Keep pace with the world by national Geographic: September 2012

Friday, September 28, 2012

National Geographic Explorers to Speak at Free Event at McGill University

MONTREAL (Sept. 24, 2012)—A free public presentation on field research and exploration featuring National Geographic Emerging Explorer and ecological anthropologist Kenny Broad and renowned alpinist and The North Face athlete Conrad Anker will be held at McGill University on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Leacock Building (Room 132) on the McGill campus.

Anker (http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/exploration/athletes/3-conrad-anker/) is well-known as an accomplished alpinist and a key member of the search team that located the remains of legendary British climber George Mallory on Mount Everest. He will share highlights from his most recent expedition of Mount Everest, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first successful American summit of the mountain.

Broad (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/kenny-broad/), who has a long history of diving and producing documentary films and was named one of National Geographic’s Explorers of the Year in 2011, will recount his recent expedition to one of the most challenging and spectacular frontiers in exploration: the Bahamas Blue Holes.

The public presentation will follow a daylong workshop for McGill students on National Geographic’s Young Explorers Grants program. The Young Explorers grants support aspiring scientists and researchers between the ages of 18 and 25 in their pursuit of research-, exploration- and conservation-based field projects. The workshop will enable students interested in pursuing Young Explorers grants to meet with recent grant recipients as well as National Geographic staff, explorers, conservationists and researchers. They will learn about the types of projects the grant program supports and will have an opportunity to pitch ideas for field projects to National Geographic grantees and staff.

“The Young Explorers program is a unique way for young scientists and explorers to take steps into field research. It’s their first shot, and we take a risk on them that has really paid off. We realized that, by supporting younger individuals on their first field projects, we could reach a new sector and new generation of scientists,” said John Francis, National Geographic’s vice president of research, conservation and exploration. “Our growing number of Young Explorers is helping National Geographic better fulfill our mission to inspire people to care about the planet.”

The Sept. 29 workshop is hosted by McGill with support from the National Geographic Society, Lucy and Henry Billingsley, Panasonic, the Brinson Foundation and The North Face.

“For anyone interested in exploration, research or conservation, this workshop is exactly what you need to help you get started,” said Colin Chapman, biologist and anthropologist at McGill University and member of the Committee for Research and Exploration at National Geographic.

WHAT: Free public presentation by explorers from the National Geographic Society and The North Face

WHO: Conrad Anker, The North Face athlete and renowned alpinist

Kenny Broad, ecological anthropologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer

WHERE: Leacock Building, Room 132

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012; doors open at 7 p.m., program starts at 7:30 p.m.

CONTACT: Kelsey Flora, National Geographic, kflora@ngs.org, (202) 828-8023

Cynthia Lee, Media Relations Officer, McGill University, Cynthia.Lee@mcgill.ca, (514) 398-6754

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Information on National Geographic’s Young Explorers Grants program:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/field/grants-programs/young-explorers/

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National Geographic Shows 30.9 Million Worldwide Audience via Consolidated Media Report

NEW YORK (Sept. 24, 2012) — The Audit Bureau of Circulations has released a Consolidated Media Report for National Geographic. The publication, which was ranked as the seventh largest in the U.S. in June 2012, is the largest magazine to present audited data about its cross-platform brand via a CMR.

The report shows audited data from National Geographic’s total brand universe of 30.9 million, which includes print circulation, digital editions, apps, social media, websites and newsletters for the main edition as well as International, Worldwide and Traveler editions. For the first half of 2012, the total brand universe includes:

4.2 million print and digital editions for National Geographic2.9 million app downloads for National Geographic International19.4 million monthly unique visitors to NationalGeographic.com11.7 million Facebook likes2.7 million Twitter followers5.5 million newsletter distribution

“We have always been innovators in real-world storytelling, in print, video and photography. New devices are allowing us to explore an exciting frontier that challenges us to re-imagine our storytelling in fresh ways that take advantage of our rich tradition and expertise,” says Declan Moore, executive vice president, National Geographic publishing and digital media. “Digital editions have become the fastest growing piece of our business. Hundreds of thousands of people globally are sampling the digital edition and converting to paid subscribers. In addition to the audited numbers, National Geographic also currently reaches a global audience through its 33 local-language editions and the National Geographic Channel in 171 countries.”

The report also details National Geographic’s website statistics, price and downloads for its iPhone and iPad apps, and a chart that shows digital replica edition growth of 40 percent from January through June 2012. Additional statistics are available in the full report.

“We are excited to add National Geographic to the growing list of magazine brands that are choosing the CMR to show their advertisers and ad agencies data that’s audited and trusted,” said George Bartman, ABC vice president, marketing and sales. “This is a great example of an innovative magazine using an innovative report format to communicate the components of their cross-media brand.”

Examples of previous magazine Consolidated Media Reports and more information are available on ABC’s website.

About ABC

ABC is a forum of North America’s leading magazine and newspaper publishers, advertisers and advertising agencies. The organization provides credible, verified information essential to the media buying and selling process. ABC maintains the world’s foremost online database of audited circulation information and a growing array of readership, audience and website usage data. ABC’s digital arm, ABC Interactive, is one of the world’s leading independent auditors of websites and digital ad-based technology. To learn more, visit www.accessabc.com.

About National Geographic

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, school publishing programs, interactive media and merchandise. National Geographic magazine, the Society’s official journal, published in English and 33 local-language editions, is read by more than 60 million people each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches 440 million households in 171 countries in 38 languages. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 20 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geography literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World

WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2012)—On Jan. 13, 1888, a group of 33 men met at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., to discuss a way to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge across the world. A century and a quarter later, after landmark shipwreck discoveries, stunning images from countless cultures and expeditions from the top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the National Geographic Society has expanded beyond those original founding members, but the organization’s goal of spreading geographic knowledge around the globe has remained the same.

This fall, readers can join the National Geographic Society in celebrating its past and future with a new book NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0957-4; on sale Nov. 6, 2012; $50 hardcover), by author and historian Mark Collins Jenkins, a former National Geographic Society archivist. The foreword is by Gilbert M. Grosvenor, the Society’s former chairman, president and National Geographic magazine editor, who is a fifth-generation member of the Society’s founding family.

Filled with exhilarating tales and astonishing photography, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS is an engrossing visual chronicle of the last 12-and-a-half decades through the eyes of the explorers, writers and photographers who captured it all. Readers will be able to dive deeper into the iconic yellow border and get a behind-the-scenes look into the stories that have shaped the world, including Hiram Bingham’s discovery of the lost city of Machu Picchu, the arctic explorations of Richard Byrd, Jane Goodall’s legendary chimpanzee research and the epic dives of Jacques Cousteau and James Cameron.

Laid out chronologically, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS explores the history of the Society from a small group dedicated to spreading geographic knowledge of the world and all that’s in it to the international nonprofit and media company it is today. Each era of the Society’s history is highlighted, featuring the most significant expeditions, field research and photography. Personal stories from legendary explorers such as Luis Marden, who discovered the remains of the H.M.V.S. Bounty, and marine biologist Sylvia Earle, as well as writers and photographers in the field fill each chapter, along with quotes from important figures associated with the Society, including paleontologist Louis Leakey, underwater explorer Robert Ballard, geneticist Spencer Wells and many more.

The more than 600 images by world-renowned photographers from the Society’s history illuminate the legendary storytelling of National Geographic. Readers can revisit Japan with Eliza R. Scidmore’s hand-tinted images of Japanese life in the early 20th century; remember the haunting eyes of the Afghan Girl in Steve McCurry’s iconic photograph; and take a trip to the American West with images made by William Albert Allard over his 50-year career. Other featured photographers include such renowned masters as David Doubilet, Chris Johns, Emory Kristof, David Allan Harvey, Sam Abell, Brian Skerry, Paul Nicklen, Frans Lanting, Annie Griffiths, Mattias Klum, Jodi Cobb and Joel Sartore.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS also looks into the future of exploration, celebrating not just where we have gone but where we can go next. The book celebrates the history of National Geographic and showcases the quest for knowledge and adventure that has driven the Society’s mission for well over a century.

