At the Appalachian Studies Association's thirty-first annual conference, in March, 2008, activist and author Silas House gave a thought-provoking keynote address. That Friday evening, on the Marshall University campus, in Huntington, West Virginia, not far from the coal fields of southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, Silas offered some…

No doubt the two works of 1978 most important for an emerging Appalachian Studies field were "Colonialism in Modern America: The Appalachian Case" edited by Helen Lewis and her associates and Henry Shapiro's "Appalachia on Our Mind: The Southern Mountains and Mountaineers in the American Consciousness, 1870-1920." The American…

Australia is the world's driest continent. One-third of the country's area is unsuitable for any land use, while another third is suitable only for cattle and sheep grazing. Australia's physical geography, weather conditions, wildflowers, and wildlife are discussed. (RM)

Concentrating on events in Canada during the last ten years, this article discusses the Quebec separatist movement and other strong regionalisms in Canada. Important processes involved with conflict and compromise within the Canadian state are examined. (RM)

The aim of this paper is to offer possible explanations for the declining interest in regional geography. One of the major contributing factors is employment potential. Employment is perceived as being relatively limited for persons defining their interests as "regional" within geography. Students, therefore, do not enroll in regional geography…

The historical development of Canada's very diverse geographic regions is discussed. Although Canadian regions and provinces have always been in a position of economic servitude to foreign or central Canadian markets, they still maintain strong regional loyalties. (RM)

Explores the vital development of the Pacific Rim. Advocates integrating the study of this region into social studies curricula. Criticizes the Eurocentric bias that results in ignoring the Pacific Rim's geography, history, literature, and languages. Reports on social studies programs, primarily in Alaska schools, where study of the Pacific Rim…

Nine ethnic studies programs in higher education are described and the essay, "The Future of Ethnic Studies," by Thad Radzialowski, is presented. Radzialowski believes that ethnic studies can help students explore the meaning of pluralism and provide them with insights into the nature of community in America. It is suggested that ethnic…