Give Geography its Place (GGiP)

GGIP Chocolate Scheme Goes Live!

2008-03-29T12:17:00.001Z

CHOCOLATE YEAR 6 TRANSITION UNIT

VIEW PROMO VIDEO

Introduction

This unit of six lessons is designed for use with Y6 post-SATs.

It is designed to:

• provide a new and fully resourced topic for Y6

• engage children with a topic that is relevant to them all

• make links between their world and the wider world

• act as a bridge between KS2 and KS3 (through the “key concepts”)

• create opportunities for children to develop as young geographers

• provide a context for studying Fairtrade issues

Why do a transition unit in geog?

It is hoped that this unit will:

• help to establish links between primary and secondary geography

• help to give children from different schools a common area of knowledge and understanding, that can be referred to and built upon

• help introduce Y6 students to the “key concepts” below that will underpin their geography at KS3 in the new secondary geography curriculum from September 2008.

Sounds great!... What do I do?

Primary Geographers

You can download the unit from the links below (these may be blocked by some school networks).

Email Adam at the GGIP campaign to let us know if you are using the resources and any feedback you wish to offer (your school name will appear on the GGIP site if possible)

Secondary Geographers

You can download the unit from the links below and save to a CD. Then send to Primary Schools in your area with this or a similar letter. (download here)

You can email the Primary Schools in your area the download link using the following or similar message. (download here)

You can send a flyer to your local Primary Schools (download here)

Please email Adam at the GGIP to let us know what Primary Schools have implemented the unit.

Embed the trailer promotion into your website or blog. (download code here)

Ok.....whats next?

The transition unit ‘The Darker Side of Chocolate’ will be completed ready for teaching in Secondary Schools in September 2009.

Ok.....where are the resources?

IMPORTANT: YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD THESE RESOURCES FROM SCHOOL. THE HOST SITE MAY BE BLOCKED BY THE SCHOOL NETWORK.

DOWNLOAD INDVIDUAL RESOURCES

DOWNLOAD FULLY RESOURCED UNIT (151 MB)

(You will need to scroll down and enter the reactivate download password and then click the download icon)

You will visit an external site to download the resources

Our World Film Festival tickets on sale now!

2008-03-12T17:09:00.003Z

Tickets for the GGiP Our World Film Festival are now available to buy online here.

11:00am: Alternative Guide to Our World
A series of professional and amateur short films exploring alternative ways of seeing our world, this hour long session includes the geography@work film-making awards.

12:30pm: The Planet:
Planet Earth is changing and this film is a self proclaimed 'wake up call' to us all. Set to outstanding imagery twenty nine experts from around the world explain how the geography of our world is changing and how this is being witnessed globally. The film will be followed by a short discussion.

14:30pm: A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash
This 90 minute documentary explores our world's obsession with oil and argues that in the near future we will exhaust Earth's viable supplies with devastating effects. A Crude Awakening effectively shows the risks involved within becoming dependent on natural resources and what our futures may look like without black gold. The film will be followed by a short debate.

Vote for Geography!

2008-03-06T23:03:00.001Z

Please take a moment to vote for Geography on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.... a team of geographers (students, teachers and academics) is in the vote for Upstaged which is online and on BBC 3. If we get on you can expect 6 hours of geography... within a talent show

All you need do is visit http://upstaged.external.bbc.co.uk/ and become a member... then search for our team:

"We're going to change Britain" (look for the image of the stick person)

You can vote from 11am on Friday morning - we're the 'Wildcard'. If you can... do ask your students to vote for us too.

Thank you in advance!

Our World Film Festival

2008-03-03T11:34:00.003Z

Tickets for the GGiP first Our World Film Festival will soon be on sale. Below is a preview of some of the films which will be shown and talked about this year.

The Planet
"Twenty nine experts from around the world give their opinion about the state of Planet Earth in visually stunning images and commentary. Their views on the consequences of the climatic, geographical and anthropological changes emerging now, demonstrate that a unique scenario is beginning to unfold, and witnessed globally. The film explores the latest facts and examples and leads us to the ultimate issue of how we will cope with the future." Oxdox

A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash
"An informative and unashamedly apocalyptic documentary about the world’s obsession with oil that makes An Inconvenient Truth look positively chipper." The Times

In Passing
Is just one of the short films that will be shown as part of the Alternative Guide to Our World. In this hour long session the winners of the geography@work film competitions will be announced and their films will be shown.

Geography on BBC3

2008-02-22T22:40:00.003Z

Give Geography its Place has a team of Guerrilla Geographers trying to take over one of the stages at Upstaged on BBC3. On the back of 'We're going to change Britain', a Facebook group started by Guerrilla Geographers which now has 45,000 members we're now looking to get voted onto the show... while we will be looking to change Britain, we will also use the stage as a platform to show off some of geography's fun stuff. You're ideas are most welcome!

Please take a moment to sign in, become one of our fans and support us in this effort. Our act is called 'We're going to change Britain'.

GGIP in 2007

2008-01-06T14:50:00.001Z

In 2007 the GGIP campaign further developed:

The creation of the GGIP online shop offering a range of GGIP merchandise
The 2007 GA Conference was a great success for the GGIP
Noel Jenkins @ Juicy Geography came across Studiobenben offering geographical postcards for students to take away when visiting another country. The campaign raised $46 for GGIP and The Darfur Wall. (more info here)
BBC actually used the word Geographers! (see here)
The GGIP online form was setup to encourage debate and empower supporters
The GGIP super scheme was launched to support Primary School teaching of Geography (should be ready early 2008)
GGIP in bookshops, a very successful sub campaign highlighting the lack of "geography" sections in many bookshops.
The GGIP on Radio 6, with Jo Norcup promoting Geography
The Hand of Geog was born and was seen on TV by millions at Live Earth
The GGIP campaigned for Geography to be in the title of the BBC's new planet documentary
The "G team" found the G Spot at Glastonbury
Ken Livingstone was the latest high profile supporter of the GGIP campaign
The birth of Guerrilla Geography will surly be a huge hit with geographers in 2008
The launch of the "Our World Film Festival" again another key theme for 2008

Good Luck in 2008

Our World Film Festival

2007-12-05T10:32:00.001Z

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

2007-09-25T20:45:00.000+01:00

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

2007-08-13T23:28:00.001+01:00

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?

2007-08-13T23:01:00.001+01:00

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

2007-08-13T22:56:00.001+01:00

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!

2007-08-13T22:54:00.001+01:00

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

2007-08-13T22:44:00.001+01:00

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!

2007-08-13T21:37:00.001+01:00

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

2007-07-09T20:34:00.000+01:00

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

2007-07-09T20:04:00.000+01:00

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!

2007-06-11T18:28:00.001+01:00

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

2007-06-11T18:20:00.001+01:00

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!

2007-06-08T20:16:00.001+01:00

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

2007-05-29T17:13:00.001+01:00

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

2007-05-22T19:38:00.001+01:00

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:

Does the shop have a Geography section?
If so, is it called a Geography section?
Are their Geography books within this section?
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

2007-05-21T14:15:00.001+01:00

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

2007-05-21T13:43:00.001+01:00

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)

2007-05-09T22:28:00.001+01:00

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

2007-05-09T22:23:00.001+01:00

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

2007-04-26T21:27:00.001+01:00

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

2007-04-26T20:57:00.001+01:00

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" !!!

2007-04-21T08:17:00.001+01:00

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

2007-04-10T12:40:00.001+01:00

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.

GGIP Links

2007-04-02T21:55:00.000+01:00

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

Download here

GGIP @ GA Confernce: The Stall

2007-04-02T21:44:00.000+01:00

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

2007-04-01T21:02:00.000+01:00

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

2007-03-29T20:30:00.000+01:00

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!

2007-03-28T20:28:00.001+01:00

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

2007-03-26T22:26:00.001+01:00

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

2007-03-25T21:24:00.000+01:00

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

2007-03-25T19:05:00.000+01:00

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

2007-03-22T20:53:00.000Z

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:

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.
Just make one yourself go to a geographical location and take a picture of your “Hand of Geog” with the location as a backdrop.
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

2007-03-21T21:02:00.000Z

"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

2007-03-12T20:37:00.000Z

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

2007-03-09T11:42:00.000Z

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!

Give Geography its Place is Evolving

2006-12-30T16:40:00.001Z

2007 – a fresh start: Give Geography its Place is evolving.

GGiP is evolving to promote Geography through the work of Geographers. GGiP aims to develop into a stronger and more sustainable organisation by emphasising the strengths and positive benefits of Geography.

After seven and a half months (225 days) of active campaigning on the neglect of Geography, GGiP will in 2007 focus on those positive aspects which will help to ensure a secure future and a higher profile in the media by:

improving communication within and between all Geographers
actively promoting Geographical ideas and expertise to each other and the media.

Geography is already providing a pivotal role in all our lives – we need to make sure that more people understand and recognise this in 2007.

In order to facilitate these changes, the structure of GGiP is also going through positive change. The co-founders of GGiP Dan and Dave would like to invite Geographers and supporters of Geography to nominate themselves during January 2007 to be part of a new GGiP Action Committee. There will then be an election to decide on six people to take GGiP forward during February with an election result on the 1st of March 2007. GGiP needs students, teachers, academics, professional Geographers and anyone else with a keen interest in securing the future of Geography as an academic subject.

If you are interested in helping to promote the work of GGiP in 2007, please click HERE.

While future policy and decisions will be made by the new GGiP Action Committee, GGiP will maintain its original mission of promoting Geography to the public, especially within the media.

Let us celebrate what GGiP has achieved so far in 2006…

nearly 2000 people signed the petition of support and this will continue to grow in 2007

e-mails and supportive comments came from over 30 countries around the world

GGiP coverage in local, national and international broadcast and print media

a letter of warning was sent to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport signed by over 100 leading Geographers from more than 50 different UK universities and educational organisations

public support from the Geographical Association, the Field Studies Council, politicians and tens of famous geographers

50,000 participants in the transatlantic Geography Cup with coverage on the BBC, within the Guardian and the Reuters news agency

a Geography team winning the competition to edit the listener's edition of the BBC Radio 4 New Years Day Today programme

a five by fifty metre aerial sign, one hundred GGiP t-shirts (and more to come), online videos and many more smaller 'big' things…

strength by numbers, debate and a greater sense of pride for many Geographers

Are you willing to help continue the work of ‘Give Geography It’s Place’ (GGiP) in 2007?
Please click HERE.

Note:

GGiP is still taking orders for T-Shirts and Blank Maps

The Global Geographer newsletter, the Passion4geography website and givegeographyitsplace.blogspot.com are suspended until elections are complete

Sign the Petition

2006-12-16T10:26:00.000Z

Over 1,750 Signatures of Support for GGiP

2006-12-15T00:44:00.000Z

Give Geography its Place has now had 1,750 people sign its online petition. Geographers and Geography supporters from all over the world have logged on and signed up... have you? Sign up here.

THE PETITION

The petition aims to draw support from parents and members of the public in order that young people develop the necessary geographic knowledge of the physical world and the human world and the ways that they interact to influence our daily lives.

As news reports of famine, global warming, the energy crisis, transport issues, urban growth, immigration and natural disasters hit the headlines, young people need to be well informed so that they can understand these issues and give a reasoned opinion - amongst the academic subjects, only Geography gives that vital overview that develops the necessary knowledge and understanding of how we can cope with these key issues.

Geography is rightly regarded by universities and employers as a valuable academic subject to study - not because it trains you for a particular job but because it develops useful transferable skills such as analysis and synthesis and provides young people with a context for understanding issues which affect us all at work and in our daily lives.

We need to encourage more students to join the quarter of million students who already opt each year to study this valuable subject. Help us to achieve this aim by showing your support. The initial GGiP teacher petition which we launched in May attracted 1,500 signatures. We have now moved over to this online petition to make management of the larger public petition more straightforward and efficient. Join those 1,500 geography teachers and supporters from across the UK and beyond and show your support for modern Geography

DESIRED OUTCOME

1. To raise the public profile of Geography as an academic subject in all forms of the media (newspapers, magazines, tv, radio, the internet, advertising, etc).

2. To increase awareness of the importance of Geography and the vital role that it plays in schools, colleges and universities in preparing young people for the complexities of life in the 21st century.