About the Author

Former National Geographic librarian and archivist Mark Collins Jenkins is the author of many books, including “On Assignment with National Geographic: The Inside Story of the National Geographic Society,” “Worlds to Explore: Classic Tales of Adventure from National Geographic,” “Vampire Forensics” and “The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy.” He lives in Fredericksburg, Va.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

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GREAT EMPIRES: An Illustrated Atlas

WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2012)—Trace the path of power around the globe and across centuries with National Geographic’s GREAT EMPIRES: An Illustrated Atlas (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-4262-0829-4; Nov. 20, 2012; $40 hardcover). This unique book, by Stephen G. Hyslop and Patricia Daniels, illustrates what life was like when pharaohs erected the majestic pyramids, when Hannibal commanded Carthage’s 40,000 troops, when Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor and when the quest for territorial expansion defined the destiny of leaders and the lives of ordinary people.

The atlas chronicles three eras — the Ancient World, the Middle Ages and Modern Empires — and includes an epilogue on the Collapse of Modern Empires. The Ancient World (2600 B.C-A.D. 500), delves into ancient Middle East; Egypt; Greece, Carthage and Rome; and India and China. The Middle Ages (500-1500) traces Byzantium and the Arab World; medieval Asia and the Khmer, Mongols and Ming; the Christian and Muslim dynasties of medieval Europe and Africa; and Native American empires of the Toltec, Aztec and Inca. Modern Empires (1500s-1900s) focuses on the Spanish American and British empires and the Imperial Tribes of North America; the Ottoman and Asante empires in the Mediterranean and Africa; and the Mughals, Qing and Romanovs in the east. The epilogue outlines the end of the Age of Imperialism, which began at the close of World War l and was solidified by the aftermath of World War ll.

GREAT EMPIRES explores a total of 31 empires across the globe, including storied powers such as the Qin and Han dynasties and Babylonian empires that helped shape our world as we know it. Nearly 40 full-color new and archival maps customized by National Geographic cartographers show the extent of territory; major trade routes; paths of military campaigns; significant roads, walls and buildings; and sites of pivotal battles. Select maps juxtapose the ancient and modern landscapes by illuminating changes in physical geography.

GREAT EMPIRES also features sidebars and fact boxes that offer insights into rulers such as Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, and shed light on the people, ideas and innovations of each empire. Captivating images feature the traditions, art and culture of the times.

About the Authors

Stephen G. Hyslop has written extensively for National Geographic and Time-Life Books, including “Almanac of World” (with Patricia Daniels), “Eyewitness to the Civil War,” “Atlas of the Civil War,” “Bound for Santa Fe” and “Chroniclers of Indian Life.”

Patricia Daniels has written, edited or contributed to many National Geographic books on history, science and geography, most recently “Almanac of World History,” “New Solar System,” “Eyewitness to History” and “National Geographic Encyclopedia of Space.”

About National Geographic Books

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Friday, September 21, 2012

National Geographic Magazine, October 2012

This month, an investigative report by Bryan Christy implicates organized religion in the demand for illegal ivory. In addition, leaves are profiled…how did they evolve and why do they look the way they do? Photographer David Alan Harvey takes us into Rio de Janeiro as it prepares to host the 2016 Olympics. Central America’s Mesoamerican Reef and its remarkable eco-region are explored, as are cliffside caves in Nepal’s Mustang region. A photo piece on the animal squatters of a rural Finnish town is included.

Available on print newsstands Sept. 25 and as a fully interactive e-magazine available on the App Store Sept. 14.

Special Content for iPad Edition Includes:

Elephants in Crisis video — Reporter Bryan Christy investigates the illegal ivory trade, tracing the path of elephant tusks from Africa to Asia and the role organized religious demand plays in ivory smuggling.Global Ivory Trade map — Tap on the maps to explore elephant poaching in Africa and ivory seizures in Asia. The Story of Nature Prints narrated gallery — Tap on a series of nature prints to hear commentary on the making of the prints, including the techniques and technology used, by historian Roderick Cave.Mesoamerican Reef map — Tap on the map to explore the fragile habitats of the reef and the threats they are facing from overfishing, inland land clearing, offshore oil exploration and more.Spawning Snappers video — Photographer Brian Skerry takes viewers down under to watch cubera snappers spawn in spring along the coast of Belize.Secrets of a Nepalese Cave video — Step inside a tomb located among the Samdzong caves in the Mustang region of Nepal to explore its mysterious contents in this artist’s reconstruction.

Feature Stories:

Ivory Worship, by Bryan Christy, photographed by Brent Stirton (Page 28). Every year, thousands of elephants die so that their tusks can be carved into religious objects. The slaughter is massive and accelerating, spurred in large part by growing demand in China. Bryan Christy’s two-year-long investigative report took him around the world, from the African savanna where elephants are killed with grenades and AK-47s to the luxury goods stores of China and carving workshops of Southeast Asia. Christy’s investigative report reveals that representatives of the Catholic Church in the Philippines and Buddhists in Thailand are connected to illegal ivory trading. Demand for religious art is an overlooked piece of the illegal ivory trade, which fueled the slaughter of 25,000 or more elephants last year. Brent Stirton’s photographs highlight the complexity of the crisis and the tremendous challenges that lie ahead. Christy and Stirton are available for interviews.

The Glory of Leaves, by Rob Dunn (Page 62). The simple yet elegant poetry of leaves is captured beautifully by Rob Dunn. Whatever their structure, they are designed to essentially accomplish the same thing: to turn light into life. Leaves capture the energy from sunlight, turning it into the sugar from which plants, animals and civilizations are built. Whether located in the hot and dry deserts of Africa or nutrient-poor bogs, plants have battled to survive, adapt and flourish, and their glory lies in simple differences and delicate details. Dunn is available for interviews.

A New Face for Rio, by Antonio Regalado, photographed by David Alan Harvey (Page 72). For all its beauty and spirit, the image of Rio de Janeiro has long been tarnished by its favelas — violence-filled squatter communities that are home to almost a quarter of the city’s 6.3 million residents. But with the city set to play host to two world-class events — the World Cup in 2014 and the summer Olympics in 2016 — officials are spending millions and a lot of effort to give these hillside slums a face-lift, improve the city’s infrastructure, pacify the gangs and inspire confidence in the government’s ability to manage large-scale projects outside of Carnival. Harvey’s alluring photography profiles the vibrant city that is set to make its debut on the world stage in a big way. Regalado and Harvey are available for interviews.

Remarkable Reef, by Kenneth Brower, photographed by Brian Skerry (Page 92). The Mesoamerican Reef, stretching more than 600 miles along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, is less than half as long as its Australian cousin, the Great Barrier Reef, but “is in its own way the more remarkable,” writes Kenneth Brower. Its diverse and intricate ecosystem, anchored by mangroves, sea grasses and coral reefs, is bound tightly to inshore habitats and myriad sea creatures. Brian Skerry brilliantly captures the loggerhead turtles, slow-grazing manatees and cubera snappers that depend on the reef’s protection to reproduce and find food. Brower and Skerry are available for interviews.

Nepal’s Sky Caves, by Michael Finkel, photographed by Cory Richards (Page 114). Mustang, a former kingdom in north-central Nepal, is home to one of the world’s great archaeological mysteries. Archaeologists are starting to unravel the secrets hidden in an extraordinary number of human-built caves, of which there are conservatively 10,000 in the region. Some date back as far as 3,000 years ago and were used as burial chambers, while later examples served as living quarters. Making the climb up sheer walls of fragile, crumbling rock is “pure thuggery” according to one climber, but the effort is worth it for what a cave might contain — like one treasure trove of 8,000 calligraphed manuscripts dating back 600 years. The artifacts found so far are helping to rewrite the region’s prehistory, and scientists are captivated by what future discoveries might reveal. Finkel and Richards are available for interviews.

