How might GIS and Geographers help healthcare workers and international aid workers in those countries that require it? In developing nations, 3^rd world nations and nations suffering from distinct natural disasters, geographic information can be applied to learn, trend, treat and eradicate health issues. Much of the emphasis in caring for the people that need the help is based in vaccinations and treatment of symptoms once inflicted. By using geographical information, the emphasis of treatment would not change, but could be focused on at risk populations, opposed to the current system of first come, first serve.

                A primary example of how geographers can help provide solutions to healthcare crises globally is the first example of it. Rarely is the primary and most explanatory and obvious example of the success of an idea the first documented use of it. In geography, Dr. John Snow’s use of mapping Cholera in 19^th century London provided the framework for future uses of geographical health mapping.  In the Journal Social Science and Medicine, an article by Tom Koch and Kenneth Denike recreated the process of Dr. Snow using GIS Software and analysis to show how accurate his work was, even given the lack of technological resources available to him. His solution, to simply remove a handle to a water pump, saved the city from consistently rising Cholera deaths, and proved the disease was water borne and not carried in the air, as was the common thought of the time. Geography solved a medical crisis.

                Today, articles in the news shed light on the fact that there are still so many health epidemics in the world, especially in the poorest regions, and most particularly earthquake hit Haiti. Cholera in the nation is immeasurably high. Other diseases, completely extinct in developed parts of the world are growing in occurrence and frequency. When the news develops this idea to the public, the ideas of Dr. Snow have to be re-established. Focusing ideas on mapping the trends that have been seen in disease outbreak can be crucial to finding the source and eradicating it before it kills more people.  

                News sources, which are open sources, are reliable in the sense that they can develop and provide attention to a problem, issue or concern. Deep sources, such as journals, can give the empirical knowledge to help solve those issues. Being sure which is which and how to use them efficiently is key in establishing one’s research and practicum.

Bibliography

Jones, Steve. "Steve Jones: Plagued by old enemies - Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online,

Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.

<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/8309590/Steve-Jones-Plagued-by-old-enemies.html>.

Koch, Tom, and Kenneth Denike. "Crediting his critics’ concerns: Remaking John Snow’s map of Broad

Street cholera, 1854." Social Science and Medicine 69 (2009): 1246-51. Elsevier. Web. 27 Feb.

2011.

Geography and Politics Article Review

The most recent news at the cross section of politics and geography is the new census data, released in December. This census data shows the change in populations across the nation, and uses that data to reallocate seats in the US House of Representatives.  Technology has made assessing the information released by the government more readily available and readable. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have given rise to any person being able to use the data to make inferences as they see fit. Many of the immediate news articles to arise from this change were markedly objective. But there were also examples of subjective secondary source news stories that followed shortly thereafter. To compare the differences, two articles will be compared to see how they differ in content and information, based on the types of sources they use.

            The first article appeared in the New York Times on December 21^st. It presents a map, directly drawn from the US Census Bureau, that visually represents each state and whether each state will gain seats, lose seats or remain unchanged in representation. It presents three tables for each of those categories that identify the state, the population and percentage change, the number of seats and the change and what political party controls the state currently. For example, Texas is gaining 4 seats in the House, based on a 20.6% increase in population over the last decade. (Bloch, Ericson, & Quealy, 2010). This data is all objective in nature, presenting only facts with no bias or opinion. It is secondary data, stating specific facts drawn directly from published data by the US Census Bureau. The US Census Bureau’s report is an example of a primary source. The news story was printed within the first 24 hours after the Bureau published the data, which made it difficult to analyze the data further, with the intent to make a broader statement about the data, which would lead to subjective data.

            Two days seemed enough of a timeframe for subjective data to be created. The New York Post was able to present a commentary on the new census data by December 23^rd. New York lost seats in the House, something  they had done each decade since the 1950’s. The two seats were lost, despite the state increasing their population by 2.1% and remaining the 3^rd most populated state in the country(Bloch, et al., 2010). Yet, John Faso (2010) commented on the state having the lowest number of seats in 200 years, making the broad assumption that the reason for this loss was related to “confiscatory taxes and [a]dismal job climate”(Faso,  2010). These ideas are opinions of John Faso, based on his interpretation and opinions about the primary census data, making his statements a subjective, secondary source. 

            A reader interested in learning the changes in representation in the House of Representatives for the state of New York would be able to use either article to find the answer. It depends on what the reader is researching this information for to determine which article best suits their needs.

References

Bloch, M., Ericson, M., & Quealy. K. (2010, December 21). Census 2010: Gains and Losses in Congress. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/

interactive/2010/12/21/us/census-districts.html

Faso, John. (2010, December 23). Wake Up, NY Census Fallout. New York Post. Retrieved from www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/wake_up_ny_woPzdOKxBjj27H3afV9CKK