I READ NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Inspiring people to dare about the planet
The National Geographic Society is chartered in Washiton D.C., as a nonprofit scientific and educational organization “for the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge.” Since 1888 the Society has supported more than 8,000 explorations and research projects, adding to knowledge of earth, sea, and sky. (from NG in every edition)
And, the National Geographic Society monthly publishes National Geographic, the global scientific journal-magazine with yellow square framing the cover picture of its each edition. Those regular publication is also mainly to share the reports yielded from the explorations and research projects finaced by the Society.
The National Geographic covers social and geographical topics at all time. Pictures are of its great attraction. Research and exploration articles are always served as remarkable news that unspeakably contributes to readers’ realm of knowledge and curiosity. And, provided to its never-changing missions of inspiring people to care about the planet, the National Geographic strives to unveil a bunch of mysteries culturally, socially and geographically enheritted by the universe traced on earth. As a result, the National Geographic is the one and only periodical that is best chosen for both academic and non-academic readers.
I first knew this magazine only back to eight years ago when by accident I read one incomplete edition in our English course’s allegedly reading-room upstairs. As a reading lover, I always went to that reading room hoping to find a scrap to read. Fyi, we only had our institutional magazines for students and teachers to read. As I remember the incomplete scrap of the National Geographic was exploring the the Angkor Wat in Cambodia (may 1982 edition). Btw, what I mean a scrap is a scrap or let’s say editions of books or periodicals with important pages gone away. Because in order to be able to read the whole article and to see the complete pictures, I needed to put transparent tape on the pages. And, the “repaired mags” is still here!!! I was so happy to “make” a magazine. And, I was amazed; how come that there was a magazine like this. I was asking our manager whether we could subscribe that National Geographic. But at that he just said,”Nobody reads here. We have Reader’s Digest and nobody reads it. Why should I buy another one?”
When finally I gave up, the manager found that the course has to establish a more-defined library than an allegedly-reading-room. And, thanks God that the National Geographic was the first candidate aside from Time and Newsweek magazines. And, since then I have become the National Geographic avid readers.
One of my favorite the National Geographic’s edition:
All editions are lovable for me but I want to underline one edition in particular. It is The Big Thaw of June 2007 edition. I am an equatorian here in Indonesia and have never experienced those four seasons in my life. I have been dreaming to visit a site on earth where I can touch the ice. And, when I read that the ice is melting in one part of this globe, I began to worry of my chance to touch it is becoming so smaller. I was crazy then. J
It’s no surprise that a warming climate is melting the world’s glaciers and polar ice. But no one expected it to happen this fast (NG, page 56). I was thinking: if the pole is melting faster than the prediction, how about the other parts of the world? And, the representative pictures of how the effect of quick melting made me a kind of confused of what has been happening to this globe. Two pictures of Chacaltaya Glacier, Bolivia taken in two different years (1994 and 2005) are enough of a warning for me that the ice is “hotter” now.
“In 1995, when we predicted the disappearance of the glaciers, very few people believed us,: Ramirez says. “We were accused of being alarmist. But now it has come to pass.” Global warming apparently struck these glaciers a roundabout blow… They saw little direct effect from the slight warming of the atmosphere in recent year. What devastated the glaciers was a relentless series of El Ninos—episodes of waring in the waters f the equatorial pasific. (NG, page 69)
I can’t only imagine what possibly will happen at the end of the day if it goes worse and worse. Do I still have my dreams to visit snowy sites? Can I visit the “present” icy places on the poles? Hope the National Geographic find another past of icy places I expect to bring about in my dreams… and reality.
I care about the globe. I want to save the globe. And, I read the National Geographic.
The National Geographic has been my window to see out of my own shell, the neighborhood inside and outside this magnificent home planet. In one statement, National Geographic has its own flag carrying a big mission to introduce global phenomenon, problems and (hopefully always) the anticipating factors to me.
I read the National Geographic.
rike jokanan 