Wild Squatters, by Carolyn Butler, photographed by Kai Fagerstr?m (Page 136). Kai Fagerstr?m of Finland is an amateur photographer and he doesn’t even own a flash. But what he lacks in equipment he makes up for in patience and adaptability. Fagerstr?m found inspiration near his family’s summer home in rural Suomusj?rvi, where dilapidated, ramshackle cottages abandoned by their owners have begun to be claimed by animals. A red squirrel peeks out of a broken window; a family of badgers files out of a fireplace; a pygmy owl stamps his feet in defiance — these are the type of endearing photos that can only be made by a local who is intimately familiar with the environment. Butler and Fagerstr?m are available for interviews.

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National Geographic Brings National Geographic Channel’s Landmark Series ‘Alien Deep’ to DVD and Blu-Ray on Sept. 18

WASHINGTON (Sept. 14, 2012)—No place on Earth remains more mysterious and alien than our ocean’s deepest waters. Now viewers will be able to join legendary ocean explorer and discover of the Titanic Dr. Robert Ballard as he explores the planet’s most foreign and otherworldly places in “Alien Deep,” a new five-part series from National Geographic. The series will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, for $27.99 (SRP) on shopNG.com, in stores where videos are sold or by calling (800) 437-5521.

With cutting-edge tools and amazing new camera technologies, National Geographic embarks on its latest voyage of deep exploration — thousands of feet beneath the waves — to a hidden world of new ecosystems, new species and new wonders never seen before. The episodes are “It’s Alive,” “Wrecks of the Abyss,” “Ocean’s Fury,” “Inner vs. Outer Space” and “Fires of Creation.”

Ballard, one of the world’s foremost oceanographers, has worked in the field of underwater exploration for more than three decades. In addition to locating Titanic, he found the German battleship Bismarck and P.T. 109, John F. Kennedy’s naval boat from World War II, and he has explored the British ocean liner Lusitania.

“I’ve dedicated my life to exploring the unknown. I’ve been places no one has ever gone. I’ve seen life no human eye has ever seen,” said Ballard. “But even after 50 years at sea I’m as fascinated with the deep as I was on my very first expedition. You want to know my greatest discovery? Well, it’s the one I’m about to make.”

In “Alien Deep,” Ballard takes viewers around the globe to explore the many fascinating ways that the oceans expand our understanding of life on Earth and impact our future. Audiences will go:

Down to the coldest Antarctic waters, where hot hydrothermal outlets support columns of life — including a newly discovered species of crabs.To the warm waters of the Pacific, where high-tech new experiments in sustainable fish farming are being conducted to grow fish without a measurable impact on coastal ecosystems.Behind the scenes at Lloyd’s of London, one of the world’s largest maritime insurance companies, to learn how rogue waves and bigger storms threaten global trade.On board scientific ships that are investigating areas that have never been explored by humans, as scientists try to figure out why our planet is ripe for life.

The DVD release also includes the full bonus program “Deep Secrets: The Ballard Gallipoli Expedition” and is timed for release with a children’s book, “Alien Deep: Exploring the Mysterious World of Hydrothermal Vents,” by Bradley Hague (ISBN 978-1-4263-1067-6), on sale now.

About National Geographic Channels

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation’s major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in 84 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in 440 million homes in 171 countries and 38 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.

About National Geographic Cinema Ventures

Geographic Cinema Ventures is responsible for production and distribution of giant-screen, 3D and specialty films. Over the last decade, NGCV has produced or released a number of successful films, including Academy Award-nominated documentaries “Restrepo” and “The Story of the Weeping Camel”; giant-screen award-winning films “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure,” “U2 3D,” “Mysteries of Egypt” and “Forces of Nature”; and feature-length films “The Last Lions” and “Life in a Day.” Lisa Truitt is president of NGCV, and Mark Katz is president of NGCV distribution. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/movies.

About Vivendi Entertainment

Vivendi Entertainment is a full-service independent film, television, DVD and digital distribution company operating in the United States and Canada. Representing a vast range of genres including action, comedy, thriller, urban, family, fitness and stand-up comedies, Vivendi Entertainment has become a favorite distribution partner for independent content providers. The company has built an extensive catalog of over 3,000 titles, and its customer-centric business model was founded on the principles of collaboration and financial transparency. The company provides sales, marketing and distribution services to many of the home entertainment industry’s most prestigious brands, including: The Weinstein Company, World Wrestling Entertainment, Classic Media, RHI, Shout! Factory, Salient and Code Black. Vivendi Entertainment is a division of Universal Music Group Distribution, the award-winning sales, marketing and distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company.

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“Alien Deep”

Street Date: Sept. 18, 2012

Suggested Retail Price (DVD): $27.99

Suggested Retail Price (Blu-ray): $39.99

Run Time: Approx. 240 Minutes

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

National Geographic Magazine Investigative Report Reveals Religious Art As a Driver of Illegal Ivory Trade

WASHINGTON—African elephants are being massacred across much of the continent, with illegal slaughter accounting for 90 percent of recorded deaths in central Africa. The animals are being killed for their tusks, despite a 1989 ban on international ivory trading. While motivation for the rise in killings is most commonly linked to China’s demand for ivory, National Geographic magazine reveals in its October 2012 cover story “Blood Ivory” that religion is a driver of the illegal ivory trade in key countries, including China.

National Geographic reports that representatives of the Catholic Church in the Philippines and practicing Buddhists in Thailand and China are actively complicit in the illegal ivory trade or unwittingly facilitate it. Their actions appear to be motivated by religious beliefs that ivory as a carving material best symbolizes purity and devotion. These devotional markets are supplied in part by groups who smuggle the ivory from Africa through middleman countries such as Malaysia.

CITES, the treaty organization that sets international wildlife trade policy, has viewed the Philippines primarily a way station for ivory destined for China. But author Bryan Christy’s report for National Geographic exposes a thriving and devout Catholic market for ivory in the Philippines, one where the head of protocol for the country’s largest Roman Catholic archdiocese gives Christy smuggling tips and contact information for his favorite carvers. The ivory is used for elaborately carved religious icons that are integral to many Filipinos’ practice of their faith.

Christy traces the Catholic fascination with ivory to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, where ivory Catholic images are for sale. While the Vatican in its role as a governmental entity has signed transnational agreements on drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime, it has not signed the CITES 1989 global trade ban on ivory.

The elephant is revered in Buddhism, and in Thailand demand is driven by the ironic idea that carving in ivory honors both the animal and Buddha. Elephant keepers legally sell the clipped tusk tips of live domesticated Asian elephants, but this legal trade provides cover for smuggled African ivory, which is easily mixed in with Asian ivory. Corruption is rife, with one monk offering to assist Christy in transporting smuggled African ivory inside Thailand — and advising that if anything goes wrong, Christy should tell officials he’s bringing the ivory to the monk’s temple.

In addition to revealing the links between religious leaders and the illegal ivory trade, Christy exposes flaws in strategies adopted by CITES, including overreliance on ivory seizures as the metric for estimating smuggling activity, which doesn’t accurately portray poaching behavior. This results in skewed analysis and led to a mistake with grave consequences — CITES’ endorsement of a massive purchase by China and Japan of more than 115 tons of legal ivory from four African countries in 2008. The sale has accelerated the mass slaughter of elephants now underway. Overemphasis on seizures continues to misdirect enforcement efforts, Christy reports, rewarding countries for confiscating ivory instead of prosecuting criminals higher up the demand chain — including large-scale dealers and kingpins whose crimes cost the lives of both elephants and the African rangers hired to protect them.

“Blood Ivory,” an investigative report authored by Bryan Christy with photographs from award-winning photojournalist Brent Stirton, is the cover story of the October issue of National Geographic. It is available as a digital edition on Sept. 14. The print edition goes on newsstands Sept. 25. The story is available online at ngm.com/blood-ivory at 10 a.m. (ET, U.S.) on Sept. 14.

