Thinking Spatially - AP Human Geography and Current Issues

On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials announced that a fifth person in the US had been diagnosed with the Wuhan coronavirus. It was a confirmed case. The person had just returned from his travels in Wuhan to go back to his home in Maricopa County, Arizona. Around the same time, two other cases of the Coronavirus were confirmed in California. They joined the rising numbers of confirmed cases in Chicago and Seattle. As the panic rises in Wuhan over this new but deadly virus and Americans have now been subjected to it, there is one question lingering in the minds of many: Should we be afraid of the Coronavirus? People should start with the facts. The Coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China and spread outward from its hearth killing 81 people and infecting a shocking 2,800 people. The Coronavirus is still spreading and has made it into twelve different countries including the United States. Authorities continue to reassure the public...

Vaping and e-cigarettes have become a big problem for America’s teens. According to a recent study, about 37% of high school seniors were reported vaping in 2018, up from 28% the year before. E-cigarettes use a battery-powered device that heats a liquid to form a vapor that the user inhales. These devices heat up various flavorings, nicotine, marijuana, or other potentially harmful substances. Nicotine is very addictive. Nicotine is also the key ingredient in cigarettes that make them very addictive.  In 1927 Joseph Robinson designed what might be the first “electronic vaporizer,” a device that he stated was for “Medicinal Compounds.” He thought the device would make it easier to inhale vapors without getting burned, however it never caught on. Another man in 1963, named Herbert Gilbert designed a smokeless cigarette, but he couldn’t find any manufacturers that would produce the product. In the 1980's, a man named Jed Rose experimented with what he called, “distilled smoke.”...

Iran has been in the news quite a bit lately with threats and attacks towards American bases after the death of one of their major leaders (by the United States). After President Trump’s speech earlier this month announcing the United States’ plans and restrictions on Iran after their retaliation everything seems to have settled down, until a few days ago when Iran again threatened to leave the non-proliferation treaty if European nations take its infringements of the 2015 nuclear deal to the United Nations. The non-proliferation treaty or (NPT) is a nuclear arms treaty that controls which countries can have control of nuclear weapons and or power. With North Korea being the only nation to leave this treaty what does this mean for Iran’s future? So what do we do to a nation that has just been restricted financially by a world power and now plans to leave a major world arms treaty. With tension growing stronger everyday how can we decrease the threat of confrontation and war? Su...

It is no secret that the Russian Federation has political ties to Iran, but to what extent would the Kremlin disturb the escalating political, religious, and militaristic conflict that is occurring in the Middle East? For decades, Russia, or formerly the Soviet Union, has been continuously involved in conflict in the region starting with the USSR’s refusal to vacate Iran following the end of the Second World War as well as the long and bloody war in Afghanistan. In addition to being a frequent visitor to the region, Russia is also one of the primary suppliers of weaponry. Albeit not recently, the Russians have supplied weapons of war to many Middle Eastern nations. The Iranian army wields Russian-made AKM rifles and T-72 Main Battle Tanks. Russia’s long history with Iran aside, what kind of involvement do they have in the most recent escalation of tensions? According to Brookings.edu, “Moscow’s expanding influence in Syria suggests that a conflict between the United States and Iran...

(Above is a 3D visualization of the Australian fires by Anthony Hearsey, an image maker who specialises in photography, retouching and creative imaging) As Australia continues to burn, since September over 24 million of land has been burned, it is claimed that it is one of the country's worst fire seasons on record. The area that has been burned in Australia is twelve more times the size of the area that was burned in California in 2018. The fire has already killed 28 people, and have destroyed over 2,000 homes. The breathing is as bad as smoking 19 cigarettes. An estimate of 1 Billion animals have been lost, and scientists believe this could have a long-term damage to many ecosystems. Australia’s bushfires have released 400 megatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The fires ignited amid a record-breaking heat wave. One reason the fires could be to blame is climate change but so is weather variability. “Australia’s climate has warmed by just over 1° C since 1910, lead...