Our World Film Festival

Thursday the 27th of March 2008 at the Odeon Cinema, Guildford

(On the Fringe of the Geographical Association's Annual Conference)

A showcase of geographical filmmaking, Our World Film Festival is a visual adventure into our changing planet to promote our understanding of the geographies that we live.

Our World will be a wonderful mix of films made by both first-timers and professionals alike.

Tickets will go on the 24th of February 2008.

Folens geography(at)work film-making competition
Student films: Do you really know where you live?
Teacher films: Extreme geography
An outstanding showcase of short films submitted for the 2008 geography(at)work film-making competition that test Geography’s boundaries.
11:00 – 12:00 £2

A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash
Feature film & debate with special guests
‘A Crude Awakening is an informative and unashamedly apocalyptic documentary about the world’s obsession with oil that makes An Inconvenient Truth look positively chipper.’ The Times
12:30 – 14:30 £3

An Alternative Guide to Our World
A showcase of geographical shorts
A wide range of short films that exploit geographical thinking including In Passing, a film about the psychogeography of a blind women’s experiences of Manchester and entries from ‘The Secret Geographer’ competition on the Geography of…
15:00 – 16:30 £5

CALL FOR ENTRIES
geography(at)work film-making competition

Full guidance and rules will be available from here on Monday the 10th of December 2007. All entries must be recieved by the 14th of February 2008.

The geography(at)work Student Award for Geography Filmmaking
Do you really know where you live?
Ask your Year 9 students to make a 60 second film on the theme ‘Do you really know where you live?’ and they could win an atlas, an annual subscription to Geographical MagazineA, a copy of the festival’s feature film, 1kg of Fair Trade chocolate and a shield for your school.

The geography(at)work Teacher Award for Geography Filmmaking
Extreme Geography
Make a 60 second film on the theme ‘Extreme geography’ and you could win a class set of geography(at)work, the new KS3 series, worth over £1200 for your school.

The GGiP Secret Geographer Filmmaking Award
The Geography of…
Make a 60 second film on ‘The Geography of…’ and you could win £200 (or £100 if you come second). Simple as that.

An Alternative Guide to Our World
To be announced here in January 2008

WANTED: GGiP Guerrillas

GGiP's Guerrilla Geography fun is stepping up. No matter where you are in the world the Guerrillas want more Geographers to join in. Find out more at http://guerrillageography.blogspot.com or email guerrillageography@gmail.com

Guerrilla Geography - Birmingham

 

You must be involved....

Date: Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Time: 11:00am - 11:00pm
Location: (precise grid to be announced, but close to the train station)
City: Birmingham
You need: An outdoor large CCTV housing and boiler suit (details to follow)

Direct (public education) Action
Aim: To challenge the public's spatial awareness of hidden geographies.
Objective: For the public(s) to see the world differently.
Method: Invading (personal, social, commercial, security etc.) space dressed as on-foot. The cameras will be fitted to the heads of guerrilla geographers who will be wearing boiler suits with the words Official Geographic CCTV Unit with Give Geography its Place on them.

Up for it? Then contact the GGIP.

Festivals are you going?

Going out?

A gig, festival or public gathering then let us know. Take the "Hand of Geog" with you! Send the GGIP your pictures.

http://www.learningnet.co.uk/ubb/Forum5/HTML/011011.html

Primary Scheme Update

In short I have much work to do. Thanks those who have supported so far.

Any help...in anyway is gratefully received.

http://www.ggip.co.uk/geographyineducation.html

Two weeks to deadline..its going to be tight!

Geography Giving Itself a Place!

GGIP supporter Ian Murray brought this article to the attention of the sln forum.

http://www.learningnet.co.uk/ubb/Forum5/HTML/011179.html

GGIP@Glastonbury Latest Images

The G Spot stall looking very busy in what was a great success for the campaign.

Thousands of badges were distributed by the GGIP team.

David at the core of the G Spot!

Back for Good!

As take that once said (I understand)...... the GGIP blog and website are back after some technical difficulties. Updates will be made in the next 24 hours so stay posted.