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http://ngm.com/blood-ivory

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/ivory/elephant-ivory-poaching-graphic

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/ivory/christy-text

http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/what.php

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/ivory/ivory-video

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Travelpro Introduces National Geographic Northwall™ Luggage Collection

Boca Raton, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2012) – Travelpro International, the leading manufacturer of lightweight durable luggage, is proud to partner with National Geographic, one of the world’s largest scientific and educational nonprofit organizations, to introduce the National Geographic Northwall Collection of luggage. Montreal-based Holiday Group Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Travelpro International Inc. in the United States were selected as luggage and travel accessories licensee for the National Geographic and National Geographic Explorer brands in North America.

Durable, versatile and stylish, the National Geographic Northwall Collection is built to travel over any terrain, from city streets to the wilderness. This versatile seven-piece luggage collection includes soft and rolling duffels, uprights, a daypack and a sling bag.

“The National Geographic Northwall Collection combines abundant storage with rugged durability, a water- and-stain-resistant coating and lightweight design that make it ready to go anywhere in the world,” said Scott Applebee, Vice President of Marketing for Travelpro. “We are proud to partner with National Geographic and to support their important mission and projects.”

The Northwall luggage collection has unique features for every adventure traveler’s needs. The oversized ball-bearing wheels on upright and rolling duffel models are tested for over 25 miles, and the handle system is tested over 12,500 cycles for optimal performance. Each upright includes two built-in wet pockets for storing toiletries or wet clothing. The collection comes standard with a unique interior lining featuring a constellations map, reflecting National Geographic’s tradition of exploration.

A large front pocket with a padded laptop compartment allows easy access to a laptop or tablet. A business organizer stores pens, files, cards and keys. Other features include four carry handles to lift the luggage into an overhead bin or car trunk, a side-zippered water bottle pocket, 2.5? of expansion to increase an already spacious main compartment and a handy electronics pocket for a phone or music player.

The National Geographic Northwall Collection includes the following models: 22? Soft Duffel, Sling Bag, Daypack, 22? Expandable Rollaboard Luggage, 26? Expandable Rollaboard Luggage, 26? Expandable Drop Bottom Rolling Duffel and 32? Expandable Drop Bottom Rolling Duffel. The collection is constructed in an attractive olive green fabric with black accents.

National Geographic’s net proceeds from the sale of these products will support vital exploration, conservation, research and education programs.

About National Geographic

About Travelpro?

For 25 years, Travelpro International has prided itself on design innovation and durability in crafting the highest-quality luggage for travelers worldwide. Since transforming the ease of modern-day travel with The Original Rollaboard? wheeled luggage, Travelpro? has been the brand of choice for flight crews and frequent travelers worldwide. Travelpro is dedicated to building a lifelong relationship with its customers by consistently understanding and exceeding their needs. The company offers a variety of innovative, high-quality luggage collections and computer briefs; each aimed at a specific user lifestyle and rigorously tested. Travelpro was the winner of the 2009 and 2010 Leading Edge Award from Executive Travel Magazine for “The Best Carry-on Case.” Travelpro is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the invention of the Rollaboard? throughout 2012.

Please visit Travelpro at www.travelpro.com for a full list of the latest products and retail locations.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Technical Fact Sheet

National Geographic Northwall Collection Dimensions

22? Expandable Rollaboard? Luggage

26? Expandable Rollaboard? Luggage

6? Expandable Drop Bottom Rolling Duffel

32? Expandable Drop Bottom Rolling Duffel

National Geographic Northwall? Collection visuals are available upon request; please contact Yaneisy Blanco at yaneisy@gohrmc.com or call 305-573-0882.

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Friday, September 14, 2012

World’s Best Travel Experiences: 400 Extraordinary Places

WASHINGTON (Sept. 12, 2012)—Take a trip with National Geographic to experience the magic of the world’s most spectacular destinations in a colorful new travel gift book publishing this fall. WORLD’S BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCES: 400 Extraordinary Places (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0959-8; on-sale date: Oct. 30, 2012; $40 hardcover), with a foreword by actor, director and travel writer Andrew McCarthy, showcases some of the most transformative places on Earth, from Bhutan to Bermuda, from the Sahara to the Stockholm Archipelago, and suggests unique, intriguing ways to experience them.

Sumptuously illustrated in full color and covering destinations both near and far chosen by National Geographic travel editors and contributors, the book explains the special lure of each place by detailing its particular charm and appeal and its must-see attractions.

There are five sections: “Wild Places” focuses on vast, unspoiled places protected by the extremes of geography and topography, which promise the rejuvenation of the soul. These include such destinations as Auyuittuq National Park in Nanavut, Canada; Botswana’s Okavango Delta; and Russia’s Lake Baikal. “Urban Spaces” looks at the world’s great cities, such as San Francisco, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, London and Jerusalem, which stimulate and enrich us. “Paradise Found” presents spellbinding places that boast breathtaking vistas and timeless beauty — like the Seychelles, Fiji and Italy’s Amalfi Coast. “Country Unbound” steers readers toward destinations where man and nature exist in perfect harmony, such as Texas Hill Country, Chile’s Lake District and France’s Loire Valley. “World Wonders” showcases places where one can marvel at mankind’s most tantalizing creations, including Mesa Verde, Machu Picchu, Stonehenge and the Taj Mahal. Each destination includes in-depth site descriptions and useful planning information.

Sprinkled throughout the book are “Best of the Best” and “In the Know” sidebars that share interesting tidbits, tips, can’t-miss spots and insights from an insider’s perspective. The book also includes quotes and reminiscences by such luminaries as Anna Quindlen, Bill Bryson, Gore Vidal, Oliver Sacks and Jordan’s Queen Noor.

The book also includes nearly two dozen “Best of the World” top-10 lists, profiling the best destinations for everything from romantic getaways and mountains to climb to volunteer animal rescue and unusual scuba-diving sites.

An evocative journey around the world, WORLD’S BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCES is the ultimate book for avid adventurers and armchair travelers alike. It’s the perfect way for readers to rekindle their most favorite travel memories or to find that dream-trip destination.

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National Geographic, Heal the Bay Debut Nationwide Enviro-Literacy Program

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2012) – Today, Heal the Bay and National Geographic unveiled teacher environmental literacy guides that cover the topics of fresh water, ocean, energy and climate change. Heal the Bay and National Geographic Education announced these results of their partnership during Heal the Bay’s eighth annual Coastal Cleanup Education Day, a lead-up event to the upcoming Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Approximately 700 elementary students from as far away as Lancaster, Calif., arrived at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium for environmentally focused games, lessons and activities. These future environmental stewards—many of whom had never visited the ocean before—explored the beach, got up close and personal with the living species in the Aquarium touch tanks and even cleaned up the beach.

Heal the Bay has long supported the implementation of the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI). The EEI was developed as part of a groundbreaking state law that requires instructional materials for students in kindergarten through 12th grade to integrate various environmental principles and concepts with traditional academic standards.

“Cal/EPA is pleased that so many agencies and organizations have come together to help implement this landmark law,” said Cal/EPA Secretary Matt Rodriquez. “EEI will help California students learn about their relationship with the environment and will prepare them to become future economists, scientists and green technology leaders. By working together, we can all better support teachers’ engagement in environmental education.”

Heal the Bay contracted with National Geographic Education to create Earth’s Fresh Water, One Ocean, Changing Climate and Energy Potential, teacher guides and videos that provide third- to eighth-grade educators with background knowledge and curriculum on topics from feedback loops in global cycling systems and ocean currents to alternative energy solutions and sustainable fisheries.

“These guidebooks are designed to give teachers up-to-date information about environmental topics, allowing for integration of this engaging and important content into classrooms across California,” said Kathleen Schwille, National Geographic Vice President for Educational Design and Development. “The support of our partners and funders has allowed us to provide these resources free to educators.”

“While the guides are written for upper elementary to middle school teachers, they are so accessible that I feel I could recommend them to all elementary to high school teachers, and everyone would get something out of them,” said Heal the Bay Education Director Tara Treiber. “We’re really so thrilled to be able to offer such an amazing resource to educators everywhere.”