3. To reach the point where major media outlets give recognition that geography is distinct and an essential part of our children’s education. The main indicator for this is that the print, TV, radio and online organisations employ key people with responsibility for explicitly geographical content and for commissioning geography works.

Sign up now here!

Use your Geography to change history...

2006-12-06T22:12:00.000Z

Your links to people and places can change them forever.
Use your Geography to change history.

Make a difference to the people, places and environments of 2007 in 7 daily steps to…

MONDAY
…control the global trade of weapons
The 'Million Faces' is a visual petition - a way for you to show your concern about the spread of arms. Our aim is to collect one million photos and self-portraits of people from around the world.
http://www.controlarms.org/

TUESDAY
...call an end to modern slavery
Today slavery affects millions of people around the world. By signing the Declaration you can be part of a new mass movement for change. We are collecting signatures to show support for the fight for freedom campaign.
http://www.antislavery.org/2007/actionsign.php

WEDNESDAY
...increase freedom of information for people worldwide
Chat rooms monitored. Blogs deleted. Websites blocked. Search engines restricted. People imprisoned for simply posting and sharing information.
http://irrepressible.info/

THURSDAY
…educate conflict effected children
Over 43 million children living with the effects of conflict can't go to school. Yet education is the very thing that could keep them safe, give them and their countries hope, and transform their lives. Help us rewrite the future and bring quality education to the children who need it most.
http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/scuk/jsp/resources/details.jsp?id=4512&group=getinvolved&section=campaign&subsection=details&pagelang=en

FRIDAY
…increase people’s access to HIV medicine
In poor countries nearly 7 million people have developed HIV to the extent they urgently need medicines. Half of those that get the drugs they need rely on cheaper generic medicines made in India. Giant drug company Novartis is challenging Indian Patent Law in the courts. If they win, this will limit India’s ability to produce and export cheaper drugs to other developing countries. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/campaign/mtf/actions/novartis.htm
http://www.maketradefair.com

SATURDAY
…fight climate change
The UK government is failing to take the necessary action to prevent the chaos that climate change will cause. That's why together we have launched the I Count campaign.
http://www.icount.org.uk/my_actions/

SUNDAY
…educate the decision makers of tomorrow to understand our world
Geography as a subject has never been more relevant than it is now. Modern Geography engages people in debates about issues that are constantly headlining the media - migration, water shortages, natural hazards, famine, globalisation, sustainable energy, transport policy, employment, crime, urban deprivation, global warming. Sadly Geography is undervalued by decision makers and the media. Help change this by showing your support for the subject.
http://www.passion4geography.co.uk/

Give Geography its Place, December 2006. Pass it on.

Geographer T-Shirts

2006-11-29T18:44:00.000Z

The GGiP T-Shirt does not just look fantastic on the GA / RGS-IBG Geography Teacher of the Year (2002), David Rayner... it would look amazing on you too! At just £10 a shirt surely you can't resist? Order your shirt now at www.passion4geography.co.uk!

Casual Geography: Have you got any news?

2006-11-27T20:35:00.000Z

Have you got news?

The Global Geographer is a new fortnightly paper for people who are interested in geographical issues. Edited to traverse the academic, the teacher, the student and the curious, Global Geographer aims to bind the Geography community in an accessible format. We want you to read this on the train and then give it to teenager to enjoy. Think of it as Casual (yet critical) Geography.

The Global Geographer is interested in your news, views, research, photos and articles as and when they come up. It doesn’t matter who or where you are. We love talk about place, space, connections, environments, people and all things geographical. The only condition is that what you serve up must be easy to read despite all the rigor of your preparation. Items of 100 - 500 words are ideal, but don’t let us hold you back.

The Global Geographer is produced and edited by volunteers so for the foreseeable future so all contributions will be paid for in love. To contribute just email your item to Daniel at mygeographyteacher@googlemail.com.

Available by email and online, the Global Geographer is a free publication that will be available to download from www.passion4geography.co.uk from the first week in January 2007. To subscribe for free just email Daniel at mygeographyteacher@googlemail.com with the word ‘subscribe’ in the subject box.

Channel 4 Geography

2006-11-26T13:23:00.000Z

Channel 4 in the UK uses lots of good geography, it just doesn't realise it and tell its audience. The only exception to this is within the Learning section of the website when the channel gives help for revision etc. What Give Geography its Place wants is for Geography to be thought about from the very beginning so that programmes are produced and promoted with Geography at the heart of them. Once more, when programmes are made that have a distinctive geographical angle, aspect or nature they should be linked through common themes to one and another.

In a recent audit for Channel 4 of the channel's website by GGiP a number of microsites and programmes came up. This is not an entire list, but does give a feel for where Geography sits on the channel. It prooves that Channel 4 has an audience of people who are very interested in geographcial issues and events. GGiP's concern is that the audience may not be aware that they are exploring geography because (with the exception of Nick Middleton) Geographers are not used (or worse still, Geographers fail to call themselves Geographers).

Each weblink below is backed up by a star system (strength of link to the UK Geography curriclum... the greater the number of stars the stronger the link), a suggestion of key stage link within the English Geography Curriculum and a number of questions that place where the microsite or programme sits within Geography.

Hazards and Disasters

http://www.channel4.com/news/microsites/T/tsunami/index.html ***** KS 3/4/5
What were the causes and effects of the tsunami? How and why were some people and places affected more than others? How prepared were different places for the tsunami and where had the best response? Which countries gave the best response to the tsunami and why? Where is most vulnerable in the future? How did human and physical geographies influence the effects of the tsunami? How am I connected to the tsunami? What should people and places do to prepare for future tsunamis?

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/F/force_of_nature/ *** KS 3/4/5
What combination of physical / environmental factors can lead to extreme risk? How can understanding the physical environment help people mitigate and survive risky places? What causes extreme weather and natural disasters and how do you survive them? What equipment is needed to survive the forces of nature? How can geographers research the causes and effects of the forces of nature?

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/G/great_san_francisco_earthquake/ ***** KS 3/4/5
What are the causes and effects of Earthquake hazards? What can be learnt from the Great San Francisco earthquake? How might San Francisco be affected by tectonics in the future? Why are some places affected more than others by earthquakes?

