed from 6.0 years to 4.3 years.

Reasons for the changes include a reduction in smoking and better coronary health advice and care.

This data came from the Office of National Statistics.

World Data

Take a look at the bottom of the blog to see World Data changing in the here and now!

Drought hits Ethiopia

Aid agencies are warning that Ethiopian authorities are under-estimating the scale of the country's drought.
Official estimates of the number of people facing hunger and hardship stand at 4.6m but agencies warn the real figure could be more than 8m.
There is also confusion over the amount of money needed to meet the crisis, with the Oxfam agency estimating it at about $500m.
However, the United Nations reports that $772m has already been pledged.

Population Crisis?

The balance of resources and population is a concern, or at least a matter of study, for us all. Geographers and non geogrpahers alike might be interested in this site when considering the stresses we create for our world. Globalis is an interactive world atlas where you decide what is to be displayed on the map. Globalis aims to create an understanding for similarities and differences in human societies, as well as how we influence life on the planet. This is primarily done using visual means.

Secret Millionaire

Secret millionaire visits Rochdale; the Channel 4 show focused on Falinge and Syke areas studied by the VI form students. But it exposed a few myths about what it is like to live in one of the country's most deprived estates. Lesson, be careful about making unsupported value judgements.

Hilary travels to Rochdale just a few miles from where she grew up, and will be living undercover for ten days on the Falinge estate. With a reputation as a no-go area, the estate is notorious for having the highest percentage of people on incapacity benefits in the country. It's something that doesn't sit easily with Hilary's views on benefits.
With the undercover story that she's making a documentary about moving back to her north-west roots, Hilary starts her mission by getting a job in a pub, hoping it'll be a good place to meet people.......

After a couple of days in Rochdale, the initial shock of the area has worn off and Hilary is beginning to recognise the positive aspects of a close community – something she doesn't have back at home: "I had a very nomadic childhood and didn't put down grassroots. To have a lifestyle which is like theirs where everybody knows each other, and they all have the local pub, the local restaurants and local community centres, I think would be lovely."After a couple of days in Rochdale, the initial shock of the area has worn off and Hilary is beginning to recognise the positive aspects of a close community – something she doesn't have back at home: "I had a very nomadic childhood and didn't put down grassroots. To have a lifestyle which is like theirs where everybody knows each other, and they all have the local pub, the local restaurants and local community centres, I think would be lovely."

World Population Day

Today (11 July) is the United Nations World Population day.

For more information click on this link to the UN Population Fund.

Year 8 - Population data

Okay - you've picked your country, found a map and you've got an image of the countries flag. Now some data:

You need to find your country's total population, birth rate, deat rate, fertility rate, infant mortality rate and percentage of population under 15 and over 65.

For this use the link to the Population Reference Bureau's pdf document that shows the 2007 world population data.

Begin to consider why your country is different to the global averages and to the UK data. A starting point maybe to find your country's wealth - why might this influence population data?

Mr M's Year 8 - Country information and population

So you have managed to find your way to the blog.

Your homework is to find a map of your chosen country and the flag of that country. Remember to save them electronically.

A site that enables you to get both pieces of information is Geographic.org. Click on this link and see if you can find what you need. If you can't, go to Google and search for your country.

For those of you who want to view the World Population Clock - click this link.

Remember if you find any useful sites of your own send them to me via the comments.