The guides were made possible via generous funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Southern California Edison, Clean Harbors Environmental Services and Annenberg Learner, and present a unique investment in teachers’ ability and confidence in teaching environmental education.

“These extraordinary professional development guides fill a large void in California’s Environmental Education Initiative. Thanks to this unusual public-private partnership, there are now visually compelling, teacher-friendly, comprehensive guides on oceans, water, energy and climate change,” said Mark Gold, former President of Heal the Bay and the guiding force behind their creation.

The guides have been tested in classrooms in California and Washington, D.C., and were used as the basis for a successful pilot EEI professional development project with teachers in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and middle schools in the Venice Family of LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District). The pilot program was funded by Annenberg Learner, Heal the Bay and National Geographic and with the help of Google and USC Sea Grant education professionals.

As part of the One Ocean Program, Santa Monica-Malibu USD teachers worked collaboratively to develop environmentally focused lesson plans. They used the EEI curriculum, Google Earth, Annenberg Learner, National Geographic and other electronic resources to create a variety of hands-on learning experiences for students. Heal the Bay will continue to partner with SMMUSD in the 2012-2013 school year to support EEI implementation in the district.

The guides are available as PDF documents on the National Geographic website (http://natgeoed.org/eei).

About Heal the Bay

Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean. We use science, education, community action and advocacy to pursue our mission.

About National Geographic Education

National Geographic Education is the educational outreach arm of the National Geographic Society. National Geographic Education brings the rich resources of the Society to its audience of educators and learners as part of its mission to prepare young people to care for the planet. National Geographic Education creates educational materials for young people and the adults who teach them, conducts educational programs for educators and advocates for improved geographic education. Under the auspices of the National Geographic Education Foundation, it has awarded more than $80 million in grants to support efforts to improve geography education in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit NatGeoEd.org.

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Birds of Paradise: Revealing The World’s Most Extraordinary Birds

WASHINGTON (Sept. 10, 2012)—Extravagant plumage, crazy courtship dances and bizarre behaviors are just a few of the characteristics associated with birds of paradise, a famous family of birds found in Papua New Guinea. This fall, for the first time, world-renowned photographer Tim Laman and Edwin Scholes, a leading ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, reveal all 39 species of these extraordinary animals. In their new book BIRDS OF PARADISE: Revealing the World’s Most Extraordinary Birds (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0958-1; on-sale date: Oct. 23, 2012; $50 hardcover), Laman and Scholes share groundbreaking research and stunning photography from their trips to the remote wilderness of Papua New Guinea.

Their partnership began in 2003 with an email from Laman to Scholes, asking Scholes for information for Laman’s National Geographic-funded research on birds of paradise; Laman had an article in National Geographic magazine on the subject slated for July 2007. The partnership grew as Laman asked Scholes to join him as his scientific adviser and photography assistant. By 2006, they had captured 22 species of these elusive birds. Deciding to go beyond the scope of the article, Laman and Scholes received funding from the National Geographic Expeditions Council and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to finish what they had started — creating a “family portrait” of all 39 species. In 2011, after 18 expeditions, the two completed documenting all 39 species of birds of paradise, capturing both still images and video footage.

Featuring 150 stunning photographs of all 39 species, BIRDS OF PARADISE is an in-depth look into the lives and looks of these peculiar birds. The book is divided into four sections, each looking at a different aspect of the birds and their natural habitat. “Most Beautiful & Most Wonderful” delves into the history of the species, how it has captivated scientists for decades and its evolution throughout time; “Rugged Paradise” showcases the splendor of New Guinea and how the authors used the landscape to capture footage of the birds; “Extreme Selection” focuses on how Laman and Scholes studied the birds’ mating rituals and dances and how the process of sexual selection has shaped their evolution; and “Absurd” features the gorgeous, colorful feathers, extravagant ornamentation and bizarre courtship behaviors.

Detailed looks into the science behind Laman and Scholes’ fieldwork are sprinkled throughout the text, giving readers a chance to understand how the photographer and ornithologist were able to document and study all 39 species for the first time. Illustrations of Laman’s treetop canopy where he was able to photograph the birds from new angles are featured as well as field notes and drawings from Scholes’ insightful knowledge and understanding of the birds. A comprehensive atlas shows where each of the 39 species lives throughout the region, giving context to Laman and Scholes’ whereabouts as they hunted for each species. In addition, related quotes from such avian enthusiasts as Charles Darwin and Sir David Attenborough show the importance of birds of paradise and their part in today’s conservation and biodiversity efforts.

“People are primarily drawn to the birds of paradise for two reasons: the remarkable appearances of any given species and the incredible diversity among them,” Laman and Scholes write in the book’s first chapter. “We find the birds of paradise intriguing because they stray far from our mental image of a normal bird. They remind us of mythical creatures from another age and challenge our preconceptions of nature. The birds of paradise seem paradoxical because they contradict the common view of nature that is, as Tennyson writes, ‘red in tooth and claw.’ We’re left wondering how natural selection, with its emphasis on efficiency, could even permit creatures as overtly extravagant as the birds of paradise to exist at all.”

BIRDS OF PARADISE is part of a National Geographic Society-wide effort and a collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, including an exhibition at the National Geographic Museum opening Thursday, Nov. 1; a documentary on the National Geographic Channel, “Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise” airing early November and releasing later on DVD; National Geographic Live lectures across the country; an article in the December issue of National Geographic magazine, which includes bonus materials in the iPad edition; and an education portal at www.natgeoed.org/birds-of-paradise.

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About the Authors

Tim Laman, rain forest biologist affiliated with Harvard University, is one of the most accomplished wildlife photographers in the world. From the rain forest canopy to the coral reef depths, Laman documents the biodiversity of Earth’s richest realms and is a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine. Laman holds a Ph.D. from Harvard.

Edwin Scholes, a Ph. D. ornithologist and biodiversity video curator at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, has studied birds of paradise for more than a decade and is a leading authority on their behavior and evolution.

About National Geographic Books

About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is nonprofit, member-supported organization with the mission to interpret and conserve the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Founded in 1915, the Lab is supported by 45,000 members and engages 200,000 citizen-science participants and 6 million bird enthusiasts who connect online at www.allaboutbirds.org. As a proud unit of Cornell University, the Lab has a leading team of faculty, educators, conservation scientists and engineers continuing a strong history of excellence in science, technological innovation and outreach. Learn more at www.birds.cornell.edu. For questions, please contact Pat Leonard at Cornell Lab of Ornithology (607) 254-2137 or PEL27@cornell.edu.

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Youth in Pakistan to Learn from National Geographic Photographers During National Geographic Photo Camp

WASHINGTON (Sept. 10, 2012)—A group of Pakistani youth will have a unique opportunity to document the capital city of Islamabad with National Geographic contributing photographers Amy Toensing, Tyrone Turner and Matt Moyer during National Geographic Photo Camp Pakistan. During the six-day workshop starting Saturday, Sept. 15, 15 students from across the country will learn about self-expression through photographic vision and technique. The Photo Camp is presented by the National Geographic Society.

The photographers, together with Photo Camp staff, will mentor the students on the basics of photography as well as photographic vision, equipment and technique, and lead them through the process of creating a story through photography and writing. The workshop assignments and activities will focus on sense of place and describing the students’ world through a youth perspective.

“We hope that the Photo Camp will provide a rare opportunity for these young people to meet their peers from across Pakistan and see their lives in a new way,” said Terry Garcia, National Geographic’s executive vice president for Mission Programs. “We’ve seen Photo Camp activities give new voice to youth, and supporting Photo Camp allows National Geographic to further its mission to inspire people to care about the planet.”

Participants, their families and community members are invited to final presentations of the students’ work at the conclusion of the workshop. Olympus Imaging America Inc. has provided cameras for the Photo Camp.

National Geographic Photo Camp has provided programs for more than 1,000 young people in over 60 locations since 2003. Photo Camp venues from earlier this year included Baltimore, Md., and Haiti, and later this year National Geographic will sponsor a Photo Camp in Eleuthera in the Bahamas.

