Crazy crazy Japan

Crazy Japan just got a little crazier! Check out this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/7654267.stm and see what monkeys have been up to in this Japanese restaurant... We'll be studying this incredible country soon, Year 9, so keep watching to see what else they are doing.

And you thought it was crowded on British trains!

This is just one of many trains heading out from Dhaka, Bangladesh to the south of the country. Today, Muslims around the world are preparing for Eid al -Fitr. Millions of residents in Dhaka have started the exodus home to spend time with their families.

Check out some more interesting pictures by clicking on the title link.

Tsunami storyboards

Miss Habib's class have been designing tsunami storyboards. A selection of the best have been published at www.geoggers.net. Click on the link at the top of the Geoggers net homepage to see them.

Interesting tourism facts that we have found out

Follow the comments section to find out the travel and tourism facts that we have found out.

Sticking to your guns

This was the theme of a Year 9 homework assignment set by Miss Hammond. We have been studying Wegener's theory of continental drift as part of our introductory module on plate tectonics. Pupils were asked to write an assembly script suitable for Mr Fuller that linked the theory to the theme of sticking to your guns. Two examples, from Holly Ambrose and Sam Blacklaws, are on the Geoggers website. Why don't you have a look?

Wave snakes are switched on!

The world's first commercial wave-power farm has been switched on. These snakes are 140 metres long. Watch the video for more information.

It's a puzzle!

Do you like puzzles? Do you like a challenge? Try your hand at these really hard atlas puzzles from the National Geographic. Click on the title link to be taken to the site.

Bring a place alive!

The Geographical Association is running a competition where they would like you to write a short story.

"We'd like you to write a story about somewhere important to you - it can be fact or fiction, set at any time in the past, present or future. Maybe your parents or grandparents have told you about what your local area was like when they were young. How have things changed? Can you imagine what it might have been like in your neighbourhood 25, 50 or even 100 years ago? What do you think your area will look like in the future? You could write a story about somewhere you've been on holiday, or a distant place you would like to visit... The decision is yours! We'll be looking for creative and exciting stories which bring places to life and bonus points will be awarded for including photographs or drawings."

Your short story should be no more than 750 words. Prizes will include fiction books as well as having your work published in both the Geographical Association magazine and website. For more information see Miss Habib.

These entries should be handed in to Miss Habib by Thursday 23rd October 2008.

Geoggers Club

Wow! What an excellent start back for Geoggers club. Miss Habib had lots of fun with the new Year 7's getting their hands dirty and making some volcanoes.
We are still meeting on Thursdays in T3 at 1.30 p.m. so drop along if you would like to join.

Year 8 Zoolab activity

Zoolab will be visiting the Geography Department on Wednesday 15th October 2008. This was a really exciting in-school visit last year with many positive comments. We have limited places available this year; if you have not returned your letter you must do so as soon as possible. Photos from last year's event can be found on the school website - click on the title link to go to the website!

The Penan Tribe

Year 8 have been looking at the Penan Tribe who are located in the Sarawak rainforest. Survival International has an excellent website (click on the title link to go to their website) that gives you some details which may be of use to you to back up your report. Check their website out for other information about other tribes that exist around the world and the problems that they are facing.

Centre of Excellence

The Geography Department is really pleased to announce that we have won an award! The FitzWimarc School has been awarded the Secondary Geography Quality Mark, achieving the status of 'Centre of Excellence'.
We have an exciting new logo that you will see around the department and we are all really excited to see the department progress in the way that it is.

Arenal watching

I've been watching Arenal volcano in Costa Rica - and it's been busy! In the four days I was there last week, I saw two ash plumes like the one in the picture. Each night, the volcano glowed red - lava bombs the first night and lava flows the next two. Steam is constantly rising from the left crater at the summit. Periodically, the volcano booms as if a bomb is going off - loud enough to make you jump. This happens at any time, day or night, so I didn't get much sleep. But, it was worth it...!!!

What a drip!

These following photos are from my summer holiday to Alghero, Sardinia.
The pictures show stalagmites and stalactites which form from water that drips in caves.

Perito Moreno breaking in winter

Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina is awesome - one of only three in Patagonia that are growing. Every so often, water builds up in the lake behind the ice and puts enough pressure to break through. The last time it happened was 16 years ago. What's special now is that for the first time, the break is happening in summer. Check out the video on the BBC news website for more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7494686.stm.

Christian Aid week

About Christian Aid and Christion Aid Week 11th - 17th May 2008

"For more than 60 years, Christian Aid has made a practical difference to millions of lives around the world. Working with people of every faith and none, we are fighting for a world free of poverty and injustice.

Christian Aid provides disaster relief, helps build long-term development, speaks up for the oppressed and campaigns for change among the powerful."

Year 9's, you are currently looking at development. Find out more about Christian Aid by visiting their website: http://www.caweek.org

Strawberries and Poles

Farmers unions have warned the government that 50,000 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables may have to be left to rot this summer because of tightening immigration laws.
Poles are now returning home because their native country's economy is booming. It is not just Poles who have helped British farmers. But it is likely the labour shortage will result in supermarkets importing large quantities of produce from countries such as the Netherlands to make up the shortfall in stock and we could see prices rising above current levels of about £2.50 for a kilogram of strawberries and £2.99 for a punnet of raspberries.

One reason being put forward for the staffing problems by growers is a government decision to reduce the number of workers allowed to enter Britain on a longstanding scheme aimed at foreign students.

The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS), which had previously allowed workers from non-EU countries such as Ukraine and Belarus to do the low-skilled picking work in Britain, is this year restricted to citizens of Romania and Bulgaria, who are members of the EU.

For more info click on the title link.

Chinese earthquake kills up to 9,000

China's most devastating earthquake in 30 years struck today in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The earthquake measured a massive 7.8 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was located in a mountainous region just 100 km from Sichuan's capital Chengdu, a bustling city of 10 million.

The quake hit in the middle of the school day, toppling eight schools in the region. Chemical plants and at least one hospital were also flattened, trapping many hundreds, state media said.

For more information check out the title link.

Burma cyclone

Top news story this week is the Burma cyclone. This is a natural disaster made far worse by human actions. The military government of Burma has repeatedly changed its policy on whether or not to allow aid and aid workers in. The result? An estimated 100, 000 people have died and the situation is set to get even worse as people succumb to nasty tropical diseases such as cholera and typhoid. The question of whether to donate to the appeal fund is a tricky one - the Burmese people desperately need help, but what's the point of donating if it just doesn't reach them? What do you think?

An eruption in Chile

A volcano has erupted in southern Chile, scattering ash over the surrounding area and forcing more than 4,000 people to leave their homes.

The eruption of the Chaiten volcano caught local authorities by surprise, as experts say it has been dormant for at least 450 years.

Click on the title link to be directed to the BBC news website and watch aerial shots of the erupting volcano.