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HABSGEOGRAPHICAL

I S S U E 1 4 A U T U M N / W I N T E R 2 0 1 5

FOCUS ON

BORDERS

Competition winners To build on both schools’ focus on Literacy, this summer the HABS Geographical competition focused on reading a geographical novel on location.

‘Perhaps a little Somerset Maugham’s Far Eastern Tales when in Malaysia, or Louis de Bernieres’ Latin American trilogy when hiking the Andes? Or a little Wordsworth in the Lake District?’

The best student and staff entry are featured below. Congratulations!

Student winner: Raffles Fulton (Y12)Book: Exodus by Leon Uris

This powerful book depicts the hopelessness of Jews after World War II and how, against all odds, they sailed on the Exodus into the Promised Land to be free and make the desert bloom to create a new life. While visiting Israel, I was standing at the edge of the ancient walled city, Jaffa, looking onto the modern city of Tel Aviv. The juxtaposition of old and new all surrounded by the Eternal, represented by the sea, and man’s cruelty as seen in the cannon, epitomised the book.

Staff winner: Mr J S BownBook: Off the Map – Lost spaces, invisible cities, feral places and what they tell us about the world by Alastair Bonnett.

This book is comprised of 47 short essays that explore places from the mundane – a Newcastle traffic island – to the spectacular underground urban labyrinths in Minneapolis-St Paul and the lost space of the Aralquam Desert. Bonnett’s essays also take in uneasy and contested spaces, from the shifting and disputed borderlands of Bir Tawil (between Sudan and Egypt) to the Principality of Sealand, just off the Essex coast. Whilst Bonnett argues that humans are “naturally terracentric”, or even “topophilic”, and thus hardwired to make and to love places, his snapshots leave little room to explore the complexity of place in great detail.

CONTENTS

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The 14th edition of the HABS Geographical magazine was inspired by the recent migration crisis in Europe and focuses on borders – an issue especially relevant to the UK with the recent vote against Scottish independence and the upcoming decision on whether or not the UK should leave the EU. Particular

highlights in the magazine on this topic include James Wirth’s (Year 9) article on enclaves; an intriguing read, and Anna Glanville’s (Year 12) piece on the migration of the Rohingya people. Aside from borders, Stephanie Frank (Year 10) and Jacob New (Year 13) both produced engaging and fascinating articles on

‘sustainable cities’ and an interview with modern day explorer, Levinson Wood. What was particularly great about this edition was the number of articles which were submitted from a range of budding journalists

in various year groups. Special thanks must go to Mr. Bown and Miss Chidoub for their support and guidance as well as to the HABS Geographical teams from both schools. We hope you all enjoy reading

this issue of the magazine and that it inspires you to start writing for the next one!

Shivani Shah-Knowles (Year 13) and Charlie Mack (Year 13)

Spotlight on…BORDERS– Mr J S Bown 2

Is globalisation creating a borderless world? – Yasmin Shah (Year 13) 4

A borderless Europe? – Saurav Karia (Year 13) 6

Creating borders– Anushka Conway (Year 13) 8

Africa’s crude borders– Jack Briggs (Year 13) 10

Enclaves: the world’s strangest borders? – James Wirth (Year 9) 12

The borders of the Middle East– Joe Koopman (Year 12) 14

Habs Geographical interview with Levinson Wood– Jacob New (Year 13) 16

Habs Geographical Crossword 18

Habs Geographical Quiz 19

Habs Geographical interview with Miss Chidoub– Shivani Shah-Knowles (Year 13) 20

Inequality and poverty in India– Raeman Banaik (Year 12) 22

Placeless migration: The Rohingya people– Anna Glanville (Year 12) 24

Sustainable cities: Green Roofs– Stephanie Frank (Year 10) 26

Coral reefs: hidden treasures– Anna Whitehead (Year 11) 28

Polish migration to the UK– Ania Kurzawinska (Year 12) 30

Northcott Travel Scholarship: South East Asia– George Tillisch (Year 13) 32

Challenging assumptions: A meat-free alternative – Hettie Brown (Year 12) 33

Book review: ‘The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone’ by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett– Jack Briggs (Year 13) 34

Book review: ‘The Plundered Planet: How to Reconcile Prosperity with Nature’ by Paul Collier– Joshua Harrison (Year 13) 35

The last word: the future of borders 2015-2060?– Joe Vaughan (Year 11) 36

HABS Geographical crossword and quiz answers 37

HABSGEOGRAPHICAL

I S S U E 1 4 A U T U M N / W I N T E R 2 0 1 5

At the end of the twentieth century there were those who denied the influence and

role of geography in shaping nations. The simplistic ‘end of geography’ thesis was

rooted in the multi-strand process which dominated the second half of the century,

globalisation, and bolstered by the end of the Cold War which signalled to some a

new world order in which the role and purpose of international borders was open

to question. Thus in a time space converged world, the ‘borderless’ argument gained

momentum.

Spotlight on…BORDERSMR J S BOWN

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The truth of the matter is that reality has not been able to free itself from geography. As Solarz (2015) states “despite the blinding pace of globalisation, territories, distances and borders have not lost their meaning: quite simply geography still matters.” In 2015, borders continue

to be contested, created, redefined and reimagined over both the land and the world’s oceans. International borders have remained very much in the media spotlight over the past two years – in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, the USA and Mexico, the Middle East, the Arctic, Hungary

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and most recently with China’s ‘artificial’ islands in the South China Sea.

Within the field of Geopolitical research, whilst it is generally accepted that in a post-9/11 world, a border has reverted “to one of its traditional key functions: that of a defensive barrier” (Schofield, 2015), there has interestingly also been a focus on looking at the uniqueness of each border (a boundary biography) and the places which exist within these borderlands.

Now more than ever, borders say a lot about countries’ relationships. The borders between friendly nations, especially those in the European Union’s Schengen zone, can seem almost non-existent, marked by no more than a line or a road sign. Other borders are delineated by natural markers like mountains, or by man-made markers, like guarded fences and demilitarized zones.

With 90% of the world’s population never leaving the place that they are born, for them nations, countries, boundaries and borders still

matter a great deal in the twenty-first century, which is why our basic political geography (how we distribute ourselves around the world) is still a major problem which needs solving. n

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References:Schofield, R. (2015) ‘Back to the barrier function: where

next for international boundary and territorial disputes in political geography?’, Geography, Volume 100, Part 3, pp133-143.

Solarz, M.W (2015) ‘The end of geography and the power of maps’ Geography, Volume 100, Part 3, pp169-173.

Further reading/watching:Book: Robert Kaplan (2013) - The Revenge of

Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate.

TED lecture: Parag Khanna - Mapping the future of countries.

