Image above: Hunting and living with lions: from the BBC Human planet explorer site.
Related links to Spatialworlds
Geogaction
Spatialworlds website
GeogSpace
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
manning@chariot.net.au
Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'
The human-environment link
A key aspect of the
Environment concept of the Australian Curriculum: Geography is the fact that it
is not only about the physical geography as an end in itself but about how
physical geography (which encompasses the study of the environment) influences humans,
and in turn how humans influence the environment. This is what makes geography
geography, as opposed to Earth Science which is focussed wholly on the physical
processes of the Earth. Such a statement certainly creates some interesting
discussion, particularly with passionate physical geographers. An interesting
side discussion is whether we can do the environmental geography of Mars,
considering Mars does not have any human occupation. We certainly could do some
spatial geography of the features of Mars but would it be environmental
geography - some argue that it would be Mars Science!!
To further the importance of
the human link in geography is supported by the statement from the Australian
Curriculum website which states that the Australian Curriculum: Geography Environment concept:
... is about the
significance of the environment in human life, and the important
interrelationships between humans and the environment.
An important aspect of
the human-environment link is the associated phenomenon of interdependency.
Although we are now moving into the Interconnection concept of the curriculum,
it is important to note that the link is often two-way and in turn creates degrees
of interdependencies between humans and the environment. To elucidate these
links and interdependencies between humans and the environment in my workshops
(and to clarify the Environment concept) I have been using the fantastic video clips from the BBC Human Planet Explorer site. These 3-4 minute clips from vastly contrasting world environments, show some amazing WOW (World
of Wonder) geogstories about important interrelationships between humans
and the environment.
Here are some amazing environment-human geogstories from the Human Planet Explorer site:
