Matt's Geography Blog

Portugal, Macedonia, and Montenegro have joined the group of countries that recognize Kosovo as the world's newest independent country, bringing the total number of countries that recognize Kosovo to 51. In related news, Serbia has succeeded in obtaining approval from the United Nations General Assembly for the International Court of Justice to "review the manner in which Kosovo declared its independence."

My colleague Andrew Alden, the About.com Geology Guide, shares information about the Earth Science Literacy Initiative, which "aims to gather and codify the underlying understandings of Earth sciences into a succinct document that would have broad-reaching applications in both public and private arenas. It will establish the 'Big Ideas' and supporting concepts that all Americans should know about Earth sciences." I think it's a great idea and it reminds me a lot of the National Geography Standards developed in 1994. The Big Ideas of the Earth Science Literacy Initiative are the following...

Big Idea #1: Earth is 4.6 billion years old and the rock record contains its history.
Big Idea #2: Earth is a complex system of interactions between rock, water, air and life.
Big Idea #3: Earth is a continuously changing planet.
Big Idea #4: Earth is the water planet.
Big Idea #5: Life evolves on a dynamic Earth and continuously modifies Earth.
Big Idea #6: Humans Depend on Earth for Resources.
Big Idea #7: Earth science reduces the impacts of natural hazards.
Big Idea #8: Humans have become a significant agent of change on Earth.

Take a look at the draft document (PDF) on the ESLI site and share your thoughts!

Iran's largest automobile maker is planning on producing a car specifically for women. The car will include, "An automatic gearbox, electronic parking aids, a navigation system and a jack designed to make it easier to change a wheel, suggesting that women drivers lack the mechanical competence of their male counterparts." What do you think? Post your comments below...

As our global population expands so too does the amount of trash we produce. A large portion of this trash then ends up in the world's oceans. Due to oceanic currents much of the trash in the sea is carried to a number of areas where the currents meet. The collections of trash in these locations have recently been referred to as marine trash islands (follow the link for an article on this topic).

Google is planning on allowing Internet users to submit changes and updates to maps in India. Thus, Google is "embarking on what could prove the most concerted effort to map India since the British Empire tackled the task." India, with dynamic growth rates and change, is the perfect test case for this project, which could expend to other developing countries.

Catholicgauze reports on the activation of AFRICOM, the brand-new United States Africa Command headquarters that will oversee U.S. military activity in Africa. AFRICOM joins several other regional command units like United States Pacific Command (PACOM). AFRICOM is based in Stuttgart, Germany.

The National Weather Service used strong language in attempting to get people to heed their advice to evacuate prior to Hurricane Ike last month, "Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family, one- or two-story homes may face certain death." However, thousands remained in the deadly area and refused to leave. National Geography News has an interesting essay on this topic.

Within urban and rural communities, geography plays a critical role in development of the built environment. Urban planners must rely on knowledge of geographic space when deciding how best to manage growth through land-use planning. Learn all about land-use planning through this great article from guest writer and planning student Adam Sowder.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a group of ten member countries that encourages political, economic, and social cooperation in the region. Today the group is considered one of the most successful regional organizations in the world, and it seems to have a brighter future. Learn all about ASEAN from this latest article from Geography Intern Colin Stief.

Discovery News reports that the ITCZ or Intertropical Convergence Zone acts as a barrier that keeps Northern Hemisphere pollution in that hemisphere, thus serving to keep the air of the less industrialized Southern Hemisphere relatively cleaner.