Many people think the lines on the map no longer matter, but Parag Khanna says they do. Using maps of the past and present, he explains the root causes of border conflicts worldwide and proposes simple yet cunning solutions for each.

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This image below of a map of the world rendered only in flight paths to me presents a stark, visual representation of how vastly connected our world is in today’s society. A rise in social media, an increase in international tourism and the growth of transnational corporations are all factors which have created this interconnected

Globalisation is a multi-strand process which has created an interdependent and

convereged multi-polar world, but a borderless one?

Is globalisation creating a borderless world?

global community. Globalisation, which can be defined as the integration of national and regional economies, societies and cultures through the global network of trade, communication, immigration and transportation, has reduced our perception of borders and distance. Considering the ease of

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YASMIN SHAH (YEAR 13)

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movement of goods, people and ideas across borders, many have begun to question whether borders have lost their significance in today’s society due to the impact that globalisation has had on connecting our world.

Many analysts believe that globalisation has blurred the economic distinctions between countries, creating a “borderless world” in which financial decisions are made without reference to national boundaries. The rise of transnational corporations shows how businesses have grown to a macro-scale. Technology has granted ordinary business owners access to global markets and many manufacturing companies take advantage of international locations with cheap labour costs and availability of resources. The ability to locate in, sell to and buy from locations across the world has led to national borders becoming somewhat meaningless in the economic sector, giving the appearance of a more borderless society.

The globalisation of business has also led to the spread of cultures and social customs to beyond the confines of a country’s borders. An example of this can be seen in China’s new investment in Africa in exchange for raw materials. This trade fuels China’s economic growth and in return China is helping Africa

develop. Working closely with Africa has meant that many elements of the Chinese culture have spread to the continent. In many towns, buildings have Chinese characters on them, the buses are Chinese and learning the language has become very popular among university students in Khartoum, where many go on to work in Chinese industries. This illustrates how the Chinese culture, which due to the historic reign of the emperors was once very insulated and confined within its borders, has now spread to beyond its national boundaries.

However, even with the huge rise of globalisation in today’s society, the crossing and the demarcation of borders continue to play a central role in some of the most pressing geopolitical conflicts of our generation; most notably the recent migrant crisis. Overall, globalisation has decreased the significance of borders in relation to some of their economic and social functions. However, borders continue to play a strong political role in society. Since ancient times they have carried connotations of power and national pride. This function of borders has not been affected by globalisation. Therefore, even though some areas appear more borderless in today’s society, globalisation is still far from creating a borderless world. n

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SAURAV KARIA (YEAR 13)

A borderless Europe?

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On the first of January 2002, history’s largest currency changeover occurred. This

changeover was a challenge of unseen proportions involving banking sectors,

retailing companies and the overall public of the Eurozone. Is a Eurozone

‘borderless’ Superstate the solution for preventing further economic turmoil

occurring in the future?

The theory that the Eurozone is fundamentally a flawed system has been disputed by many different parties.

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The Nobel-prize winning Canadian economist Robert Mundell explained the need for participants of a currency union to have similar business cycles in his 1961 paper; a boom in one member’s economy should be well reflected in another’s. However, there is a lack of compatibility which can be seen through the comparison of Germany with Greece, where the latter relies on a much larger primary sector of employment with exports predominantly directed throughout Europe. Whereas, Germany has a larger secondary sector of employment with production being brought to a larger international scale. This inconsistency is

highlighted further by the differences in the sizes of their economies across the Eurozone; whereas Portugal, Ireland and Greece retain economies placed between 44th and 46th in size globally and Italy, France and Germany are placed between 4th and 8th. A large disruption such as the 2008 Financial Crisis, therefore, would affect Eurozone member states very differently.

The theory that the Eurozone is fundamentally a flawed system has been disputed by many different parties.

The Monetary Policy of the Eurozone is controlled by the European Central Bank, whilst the Fiscal and Supply-Side Policies across the Eurozone are left to the governments of each sovereign state, involving very little international intervention. This clear contrast in control has resulted in a flawed structural system, whereby a country’s Fiscal Policy may not necessarily compliment the Monetary Policy declared by the European Central Bank, nor be consistent across the area. Mundell also conveyed that one of the major requirements member states should adhere to is a risk-sharing mechanism in which the wealth generated throughout the area can be redistributed accordingly through internationally controlled fiscal policy.

In practice, although this fiscal union is very difficult to introduce whilst retaining

sovereignty in each state, it brings into context how

the theoretical strengths of a ‘borderless’ currency union may not translate into real terms. n

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five countries, has led to multiple disputes. These waters are in demand as the untapped natural resources that lie beneath the seabed could bring wealth and boost the economic growth of these countries. Currently each Arctic country is limited to an Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 nautical miles from its coast, yet it is allowed to

claim an ‘Extended Continental Shelf ’ area. If these claims are valid, the

country is given exclusive rights to the resources

on or below that area of seabed.

Creating borders ANUSHKA CONWAY (YEAR 13)

The majority of the Arctic Circle is owned by one of five countries – Russia, Canada, Norway, Denmark or the United States. However, the seas surrounding the North Pole are not owned by a single nation, therefore they are classified as international waters. Evidently, the large amount of water unclaimed, or rather off-limits to these

A border is defined as a line separating two countries, administrative divisions, or

other areas. But what happens when a border is created, extended or moved? And

what if this happens in the seas or oceans which are arguably ‘borderless’? In this

instance borders become even more of a challenging and sensitive geopolitical

matter to address and manage.

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Canada was the first country to extend its boundaries towards the North Pole in 1925. The USSR (now Russia) then declared territory in the Arctic Circle in April of the following year. Historically the extension of territory signified an increase in power. Even in the present day, claims to extend national boundaries further into the sea exist, however the motivations behind gaining new territory have changed. The five Arctic nations want access to fish, diamonds, possible shipping routes and potential economic

gain from lucrative petroleum and natural gas reserves that exist below the sea floor.

Another emerging issue regarding the extension of borders is that of land reclamation. This occurs when countries reclaim land within a sea or ocean to create islands, allowing the expansion of their territory to include under sea resources. The South China Sea comprises of areas owned by many different countries, including China, who is reclaiming land within the sea at a rapid rate. It is attempting to expand its territory within the South China Sea, however not in a strictly fair way. China is creating ‘artificial’ islands by dredging existing areas or creating artificial bases to build up an island to above sea level. A new Pentagon report states that China’s reclamation of landmass among a string of artificial islands in the South China Sea has grown dramatically in recent months. Concerns have arisen that these new islands will be used for military purposes. Although these allegations may be a result of past international disagreements and may not be strictly true, this serves as a modern day example of how unnerving countries’ illegal attempts to gain territory can be. n

A gas well above the Arctic circle.