Visit www.nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

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National Geographic Kids Magazine Sets Out to Claim 2 Guinness World Records® Titles Tied to Running and Recycling

Photo by ? Mark Thiessen/National Geographic (left to right): Back row: Nolan Gould, Amanda Beard and Jake Short. Front row: Eli Manning, Danica Patrick, One Direction.

WASHINGTON (Sept. 12, 2012)—In an effort to engage children in both fitness and recycling, National Geographic Kids magazine will attempt to break two Guinness World Records? titles this fall. Through the magazine’s Run for the Planet program, in coordination with the prestigious Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Healthy Kids Fun Run, people all over the world will attempt to set the Guinness World Records achievement for the most people to run 100 meters in 24 hours. Participants will also send in athletic shoes to National Geographic Kids, which will be tied together to break the record for the longest chain of shoes, then recycled into athletic surfaces such as basketball courts and running tracks.

Runners (or walkers) can complete their 100 meters anytime between 12 noon ET, Friday, Oct. 26, and 12 noon ET Saturday, Oct. 27. Although many participants will be collecting athletic shoes during that period, shoes can be sent to National Geographic Kids now until Nov. 9. Five thousand participants are needed to set the running record; the current shoe chain record stands at 24,962. Children, families, schools, sports clubs and other groups are encouraged to help set both Guinness World Records titles.

Run for the Planet supports first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, which encourages kids and families to get healthy and active. To pledge to participate and get official rules for both record attempts, go to kids.nationalgeographic.com/run-for-the-planet/.

Top athletes and celebrities have shown their commitment to encouraging kids to do something good for their health and the planet by contributing their own old athletic shoes. They include Eli Manning of the 2012 Super Bowl-winning New York Giants; singer Taylor Swift; Boston Bruin Andrew Ference; race car driver Danica Patrick; boy band One Direction; actor Nolan Gould, who plays Luke on “Modern Family”; actor Jake Short, who plays Fletcher on Disney’s “A.N.T. Farm”; and Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard.

“Children’s response to set National Geographic Kids’ sixth and seventh Guinness World Records titles is extraordinary,” said Melina Bellows, executive vice president and chief creative officer of National Geographic Books, Kids and Family. “Tens of thousands of people have already pledged online to take part in 100-meter runs, and we’re making room for thousands of shoes.”

The athletic shoes will go to Nike Reuse-A-Shoe, which recycles shoes into materials to build athletic surfaces such as tennis courts and playgrounds. If this year’s goal of 12,500 pairs is met, it will be enough to recycle into five basketball courts.

“Kids’ eagerness to run and recycle shows their devotion to fitness, health and conservation at a time when they aren’t getting a lot of credit for it. It is inspiring, and I’m so excited to prominently cover both record attempts in the pages of our magazine,” said Rachel Buchholz, executive editor of National Geographic Kids magazine.

A July 2012 National Geographic Kids Pulse Survey revealed that nine out of 10 children are regularly active. The four most popular sports are swimming, walking, bicycling and running.

During MCM Weekend in Washington, the Healthy Kids Fun Run will host 3,600 participants on Saturday, Oct. 27. These numbers will be included in the overall Guinness World Record count.

“The Kids Run promotes physical fitness and encourages children to lead a healthy and active life. The partnership this year with National Geographic Kids to set a Guinness World Record is a great thrill for Kids Run participants and reinforces how fun running can be,” said Rick Nealis, MCM director. Registration is still open for the one-mile run at www.marinemarathon.com.

In addition, 29 Macerich-owned shopping malls across the country will be hosting Run for the Planet events during the 24-hour time period of Oct. 26-Oct. 27. For locations, see www.macerich.com/ngkids.

The five Guinness World Records titles already set by National Geographic Kids are the Longest Line of Footprints (10,932 prints measuring two miles, set in 2004); Largest Collection of Plush Toys (2,304 stuffed animals, set in 2006); Longest Chain of Shoes (10,512 shoes, set in 2008); Most Items of Clothing Collected for Recycling (33,088 items of denim clothing, set in 2009); and Most People Doing Jumping Jacks in 24 Hours (300,265, set in 2011). First lady Michelle Obama participated in the 2011 record-breaking feat, kicking off the attempt with one minute of jumping jacks on the White House lawn as part of her Let’s Move! initiative. The record is featured in the “Guinness World Records 2013 Edition,” on sale now.

About National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, videos, events and a website, and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core. National Geographic Kids magazine (10 issues per year) and Little Kids magazine (six issues per year) are photo-driven publications available on newsstands or by subscription in print and on tablets. The award-winning website kids.nationalgeographic.com excites kids about the planet through games, videos, contests, photos, quizzes and blogs about cultures, animals and destinations. National Geographic Kids Books is the leading nonfiction publisher with 50 titles each year, including the New York Times bestseller “Kids Almanac.” National Geographic Kids Games engages kids to learn through play with games like the online virtual animal world of Animal Jam and the interactive TV experience of Nat Geo Kinect TV. National Geographic Kids Apps bring the best of National Geographic Kids to smartphones and tablets.

About Guinness World Records?

Guinness World Records? (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) is the global authority on record-breaking achievements. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records? book has become one of the biggest-selling copyright titles of all time, selling 120 million copies to date in 22 languages and in more than 100 countries. The internationally renowned brand is now also available across a number of platforms — GWR’s global television shows are watched by 250 million viewers annually; digital media and online record-processing services attract more than 50 million visitors a year; and the live events team annually entertains and inspires 1.5 million people around the world. GWR receives more than 1,000 applications each week and has a specialized team of multi-language record managers and adjudicators who travel the globe to verify official record attempts. GWR also has a commercial division (Guinness World Records Corporate http://corporate.guinnessworldrecords.com/) that offers accessible record-breaking business solutions to other organizations and brands.

About the Marine Corps Marathon

Voted the “Best Marathon for Families” and the “Best Marathon in the Mid Atlantic,” the Marine Corps Marathon honors the dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism of its participants. Runners from all walks of life participate in the largest marathon not to offer prize money, earning the name “The People’s Marathon.” The 37th MCM will be held on Oct. 28, 2012, in Arlington, Va. No federal or Marine Corps endorsement is implied. Please visit www.marinemarathon.com.

About Our Supporting Organizations

National Geographic Education is responsible for creating educational programs and resources for schools, out-of-school settings and the home. National Geographic Education’s work targets two goals: geo-literacy, an essential skill for decision-making in 21st-century personal, professional and civic life; and educational outreach that maximizes the impact of the National Geographic Society’s rich media, scientific and exploration programs on the education audience. National Geographic Education disseminates its educational resources via the natgeoed.org website, which brings geography, social studies and science to life for educators, learners and their families — in and out of the K-12 classroom.

The Healthy Kids Fun Run presented by The Washington Post hosts over 3,500 children for a one-mile run and family fitness festival on Saturday, Oct. 27, in Arlington, Va. Held annually the day prior to the Marine Corps Marathon, the Kids Run is sponsored by Sodexo, FAMILY Magazine and Navy Federal Credit Union.

Macerich? (NYSE:MAC) is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. Macerich Malls serve neighboring communities with one-of-a kind events, which are fun and educational, as well as unique shops and restaurants.

The Kids Run the Nation Program, a program of the Road Runners Club of America, is a multi-week, turnkey, youth running program designed to meet the physical activity goals outlined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for children in grades kindergarten through sixth. The program can also be modified to serve older grades.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

Let’s Move in School, an initiative of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, is urging physical educators, parents, school administrators and policy makers to get involved in bringing quality physical education and physical activity to schools through a comprehensive school physical activity program. Schools can start by registering at www.LetsMoveInSchool.org.

Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls 8-13 years old. It uses a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. Girls on the Run serves over 120,000 girls each year in 47 states and Canada.