Live Earth Live Geography

A big thanks to all those geographers who atteneded Live Earth sporting their GGIP T shirts. Danny O'Callaghan went a few steps further with his "Hand of Geog". Seeing the "Hand of Geog" really made me relfect on the progress we have made this year.

There is still much to be done. Take Danny's lead and act!

The law on our side!

"Hand of Geog"

1000 badges were given out

The now famous "Hand of Geog"

Ken Gives Geography its Place

Ken Livingstone "Mayor of London" no less has certainly given the GGIP a boost with the shots below. We have Danny O'Callaghan to thank for this great effort!

Ken who also wore his GGIP badge with pride at the photo shoot stated "I alwas liked geography at school when I was doing my O level".

Ken may well be our highest profile supporter so far!?!

Geography on Radio 6!

Jo Norcup bigging up Geography on Radio 6 and plugging GGiP's G-Spot at Glastonbury...

At 1.46 on listen again for 5 days at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/stephen_merchant/?focuswin

Great stuff Joe!

G is for...Geography in Bookshops

 

The mini campaign has come to an end and on behalf of the GGIP and John who thought of the idea thanks for your support.

I am aware of over 50 establishments that were contacted via email or letter and many more visited. The response was generally positive and whilst understanding the value of the subject many organisations, both libraries and bookshops seem to believe the problem lies with the very width of this subject i.e. the section would be to big. Why we take on this point onboard this does not really excuse that the subject is totally excluded in many cases.

In bookshops, especially independent stores a more honest approach was given in feedback. This often claimed that Geography has poor marketability due to the public perception of the subject.

So what next..

The key seems to be raising the public profile of the subject. So here is the plan.

The GGIP are now in possession of 12 copies of 'Why Geography Matters', courtesy of Harm de Blij and OUP.

The idea was to present them to key figures on behalf of the GGIP. Watch this space for more details coming soon.

Thanks again John for the great idea.

GGIP a hit at Sunrise Festival!

The GGIP was well represented at the Sunrise Festival Celebration billed as "The UK's Leading Sustainable Festival".

Dan Raven-Ellison was the Geographer in the thick of things distributing nearly 200 GGIP badges. Great awareness raising for the campaign.

GGIP Super Scheme

You can download a very basic and somewhat fluffy(!) draft of some ideas for the super scheme.

Comments are welcome on this via email to myself adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk or the sln forum

http://www.learningnet.co.uk/ubb/Forum5/HTML/009323.html

If you still wish to be involved in the project, want to know a little more or just want to be kept in the loop please contact me by email.

The closing date is June 8th and from there a formal document will be available to download. 

DOWNLOAD HERE

G is For....Geography in Bookshops

It does not stop with Bookshops John has created a letter for libraries here

Follow the progress of this sub campaign on the sln thread (thanks Kate)

In your local bookshop take a look around, do they have a Geography section? If so , what types of books does it include? How long is the section? Are the Geography books in a section called “Geography”?

Action Committee member John Tomlinson has introduced me to this issue and so I went down to my local bookshop (a well know chain) and as John suggested not a Geography section in sight. When I asked where the Geography books were located I was directed towards the “Travel” section, and then onto a shelve of OS maps.

It is not only important that Geography is labelled as a section by Bookshops, its lack of acknowledgement has wider consequences for public awareness of the importance of the subject. Some of the key issues we face now and into the future are Geographical in nature, however are not called so.

Geographers lets do something about it…

Visit your local bookshop(s) before Friday 1^st June and complete a quick survey:

1. Does the shop have a Geography section?
   
2. If so, is it called a Geography section?
   
3. Are their Geography books within this section?
   
4. How long (if they have one) is this section?
   

On Monday 4^th June if you are not happy with the Geography focus of the bookshop:

Print off and send them this letter, (Scottish version here) or even send by fax or email. You can adapt the letter in anyway you see fit.

Make sure you send a copy to your local paper also

Any Bookshops that you were impressed with in terms of their “Geography ” section please email me adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk with the details and I will contact them directly.

