This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the whole list) o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o +
I have to agree with Dave here - we do live on a geologically-active planet, fact, and people do die because of this, fact, and also unfortunately people have short memories, tend to be 'present-biased' (which is economist-speak for the fact that people value and prioritise present imperatives far over future opportunities or past events. In fact it is possible to show that people discount, i.e. devalue, future (or past) opportunities, past lessons, at an annual rate of 30% or more. Try offering a sleection of your friends the gift of £100 now, or £130 in 12 months time, most will choose the £100 now, despite the fact that they're turning down an investment with an APR of 30%. Earthquake survival is often a matter of learning simple but vital lessons, in building, in behaviour (as said, don't do and gawp at a suddenly and unexpectedly receding sea, it's probably the harbinger of a tsuanmi). There's also the concept, which most people don't find distatsetful, of '(s)he didn't die in vain', i.e. any loss of human lif is tragic but perhaps a small consolation to the survivors is that such death may save lives in future. So I can't see too much wrong with using the Japanese tragedy to bring home lessons about survival on an unstable planet, and if we need a memorable phrase such as 'geology in action'then so be it. Maybe the Japanese survivors would disagree, and if so I will certainly revise my opinions, but at present I agree with Dave here. Hillary Shaw Newport Shropshire -----Original Message----- From: Gerhard Muller-Kosack <[email protected]> To: 'Discussion group for map history' <[email protected]> Sent: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 9:20 Subject: RE: [MapHist] [Fwd: Satellite Imagery Before and After Tsunami] This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the whole list) o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + Well, I have been thinking about this too and I feel it is the timing of the invitation to look at those images as "geology/geography in action" which I find offending. Although dead bodies are part of the physical world, they are also part of the living world of grieving humans. It is a positivist view to think that there is a value-free space for science but one doesn't has to be a Marxist to recognise that this is actually not the case and that it is humans bound in history and space making it. I therefore think that the timing is the main issue here. People are still grieving over their lost ones, presumably will never recover their bodies and referring to the illustration of the tsunami as "geology/geography in action" at this moment in time is offending - even when copied in from a newspaper! I feel this is not the time to ponder over theoretical questions unless one wants to buy into the sensationalist nature of the international media. However, I can see that looking and examining those pics after some appropriate time for grief and recovery has gone by would be fine. What do your students think about that? -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David M. Lawrence Sent: 16 March 2011 00:24 To: Discussion group for map history Subject: Re: [MapHist] [Fwd: Satellite Imagery Before and After Tsunami] This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the whole list) o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + Why would you find the line "disturbingly distasteful?" There are a hell of a lot more serious things to get disturbed about -- such as the dire situation at the Fukushima Daichi plant. And frankly, I see nothing distasteful, either -- unlike the Twitter jokes that got the AFLAC guy fired. I can see getting upset over something worth getting upset over. This doesn't seem to be one of those things. Dave P.S. As a physical geographer, I have to say that it is quite accurate to refer to videos of oncoming tsunami, etc., as "geography in action." I try to teach my students that a knowledge of geography can save their lives -- and it can. Too bad many miss the message because their too busy playing with their iPhones. On 3/15/2011 6:17 PM, Gerhard Muller-Kosack wrote: > This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the whole list) > o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + > > I find the comment that "this is geology/geography in action" disturbingly > distasteful. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf > Of Kurt Masters > Sent: 15 March 2011 21:04 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [MapHist] [Fwd: Satellite Imagery Before and After Tsunami] > > This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the > whole list) > o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + > > Another interesting view... > > You can put your mouse on center of the line in the center of each > picture and drag it left and right... this will show before and after > the tsunami in each image. This is the best graphic demonstration of the > damage I have seen. And in CA people ran to the coast to see the > tsunami. This is not the movies, it is real life. This is > geology/geography in action. > > > > http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/13/world/asia/satellite-photos-ja > pan-before-and-after-tsunami.html?src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography > hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. > The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of > the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of > Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for > the views of the author. > List Information: http://www.maphist.nl > > Maphist mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist > > > _______________________________________________ > MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography > hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. > The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of > the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of > Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for > the views of the author. > List Information: http://www.maphist.nl > > Maphist mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist -- ------------------------------------------------------ David M. Lawrence | Home: (804) 559-9786 7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804) 559-9787 Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: [email protected] USA | http: http://fuzzo.com ------------------------------------------------------ "All drains lead to the ocean." -- Gill, Finding Nemo "We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo "No trespassing 4/17 of a haiku" -- Richard Brautigan _______________________________________________ MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. List Information: http://www.maphist.nl Maphist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist _______________________________________________ MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. List Information: http://www.maphist.nl Maphist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist
_______________________________________________ MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. List Information: http://www.maphist.nl Maphist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist