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/S/science/nature/krakatoa.html ***** KS 3/4/5
Why is Karakatoa where it is? What were the causes and effects of the Krakatoa eruption? Why were the effects of the eruption so severe? How did people respond to the eruption and what should they have done? What are the physical effects of volcanic eruptions and in what order do they happen? What evidence is there for past volcanic eruptions? Why are some people more affected than others by volcanic eruptions? Could this happen again and what could be done to prepare for future hazards?

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/B/birdflu_equinox/ ***
What role does Geography have in the spread of disease? How might globalisation and cheaper travel influence the spread of disease? How well prepared are different people and places to cope with the spread of disease and why? Who is the most vulnerable and why? What is the relationship between the physical world and human environments in the spread of disease?

Physical Environments

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/A/alive/index.html *** KS 3
How do people interact with the physical environment? How have humans and other life forms adapted to survive on the plant? What can they do to survive in extreme environments?

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/M/mars/facts.html * KS 3
How does the Geography of Mars compare to that of Earth? How might space be used by humans in the future?

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/P/planetstorm/index.html * KS 3
How can weather and climate be studied on planets other than Earth? How does weather and climate affect life, geology, landforms and other geographies? What are the causes of different weather? How does weather and climate vary on other planets compared to Earth?

http://www.channel4.com/news/weather/ ** KS 3/4

http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/S/surviving_extremes/ *** KS 3/4
What makes some environments so extreme? How have people adapted to survive in different extremes? How do these different extremes influence people’s way of life? How do extreme climates influence other parts of the physical environment such as animals, plants and the landscape of those places? How would I survive if I were in one of the extremes?

Environmental Change

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/G/global_warming/ *** KS 3/4/5
For students to explore their role in Global Warming. What’s it got to do with them, how does it affect people elsewhere in the world and what can they do about it?

http://www.channel4.com/more4/documentaries/doc-feature.jsp?id=73 * KS 4/5
How does the physical environment influence economic and social development? How can resources be exploited sustainably?

http://www.channel4.com/news/dispatches/themes/environment_theme_landing.html ***
Are we running out of space for our rubbish in the UK? What are the possible solutions?

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/E/environment/index.html ***** KS 3/4/5
What is sustainable development? What might happen if humans continue to use the environment as they are at the moment?

http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/P/planet/ ***** KS 3/4/5
What’s my relationship with my/our planet? How do I affect people and environments positively or negatively? What can I do to improve or worsen my relationship with the environment? What are other people doing to other environments and people?

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/T/terra2050/ **** KS 3/4/5
How is what we are doing now affecting our possible futures? How might our human and physical environments change and why? What can be done to promote the best possible futures and reduce the risk of the worst futures? Which places will experience the greatest environmental problems and what will they do? What can we do within our places to prepare for the future? How prepared is my place for the future? What do I think will happen in the future?

Development and Inequality

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/M/makepovertyhistory/ ***** KS 3/4/5
What are the causes and effects of poverty? What can be done to reduce poverty? How am I connected to poverty in the UK and elsewhere in the world? What role can technology play in reducing poverty? Where are the worlds poor and what are the reasons for this spatial distribution? How can development be made sustainable? How does what happens in ‘my place’ influence what happens in ‘their place’?

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/T/terra2050/ **** KS 3/4/5
How is what we are doing now affecting our possible futures? How might our human and physical environments change and why? What can be done to promote the best possible futures and reduce the risk of the worst futures? Which places will experience the greatest environmental problems and what will they do? What can we do within our places to prepare for the future? How prepared is my place for the future? What do I think will happen in the future?

http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/P/planet/ ***** KS 3/4/5
What’s my relationship with my/our planet? How do I affect people and environments positively or negatively? What can I do to improve or worsen my relationship with the environment? What are other people doing to other environments and people?

Conflict

http://www.channel4.com/news/dispatches/themes/war_on_terror_theme_landing.html ** KS3
What is the relationship between ‘place’ and terror? Why are some places effected, the source of or the reason for terror more than others? How can a conflict elsewhere in the world affect me in the UK? What role does place have in the formation of identities of terror?

http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/N/newworldwar/index.html ** KS3
http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/D/dont_panic/ ** KS3
What are the causes of the New World War? Why are some places affected more than others and which are most vulnerable? How are these different places connected to one and another? How well equipped am I / the government in dealing with attacks? How is what happens in my places linked to beliefs in other places? Why was London bombed and now somewhere else in the UK?

Place

http://www.channel4.com/news/microsites/U/unreportedworld2006/ ***** KS 3/4/5
Nearly all episodes have a distinctive link to geography. On the media side this could be to question why some places go ‘unreported’. The most recent episode on migration to the USA from Central America is about migration, inequality, quality of life and standards of living, identity, how places are connected, perceptions and realities of places, conflict and many more..

http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/A/afghanistan/ **
http://www.channel4.com/more4/event/I/iraq.html **
For students to use as a place study to understand the causes of poverty, conflict, commonality and difference.

http://www.channel4.com/news/dispatches/themes/repressive_regimes_theme_landing.html *** KS 3/4/5
What are the effects of repressive regimes? How do repressive regimes affect neighbouring nations?

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/E/extremearchaeology/prog.html ***
How can geographical skills be used to find evidence of past peoples and places?

http://www.channel4.com/more4/documentaries/doc-feature.jsp?id=95 *** KS 4/5
Why have Ghettos formed in the UK? How does division of the UK’s population influence the identity of communities? What are the positive and negative effects of where people live? How does proximity influence people’s perceptions of others? How can town planning be used to challenge the formation of ghettos.

http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/S/selfportraituk/ *** KS 3
How does place influence identity? How does identity influence place? How can identity of peoples and places cause inequality, conflict, connections….

Exploration

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/n-s/silkroute.html ***
How has physical geography and industry shaped links between places? How has physical geography influenced the direction of trade routes and the development of settlements on them? How has trade influenced the culture of people on them? How have past geographies influenced those of the preset?

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/E/ends/shackleton_intro.html **** KS 3
What is the purpose of exploration and why is it important? How do you become an explorer? How do you plan for exploration? What did Shackleton discover about the geography of Antarctica? How did the physical geography influence their expedition? What is Antarctica and what is it like? How has Antarctica and the people who study it changed since Shackleton visited?

So...

Channel 4, don't let all these interconnected issues and places remain seperate. Use Geography to link them so that we can have a better understanding of them as the people, places, spaces and environments that link them together. Take a look at the wikipedia Geography Portal, why not put somthing like that within a Relation Browser?

Is the World Really Shrinking?

2006-11-26T11:05:00.000Z

On the 9th of November Geography Professor Doreen Massey took part in the BBC Radio 3 festival of Free Thinking. In this lecture she argues:

Distance hasn't been abolished - it's simply been crumpled and distorted.
Even then geography is about more than distance; it's about the existence of simultaneous variety - of peoples, places, and cultures.
The cultural gaps, the social distances, the gulfs in understandings of the world, despite everything, remain strong. And increasing inequality ensures this is so.
The very argument that we should all become the same is a vision provoking its precise opposite - the reassertion of local specificity.
In fact, we persistently evade the starkness of these differences. Imagining other cultures as stuck at the back of a historical queue - 'developing' countries waiting to become 'developed', for instance, diminishes their actually-existing difference now.

This is a superb lecture that clearly outlines the importance of Geography in understanding our world and promoting the subject in the process. Well done Doreen! Listen again here.

Stern Geography

2006-11-22T18:54:00.000Z

Spotted by Geographer Simon Oakes and brought to GGiP's attention on SLN, the Stern Review on Climate Change raises how physical and human geographies could change.

"Climate change could have very serious impacts on growth and development. If no action is taken to reduce emissions, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere could reach double its pre-industrial level as early as 2035, virtually committing us to a global average temperature rise of over 2'C. In the longer term, there would be more than a 50% chance that the temperature rise would exceed 5'C. This rise would be very dangerous indeed; it is equivalent to the change in average temperatures from the last ice age to today. Such a radical change in the physical geography of the world must lead to major changes in the human geography where people live and how they live their lives." http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/8A8/C1/Summary_of_Conclusions.pdf

Who better to make sense of these changes than Geographers?

Sign the Give Geography its Place petition at http://www.passion4geography.co.uk now!

G-Team Wins the Today Programme

2006-11-14T19:38:00.000Z

The G-Team has won!

"Alongside this year's batch of Christmas guest editors we asked for a team of Today Programme listeners to take the helm for a day. We received lots of outstanding applications. Thank you to everyone who entered.

Thousands of you voted - thank you for that - and a clear winner has emerged. The winning team is the geographers. They are: David Lambert from the Geographical Association; Dan Raven-Ellison, a geography teacher; and Hannah Bosher, one of his GCSE students. Congratulations!"

BBC Radio 4 Today Programme 14.11.06

A big thank you to all those who supported the team by voting online. All you have to do now is listen in on New Years Day (or you can always listen again...). You can read about the team and the pitch here.

Give Geography its Place Petition

2006-11-13T23:06:00.000Z

Help to Give Geography its Place by signing the petition now!

UK vs US Geography Cup 2006

2006-11-12T11:09:00.000Z

Which country knows their Geography better, the UK or the USA?

On the 12^th of November 2006 a global competition will begin to prove once and for all who knows their geography better. Every resident in the UK and USA is being called upon to participate in the first ever Geography Cup (www.geographycup.com) to decide once and for all which country has the best geographical knowledge.

The media in both countries have in recent months been highlighting the lack of geographical knowledge in both countries so two organisations have now joined forces to bring together potentially millions of people from both sides of the Atlantic in a dramatic showdown.

The organisers of the transatlantic contest are the UK-based Give Geography its Place Campaign (www.passion4geography.co.uk) and the developers of the website are the USA-based Geography Zone (www.geographyzone.com) The Geography Cup is not just about finding out how good we really are at knowing where countries are in our world but is also designed to test our awareness of what is going on in the world. Modern Geography is about using big concepts to enquire into and tackle tough issues like climate change, poverty, sustainable energy, identity, migration and the connections between them. For this reason whilst the majority of questions are about geographic locations there will be three random questions based on geographical issues explain the organisers.

Anyone from the UK or the USA with access to a computer can take part up to three times a day. All they have to do is login to www.geographycup.com between Sunday the 12^th of November (14.00 GMT / 09:00 EST) and the 31^st of December 2006. The final national score will be a percentage based on the number of people who have taken part. There will also be a leader board for each country so members will be able to see who has come out top within their own country.

Results The results of the Geography Cup will be plain to see when the competition ends on the last day of 2006. A follow up press release will be issued in January 2007 with a demographic break down of the results and comment from geography education experts on both sides of the Atlantic.

If you are in the UK or US take part now!

Get your GeoVideo made into a BBC Newsnight item

2006-11-10T19:26:00.000Z

BBC Newsnight is searching for people to fill 2 minutes of airtime with the news 'you want'. All you have to do is put together a (legal) video, upload it onto a video hosting website like YouTube, Blip tv or Google Video and then send them the link to your work by the 4th of December. After a public vote the best 5 will be shown on Newsnight during January 2007.

This has got to be an excellent chance for academics, teachers, students, professional geographers and beyond to put the subject on the media map.

If you want to do some geo-journalism but don't feel like going in Newsnight why not contribute to the Geography of Happiness project. Funded by the RGS-IBG, Geographical Association and supported by the BBC the project has invloved 11 Geographers travelling to 6 countries on very limited budgets to find out what makes 'places' happy. There are standard questions that anyone can ask anywhere before uploading the video onto the website. It's all easy as somthing very easy so just ask if you want to contribute. GGiP was born out of this Geography of Happiness team...

Vote for the 'G' Team for the Today Programme now!

2006-11-08T08:38:00.000Z

Voting has now started to decide which of four teams will edit the 'public' edition of the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4. Vote now at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/vote/editprog/index_vote.shtml!

A Geographical BBC Today Programme?

2006-11-06T19:54:00.000Z

A team of Geographers have managed to get into the final round of the 'Today Programme' competition to edit the New Years Day edition of the programme. Made up of David Lambert, Daniel Raven-Ellison and Hannah Bosher (GCSE Geography Student in Year 10 at Langtree) the intergenerational team will be making a pitch on the programme at 8.40 tomorrow and need your vote.