The five Arctic nations want access to fish, diamonds, possible shipping routes and potential economic gain...

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Have you ever noticed how the borders of African countries are remarkably straight? It certainly looks simpler and must have been easier to draw up, but have you ever thought of the effect these straightened borders may have on the continent’s people, its search for peace and prosperity?

Africa’s national borders were drawn up by Europe’s colonial powers at the Berlin Conference in 1913. These territorial claims were made without regard to geographical, historical or ethnic factors and unfortunately, the same borders were still largely in place when the European powers left the continent after the Second World War as many countries sought independence.

The consequences of the disregard to geography from the European colonial powers led to many African ethnicities becoming

Africa’s crude borders

JACK BRIGGS (YEAR 13)

Europe’s arbitrary post-colonial borders left Africans

bunched into countries that don’t represent their

heritage, a contradiction that still troubles them today.

divided by the borders drawn up by outsiders. The legacy of the Berlin Conference has meant many ethnic groups lacked (and still lack) a united homeland, with some still being under the governance of other ethnic groups, despite a recent resurgence in African society becoming more democratic and demanding self-determination along ethnic lines. As a result, this ethnic division provokes a number of damaging impacts over different spatial and temporal scales.

Firstly, statistics show partitioned ethnic groups suffer more warfare with longer and more devastating effects. Secondly, and perhaps most crucially these wars have the potential to spill across the borders into neighbouring countries to the diaspora of the affected ethnic

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groups. An example of this divide is the Maasai people, separated by the Tanzania-Kenya border. Friction between the minority Maasai and the ruling Kenyans frequently surfaces. In January 2015, one Maasai was killed and seven were injured after Kenyan police opened fire on them during a protest. The Maasai were protesting to a local governor who they claimed was misappropriating funds from a Maasai game reserve. There are numerous other examples of ethnic clashes on the continent, many bloodier and more devastating than this.

Arguably, these situations would not have arisen if the European powers had considered the ethnic differences when drawing the borders.

So what can be done about it? In a globalised world, as many Africa

nations aspire to become one of the ‘Lion’ economies and seek South-South trade links with one of BRICs or MINTs, it is arguably too late to redraw the borders as too much geopolitical water has passed under the bridge. Maybe globalisation for some countries is the process which can narrow the development gap and reduce ethnic clashes as ethnicities converge? Nevertheless, to redraw the borders could be the tipping point for what is an already divided and unstable continent and result in more conflict along ethnic lines and more bloodshed for a continent that has already seen too much. n

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JAMES WIRTH (YEAR 9)

An enclave is a country or part of a country, which is completely surrounded by foreign

land. But what is the geography of an enclave and how do the borders work in reality?

Enclaves – the world’s strangest borders?

Take the Belgian town of Baarle, situated five kilometres away from the Belgian border, inside of the Netherlands. The town consists of 22 Belgian enclaves, which in turn contain 7 Dutch counter enclaves (an enclave inside an enclave). What’s more is that the positions of the enclaves are not logical in the slightest, which results in a jumbled mess of Belgian and Dutch territory. In fact, the borders are so complicated, there are lines painted all over the town to mark where one country ends and the other starts.

Both countries use the same supplies for amenities such as gas and water, however in the town of Baarle there are 2 police forces, 2 churches, and each country has its own sources

of electricity. The area even has two official names, (Baarle Hertog & Baarle Nassau) even though it’s technically the same town! The border passes through cafes, roads, and even people’s houses, so you could wake up in one country and have breakfast in another! Thankfully for the inhabitants of Baarle, Europe’s Schengen treaty means that they can move between the two countries freely.

However, by far the most intricate border in the world was the India-Bangladeshi border. It consisted of 102 Indian enclaves within Bangladesh and 71 Bangladeshi enclaves within India, with 21 and three counter enclaves respectively. There was even an Indian counter-counter enclave (an Indian village inside a

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Bangladeshi settlement within India within Bangladesh)!

This was actually a very serious issue, because unlike the borders in Baarle, the Indian-Bangladeshi borders weren’t open, so if you lived in a small Indian enclave, it was impossible to travel out of your enclave into mainland India, effectively trapping you. Not only this, but neither country uses the same currency, and in some small enclaves, there was a lack of certain services, such as schools and hospitals, or even running water and electricity. Emergency services such as the police aren’t allowed to cross through the other country to reach an enclave, so crime was very prevalent in some areas.

However on the 6th June 2015, four decades after negotiations begun between the two countries to simplify their border, the two countries decided to swap over 150 pieces of land. Over 50,000 inhabitants were able to choose which nationality they wanted to have.

Above: the

location of

Campione d’Itali

Left: the enclave

of Dahala

Khagrabari

There are several other examples of enclaves, such as the Italian town Campione d’Italia, which is in fact surrounded by Switzerland, Azerbaijani enclaves in Armenia and Armenian enclaves in Azerbaijan. Borders should be a simple way of defining where one country ends and another starts, however in many instances, this is not quite the case. Where such borders are problematic, countries should seek to emulate the Bangladesh-India model of resolving the border issues. n

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EGYPT

SAUDI ARABIA

IRAQ IRAN

OMAN

YEMEN

QATAR

KUWAIT

ISRAEL

JORDAN

PALESTINE

LEBANON

SYRIA

TURKEY

UAE

Has the Middle East ceased to exist in its geographical borders?

The borders of the Middle East

JOE KOOPMAN (YEAR 12)

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The borders of the Middle East in the twentieth century emerged at the end of the colonial era after World War One. The borders were constructed by Britain and France in 1918, in the ‘Sykes-Picot’ agreement. Britain was the main occupier of the region, given significant amounts of land by Clemenceau, Prime Minister of France, including the huge Ottoman Imperial province of Mosul, home to Sunni Arabs, Kurds and plentiful oil supplies.

The people within these borders, however, disputed them as they had been drawn up by outsiders.

In the Middle East today there are 17 states, 46 boundaries and an average of 4.7 borders per state. The latter creates a geopolitical hotspot and the borders of 1918 seem outdated. Stephen Hadley, who served as George W. Bush’s national security advisor, now chairs the US Institution of Peace, and

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EGYPT

SAUDI ARABIA

IRAQ IRAN

OMAN

YEMEN

QATAR

KUWAIT

ISRAEL

JORDAN

PALESTINE

LEBANON

SYRIA

TURKEY

UAE

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Left: Jigsaw map of the present day Middle East borders.

