Environmental Risks, Geopolitical and Economic Risks, Global Resource Consumption and Security, Global Trends in Consumption, IBDP Geographic Perspectives (Core), IBDP Geographic/Global Interactions (HL Extension), Impacts of Changing Trends in Resource Consumption, Local Responses to Global Interactions

The Ugly Truth of Fast Fashion – Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj – Youtube/Netflix

by Paul Alberts

This 30 minute rundown on the nature of the ‘fast fashion’ industry should be watched by anyone who has interest or passion about shopping, fashion, human geography, human rights, and climate change (and a lot more, of course!). It has many links with the Global Interactions section of the IBDP syllabus, as well as the Resource Consumption section. Take the time to learn the realities of stores like H&M, Zara, and Forever 21, become a more knowledgable and critical consumer, all the while learning about the industry in a humorous way.

https://youtu.be/xGF3ObOBbac

Some explicit language.

Changing Identities and Cultures, Global Networks and Flows, IBDP Geographic Themes (Options), Leisure, Tourism and Sport, Managing Tourism and Sport for the Future, Tourism and Sport at the International Scale, Tourism and Sport at the Local and National Scale

Most Visited Countries in the World Video – Datalover – World Bank Source Info

by Paul Alberts

The link below is to an excellent resource with regards to many items in the IBDP Geography syllabus. It shows the progression of the most visited countries in the world from 1995 to 2018, using World Bank Data. It has many links to tourism, migration, globalisation, population growth, and more. Thanks user ‘Datalover’ for posting!

Building Sustainable Urban Systems for the Future, Changing Urban Systems, IBDP Geographic Themes (Options), The Variety of Urban Environments, Urban Environmental and Social Stresses, Urban Environments

Call For Sydney to be Managed as an Urban Forest – Caitlin Fitzsimmons – The Sydney Morning Herald

by Paul Alberts

In this article with some good visuals, Caitlin Fitzsimmons writes about the potential of Sydney, Australia, being viewed and managed differently than previously with regards to the idea of a ‘green city’. This is a great article with relationships to ecocities, urban processes, microclimates and more.

https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/call-for-sydney-to-be-managed-as-an-urban-forest-20190517-p51ojb.html

Uncategorized

Fun Geography Quiz Websites – Sporcle and Jetpunk

by Paul Alberts

You probably have either heard of and/or used these sites previously, but if there’s at least one person out there who hasn’t, then posting them was worth it. These websites have a variety of quizzes that are geographical in nature. Be careful, sometimes they can be dated in terms of information, or it isn’t clear where the data they used is from (ie urban population quizzes). But in general they are fantastic item to close out a lesson that ended too early, to help memorise capitals, flags, or countries, and add a bit of a competitive edge into the geography classroom.

https://www.sporcle.com/games/category/geography

https://www.jetpunk.com/tags/geography


The Variety of Urban Environments, Urban Environmental and Social Stresses, Urban Environments

Second Languages by London Tube Stop – Oliver O’Brien (UCL) – The Guardian

by Paul Alberts

UCL’s Oliver O’Brien has created an easy to use, informative and interesting map of the tube stops in London, correlating them with the (second) languages spoken by residents in that area. This very informative resource can be helpful in discussions about urban planning, ethnic patterns, and socioeconomic distributions in cities.

Click this link for direct access to the map: https://tubecreature.com/#/tongues/current/same/*/*/FFTFTF/13/-0.1000/51.5200/

Click the link to the article below with some image stills, explanation, and access to the map: https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/oct/30/-sp-londons-tube-languages-visualised

Geopolitical and Economic Risks, Global Risks and Resilience, IBDP Geographic/Global Interactions (HL Extension)

Globalisation is Dead – The Economist- K.N.C

by Paul Alberts

In this fascinating article written by K.N.C for the Economist, Michael O’Sullivan’s interview delves into the realities of a post-globalised world. With links to global interactions as well as nationalism/tribalisation, this links well with the Risks and Resilience section of the syllabus.

https://www.economist.com/open-future/2019/06/28/globalisation-is-dead-and-we-need-to-invent-a-new-world-order

Geophysical Hazard Risks, Geophysical Hazards, Hazard Risk and Vulnerability, IBDP Geographic Themes (Options)

Tsunami in Kesennuma, Japan – Youtube Video

by Paul Alberts

For me, this is one of the best clips out there with regards to the nature of the destruction of tsunamis. Shot by Mr. Kenichi Kurakami, and posted by Youtube user clancy688, this unbelievable, first-hand footage gives the viewer an intense sense and understanding of the way tsunamis can approach low-lying coastal margins, and how coastal defences do not always work as intended.

Building Sustainable Urban Systems for the Future, Changing Urban Systems, IBDP Geographic Themes (Options), The Variety of Urban Environments, Urban Environmental and Social Stresses, Urban Environments

The Suburban Wasteland Miniseries- Youtube User Eco Gecko

by Paul Alberts

This is an interesting and radical deconstruction of how American suburbs are a short-sighted, inefficient, and community destroying piece of urban America. It is a thought provoking and critical video which really illustrates the flawed idea of suburban growth.

Challenges and Opportunities, Changing Population, Changing Population and Places, Changing Urban Systems, Global Resource Consumption and Security, The Variety of Urban Environments, Urban Environments

The Most Populous Cities in the World (Live Code Bar Chart) – John Burn Murdoch

by Paul Alberts

The link below contains a ‘live’ bar chart which goes through the most populous cities in the world, from 1500-2018. It is an excellent resource to spark discussions as to what makes cities successful, and what the future has for urban environments

https://observablehq.com/@johnburnmurdoch/bar-chart-race-the-most-populous-cities-in-the-world

Uncategorized

Revision Technique Idea/Grade 12 Farewell

by Paul Alberts

I saw one of my 12 HL students revising and her technique caught my eye. For the different options we studied in class (Geophysical Hazards, Oceans and Coastal Margins, and Urban Environments), she printed out a blank world map and labelled the areas that were either case studies or examples used in class. This is a great way for more visual learners to map out and recall the material learned in class. It is also beneficial for me as well to analyse spatially the places I teach in class; I need to teach more about Africa! She gave me permission to post the photo.

I want to take a moment to wish all of my Grade 12 students success on their now-completed exams. It was a lot of fun teaching you and I hope we keep in touch!

Paul Alberts

Rotterdam, the Netherlands
pal@wolfert.nl