Please visit as many bookshops as you can. Take photographs if you like and pretty much do anything to Give Geography its Place.

Some well known Bookshop's contact information here:

Waterstones including Ottakars

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayMailUs.do

WH Smiths

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/whs/go.asp?menu=WHSmithnet&pagedef=/help/contact.htm&promotion=footer_contact_us#customerservice

Blackwell

http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/contact.jsp;jsessionid=48B6B0A276EB505823270548C5E238F5.bobcatt2

Borders

http://www.bordersstores.co.uk/contactus/

GGIP@GA

The GGIP sub campaign at the GA Conference in Derby was a great success and thanks again to all that helped.

Victoria Ellis has created a short write up of the Conference that was sent to the TES and Local Derby Newspapers.

DERBY CONFERENCE PUTS GEOGRAPHY ON THE MAP

12^th – 14^th April saw hundreds of geographers from across the UK and beyond turn the University of Derby into a veritable hive of activity, as they descended for the Annual Conference of the Geographical Association… And not a leather elbow patch in sight!

The Conference provided a fantastic opportunity for geographers to discuss and debate all things geographical (and that’s most things!) in a great setting. Highlights of the Conference included a public lecture from Polar explorer, Ben Saunders, a huge variety of workshops led by geography teachers and academics, and field visits to explore the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.

Particularly busy were those of us on the Give Geography Its Place stand, with a constant stream of visitors keen to discuss the importance of geography and to buy t-shirts and badges to prove that they are proud to be geographers! The Give Geography Its Place (GGIP) campaign was born in May 2006, and since then more than 2000 geographers (including over 100 top academics) from over 30 countries have signed a petition urging the media to recognise the vital role of Geography and Geographers. David Rayner and Daniel Raven-Ellison, the founders of the GGiP campaign and both teachers of Geography, said “Geography is in a unique position to act as a bridge between subject areas using spatial knowledge, understanding and technologies coupled with distinctive concepts to make sense of the world. If students and the wider public are to make sense of some of the biggest issues which make the headlines, it is vital that there is a greater understanding and use of geography. Modern Geography is not about being able to repeat the gazetteer of an atlas; it’s about understanding the patterns, processes and systems that connect us all to each other and to our environments. If we take international migration as an example, history and politics play their part but the complex mixture of why, how, where and when people travel are best explained through Geography.”

Visit http://www.ggip.co.uk/ to find out more about the campaign, sign the petition, and share your ideas for promoting Geography. The Geographical Association website is http://www.geography.org.uk/ .

Victoria Ellis is a teacher of Geography at Swanwick Hall School, a member of the GGiP Action Committee, and author of http://www.geogtastic.blogspot.com/ .

Sky Learning

Well done to Sky Learning who have a Geography section on their website, which is actually titled Geography.

Thanks Danny C who alerted me to this.

GGIP Super Scheme: "G is for..." (working title)

The GGIP is looking to make positive steps forward, and following a recent meeting has developed the following...

The GGIP aims this year to target Geography in our Primary Schools. The plan is to create using slners a Geography “super scheme” to enhance Geography Teaching in our primary schools and Give Geography Its Place. The scheme will focus on Year 6 and possibly Key Stage 2/3 transition.

The scheme and resources (powerpoints, worksheets, photographs and movies etc.) will be available for all to download for free from the GGIP website and the contributors will be acknowledged. We also plan publicity around the launch of the resource.

The sln thread below will become a consultation of what the topic (if any) the scheme should focus on, The consultation period will end on May 18th, and the creation of resources etc. will begin.

http://www.learningnet.co.uk/ubb/Forum5/HTML/009323.html

This resource will innovate and inspire!

What we need from you….
1. views on what topic or topics should be the focus
2. pledges of support to develop the scheme by developing resources
3. email me adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk if you are an interested primary teacher, your views and advice is welcome here also
4. email me if you wish to receive updates about the project development

Victoria Ellis and I (and anyone who shows a positive interest to be involved) will put this all together.

Any questions let me know.

GGIP: Geography on Youtube

The following video clip found by Tony Cassidy and edited by the GGIP has now had nearly 500 views on youtube with 25 comments. If you have not made a comment yet.....do it!

Thanks Richard Allway for hosting this.

Earth: The Geography

BBC 2 are creating an epic documentary about the geography of our planet. Looks great!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/04_april/24/earth.shtml

The working title for this series is "Earth: The Biography". Is it me....or.....when reading the article this whole series seems to focus on Geography. Therefore I have suggested a more fitting title....

EARTH: THE GEOGRAPHY

If you agree with my thoughts let the BBC know:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/feedback/

I have sent an email to Dr Iain Stewert who will present the program and Phil Dolling the Executive Producer, stating our case.

GGIP Forum

A new forum has been setup for all ggip supporters to use. On the forum you can discuss the campaign, suggest ideas or indeed voice an opinion.

Please visit and post!

http://givegeographyitsplace.myfreeforum.org/

BBC use the word "geographers" !!!

As highlighted by GGIP supporter Tony Cassidy on the sln forum the BBC in a recent short video clip focusing on coastal erosion used those word "geographers" towards the end of the clip. Recognition for geography or geographers in the media is a frustratingly rare commodity these days therefore the BBC should be praised for their geographical focus in this report. More of the same please!

Give Geography Its Place!

GGIP!! on Vimeo

GGIP Code Part 2

 

This is a very simple way to add a link button to blog or website. Just a simple copy and paste is all that is required.

 

<a href="http://www.ggip.co.uk/"><img border="'0'" src="http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u35/ggip/website.jpg" class="'phostImg'"></a><p></p></div></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>

 

 

GGIP Links

Here is a text document that includes all html code for link buttons for the GGIP Campaign.

Download here

GGIP @ GA Confernce: The Stall

Things are really looking positive for the GGIP at this years conference. There is still space to support the stall and with an offer of free passes, its an opportunity not to be missed.

If you are interested contact me: adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk

GGIP @ GA The Countdown

The GGIP plan to take the GA Conference by storm! But we can not give Geography Its Place without your support. Spread the word about the GGIP to other geographers, there are now so many easy and fun ways to support the campaign.

As this post is made the GGIP are working on our Conference Strategy, the countdown has begun! Please feature the GGIP @ GA Confernce countdown widget in your blog or website and spread the word! Its time for geographers to unite!

GGIP @ GA: GGIP BADGE

Well...sadly not enough time to make one for show but this idea was suggested by one of the
co founders of the GGIP campaign, David Rayner.

Print out the document below on card, cut around the card and on the back tape a safety pin.

You now have your GGIP badge! Wear it with pride!

You lucky people!

Download the badge here

GGIP @ GA: HEALTHY EATING!

So of you may well be attending the Italian Buffet on the Friday of the conference or some other culinary event with geographers, like the sln meal.

I must admit I am a messy eater and often stain table cloths due to my willingness to replicate a Dyson Hover at most dinner engagements. Some may feel the same?!?

Fear not I have solved all your problems and you can support the GGIP at the same time.....The GGIP Placemat!
Step 1: Download and Print off GGIP Placemat
Step 2: Laminate placemat
Step 3: Put plate on placemat at GA Confernce Dinner or other social event
Step 4: Eat
Step 5: Look with disgust at people eating without a placemat
Step 6: Tell these people about the GGIP

Download placemat here

GGIP@GA Conference

GGIP Paper Chain to support Child Poverty

The Issue

The relevance of geography can be shown in simple but unacceptable statistics.

“Every child has the right to go to school. But there are 80 million children who miss out because of poverty.”

What can we do?

We can make a huge paper chain!
http://www.sendmyfriend.org/kids/index.php

At the GA Conference bring your schools paper chain to the GGIP stall and we will create one huge paper chain. The GGIP will send the huge chain to Dr. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor and currently in charge of the G8 and European Union.