Below: The Israeli West Bank separation barrier in East

Jerusalem.

states that the real problem in the Middle East is not just “the collapse of the borders but also what this has caused inside them.” The Ottomans created rulings with imperialist ambitions, often ignoring the desires of the local people. These borders have survived a century of independence, revolution, and war within them. A geographical map of the area from 1930 looks nearly identical to one in 2013. A consequence of the creation of the borders in the Middle East was the partition of the Kurds, who today number close to 25 million, divided between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Furthermore, Shiite Arabs were split between Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia. The Alawites, a subsect of Shiite Arabs, were split between the northern Lebanese, Syrian, and southwestern Turkish coasts. The Druze population were spread across today’s Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. This echoes what Mr. Hadley said in his speech in

that the Western ruler borders have created a geographical divide within the strong bonds of these communities.

The recent events in Syria and the move towards an Islamic State Caliphate suggest the traditional borders have become redundant as large parts of both countries lie beyond the central governments’ control. The rise of Islamic State corresponds with this meltdown of the governments’ control of borders, with the Sunni groups’ extremist leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, proclaiming to erase the shame of the “Sykes-Picot conspiracy.” Francois Ricciardone, former US ambassador to Turkey and Egypt, said “what we are witnessing is the demise of the post-Ottoman order, the demise of the legitimate states.”

Judging by the present situation, it is clear that the Middle East’s borders will continue to be contested and be challenged by those forces both inside and out. n

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Although made famous for walking the Nile, his thirst for adventure began whilst at university. He and a friend journeyed through Jordan, Turkey and Iraq before eventually hitchhiking all the way back to England. A year later he set off again, this time alone, through Central Asia following the famous Silk Road to India. I asked how he felt about the solitude of such a journey and was interested to hear how therapeutic he found it, not having to stick to a schedule and being in complete control by himself.

Whilst he enjoys travelling alone, Lev clearly enjoys meeting other people and understands how crucial it is to build strong relationships when travelling through their communities. The ability to build a rapport quickly was essential on his Nile expeditions, whether it was seeking help and guidance walking through war-torn

HABS Geographical interview with the explorer Levinson Wood

Levison Wood is a modern day explorer. During 2013–14 he became the first person

ever to walk the length of the Nile; a feat which he recounts in a fascinating book

and featured in a Channel 4 documentary. Having read his book and seen him talk

at the Royal Geographical Society, I arranged an interview to discuss both the Nile

expedition and many of his other escapades.

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By JACOB NEW (YEAR 13)

South Sudan or simply immersing himself in the local culture. We talked at length about a number of friendships that he developed whilst trekking down the Nile but one thing that struck me was the transient nature of these relationships. Lev was quite phlegmatic about them, describing their brevity as simply “the nature of the beast”. By contrast, he built up a particularly close bond with his guide Boston, who led him from Rwanda to the Sudd swamp in Sudan. Lev later flew him to England, describing him as a “friend for life”.

He spoke of two very different occasions on the trip where his resilience was really tested. The first was when his friend Matt Power (an American journalist who had come to accompany him) died from heat exhaustion. Lev talked of how this made him question the ethics

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of the trip as he felt that he was putting others in danger; he even considered quitting. However he knew that, if anything, this tragedy made it even more important for him to continue, explaining, “if I didn’t finish then the whole thing would be a waste of time”. The second greatest challenge for Lev came quite simply from boredom. After leaving the Sudanese war zone he was faced with a long walk of 250

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...he had already been walking for six months and still wasn’t half way.

miles through monotonous surroundings up to Khartoum; he had already been walking for six months and still wasn’t half way. I was struck by the passion, strength and determination it took to complete such a test of psychological, as well as physical, endurance.

We ended our conversation much as we started, discussing his love of travel before the Nile expedition. As someone who is planning to take a gap year before university I couldn’t resist the temptation to ask for some advice. I was taken aback by how fondly he spoke of his gap year experiences: “the best decision I ever made”. He recommended travelling alone (as he did) as it forces you to meet new people. All in all, Lev was an inspirational, charming man and a pleasure to talk to – and I’m now busy planning my gap year! n

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Habs Geographical CrosswordC

API

TAL

CIT

IES with help from Elisha Kramer and Thea Kay

Down1. The Danube River runs through this capital city.2. This capital city famously has the same name as the

hit song by George Ezra.4. The Portuguese capital city. 5. Sombreros originated in this capital city.9. Home to Europe’s most successful football team.10. The capital city of Thailand.12. It is built on 14 islands and connected by 57

bridges.13. The city overlooked by Table Mountain.14. The world’s most populated inland city.17. This city has some of the most extravagant foods

such as snails and frogs’ legs.18. Hosted the 2008 Olympics. 19. Chips were invented here.22. The capital of Peru.

Across3. Home to the 155km wall that famously got

destroyed in 1989. 6. This city was where Anne Frank’s annexe was hidden.7. The capital city of Australia.8. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is located in

this city.11. The city where the President of the United States lives.15. Slurping your food is seen as a compliment in this

capital.16. The northernmost capital of an EU member state.19. This city is known as the ‘capital’ of the EU.20. The home of a huge eye that looks over the Thames.21. The National Galley houses Edvard Munch’s ‘The

Scream’.23. Many centuries ago a road network of 53,000 miles

was built through the empire.24. The capital city of the Czech Republic.25. A port city founded by Spanish colonists in 1521.

HABS GEOGRAPHICAL GIRLS’ TEAM

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N.B Spaces between words do count in this crossword. For example, if the answer was

Mexico City, 11 answer squares would be filled as the space between the two words

would count as one answer square.

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with help from Jacob New and Jack Briggs.

Habs Geographical Quiz

Easy 1. What is the name of the

tallest mountain in Africa?

2. Which African country has the largest population?

3. In what decade was the first ascent of Mt. Everest?

4. What is the capital of Turkey?

5. What is the third longest river in the world?

6. What is the city with the largest population in USA?

7. The Bay of Bengal is part of which ocean?

8. In what year was the famous ‘Boxing day Tsunami’ which occurred in the Indian Ocean?

9. What is the largest lake in England?

10. What river runs through the Grand Canyon?

Medium 11. What famous address is

located at postcode SW1A 2AA?

12. Which state does not share a border with Texas; New Mexico, Missouri or Arkansas?

13. What is the most widely spoken language in the world?

14. How many countries are there in the world?

15 . What is the 4th most populous country after China, India and the US?

16. Which country in the Americas produces the world’s largest amount of beef?

17. What is the capital of Cyprus?

18. Which region occupies the ‘toe’ of Italy?

19. In which Asian island is Brunei situated?

20. The Sierra Maestra Mountains are in which Caribbean country?

Answers to the Crossword and the Quiz on inside back cover.

HABS GEOGRAPHICAL BOYS’ TEAM

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Hard21. What was the second

largest city in Russia in 1980?