The Life is good Playmakers is the Life is good Company’s accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, whose mission is to help kids overcome poverty, violence and illness. The Life is good Playmakers use the power of play to build healing, life-changing relationships with the children in their care and reach more than 209,000 children each year. To date, Life is good has raised over $8 million to help kids in need, principally through the annual Life is good Festival, Life is good products and other fundraising efforts.

We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition)? is a science-based national education program developed by the National Institutes of Health, a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is designed to help children ages 8-13 stay at a healthy weight through improving food choices, increasing physical activity and reducing screen time.

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Friday, September 7, 2012

SPACE ATLAS

WASHINGTON (Sept. 4, 2012)—National Geographic presents a new one-stop guide to the planets, stars and outer reaches of the universe in the new book SPACE ATLAS (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0971-0; on sale Nov. 6, 2012; $50; hardcover), by James Trefil and with a foreword by astronaut Buzz Aldrin. By combining the unparalleled cartographic power of National Geographic and the breathtaking imagery from the Hubble telescope and other space probes, SPACE ATLAS maps the final frontier with detail and splendor in the most up-to-date atlas of its kind.

The book uses clear, nontechnical text that explains the nature of planets, stars, galaxies and exotic objects such as black holes alongside photos and art that illustrate the strange beauty of outer space. In addition to the latest imagery coming from space telescopes and diagrams explaining key astronomical concepts, this atlas also includes more than 90 pages of detailed maps, many of them brand new and specially created for this book.

The galactic getaway starts close to home within the first domain, our own solar system. This section meticulously maps out the surfaces of the planets and major moons — from the sun-scorched face of Mercury to the Kuiper Belt beyond Pluto — using the most up-to-date information from NASA and other key sources. Many of the features shown on these maps — mountains, craters, poles, plains and landing sites of vehicles from Earth — have never been mapped in an atlas before.

Fact boxes provide details on each planet’s discoverer, discovery date, mass, volume, radius, surface temperature, length of day and year and number of moons. Readers will also learn about the birth of the solar system and will explore the Oort Cloud and planet-size worlds discovered beyond Pluto that have helped astronomers begin to see the inner planets as just a small part of the entire system. It was this new understanding that led to Pluto’s well-publicized “demotion.”

The second section of SPACE ATLAS is devoted to the Milky Way and explores the stars and structures that make up our galaxy. Detailed information is provided on the sun, exoplanets, supernovae, neutron stars and pulsars, black holes, dark matter and SETI (the Search for Artificial Intelligence).

The third section delves into the large-scale structure of the universe, of which the galaxies are building blocks. It explores the big issues of cosmology: the structure of the universe, how it began and how it will end. An epilogue, “Mysteries,” explores some of the hottest topics in modern physics — string theory and the possibility of a multiverse — as it leaves the realm of hard data and enters the speculative world of the theoretical physicist.

In his foreword, Aldrin writes, “This National Geographic ‘Space Atlas’ has special meaning for me. It is an enduring honor to have been one of the few humans to have stood on the moon…The moon to me is not a distant object in space but a real place where I spent time, and a real landscape that I remember in my mind’s eye. Looking at the maps of Earth’s moon on these pages is for me a little like retracing a vacation on the map that was carried along. … A book like this is so exciting because it refines our sense of the frontiers of space by taking the surge of information coming to us from space explorations and translating all of that new data into graceful text, remarkable imagery, and elegant maps.”

Just as this volume brings Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s journey to the moon back into focus, SPACE ATLAS will give readers a clearer vision of distant worlds and the outer limits of space.

About the Author

James Trefil is a physicist and author of more than 30 books, including “The Laws of Nature and Other Worlds: The Solar System and Beyond.” He is co-author of an influential textbook, “Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy,” and was a contributor to National Geographic’s “Encyclopedia of Space.” He is the Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University and regularly gives presentations to judges and public officials on the intersection of science and law.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and

Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

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National Geographic Society and Nat Geo WILD Name Big Cats Initiative Sister Schools for 2012-2013 School Year

U.S. Students to Partner with African Students to ‘Cause An Uproar’
And Raise Awareness about Declining Populations of Big Cats in the Wild

WASHINGTON (Sept. 6, 2012)—Four public schools in New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Salt Lake City have been selected to participate in a unique cross-cultural initiative, National Geographic’s Big Cats Sister School Program. Beginning in fall 2012, the Big Cats Sister School Program will pair the U.S. schools with schools in Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana under the shared theme of big cat conservation.

Students in all four countries will learn why big cats are important to the ecosystem and how they each perceive big cats in their own countries, using photos, letters, essays, stories, virtual assemblies and other forms of digital media to connect. The student groups will also interact with National Geographic conservationists and Nat Geo WILD television channel talent to raise awareness about the severe decline of the big cat population in the wild. The U.S. students will create and conduct high-profile activities in their schools and communities to spread the word about the significance and scope of this crisis.

Big cats are victims of conflict with humans and habitat loss or degradation. National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative is a long-term commitment to halt the decline of these iconic animals in the wild through on-the-ground conservation projects, education and a global public awareness campaign. The Big Cats Sister School Program, launched by the National Geographic Society and Nat Geo WILD, provides teachers and students an ongoing opportunity to “Cause An Uproar” to help save big cats throughout the school year as well as engage in a cultural exchange.

“This program will help connect children around the globe on the important topic of big cat conservation,” said Alexander Moen, National Geographic’s vice president, Explorer Programs. “We need future generations to recognize the importance of saving our planet’s predators so that 40 years from now they won’t look back on lions the way we now look back on dinosaurs.”

The four U.S. schools were selected through an application process in which they highlighted how they would raise awareness of big cats within their schools and communities. The schools are:

P.S. 205 The Fiorello H. LaGuardia School, Bronx, New York City Department of Education – District 10Hill-Freedman World Academy, School District of PhiladelphiaCompton Drew Investigative Learning Center, St. Louis Public School DistrictClayton Middle School, Salt Lake City School District

The four schools in Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana were identified by National Geographic field researchers. They are:

Lpus Leluai Primary School, Westgate Conservancy, KenyaLoibor Siret Primary School, Loibor Siret, TanzaniaMalinzaga Primary School, Ruaha, TanzaniaGudigwa Primary School, Gudigwa, Botswana

The Big Cats Sister School Program is a unique interactive, educational and cause-related community service learning project. It is geared toward enhancing school spirit among participating students by connecting children with other children in a faraway part of the world. The program provides much needed school supplies to schools and children in Africa and demonstrates support, charity and goodwill in these regions. Throughout the school year, the Big Cats Sister Schools will utilize free online multimedia activities and education resources provided by National Geographic Education and a variety of programming elements from Nat Geo WILD’s big cats-related films. Students will conduct awareness activities in their schools and communities to “Cause An Uproar” to help save big cats.

“This initiative is the perfect next step in our commitment to this important cause,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo WILD. “Nat Geo WILD is dedicated to family-friendly programming, including our Big Cats programming. We fully expect the Big Cats Sister School Program will enhance student learning about a significant global issue and inspire students to use their collective voice to raise awareness about the dramatic decline of these magnificent creatures.”

The principals of the four newly selected U.S. Big Cats Sister Schools expressed strong commitment to the program. Anthony F. Majewski, principal of Hill-Freedman World Academy, said, “We are thrilled that our school was chosen for this unique and meaningful opportunity. I anticipate our students will be thoroughly engaged in all aspects of the Big Cats Sister School Program. The project is an ideal fit for Hill-Freedman’s core values to make connections with diverse groups of people and become more international minded. The project will provide us all important insights into the plight of students in Africa and will cast a much needed light on the critical issue of the decline of big cats in the wild.”

For more information, visit www.causeanuproar.org.

National Geographic Big Cats Initiative

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. The Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. BCI supports efforts to save big cats through assessment efforts, on-the-ground conservation projects, education, economic incentive programs and a global public-awareness campaign. Visit www.causeanuproar.org.

