Geography in the News – November 2009

Why does Rachel want her sister to ring?
 
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  A) Locating Places:
The Chandler's yacht was believed to be intercepted at 1°S 52°E. Mark this location on a map.		  
 

Level 5 - Locate places accurately, use map co-ordinates, understand distance and direction and draw maps with a sense of scale
          and proportion.

 

Level 7 - Construct and use plans and maps and apply map skills accurately to obtain information.

 
 

 
  Also mark these locations:
Harardhere is a town in the Mudug province of central Somalia. Coordinates: 4°39'N 47°51′E		  
  Eyl is an ancient town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia. Coordinates: 7°59′N 49°50′E  As of 2008, Eyl has become a pirate haven, with more than a dozen ships being held captive by pirate crews  
 

Puntland region, Somalia The bleak camps for displaced people at Puntland offer rich pickings for pirate gangs looking for recruits. The 40,000 people who live in camps like 100-Bushes have drifted in over the years, seeking refuge from the apocalyptic horrors in southern Somalia - civil war, drought and famine.
Describe the location of Puntland.
also label Somalia and describe its location.

  
     
  B) Describing Patterns: [Distribution]  
  Level 5 - Describe obvious geographical patterns and how places are interconnected
 

Level 7 - Identify and explain geographical patterns and how places and patterns are interconnected.

 
 

 
  Try to make at least 5 statements describing the pattern of pirate attacks shown on the map. What is unusual about the location of the attack on the Chandlers?  
     
  C) Explaining Patterns:  
 

 
  Write one paragraph to explain how this information helps to explain the pattern of pirate attacks that you have described. Explain how this pattern of pirate attacks near Somalia links to many other places in the world. Suggest why Somali pirates may have had to change  their locations of attack - as in the case of the Chandlers.  
     
  D) Causes and Consequences of Change and Trends  
 

Level 7 - Explain how places change, identify trends.

 

Level 5 - Describe and offer explanations for the characteristic (natural and) human features of different localities. Identify reasons
          for the differences between places.

  
  Plot the data below as (a) graph(s). (Remember the basics)  
 

Number of reported pirate attacks worldwide by year:
2003: 445
2004: 329
2005: 276
2006: 239
2007: 263  
 Source: http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=108&subsecID=900003&contentID=254613  

Somali Pirate attacks

2009          306 (first 10 Months)

2008          293

2007            31

2006            10

2005            35

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/world/africa/10pirates.html

http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=131:piracy-attacks-spike-in-somali-waters&catid=60:news&Itemid=51

 		  
  Write a description of what the graphs show in terms of number of attacks both in the world as a whole and just off the Somali Coast.  
     
  E) Understanding Places and Processes  
 

Level 5 - Describe and offer explanations for the characteristic (natural and) human features of different localities. Identify reasons
          for the differences between places.

Level 7 - Explain a range of (physical and) human features and processes, and describe the interactions within and between the
               processes. Explain how places change, identify trends.

  
  Write a report (maximum 100 words) trying to explain how Somalia has changed as a country and why there are increasing numbers of pirates.
 		  
 
An ordinary Somali earns about $600 a year, but even the lowliest freebooter can make nearly 17 times that — $10,000 — in a single hijacking. Never mind the risk; it's less dangerous than living in war-torn Mogadishu.
 
   How does the problem affect other people and places (max 50 words)? see websites below.  
     
 

Some Website links:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8010061.stm It's a Pirates life for Me

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7734985.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/27/somali-pirates-british-yacht

 

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/17-07/ff_somali_pirates Includes a game! May not be deemed suitable except as a fun homework extension.

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/17-07/ff_somali_pirates_attack Why sail through Somali waters?

 

  
 

Communicating (throughout):

Level 7 - Select and use accurately geographical terminology and a range of appropriate techniques to present information.

 		  
     
  Sheet for use highlighting Level Descriptors hit.