22. What is the capital of Burkina Faso?

23. In terms of number of trains passing through per day, what is London’s busiest railway station?

24. Which Asian country has 22 official languages?

25. Which of these languages from the previous question is a palindrome (spelled the same backwards)?

26. Which two capital cities are furthest apart by distance?

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So far what’s been your favourite part of HABS?Working with so many brilliant students and teachers! It is fantastic to spend each day with students who really want to learn and be successful. It is evident from lessons that Habs girls have a wealth of knowledge about, and a genuine interest in, the world around them, which is so important for Geography as it is a dynamic subject which is evolving constantly. I have also been impressed with the enthusiasm shown by the Sixth Form geographers and their willingness to help out and get involved at every opportunity, from creating model globes at Geography Club to making a rainforest

Why did you decide to do a Geography degree?I loved the holistic nature of Geography and its immediate relevance to contemporary global issues. I studied both arts and science subjects at A-level and I was keen to study a subject at university that spanned a broad content spectrum. I attended a Sixth Form taster course at Oxford that involved accompanying undergraduates to lectures and tutorials in subjects such as Biochemistry and Medicine as well as Geography – but it was a fabulous yet hard-hitting lecture on the issues in the Niger Delta that confirmed that Geography was the subject for me.

HABS Geographical interview with Miss ChidoubShivani Shah-Knowles (Year 13) interviews the new Head of Geography at the

Girls’ School about the importance of Geography and her favourite aspects of this

multifaceted discipline.

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‘selfie-board’ for Open Day! On top of that, the Geography Department are full of passion and enthusiasm and it really is infectious – we have so many exciting ideas and I am looking forward to making them happen.

Why do you think Geography is such an important subject to study?Geography is fascinating as it helps us to make sense of global challenges such as climate change, migration and glaring inequality, as well as helping us to solve contemporary UK problems such as where to build new houses and how to manage flooding. It encourages us to think synoptically and consider different perspectives, using not just words but also data and statistics.

Geographers often take their plethora of skills for granted, but they are recognised and highly valued by employers; according to the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, Geography graduates have one of the lowest unemployment levels of any subject. A recent article in The Guardian noted “geography’s all the rage… a star is born”.

What’s your favourite aspect of the subject?Before heading to university I considered myself to be a physical geographer, although I was keen to continue studying both human and physical geography throughout my degree which is why the Oxford course was so appealing. Human geography was so different at degree level and I loved the Development and Globalisation aspects, which are so contemporary and have links to most current global issues. I ended up winning the prize for Human Geography Finals – so I always encourage my geography students to keep an open mind! Do you have any exciting plans for the upcoming year?There is nothing like seeing geographical theory spring to life in front of you, and there are so many inspiring places in the world that can really help to cultivate a love of the subject… so I am keen to introduce an international Geography trip. Watch this space! And lastly what do you have to say to those who think Geography is simply just colouring? I usually humour them and laugh along, and then go on to talk about the wonders of the demographic transition model, fluvioglaciation, cumulative causation etc. etc. – there is nothing like a little bit of intellectual ‘know-how’ to put them in their place! n

Geography graduates have one of the lowest unemployment levels of any subject.

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and growing inequality unfolded. The figures are frightening. According to household consumer expenditure data per person, the monthly expenditure in 2014 in rural India was estimated at 128100 rupees, contrasted with 240168 rupees in urban India, meaning that the per capita expenditure level of urban India is 87.4% higher than that of rural India. The tragedy does not end here. The top 10% of wage earners

Sitting on board the notoriously famous Indian Railway, outside the window a deep-rooted story behind India’s ever-changing landscape

Inequality and poverty in IndiaWhy is such severe inequality and poverty still prevalent in India?

RAEMAN BANAIK (YEAR 12)

Following on from Priyanka Popat’s

excellent article investigating the Indian

poverty gap (Issue 12), Raeman Banaik’s

recent travel experiences encouraged

him to take a closer look at this issue.

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Many slums are

situated next to

railway lines, as

pictured here

in Mumbai.

According

to a 2010

census, 62%

of Mumbai’s

citizens live in

slums.

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now make 12 times more than the bottom 10% resulting in India’s Gini coefficient (the official measure of income inequality), to rise from 0.32 to 0.38, with 0 being the ideal score.

On visiting a slum outside Delhi, I spoke to a widow who said “If we eat in the morning, we have to go without food in the evening and if we eat in the evening, then we don’t know where to get food for the morning”. This shocking reality was amplified by the juxtaposition of the slum with the surrounding new luxury apartments occupied by the city’s wealthiest. Much of India’s money goes into schemes for the poor, including subsidies for food and fertilisers, but the majority of this does not reach those who need it the most due to an inefficient delivery system. In order to tackle this problem of inequality it is imperative to give voice to the oppressed groups

in society and eliminate caste discrimination. The government can introduce land reforms in order to prevent control over resources and minerals making them accessible for all, as well as raising taxation for the wealthy and investing heavily in education and training programmes aimed at the less fortunate in the hope of closing the gap

Nonetheless, India has achieved remarkable progress since its independence. Significant economic and industrial development has been made, pulling the country much closer to self-sufficiency than ever before. India displays a rapidly expanding middle-class, blessed with opportunity, goods and services. However, inequality is still prevalent in India, mainly due to socioeconomic structures limiting the opportunities for the poor and sending them into further poverty. n

2323

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Last year 59.5 million people left their homes due to conflict, persecution or violations of their human rights. This is a 13.4% rise in global migration and is due to keep rising. Many predictions say that climate change will cause further mass migration and that nearly 200 million people could be displaced by 2050. Climate Change has already been linked to migration and the drought in Syria is seen as a cause of the conflict there which in turn has led to a large number of migrants leaving the country.

The Rohingya people are a Muslim ethnic minority group in Myanmar. They face persecution from the government as they are not recognised as an ethnic group. Myanmar sees the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh despite them having lived in Myanmar for generations. To escape the persecution and violence they face, thousands of Rohingya people migrated from Bangladesh and Myanmar to South East Asia. The UN has estimated that between January and March this

Placeless migration: The Rohingya people

ANNA GLANVILLE (YEAR 12)

Migration is a global issue and challenge but much of it

is unreported by Western media. Placeless people and

their migration has recently become an area of focus.

year, over 250,000 migrants have attempted to move into nearby countries, such as Malaysia and Sri Lanka. To get to these other countries migrants have to pay people traffickers large sums of money in order to get on board boats which are not fit for purpose and are often overcrowded. The journey across the Bay of Bengal is dangerous and thousands are left stranded at sea, whilst others die from starvation or drown. Those countries that have experienced an influx of migrants onto their shores and across their terrestrial borders have tightened their controls, and so migrants are spending longer at sea in dangerous waters. Illegal boats arriving onto Thailand’s shores are towed away back out to sea where they have nowhere to go.

Rohingya people

living in a

refugee camp.

24

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The countries receiving migrants don’t want them and many follow Thailand’s example.

