Geography

Why are medical tourism attractive in SE Asia?
What are the benefits brought by the development of medical tourism?
Where are the tourists mainly from?




Medical tourism in Malaysia is growing with approximately 1.2 million people visited the country to seek medical treatment in 2018.

Penang is the top medical tourism destination in Malaysia, generatinv 40 to 50 per cent of the country's medical tourism income and this has numerous multiplier effects on the local economy.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-penang-medical-tourism-hospital-treatment-affordable-11827532

Growth of Medical tourism in SE Asia mainly attributed to:

• Rising income levels 
• Greater awareness of health issues
• An increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) 
• Cheaper travel and accommodation 
• Quality medical tourism with Southeast Asian healthcare facilities regularly featured in the annual list of the world’s best hospitals for medical tourists by the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA)

https://theaseanpost.com/article/medical-tourism-rise

When is India prone to flooding?
What is the main cause of flooding in India?
Who are affected by the flooding? 
Flooding in India on the onset of the SW Monsoon  killed dozens and displaced thousands at the start of July 2019.



Look at how the flood as a results of the monsoon killed 324 and displaced more than 200,000 in Aug last year (2018)

India experiencing SW Monsoon in July which brings heavy rain as the onshore wind crosses the Indian ocean.

The NE Monsoon is an offshore wind and bring little or no rain to India.

Animated illustration of the monsoons from
https://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/geography/weather-conditions/revise-it/types-of-monsoons

The flooding caused by the monsoon has led to widespread damage and deaths in India.
There were 66 deaths in the western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, with tens of thousands of people shifted to relief camps.
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/one-million-moved-into-camps--184-dead-in-india-monsoon-floods-11802936
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/one-million-moved-into-camps--184-dead-in-india-monsoon-floods-11802936
Updated 12 Aug 2019

How does climate change affects Singapore?

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/how-vulnerable-is-spore-to-climate-change


In recent years, days when maximum temperatures exceed 34 deg C and nights when minimum temperatures exceed 26 deg C have been more frequent in Singapore. It is also projected that average temperature in Singapore  will increase between 1.4 deg C and 4.6 deg C, as well as more frequent warmer days and nights by 2100.

These temperature changes are due to larger-scale greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and Singapore's urbanisation. Replacing Singapore's natural forests and mangroves with buildings and other infrastructure results in built-up surfaces  producing more heat. At night, the difference between downtown Singapore and forests in Lim Chu Kang can exceed 7 deg C.

One of most severe impacts of climate change in Singapore will be the increase in sea level. The average sea level around Singapore's coasts has risen steadily at a rate of between 1.2mm and 1.7mm per year, and is projected to increase to about 1m by 2100.

Click the link below to see the simulation of how rising sea level will affect Singapore:
https://graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/Interactives/2017/rising-seas/virtual-reality/index.html

Singapore carbon tax of $5 per tonne of GHG emissions implemented this year will encourage more efficient use of non-renewable energy. The carbon tax revenues will also be used for renewable energy innovations and transformation of emission-intensive local industries.

Other than the above read the article below on other ways we can mitigate the impacts of climate change in Singapore.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-to-spend-400m-to-upgrade-drains-and-10m-to-study-sea-level-rise-to

New update 25 Aug

Possible approaches dealing with sea level rise:

1. Flood-proofing existing buildings and infrastructure, or designating areas that would be allowed to flood during high tide.
2. Removal and reallocation of key infrastructure and assets to areas that the sea cannot inundate.
3. Planting and managing mangrove coasts, or engineered options like sea walls, land reclamation and polders.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/singapore-climate-change-effective-polders-pumps-s-100-billion-11833080

Prime Minister Lee on climate change

How the Dutch use the polders to protect the coastal land.

Why does climate change matter to Singaporeans?
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/explainer-why-climate-change-should-matter-singaporeans-and-what-government-doing-about-it?cid=h3_referral_inarticlelinks_03092019_todayonline


https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/rising-sea-levels-singapore-impact-equator-water-drawn-11830652?cid=FBcna

Does the increase in temperature also brings about a rise in insect-borne disease such as dengue?

Preparedness measure
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1714584/quake-hit-school-gifted-with-quake-resistant-building

Impacts from global warming.

Heatwave with temperatures above 40°C accompanied by drought in some areas, especially in Eastern Europe, whilst frequent thunderstorms with locally large hail are expected in Eastern Central and South-Eastern Europe. There are also risks of heat stress for vulnerable people and of wildfires.



https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/europe-sees-first-heatwave-of-year

What are the impacts of extreme weather?
How can the impacts be mitigated?

