Geographical

February 2009

Features:

HOTOSTORY : T HERE ’ S NO PLACE LIKE HOME Photographer Andrew McConnell documents the plight of some of the more than a million people made homeless by the continuing conﬂ ict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
D OSSIER : C RUEL TO BE KIND ? Its supporters claim that hunting can keep wild animal populations in check while at the same time providing a livelihood to hunters, but critics claim that it’s barbaric and senseless. Mark Rowe unravels the issues surrounding the use of hunting as a tool for conservation and management
R EBUILDING A FGHANISTAN Marc Grainger reports on a project that’s helping to restore war-ravaged historic buildings in the cities of Kabul and Herat to their former glory, in the process helping to draw together fractured local communities. Photographs by Nick Danziger
G IMME SHELTER Olivia Edward visits the rapidly crumbling ruins of Malta’s Hagar Qim temple – one the world’s oldest buildings – and checks on the progress of a controversial project to build a protective shelter over the site
T HE TROUBLE WITH TRAVEL In response to December’s special issue on the future of travel, Pat Thomas, editor of the Ecologist, explains why, in her view, the tourism industry is ‘insubstantial, unreliable and contributes so little to making the world a better place’
A RCHIVE : T HE SOUND OF MUSIC A selection of images from the Royal Geographical Society archives shed light on a variety of unusual musical instruments from around the world
E SSENTIAL GEAR : A NY TIME , ANY PLACE , ANYWHERE Equipment editor Paul Deegan shares his extensive knowledge of the best communication technology for keeping in touch from the farthest corners of the globe
WORLDWATCH
CLIMATEWATCH
HOTSPOT: Bay of Bengal
FROM THE COLLECTION: Emin Pasha’s bugle
TRADE SECRETS: Olive oil
REVIEWS
GEOPHOTO: Travel portraits
LETTERS
I’M A GEOGRAPHER: McGonigle
WHERE IN THE WORLD?