The Royingya people have no home and are unwanted by other countries. These countries only reluctantly accept some migrants and have time limits on how long they can stay in the country. The stories of stranded migrants in the Bay of Bengal do not appear in our news broadcasts like the migrants of Europe do, and therefore little is being done to help them. Urgent international attention is needed to encourage Western governments to appeal and put pressure on Myanmar’s government, in order to address and resolve this issue, so that the Rohingya rights and culture can be protected. n

The journey across the Bay of Bengal is dangerous and thousands are left stranded at sea, whilst others die from starvation or drown.

Some of the

migration routes

used by the

Rohingya.

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how dense vegetation can minimise the heat entering a building via its roof by 60%, proving its effectiveness as a cooling system.

Green Roofs further help to improve air quality by absorbing toxic pollutants, as

France, the world’s arbiter for haute couture now takes aesthetics to a higher level: rooftops.

It has recently passed a new law that states all commercial buildings must be partially covered in either solar panels or plants. These ‘Green Roofs’ - whether featuring grasses, wildflowers or vegetable plants - importantly help insulate buildings, thus reducing the need for both air conditioning and heating. A study led by Spanish researchers demonstrated

Sustainable cities: Green Roofs

STEPHANIE FRANK (YEAR 10)

Cities, now home to more than half the world’s

population, face complex and systemic problems. In

June 2015 academics from both London and Paris

met to discuss how their cities will adapt to climate

change. This article looks at one aspect of making

Paris more sustainable – Green Roofs!

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well as significantly decreasing the urban heat island effect. They also help with storm water management as the water is stored by the

substrate (underlying substance or layer), then is absorbed by plants, then

returned to the atmosphere via evapotranspiration.

In densely populated cities they additionally provide a habitat for urban wildlife, such as bird nests, and enable urban horticulturists to grow food on vertical allotments. As space is limited within bustling and

ever expanding cities, Green Roofs also open up

new recreational areas for community gardens and foster

a sense of local community. However, Green Roofs do have

their disadvantages: Firstly, as with many forms of sustainable urban ideas or initiatives they are not cheap to install and maintain. Furthermore, their price and complexity may discourage homeowners and developers to invest in them. On balance though, a 2008 study by the University of Michigan showed that the benefits of Green Roofs do outweigh the additional initial investment in the long term if they are maintained.

Arguably, Green Roofs are a very positive step forward towards more eco-friendly cities. For there are so many unused rooftops in cities today that could potentially instantaneously cover their own power needs, as solar photovoltaics can be seamlessly integrated within an urban setting. n

2727

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On a rainy day in the first few weeks of the holidays, two friends and I decided to visit the Natural History Museum to see the Coral Reefs - Secret Cities exhibition. I bought the exhibit book afterwards to continue learning about these interesting ecosystems and

Coral reefs: hidden

treasures

Coral reefs have survived tens of thousands of years of natural change, but many of them may not be able

to survive the havoc brought by recent anthropogenic change. In this article, Anna Whitehead explores her interest in

coral reefs and why they matter so much.

ANNA WHITEHEAD (YEAR 11)

although it may sound strange I have always had a fascination with coral reefs. Their intricate beauty (modern corals have six-fold symmetry), the vast amount of life they sustain and the role they play in protecting our coastlines is incomparable.

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My cousin, who lives with the majority of my family in the Philippines, has been busy launching a programme designed to help the conservation of coral reefs. Named ‘Kiko & Stitch’, the software allows divers’ photos to be geotagged, centralised, and “stitched” together, thus creating a digital record of the beauty of the Philippines’ coral reefs.

Later in the holidays, my brother and I travelled to Australia. Our final destination was Port Douglas, a small tourist town from which a plethora of day trips can be taken to

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beautiful destinations, such as to the ancient Daintree Rainforest, The Great Barrier Reef or Cape Tribulation - the only place on the planet where two world heritage sites co-exist within metres of each other. On our first day we took a trip to the Great Barrier Reef which was to say the least, remarkable. The schools of fish, vivid colours and vast expanses of reef were astounding. My highlight was spotting a small green sea turtle, nibbling at coral undernea th us. To see the Great Barrier Reef in real life, after reading about it for such a long time, was a memorable experience. The Australians have carefully monitored the effects of tourism on the reef and consequently the reef has been able to thrive. Rising global sea temperatures however pose the greatest threat. Conserving reefs is no longer a biological problem, but a problem for society and politicians. Moving forward, pollution must be eliminated, global carbon dioxide emissions must fall and our use of this unique ecosystem must be regulated, if we want to preserve their beauty for future generations. n

To see the Great Barrier Reef in real life, after reading about it for such a long time, was a memorable experience.

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On 1 May 2004, Poland joined the European Union along with seven other eastern European countries. The UK was one of just three member states that allowed the new EU citizens immediately to work without restriction within its borders, with the then Labour government estimating that around 13,000 Poles would move

Polish people have a long history of immigration, and whilst Polish migration to the

UK is not a new, Ania Kurzawinska offers a personal insight into how migration across

borders can lead to social mobility.

ANIA KURZAWINSKA (YEAR 12)

30

to the UK. This was proved to be very wrong as a 2006 survey showed that out of 447,000 migrants that applied to work in the UK 62% were Polish and by 2011 there were 579,000 Poles in England.

The influx of Poles was due to the high unemployment rates in Poland and the huge social and economic benefits the UK was

Polish migration to the UK

30

offering. Polish workers could earn five times as much in the Britain and there was an incredibly high demand for unskilled labour. For example, between October-December 2007 there were an estimated 607,000 job vacancies in the UK.

Arrivals of large groups of immigrants, prepared to work for low wages caused there to be a negative effect on the rates of pay. From 2007 onwards, day rates in some construction industries fell by up to 50% following the arrival of immigrants. Some cases have shown that migrants are being paid below the minimum wage because of the fact that Poles tend to work harder for lower pay rates compared to their English contemporaries. Consequently, racial tension can also emerge as the Poles have been seen to be taking the ‘British people’s jobs’. However, the reality of

31

...out of 447,000 migrants that applied to work in the UK 62% were Polish and by 2011 there were 579,000 Poles in England.

the situation according to many employers was an English apathy to low-skilled labour.

It is important to emphasise that many Poles have great success in Britain and do not fit the stereotype of having a low paid unskilled job. Builders especially have been able to work their way up in the managing sector and many Poles have assimilated by opening up ‘Polski Skelps’, enabling them to run successful businesses. My father, a Polish migrant from a poor background, is now a very successful surgeon in UCLH, a top London hospital, having moved to England speaking no English 20 years ago. Showing perseverance in the workplace can enable social mobility.