Temperatures may rise to 45°C in France.
In 2003 temperatures rose to 44.1°C and 15000 died due to the heatwave.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/france-record-heat-heatwave-temperature-45-degree-11670426

An earthquake struck Sichuan China which caused 12 deaths and 134 injured.


https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/sichuan-earthquake-southwest-china-dead-injured-11635806

Read the article and reflect on the following:
When did the earthquake occur?
Where are the areas most affected by the earthquake
Why is Sichuan prone to earthquakes?
What are the damages caused by the earthquake?
What are the short term responses carried out?
How how early warning can help to mitigate the impact of earthquake?


Refer to the following earthquakes which struck Sichuan in the past:
2017
https://olevelgeog.blogspot.com/2017/08/earthquake-sichuan-china-8-aug-2017.html?m=1
Early warning system
http://olevelgeog.blogspot.com/2017/08/how-warning-system-help-saved-lives-in.html

Compare this with the 8.0 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan which killed more than 80000 people  with 5 milion people homeless in 2008. Lack of early warning has contributed to the high casualty rate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake

Tropical cyclone Fani, with a windspeed of over 200km/hr, will be one of strongest affecting the Bay of Bengal area since Tropical cyclone Nargis in 2008.

Refer to the following article on Tropical Cyclone Fani.
http://ddnews.gov.in/national/situation-report-regarding-cyclonic-storm-“fani”

Where are the areas affected by the tropical cyclones?
When did the tropical cyclone affect the areas?
What are the impacts brought by the tropical cyclones?
How can the impacts from the tropical cyclone be mitigated?

Tropical Cyclone FANI struck north-eastern India and western Bangladesh from 3rd to 5th May.

As of 6 May at least 42 people have been reported dead in Odisha (India) and another 17 in Bangladesh. Odisha state has been the most seriously affected with massive destruction to its electricity suppky and infrastructure.

 In Bangladesh, 13 000 houses have been damaged across the country and national humanitarian aid is assisting affected families.

The early evacuation of 1 million people in India and 1.6 million in Bangladesh prevented a higher number of fatalities, considering the Cyclone's severity.

 Source DG ECHO, UNOCHA https://reliefweb.int/map/india/india-bangladesh-tropical-cyclone-fani-emergency-response-coordination-centre-ercc-dg-echo

Read the article below to see how technology, government policy and climate change have affected food production in Myanmar.

Globalisation which promote accessibility to fast food affecting food consumption and negative impacts which arise from it.

https://www.todayonline.com/world/death-diet-race-transform-worlds-bad-food-habits

Who are affected by the decrease in food production?
Why is there a decrease in food production?
What are the impacts of a decrease in food production?
How can the impacts be mitigated?

Sri Lanka’s $4.4 billion tourism industry is adversely affected by the multiple suicide bombings that killed over 250 people two weeks ago. Tourism, which accounts for 5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, has suffered as tourists from around the world cancelled hotel and flight bookings fearing more attacks.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-blasts-tourism/deserted-beaches-empty-rooms-sri-lanka-tourism-takes-a-hit-after-bombings-idUSKCN1SB01E



Why does the political situation in Sri Lanka affect tourism?

How can this affect the economy and people in Sri Lanka?

What other events can hinder the growth of tourism?

More than 1,000 people have now died of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Challenges faced by the humanitarian groups in fighting the outbreak are the political situation and the resistance within communities to preventative measures, care facilities and safe burials. The long-standing presence of various rebel groups in Ituri and North Kivu has made it difficult for health workers to access tho 12000 people who might have come into contact with Ebola.

Tens of thousands of people were uprooted by the resurgence of violence in the east of the country. Among them, some 7,000 displaced people are housed in a primary school where the only water source is a nearby river and there are not enough toilets. Thus the risk of disease spread is high.

In the conflict-ridden country as a whole, more than 13 million people need humanitarian aid. More than five million have had to flee their homes, and Uganda is already home to more than 1.2 million refugees.

Https://sg.news.yahoo.com/more-1-000-dead-d-r-congo-ebola-020957162.html

Why does political situations affect the spread of disease?
What are the other factors affecting spread of disease?
How does international organisations help in mitigating the impacts of the spread of disease?
Where are the areas prone to the spread of disease?