Here's our pitch!

In search of the G spot

We heard recently a prediction that the human race will need three planet Earths by the year 2050. This is impossible to contemplate. So we think we should focus more on the living space we have.

Our editorial line will focus on the ‘space’ in which we live, places and what makes them special and on understanding our interconnected lives. We are going to seek out and stimulate the G spot of issues and stories. G is for geography, and we are going to use geography as our main editorial ‘lens’.

We have an inter-generational editorial team of three geographers. The youngest member of the team, Hannah, brings the perspective of one who has a long future ahead of her. She is part of a generation which may see the world in radically new ways, via the internet. What is her space? Her teacher, Dan, has the task of making her lessons fun, useful, engaging and relevant. What does modern geography at school look like? David, who has been around for the longest time, thinks geography is the most significant subject to learn at school, and is vital for future thinking global citizens. Why is that claim not absurd?

What we will do is devise a programme - we already have some great ideas – that will satisfy the curiosity of listeners at the start of the new year. These are the kinds of questions we will address with geography, beginning with the ‘living geography’ of young people:

Who am I? Where do I come from? Who is my family? What is my ‘geography’? Who are the people around me? Where do they come from? What is their ‘geography’? These kinds of questions concern identity. They link to further questions about …

… our place in the world: Where do I live? How does it look? How do I feel about it? How is it changing? How do I want it to change?

Living in the world has a cost, and we all have impact, which stimulate further questions about the Physical world: What is the world (and this place) made of? Why do things move? What becomes of things?

And of course, the Human world which we have made for ourselves is deeply political. Who decides on who gets what, where and why? What is fair? How do we handle differences of opinion?

A geographical perspective provides a fresh way of keeping all these questions in the frame, particularly the links between the physical and human worlds. Our editorial will try to demonstrate this. It will be worthwhile trying.

Why? Well, the Today Programme focuses on stories which frequently have a strong temporal narrative. Saturday 4^th November was a good example. There were major items on

The hold genealogy has over us in our search for our personal stories
The heritage industry and the ‘History Matters’ campaign from the National Trust
The US mid-term elections and the civil war – ‘history is everything’ was the phrase used.

The power of history to help explain the present is routinely acknowledged, but the significance of place and space, and geographical scale, far less so. And what about the future? In a crowded, risky world, geographical perspectives help us think intelligently about the future.

The extraordinary Stern Review, published at the end of October, provides an account of the changing global climate and speculates on some of the impacts:

“Such changes would transform the physical geography of the world. A radical change in the physical geography of the world must have powerful implications for the human geography – where people live, and how they lead their lives.”

(Stern Review, Executive Summary p iv)

Geography is the subject that crosses over the physical and human worlds. Geographical perspectives may help us understand the world more fully.

The Editorial ‘G’ team

Hannah Bosher, Geography GCSE student at Langtree School, Reading

David Lambert – Chief Executive of the Geographical Association, Sheffield (www.geography.org.uk)

Dan Raven-Ellison, Geography teacher, Langtree School, Reading; co-leader of the Give Geography its Place Campaign

(www.passion4geography.co.uk)(http://givegeographyitsplace.blogspot.com/)

Some initial programme ideas

My Space – will explore the relationship between online communities and ‘real world’ communities. The feature could explore nuisance spaces, distant friends and near foreigners, young people making sense of the world through the internet, how collaboration vs. mediation is changing learning and/or other issues the news raises.

Butterfly News – will explore news stories through ‘knock-on’ effects. The line of enquiry would investigate several stages of cause and effect to make connections between people, places and issues that the news does not often address.

Today, Now – what is happening ‘now’ across a wide range of countries. This could also be what are you doing ‘now’. This would act as a snap-shot of events and experiences from across the world to mark the start of the new year. Possibly the focus can be on aspirations, hopes and longings.

Risky Thinking – why don’t people tend to ask ‘what is the geography’ of this place or issue? Why could this absence of geographical thinking be ‘risky thinking’ especially when it comes to ‘risk’ topics? In this feature a range of top geographers would be invited to explore how thinking geographically can help us understand Global climate change, conflict in the Middle East, the spread and control of disease and nuisance spaces within our communities.

Living Geographies – in two parts this feature will look at how local and international geographies might be changing in 2007. Part 1 will enquire into local spaces in the UK (transport, housing, health and education provision, shopping, change and ‘sustainable development’ such as in Sheffield-Rotherham). Part 2 will enquire in to how distant localities are also experiencing rapid change and what might happen in 2007. These might include new oil wealth in Sao Tome and Principe or another current news story.

Mywalk – introducing the concept of ‘mywalk’ which is for all, young and old, to reconnect with urban environments and the often by-passed or ignored parts of it. Mywalk is about making us think about our emotional attachments to, and feelings created by, our day-to-day surroundings, the feelings invoked by inanimate things, unexpected encounters or taken for granted spaces. Mywalk will link to perceptions of tranquillity – what enhances or detracts from people’s sense of tranquillity:

What flicks our switches?
What turns us on?
What tickles us?
What disgusts us?
What makes us smiles?
What makes us feel warm?
What makes us take the long way round?
What do we love?
What do we hate?

In the end, mywalk is about how best we engage and enthuse the public in exploring these geographies – that is, ‘our local environment/community’. This is of great interest to those interested in communities and local government

If you like the sound of this visit the BBC Today Programme website, compare us to the competition and then cast a vote!

TES

2006-11-03T19:49:00.000Z

Give Geography its Place is on page 2 of the TES. Fantastic to have Geography so close to the front but a little disappointing that it picks on all the stereotypes.... Wayne Hemingway tops it off well though. You might be interested in his 'mouthings'.

OS Free Maps for School (History Departments)

2006-11-02T20:30:00.000Z

If you teach in the UK and have not yet applied for your free maps from Ordnance Survey you had better be quick as the deadline is the 17th of November . The scheme is amazing for all Geography departments and thousands of Year 7 students as the OS gives a free map (of a place of each schools choosing) to each student. A great way for student to enjoy the subject and discover geography where they are.

It's just a shame that this year the competition suggests that the maps might be better placed in a History classroom rather than a Geography one. Don't get me wrong now, as stated earlier in this blog, GGiP has nothing against History and yes Historians do needs maps as Geographers need to understand the past, but this is taking it a step to far.

The OS maps for schools competition has a day filming with the 'Time Team' as its prize. This is a fantastic prize and one which many students would be ecstatic to win (as I would). Of course archaeology has close links to both Geography and History, but I am worried that many Year 7 students will just make the wrong links (Geography competition, History prize).

What OS should be looking to do is promote Geography, help create role models for Geography, inspire students to use maps for the Geography and not join the masses that support other subject areas. The OS of all organisations should recognise the role and importance of Geography.

The OS do come to most Geography related conferences. Mind you, Geographer Fiona Reynolds, director of the National Trust gave the public lecture at the Geographical Assocation conference this year in Manchester (UK) and they appear to be doing more for History than Geography. Maybe the OS is thinking the same thing...

As Fiona said in her lecture at the GA

"..we have a lot to do to raise the profile of geography in the wider world. Not just because we are passionate about it – though we are; but because, quite literally, we can’t live without the skills, knowledge and insight that geography provides."

Quite right. So let's start doing more Geography in public OS and NT. Let's get the word Geography, the grammar of Geography, the syntax of Geography and Geography role models all over the place.

OS - Let's get the word Geography or Geographer or Geographical added to the cover of your maps. What about using words like 'place' and 'space' at least once on your Landranger Maps?

NT - Lead the way! Let's have a 'Geography' section on your website.. why not talk about 'discovering the Geography' of place? You mention historical places and have history pages.. what about Geography? When I search for History in your site I get adult pages, when I search for Geography I only get schools pages... come in inspire the public to ask 'what's the geography of this place?'.

Update

2006-10-31T16:06:00.000Z

Since last blogging Tony Cassidy has had the campaign mentioned in the newspaper Ilkeston Today and it is also in the Newbury Weekly News this week.

GGiP now has a solid link with www.geographyzone.com and later this month will be promoting the Geography Cup, a joint venture to promote Geography in the US and UK. The Geography Cup will be a 'Ryder Cup' of Geography with people resident in the UK fighting it out against people in the US to see who know the countries on the world best. GGiP and Geography Zone will be making it clear that Geography is not just about knowing place names with some special geographical issues questions at the end of the quiz. Get practicing now at www.geographyzone.com and watch this space for further informaiton. Let's make it big!

Since last week Geographers from Australia, Ireland, India and the US have been in contact thinking about setting up GGiP campaigns where they are. Don't be shy, let's make this campaign global. Comment here or email www.passion4geography.co.uk to share ideas.

Geography, how much do you care?

2006-10-25T21:55:00.000+01:00

Tony Cassidy has created this excellent video to highlight the importance of Geography. Test yourself, can you get them all right?

Do you know where Palau is on a map?

2006-10-24T19:12:00.000+01:00

After ignoring a letter to Tessa Jowell from over 100 leading Geographers representing nearly 50 different UK universities the media has picked up a Geography story. Of course a warning of social, economic and environmental risks to society is not important enough... but a survey by the National Geographic is.

Let's pause and reflect on the National Geographic and specifically the National Geographic Channel in the UK. Today the line up of programmes is The Secret World of Smell, Battle of Midway, Asian Tsunami, The World's most Powerful Dam, The Kursk, Alien Worlds: Blue Moon, Spider Power, Supervolcanoes Investigated, Kid in the Cockpit, Battle of Okinawa, Fall of Berlin, Kalahari Supercats, Channel Tunnel, Wounded Bird Ad, Hijacked Ad... OK, so maybe you could tease some Geography out of this but honestly National Geographic (Channel UK), are you doing your bit?

The national media love it. A quick search for items from over the past 48 hours brings up:

BBC News British pupils 'cannot locate UK'
BBC America: Geography: The lost world
BBC Jeremy Vine Show (discussion): Is Geography too green?
(see Tony Cassidy and Daniel Raven-Ellison reflect on the show here.

The Independent: What on Earth happened to Geography?
The Telegraph: For one child in five, Britain is an undiscovered country
The Sun: Just where are EU on map?

What I want to know is if the people who write these items think that teachers should spend more lesson time drilling place names and locations into pupils or helping them to understand located issues on poverty, trade, flooding, crime.... students will learn more through understanding the tools and concepts of the subject than reacalling what they can look up in an Atlas. It is important that students learn where places are so that they can make sense of the world and their place in it, but that's not all Geographers do.

If the public and media are so concerned about spatial literacy pehaps they should Give Geography its Place and start geo-tagging and mapping news stories and create Geography sections for websites that link to content and issues to named places.

Far too much of KS3 Geography is taught by non-specialists, as OFSTED identified in 2005. Specialists understandably end up teaching exam groups but in many schools this often gives students a poor experience of Geography. While the Government funded Geography Action Plan and run by the Geographical Association and RGS-IBG is working to improve Geography (launched on Monday but with no press attention despite being the same day as the National Geographic survey). This weakness at KS3 is a very real problem and must go some way to explaining the National Geographic results.

That aside, if Geography is to recruit more students and more of them are to go into Geography teaching it is vital that the media stop leaving Geography out except for the occasional bashing. Learners need to aspire towards tangible goals and role models and be offered meaning to their work so that they can develop direction, drive and enthusiasm. Many teachers offer and facilitate this, but with no clear programmes, or websites and few presenters Geography is left at a disadvantage compared to other fields.

Come on... you know you want to Give Geography its Place!

Oh... and Palau is here.

Not from the UK? We need you!

2006-10-19T16:52:00.000+01:00

Geography faces problems worldwide. Australia has seen a recent decline of nearly 50% of students taking Geography as an option. The poor Geographical knowledge of people in the USA has become a scandal within the country and an ongoing joke to the rest of the world. In the UK Geographers form the brunt of jokes about professionals and the media overlooks the subject and most recently ignored over 100 of the subject's professionals when they warned of risks to society. Having said all that, some countries like Sierra Leone can't even afford atlases for many schools.

Because Geography is facing problems across the world Give Geography its Place is now calling for international groups to set up. Every country across the world has its own needs. The causes, effects and potential solutions for a good Geographical media, education and awareness are as diverse and complex as the cultures and environments in which the subject is used (and that's all of them).