There are two types of polish migrants. Those who want to settle and those who want to earn as much money as they can to send back as remittances to their families, prior to returning themselves.

Due to David Cameron’s promised EU membership referendum in 2017, there has been an increase in the amount of Poles deciding to take British membership. With approved applications up 1,200 per cent in only five years it would appear that Polish migrants will continue to come to Britain. n

31

Northcott Travel Scholarship : South East Asia

GEORGE TILLISCH (YEAR 13)

32

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City and spent a few days there getting over jet lag, after which I headed to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. My first few nights accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City and my flights were all that I booked in advance of this trip because I prefer not having a rigid itinerary.

Arriving in Cambodia, based on my research I was expecting at the very least a capital city, with a similar level of development to Vietnam. The reality was a country plagued by poverty and corruption. Most tourists are unfortunately unlikely to ever see the worst of Cambodian poverty as the majority arrive and stay in Siem Reap, home to Angkor Wat, the world largest religious monument and just one of many in the area. It is certainly worth the journey to see these temples, especially if you can find a time to beat the selfie-stick wielding crowds. After Cambodia, I headed to Laos, a country less

visited than either Vietnam or Cambodia but one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. I had plenty of time to enjoy the views on the numerous boats and buses I took to get through the country, in total something like 45 hours of travelling from bottom to top.

The final part of my trip was an epic bike ride from Hanoi in North Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City in the South. It took nearly three weeks and was just under 2000km. I carried everything I needed in a backpack strapped to my bike and ate whatever was on offer at roadside stops. The journey gave me a unique view into Vietnamese life which I’m not sure I would have gained by sitting inside a train or bus and made the punishing climbs and exhausting heat worth it. Ultimately, this trip gave me a different perspective on my own life in comparison to the daily lives of millions of others as well as some lifelong memories. n

In the summer of 2015 I travelled to South-East Asia and spent six weeks exploring

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Choosing where to go on this trip was not an issue for

me, having enjoyed the taste of Asian culture I experienced during my time in China

and North Korea on two previous trips.

32

Challenging assumptions: A meat-free alternative

HETTIE BROWN (YEAR 12)

33

In today’s society our desire for food, particularly meat, means that livestock covers 45% of the Earth’s total land. Consequently, some suggest that up to 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions are due to livestock and their by-products. The meat and dairy industry use 1/3 of the Earth’s fresh water and for every one pound of fish caught, five pounds of unintended marine species are caught and discarded as by-kill. This food demand (and waste) is arguably not sustainable.

Many questions remain for society and our communities to consider and reflect on. For instance, why are we still eating animal products when livestock is responsible for 65% of nitrous oxide emissions, a greenhouse gas that is 296 times more destructive than CO₂?

Sadly, society in its pursuit of sustainability is tending to look at only short-term, quick win easy solutions, such as government campaigns encouraging us to recycle paper, have shorter showers, and turn the taps off when we are brushing our

Use it up, wear it out, and make it do or do without. Hettie Brown explores the

problems with our dependence of an omnivore diet and looks at a vegetarian

alternative.

teeth. Is this the right when only 5% of USA water use is domestic, contrasting to the water use of 55% from animal agriculture?

Is it not time to wake up and realise that something needs to change? For instance, each day a person who eats a vegan diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 square feet of forested land, 20 lbs CO₂ equivalent, and one animal’s life. Whilst this article does not envisage a sea-change to vegetarianism, it is true that small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can change the world.

Why not try a meat-free Friday this week?

33

educational performance suffered. Similarly, when the roles were reversed, those same children who had been performing poorly were now the best performers. Inequality can create such inferiority complexes and even if they are at a subconscious level, they are damaging to overall performance. The book backs up its relationships with data, plotting income inequality in countries against the incidence of the various social issues. For each, the authors end up saying “the relationship is too strong to be due to chance”. Mathematical analysis of the relationships such as a Spearman’s Rank or PMCC would have been useful but the wealth of data provided and the familiar correlation of each graph is strong enough to support their basic premise. Convincingly, the authors adopt a detached, logic-based approach, not attempting to goad an emotional response from the readers, thereby making the content feel more trustworthy.

One criticism would be in the book’s direct comparisons between countries. For example, the book compares life expectancy between the UK and Sweden, in which the UK is an example of a relatively unequal country and Sweden is an example of a relatively equal one. Life expectancy for every income group in Sweden is higher than in each of the corresponding income groups in the UK and the authors use this fact to support the cornerstone of their argument – greater equality leads to benefits for all regions of the income spectrum. Whilst I do not disagree, the authors attribute the national differences solely to inequality, ignoring other factors such as the different healthcare systems and different cultures.

Overall, the book was a thoroughly enjoyable and agreeable read which I would recommend to anyone. A topical issue such as this, which has relevance to everybody, is hard not to engage with. Despite a few minor aspects of the book which were less convincing, I find that my perspectives on the issue of inequality have been altered by it. Prepare to become a political activist! n

This summer I read The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett who argue that achieving higher levels of equality in our society is within everyone’s interests.

The book starts by saying that economic growth has reached its limit to which it can increase peoples’ happiness, at least in the Developed world. In the last 30 years, the world has got richer but accompanying increases in happiness (according to many measures) have been negligible. The authors state that we should focus not on economic growth, but on increasing levels of equality within society.

The following chapters then explain how various social issues such as crime, health, trust levels, educational performance and teenage pregnancy are all inextricably linked to levels of inequality. Despite some repetition, the book convincingly quotes a range of scientific studies to demonstrate why such issues are prevalent in more unequal societies. For example, when children were made to feel inferior to others, their

‘THE SPIRIT LEVEL Why Equality is Better for Everyone ’Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

A book review by JACK BRIGGS (YEAR 13)

34

governance which resulted in deforestation in Haiti, and that in Nigeria, the system put in place to appropriate funds accrued from oil in the Niger Delta has significantly hampered the country’s urban economic development.

When I think of corruption, I usually don’t think far beyond a company paying off a politician in order for them to legislate favourably towards that company. Collier explains how this cost is even deeper, arguing that the cost of a bribe is twofold in its potential damage. Firstly, resource extraction companies, which are able to afford significant bribes, will significantly underpay for resource extraction rights, which, if purchased at a fair value could create a huge increase of annual GDP in a country. Moreover, he argues that because of the potentially huge financial benefits involved with becoming a politician, corruptible people are more likely to enter politics and to rise up in government. There is every chance that this corrupt minister prevented someone who had integrity and a real desire to serve the public well from ever holding their position, and so the people of that particular country are likely to be even worse off as a result.

This book challenges the reader to think hard about his chains of reasoning and clearly shows the potential positive impact resources could make to some of the poorest in the world. For me personally, it has made me feel grateful for the government we live under in the UK. We have a democracy, fair transparency and freedom of press. Collier shows that these statistically encourage government to act in ways which genuinely benefit its people.

