Coastal geography

I could picture the Earth in my head. The blues of water, greens of vegetation, and whites of clouds, all the essentials of life swirling together as if left by brush strokes. I had been seeing it since my first earth science class in elementary school, glaring out at me from textbooks as if demanding an answer. How could you do this? The question reverberated in my head, the dull ache of cognitive dissonance setting in as I peered out the window. I didn’t have an answer. None of us did. That’s…

The 2008 Disney film, Wall-e, shows a futuristic reality in which humans have polluted the Earth so much, we are forced to leave Earth behind in search of a new sustainable place to live (Wall-e). This kid’s film is important because it brings up many good points as to why we should take better care of our planet and to not be so caught up in our own realities. The underlying meaning conveyed through the population’s depletion of Earth’s resources serves as a good reminder of the serious…

In this essay, I will explain the geographical theory to Development, as advanced by Diamond (1997), some criticisms to it and why, overall, it's still the strongest theory, when combined with others, to why some countries are wealthier and unquestionably more advanced than others are. There have been many theories posited as to why some countries are developed and wealthy, whilst other countries either remain underdeveloped even now, or were only developed through colonialism by more…

grade in Kentucky, my favorite class was AP Human Geography. It was a class about all of the things I had been dreaming of since I was a girl. We studied cultures, populations, economies, and how people relate to systems. I loved every moment of it. The next year, I was given the opportunity to explore all of those things first hand when my father took a job in Japan. From being there I learned so much more than I ever could from my Human Geography class. Instead of learning about the…

In Ricardo Hausmann’s article, “Prisoners of Geography,” he discusses the effects of geography on the economic stability of a certain area. After several detailed explanations, Hausmann comes to the conclusion that geography is the deciding factor in the development of a region’s economy with no regards to the people’s desires. The author’s belief that citizens are bound and chained to their geography and the effects the environment has on their economy despite their efforts is an accurate…

On October 13th, McMaster had the honour of hosting Dr Catherine Nolin’s presentation on Transnational Ruptures in a Time of Impunity. Dr. Nolin is an associate professor and chair at the University of Northern British Columbia. She is also a social geographer with two broad areas or research interest: migration studies and justice in Guatemala. Nolin has received various prestigious awards, most recent one being the 2007 UNBC Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient. She organized a trip to…

Book Review for Marshall Every nation is influenced by its geography. Mountains, deserts, and rivers all play key roles in determining if a country can trade and grow or isolated and dependent on others. Marshall claims in his book Prisoners of Geography that technology, politics, and people will come and go, but geography has always been here, shaping the interactions of states. The best examples of geography shaping countries is seen in the topography of America where the land has been a…

Pixar's movie WALL-E, may be able two robots falling in love but the message is directed solely at the humans. In the film, the last generations of the human race are overweight and lazy people who’s only mode of transportation is a moving chair and only way to consume food is by putting the food into a liquid form to be eaten. While companies like Disney and Pixar is usually draw their cartoon figures with the tiniest of waists, the characters in Wall-E changed that stereotype. People believed…

Why Geography Matters More Than Ever Harm de Blij's " Why Geography Matters More Than Ever " is a book containing information much broader than the interaction of humans and their environment. The introduction starts with a basis ; explaining the roles of a geographer, historic events concerning early times in the Greek and Roman expansion, and the regard of geography's poor state due to the lack of knowledge. James Michener quotes " I am convinced that geography is the foundation of all ...…

How humans interact with a place, says more about them than location itself. The idea of place and how people relate to the area around them is an on-going topic of sustainability. This unseen connection is the string interwoven into our daily lives that allows us to feel the desired feelings of being at home, safe, or connected. Many of the books we have read revealed the author's personal connection to place, but I feel as though Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert by Terry Tempest…