National Geographic Education Programs

Nat Geo WILD

For more than 30 years, National Geographic has been the leader in wildlife programming. The networks Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo WILD HD, launched in 2010, offer intimate encounters with nature’s ferocious fighters and gentle creatures of land, sea and air that draw upon the cutting-edge work of the many explorers, filmmakers and scientists of the National Geographic Society. Part of the National Geographic Channels US, based in Washington, D.C., the networks are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. In 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) debuted, and 10 years later, Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation’s major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with Nat Geo WILD currently available in 56 million U.S. homes. Globally, Nat Geo WILD is available in more than 100 million homes in 90 countries and 28 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS: A Chronicle of His Life and the Origins of Christianity

WASHINGTON (Sept. 4, 2012)—To more fully comprehend Jesus — the teacher, the leader, the man — one needs to reconstruct the historical, social and cultural conditions of his time so the Gospel stories can be viewed in their proper context. A new book from National Geographic, IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS: A Chronicle of His Life and the Origins of Christianity (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0987-1; on sale Nov. 6, 2012; $40; hardcover), by Jean-Pierre Isbouts, offers a fresh examination of Jesus by exploring the people, places, politics and events of his world in which he lived.

This book, based on insights from new archaeological discoveries and geographic and economic studies of the occupied territories of the Roman Empire, especially first-century Palestine, takes readers on a visually engaging journey with Jesus throughout his life.

“To imagine the unique world of Jesus’ ministry, and the particular conditions in which the evangelists wrote their story, is perhaps the greatest challenge to our understanding of the Gospels,” Isbouts writes. “This is why this book aims to transport the reader back to first-century Palestine in order to reconstruct the path that Jesus took — not only in narrative form, but also with scores of maps, ancient artifacts, artwork, and location photography.”

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS is divided into four principal segments. Part 1, “The World of Jesus,” provides an overview of the Roman Empire before Jesus’ birth; it then sketches the changes wrought by King Herod in Palestine and re-creates what everyday life would have been like in a small Galilean village such as Nazareth.

Part 2, “The Life of Jesus,” follows closely in Jesus’ footsteps as it traces the journeys of his ministry as recounted in the Gospels, beginning with his activities in Capernaum, his travels throughout Galilee, the journeys to Tyre and Sidon, then finally Jerusalem, where the narrative offers an hour-by-hour reconstruction of the Passion events based on the latest scholarly and archaeological findings.

Part 3, “The Legacy of Jesus,” chronicles the gradual rise of Christian communities in the decades after Jesus’ death. The epilogue, “Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus,” traces the pilgrimage routes to the Holy Land.

The detailed maps that track Jesus’ path through the Holy Land bring each key place to life. Photographs, illustrations and unique period artifacts complement the text and maps. Readers will not only gain a deeper knowledge about Jesus but also will learn about the characters and events that shaped life at that time. Scholars, history buffs, believers, newcomers to biblical history and those intellectually curious about the pivotal figure of Jesus will find the book an invaluable reference and a must-have addition to their libraries.

About the Author

Jean-Pierre Isbouts completed his doctoral program on archaeology and art at the University of Leyden and is currently professor of culture and media studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, Calif. He has written several other books, including National Geographic’s “The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas” and “From Moses to Muhammad.” Isbouts has also written four television programs that explore the legacy of the Bible, including the Hallmark television mini-series “The Quest for Peace,” which won the 2005 Gold Aurora Award and the 2005 DeRose-Hinkhouse Award.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and

Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

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National Geographic’s All Roads Film Festival to Present 4 Days Of Film, Photography, Music from Vibrant Cultures Worldwide

WASHINGTON (Sept. 5, 2012)—Romance, drama and incisive documentaries from across the globe will be spotlighted in the eighth All Roads Film Festival, the groundbreaking program that offers contemporary stories by or about indigenous and under-represented minority cultures. The 2012 All Roads Film Festival will take place Sept. 27-30 at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. This year’s theme is “Vibrant Cultures from Around the World.”

The four-day event also will include a dance party with L.A.-based, Colombian band Palenke Soultribe; a live mariachi band performance; panel discussions with filmmakers; and a photo exhibit in the courtyard at National Geographic headquarters. The photo exhibit, a collaboration with National Geographic Photo Camp, features images by youth from Chad, Haiti and Burma who worked with National Geographic’s legendary photographers. Award-winning and rising filmmakers will participate in two panel discussions as well as discussions following their film screenings, where they will talk about their careers and the continuing innovation of indigenous filmmaking.

“It’s exciting to see that the artistry and craftsmanship in these films get stronger every year,” said Francene Blythe, director of the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. “This year’s submissions noticeably featured the brighter side of life: inspiring personalities and captivating stories, all presented by some of the most promising filmmakers in the world.”

Some of the festival’s stand-out films are:

Bridge the Gap to Pine Ridge – Filmmaker Chris Bashinelli tells amazing stories of hope and inspiration from South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. This film will also be part of Bashinelli’s successful Web series, which aims to provide new perspectives from the developing world and foster cross-cultural understanding.Busong (Palawan Fate) – This first feature film from the Palawan community of the Philippines is making its D.C. premiere. It screened at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival Director’s Fortnight, and won awards for Best Director, Best Sound Design and Best Original Music Score at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival last year.Lone Samaritan – Making its D.C. premiere, this Israeli film is about a family in crisis after a daughter leaves their reclusive Samaritan sect and becomes a well-known Israeli celebrity. The film has won multiple Best Documentary awards at festivals around the world.Los Descendientes del Jaguar – This documentary catalogues the courtroom triumph of the Sarayaku people over oil exploration that took place on their land without their consent.Mariachi High – “Mariachi High” follows a group of high school students preparing for high-stakes mariachi competitions. The featured students will open the All Roads Film Festival on Sept. 27 with a live mariachi performance in the National Geographic Society courtyard. “Mariachi High” is an All Roads Seed Grant recipient.The Tundra Book – This film documents the life of the Chukchi people, whom very few outsiders have encountered. It won the Russian equivalent of the Academy Award for Best Documentary, a first for indigenous filmmakers in Russia. “The Tundra Book” is an All Roads Seed Grant recipient.Tomorrow We Will See – This upbeat film from promising young director Soraya Umewaka showcases Lebanon’s flourishing arts culture as the country rebuilds after years of war.

Other festival events include:

2012 All Roads Photography Exhibit – A first collaboration with National Geographic Photo Camp, which gives National Geographic’s network of professional photographers the chance to pass on their skills, knowledge and passion to the next generation of aspiring photojournalists around the world.All Roads Dance Party – On Saturday, Sept. 28, All Roads will co-host a dance party with NatGeo Music, which has just added Palenke Soultribe to its label. Palenke Soultribe is a cadre of young Colombian artists rediscovering the roots of their country’s diverse music and refashioning it for dance floors worldwide. The event will be 21+, and libations will be available for purchase.Panel Discussions– “You Can Go Home Again,” on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 1:30 p.m., will feature award-winning directors discussing their decisions to locate their films in their homelands and heartlands. In “Triumph or Tragedy,” on Friday, Sept. 28, at 2:30 p.m., up-and-coming directors will talk about finding emotional balance in their films.

A full festival schedule and ticketing information are available at
http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/event-series/all-roads-film-festival-washington-dc/.

For the official All Roads Film Festival trailer, go to
http://www.youtube.com/embed/DA0QcpBuGdY.

Tickets for each All Roads film are $10 for the general public and $8 for National Geographic members. Festival passes, which include the Saturday concert, are $100 for the general public and $80 for members. To purchase, order online via the website above, visit the National Geographic ticket office at 1600 M Street N.W., Washington, D.C., or call (202) 857-7700.

The All Roads Film Festival is part of the All Roads Film Project, a National Geographic program created to provide an international platform for indigenous and under-represented minority-culture artists to share cultures, stories and perspectives through the power of film and photography. In addition to providing a venue for their films, All Roads offers its filmmakers and photographers a series of networking opportunities and awards a minimum of 10 film grants a year to support the development and production of film and video projects by or about indigenous and under-represented minority-culture communities. Film grant recipients are considered for inclusion in the All Roads Film Festival and other National Geographic-affiliated broadcast outlets.

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