So even if you’re not someone who is interested in the intricacies of how natural resources could reduce poverty dramatically, if you’re someone who has ever felt suspicious about the motivations of the British government, you should pick it up. Things could be a lot worse. n

Paul Collier’s ‘The Plundered Planet: How to Reconcile Prosperity with Nature’ provides analysis of the ways in which natural resource exploitation currently limits the potential development of the ‘bottom billion’.

In this review I would like highlight one thing in particular which I feel the author shines light upon in a way which may not seem obvious – corruption. The revenue coming from natural assets in the bottom billion already exceeds that coming from international aid. However, this revenue would be significantly higher if political corruption did not inhibit the process required for natural assets to really make a difference the bottom billion.

This process is the discovery of resources, the capture of them by the government and the use of the revenues. Corruption, or poor governance, Collier shows is detrimental to each stage of the process, and especially rife in the countries which need good governance the most. He demonstrates how it was poor

‘THE PLUNDERED PLANET How to Reconcile Prosperity with Nature ’Paul Collier

A book review by JOSHUA HARRISON (YEAR 13)

35

The following is my prediction of what a history textbook’s summary of the last 50 years

would look like, only this textbook is from 2065 and there have been many geopolitical

changes in the half century that is now known as the “most dramatic lull in history”.

The future of borders 2015-2060?JOE VAUGHAN (YEAR 11)

During this period of 50 years, five new countries have been added to the UN, and another five have been removed; annexed into their larger, more powerful neighbours. In September 2016 the first of these changes was set in motion when Russia invaded the Ukraine. In Russia’s conquest to claim the strategically important Crimea for their trade to the Mediterranean, a short and bloody battle ensued. The numerical and tactical disparity between the Crimean militia and the Russian army (who were backed by Ukrainian rebels in Kiev) led to Russia’s victory only weeks after their declaration of war. The result of this war was not only the Russian annexation of Crimea but also of much of eastern Ukraine.

In 2023, some of the most brutal warfare in the whole period occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, in what came to be known as the Congolese Genocide, where Mutemba Bhodo (a socialist revolutionary) sought to bring the Congolese people together but in reality began an uncontrollable massacre of the population of the Republic of the Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo eventually won the war in 2025 after two years of guerrilla warfare in the Congolese jungles. Although Bhodo’s original goal was one of social equality, the driving force for the Congolese Military became one of oil - new reserves were found in 2021 in the coastal region of the republic of the Congo.

The war against Islamic State finally came to a conclusion in 2034 after their bombing

of the White House, leading to America’s surrender and the UN subsequently allowing Islamic State to be declared independent. Small scale civil wars ensued; however, the Islamic State caliphate soon became one of the most efficient economies in the Middle East, and by 2050 it was trading with both Russia and China.

Following accusations within the UN that Russia’s border with Finland was becoming increasingly militarised, Moscow helped to establish the puppet state of Novogrod in 2041, although the UN refused to recognise it as a separate state until 2049. Also in 2041, Russia annexed Belarus as tensions increased between Russia and Poland; they thought that Belarus would act as a suitable buffer between themselves and Poland, which had become a powerful European state by that point, if there was a war on the Eurasian border.

The final change in borders came much closer to home as Scotland finally declared independence in 2054 (following one of the most peaceful decades in history aside from feuds between Russia and Poland). Uprisings started in Edinburgh on 4th August, the funeral of Nicola Sturgeon, who spent much of her political career pushing for Scottish independence, sparked a constitution presented to London’s Parliament. Scotland became its own state shortly after that and joined the EU, although its trade with the UK has since been stunted. n

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Crossword puzzle solutions...

1. Vienna; 2. Budapest; 3. Berlin; 4. Lisbon 5. Mexico City;

6. Amsterdam; 7. Canberra; 8. New Delhi; 9. Madrid;

10. Bangkok; 11. Washington DC; 12. Stockholm;

13. Cape town; 14. Moscow; 15. Tokyo; 16. Helsinki;

17. Paris; 18. Beijing; 19. down) Brussels; 19. across)

Bucharest; 20. London; 21. Oslo; 22. Lima; 23.Rome;

24. Prague; 25. San Juan

Quiz answers...

Easy1. Mount Kilimanjaro; 2. Nigeria; 3. 1950s (1953);

4. Ankara; 5. The Yangtze; 6. New York; 7. Indian Ocean;

8. 2004; 9. Lake Windermere ; 10. The Colorado

Medium11. 10 Downing Street; 12. Missouri; 13. Mandarin;

14. 196; 15 .Indonesia; 16. Brazil (19%); 17. Nicosia;

18. Calabria; 19. Borneo; 20. Cuba

Hard21. Leningrad (now St Petersburg); 22. Ouagadougou;

23. Clapham Junction; 24. India; 25. Malayalam;

26. Bogota (capital of Columbia) and Jakarta (capital of

Indonesia)

How many did you get?

Geography EnrichmentThe study of Geography provides a conceptual

framework and holistic perspective to help pupils

and adults alike explore, understand and address

the global challenges of the twenty-first century.

At both Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ and Girls’ Schools, the

Geography departments are committed to providing a

myriad of enrichment opportunities.

i. Write for Habs’ Geographical Magazine’s Spring/

Summer 2016 issue. Further Information overleaf.

ii. Become a member of the Society and attend

Geography club, cross-curricular debates, quizzes and

guest speaker talks.

iii. Read beyond the syllabus. Not all background reading

has to be from a book. The following magazines are

appropriate and all available in the schools’ libraries:

Geographical, Geography Review, The Economist (also

Intelligent Life and Prospect), New Scientist, National

Geographic and any of the broadsheets.

The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ SchoolNurturing Excellence

CONTRIBUTORS

Boys’ team

Editor: Charlie Mack

Deputy Editor: James Cleaver

Head of Publicity: Jacob New

Team: Saurav Karia, Sebastian Pell,

James Benson, Jack Briggs

Girls’ team

Editor: Shivani Shah-Knowles

Head of Society: Yasmin Shah

Team: Anushka Conway, Elise Desplanques,

Tara Davy, Riyana Dyson, Ania Kurzawinska

Heads of Geography

Head of Geography Boys’ School: Mr J S Bown

Head of Geography Girls’ School: Miss Z Chidoub

Interested in having your work published in the next edition of Habs Geographical? Please write an article over the winter break and take photos ready to submit at the start

of the Spring term 2016.

Follow Geography at Habs on our twitter account @habs_geography and @habsgirlsGeog

Keep up to date with the latest Geographical issues targeted to the exams by visiting our Habs Geographical Scoop It page!

HABSGEOGRAPHICAL