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Is this not the time to transfer this discussion to 'MAPS-L' and/or to 'Lis-maps'? Or at least to edit out all the repeats of 'MapHist' info -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ellen Badgley Sent: 16 March 2011 13:40 To: Discussion group for map history Subject: Re: [MapHist] [Fwd: Satellite Imagery Before and After Tsunami] I agree with David and John. Critical thinking (especially about the intersection of theory and practice) is essential in any situation-- and especially in the face of disaster, where misinformation can lead to panic. (We are sadly seeing this unfold right now with the incredible glut of misinformation being thrown around about the situation with the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, and the *real* risks to large-scale human and environmental health that it represents, i.e. not much.) The idea that "emotional" and "critical" engagements with terrible events and their ramifications are mutually exclusive, and cannot or should not occur at the same time, is unrealistic and (dare I say it) dangerous. As John says, such discussions do have the power to help with the grieving process, by providing perspective on what has occurred, and even help steer the "need to act" in the directions that are most productive in the long term. Of course, one must always be careful of emotion clouding the critical faculties...and most assuredly, each person should feel to make their own decision as to when they, individually, are ready to move past the emotion of a situation such as this. - Ellen Badgley On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 8:07 PM, John Day <[email protected]> wrote: > I have to agree with David. First of all, there is not "theoretical" these > hard practical considerations. Second, even students can consider two > things in close proximity although perhaps not at the same time. ;-) Third, > the nature of learning is such that if more abstract information can be > associated with more immediate less abstract information, it will tend to be > remembered. > > Even students can balance their concern and empathy for what is happening in > Japan with the idea that it could happen around them. Pointing out that > geography and geology help one to understand and recognize where these > things can occur is definitely appropriate. As well as using, the events in > Japan to show how the geography effected the unfolding disaster. I think we > have all been struck by the devastation that can occur even when you are as > well prepared as Japan. > > And yes, such discussions can even help in the grieving process. > >> I strongly disagree. Now IS the time to ponder theoretical questions. >> When students -- conditioned to think that geography is nothing more than a >> bunch of trivia questions on a standardized test -- bitch about this stuff >> not having any relevance to real life, times like this opens them up to the >> idea that geographical awareness can save lives. A week from now, when >> they're preoccupied over the latest celebrity fellatio reports from their >> social networks, they may not notice I'm talking about something important. >> >> The general public tends to have a short attention span, so it makes sense >> to take advantage of this teachable moment. >> >> Dave >> >> On 3/16/2011 5:20 AM, Gerhard Muller-Kosack wrote: >>> >>> 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] >>> >>> 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: >>>> >>>> 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] >>>> >>>> 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-photo s-ja >>>> >>>> pan-before-and-after-tsunami.html?src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB >> ------------------------------------------------------ >> 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 >> ------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ 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. 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