Could you take the lead in your country to set up a Give Geography its Place campaign? Are you passionate about Geography and think there should be a GGiP Australia, GGiP South Africa, France, USA, Brazil, Congo, Russia or Latvia?

If so comment below and get in contact via the campaign website. You need to have the same general aims as GGiP UK, but will take on the logo to form part of an international campaign that addresses local and national needs to raise the profile of Geography.

Geography Zone

2006-10-18T20:28:00.000+01:00

Geography Zone is a website that tests your knowledge of where countries are in the world. You score is than ranked on a world score board by people and country.

"The Geography Zone is brought to you by the people of A Broader View. The mission of A Broader View is to put a stop to geographical ignorance throughout the world, and every project they take on is part of their continuing efforts to achieve this goal", say the makers. You can read all about them here. The quiz is here.

Top 30 Geography Websites of 2006

2006-10-17T21:22:00.000+01:00

What are the best Geography websites around? GGiP wants your vote here at http://geotop30.blogspot.com/.

KES teacher joins national campaign

2006-10-17T18:20:00.000+01:00

Well done to Alan Parkinson for being the first person to get the GGiP press release into a newspaper and thank you to Kings Lynn today for running it. Let's hope that it pulls in some interest.

The Geographical Association has shown support for GGiP again today by posting about the latest GGiP press release within the association's news page. The GA calls for supporters to adapt the press release and issue it to local media using contacts from British Media Online.

Some more good news is that the GGiP 'blank maps' are now in (see above right). If you have placed an order these will be sent out in the next couple of days. If you have not done so yet place one now. Five massive A0 'blank maps' costs just £10 and for every one you buy one will be posted to someone 'important' in the media, education, politics or business.

End of the embargo

2006-10-16T17:53:00.000+01:00

The embargo on the GGiP press release ended today. I could not see anything in any of the national papers. Tomorrow perhaps?

Geography on the Ridgeway

2006-10-14T20:31:00.000+01:00

View Photo Slideshow

Geography is everywhere. Even on the Ridgeway near Kingsclere in Hampshire, England. Thank you to Seb, Menah, Matt, Ruth and Hehi for helping to make this happen. These images are going to be sent to the Newbury Weekly News along with a request for 1,000 local people to sign up to GGiP.

The Big Push

2006-10-14T11:42:00.000+01:00

The next three days are extremely important for the Give Geography its Place campaign. Based entirely on time volunteered from the grassroots (mostly teachers) we need to contact as many different local media groups as we can. The GGiP press release that contains a letter signed by over 100 top Geographers can be downloaded, personalised and sent by supporters to their local papers and radio. Last week Daniel Raven-Ellison and David Rayner sent the press release to all major national media outlets on an embargo for this Monday. The next three days are so important because the deadline for local weekly press is this coming Tuesday. It is so vital that all Geographers pull together on this because Geography just does not get the space in the media other subjects and issues enjoy. So far on the SLN Geography Forum a number of people have started stepping forward. Thanks to Dave Smith, Mike Jones, Mountainman, Tom Biebrach, Tony Cassidy, Chris Ellesse, Val Vannet, Helen, JulieQ, Simon, Justin Woolliscroft, Alan Parkinson and Bristolclare for posting to say they have between them contacted:

Ilkeston Advertiser
Nottingham Evening Post
Derby Evening Telegraph
BBC Radio Nottingham
BBC Radio Derby
Central ITV News
East Midlands Today
Gloucestershire papers
Wolverhampton Express and Star
Birmingham Post and also to local BBC and ITV news desks
Belfast Telegraph
SecEd
Portsmouth News
South London Press
Enfield Advertiser
Henley Standard
BBC Radio Kent
BBC Radio Berkshire
Newbury Weekly News
Reading Chronicle
Reading Evening Post

GGiP needs even more coverage than this. The GGiP Cluster Map shows the geographical spread of support and let's aim to have this reflected in the local and regional press.

As an additional insentive, anyone who emails evidence to GGiP of getting the petition announced in their local press will recieve a free Virtual Transect of London and a temporary (or extendend) subscription to Geointeractive.

Another way that supporters can help is by making noise on the forums of the big media websites such as the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, UKTV and major newspapers.

Give Geography its Place and sign the petition now. If you have already signed it.. spread the word to the world.

Geography and History in the Media

2006-10-13T08:37:00.000+01:00

I was wondering on the way to work this morning why there is so much more History in the media than Geography. Why is it that History campaigns get the front page and national news and Geography gets local news and page 5 within some sort of a gag (50% of remarks about Geography teachers in the Guardian are some sort of a joke).

Then I thought to check out graduate destinations.

Total number of Geography graduates 2005 - 2710. Percentage who work in the media, 2.5%.
Total number of History graduates in 2005 - 8410. Percentage who work in the media, 4%.
(Data from prospects.ac.uk)

Does this speak for itself?

Public Launch on the Horizon

2006-10-12T21:26:00.000+01:00

After 144 days of campaigning in the Geography community over 1,500 Geographers have signed up to the Give Geography its Place campaign. These supporters are mostly located in the UK but Geographers from across the world are joining the campaign to show their concern for the subject. Geography faces many problems but not least the neglect of the subject by the media (see the GGiP official website).

Over 100 leading British Geographers from more than 45 universities have signed a GGiP letter to Rt Hon. Tessa Jowell the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport warning that society is at increased social, economic, environmental and politcal risk if the media does not give Geography its Place.

The next few days are crucial for GGiP as copies of the letter and press release have been issued to the media. The letter is being used to launch a new petition that is aimed at the public and especially parents. Over the next few days Geographers are being asked to show their support by contacting local media with the GGiP press release that they can personalise to themselves and their school.

Monday is the crucial day as the petition is fully launched in the media by GGiP supporters. David Rayner has already been on Radio Kent, I am going on BBC Radio Berkshire at 7am tomorrow morning and the current edition of Web User has published one of our emails.

If you are as passionate about Geography as Give Geography its Place don't sit on your hands get involved. Leave news and Geography items on the GGiP new podcast voice mail by calling +44 (0)208 144 3647 or set up a GGiP campaign where you are.

It's time for the media to Give Geography its Place.