BBC iPlayer – Maps: Power, Plunder and Possession

Map expert Professor Jerry Brotton uncovers how maps aren’t simply about getting from A to B, but are revealing snapshots of defining moments in history and tools of political power and persuasion.

3 Episodes Available

• Windows on the World: 1
• Spirit of the Age: 2
• Mapping the World: 3

See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00s2wvh/maps-power-plunder-and-possession-1-windows-on-the-world

 

Global climate strike: Millions take to the streets to save the world

 

Channel 4 News   Published on Sep 20, 2019

What began as a protest by the Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who decided to skip school on Fridays to draw attention to the plight of the planet, has today been called the biggest mass demonstration in history. Millions of people have marched in the streets in 150 countries to protest about global warming. Many of the demonstrations have been led by young people inspired by Greta Thunberg.

FAO Director-General announced the Great Green Wall for Cities initiative

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Published on Sep 22, 2019

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Director-General Qu Dongyu today ( 21 Sept) announced the Great Green Wall for Cities initiative that aims to support nature-based solutions to climate change.

The Director-General made the announcement on the eve of this week’s Climate Action Summit in New York at a Summit side event.

Qu outlined how the Great Green Wall for Cities builds on the progress made under the Great Green Wall of Africa and the Sahel project and would see the creation of urban green areas that are integrated into wider landscape restoration activities.

FAO, together with partners, is aiming to support at least three cities in each of 30 countries in Africa and Asia, Dr Qu said today at the Climate Action Summit’s Nature Based Solutions for Cities side event.

By 2030, the bold action will have helped cities create up to 500,000 hectares of new urban forests and restore or maintain up to 300,000 hectares of existing natural forests in and around cities in the Sahel and Central Asia.

Once completed, the Wall would capture 0.5-5 Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

The enhanced green infrastructure will reduce the costs of preventing and addressing the impacts of climate change and improve the well-being of citizens, the Director-General said.

If well managed, urban forests and trees can reduce air temperature by up to 8 degrees Celsius, reduce the costs of air conditioning by up to 40 percent, reduce stormwater flows and improve air quality by filtering dust and pollutants.

By 2050, the proportion of people living in cities will be almost 70 percent, and much of this growth will occur in Africa and Asia. Without land use planning, the rapid expansion of cities can cause highly damaging environmental impacts including land degradation.

The Global Climate 2015-2019

World Meteorological Organization – WMO

Published on Sep 22, 2019

Landmark United in Science report informs Climate Action Summit – Science highlights key facts and figures about growing gap between targets and reality World Meteorological Organization: https://public.wmo.int/en UN Climate Action Summit 2019: https://public.wmo.int/en/un-climate-…

Arctic Sea Ice Animation – Sept 2019

World Meteorological Organization – WMO

Published on Sep 22, 2019

Landmark United in Science report informs Climate Action Summit – Science highlights key facts and figures about growing gap between targets and reality World Meteorological Organization: https://public.wmo.int/en UN Climate Action Summit 2019: https://public.wmo.int/en/un-climate-…

Earth the only home we’ve ever known

U.S. President Trump and India’s PM Modi Attend Texas Rally ‘Howdy Modi’

Published on Sep 22, 2019
U.S. President Donald Trump greets India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston, Texas, at the “Howdy Modi” rally, Sunday, September 22. Trump appeared with Modi before a largely Indian audience of some 50,000 people packed in a Houston stadium for the event. Preeti Dawra, one of he organizers of the “Howdy Modi” event says, “Trump is completely welcomed by the community.” Recent polls however show lackluster support for Trump within the Indian-American community, a majority of whom voted for Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.