The website is excellent many ideas and resources! Here is a guide on how to make your paper chain!

http://www.sendmyfriend.org/common/make_yr_chain/join_up_leaflet.pdf

GGIP @ GA Poster

Number 4: Poster

Simple and effective...print it off and put it up! Thanks to Dan who created it.
On your staff notice board!
Your car window!
Someone else's car window! Random places around the University of Derby!
On other stalls when they are not looking!
On your own stall if you have one.

Any other suggestions of where we can stick it are welcome!

Download here

Thanks

Adam

GGiP Blogs

I am Lisa, and I am one of the six elected members of the GGiP Action Committee. I have set up my own blog at http://geographyatmyplace.blogspot.com in association with GGiP to discuss my University experiences, fieldtrips and geographical thoughts.

By doing this, the space on this blog will remain for the most important GGiP announcements, as I don't wish to take over all the space on this shared blog. Please visit my blog too and please feel free to make any comments, questions or suggestions about it.

Best wishes to everyone.

GGIP@GA HAND OF GEOG

The Hand of Geog!

I was going to save this for later but it seems some of us need to get in the spirit of things!

At the GA Conference you will do two things clap for excellent speakers/ presenters and wave at people you have not seen in a while, or just wave at random geographers. This can get very tiring so support the GGIP (and save arm ache) by making a “Hand of Geog” to do your clapping and waving for you!

"Hand of Geog"

Sorry about the poor picture quality taken on a mobile phone.

It is literally a five minute job to make! Download the front here and the back here

You will need……

Two pieces of card (one if you are clever)
Colour printer and PC
A willingness to give geography its place

Further options:

1. Get your class to make many “Hand of Geogs” take photographs and send it to adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk...it will then be uploaded to the GGIP website.
   
2. Just make one yourself go to a geographical location and take a picture of your “Hand of Geog” with the location as a backdrop.
3. Ideally at the GA conference I would like to see lots of waving and clapping using your “Hand of Geog” only.

Remember….Geography needs you!

GGIP @ The GA Conference

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."

Andy Warhol

Please keep checking the blog on a daily basis as every day until it starts there will be a free and daring methods to promote the GGIP at The GA Conference.

Number 1

Many presentations and workshops will be given at the GA Conference with many geographers focused on a projector screen. What better way to promote the GGIP than to have our special GGIP advertisement as your background on your laptop or even incorporate it into your presentation.

Download the background or logo here

Distribution Project

Another chance for you to support the GGIP!

Noel Jenkins @ Juicy Geography has been in contact with Ben Schittler @ Studiobenben to create an excellent opportunity for geographers to unite!

Quoted directly from Juicy Geography:

"Ben was kind enough to send me a sample of the postcards and I was very impressed with both the design and the underlying concept. I like the idea of giving the cards to students to take with them when they visit other countries. It would be great to build up a collection of completed cards as a display in school. The act of filling in the geographic information requires a little creativity and thought, and the results can be used in a variety of ways once the students have returned to the classroom.

The cards come as a set of 4, each one relates to a geographical theme (Climate, Population + Lifestyle, Land, Water and Animals and Industry and Resources. The designs can be seen at Ben's web site."

All information to get hold of the post cards, with some proceeds going to the GGIP view Noels full post here.

Please Support!

GGIP Donation Button

Bloggers and Website Authors GGIP Needs You!

The GGIP is a non profit making campaign and therefore relies on sponsors and donations to survive. We have set up a Paypal account to accept donations and a donation button is now available to put on your own blog or website to do your bit for the GGIP.

Adding GGIP Donate Button in Blogger Beta

It is very easy to do. First of all send an email to adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk for the button code.


In the Layout section of your Blogger Dashboard click on Add a page element

The following screen will appear that shows all the page elements you can add to your blog. You need to select the HTML/JavaScript option half way down on the left.

Copy and paste the code you were set in the email into the windows above in the Content box. Add a title to the button if you wish such as GGIP Donate and click Save Changes.

Your new GGIP button page element should now appear with the title you gave it. Click on view blog to see your donation button!

Simple! Thanks for your support!