Catholicgauze reports on the activation of AFRICOM, the brand-new United States Africa Command headquarters that will oversee U.S. military activity in Africa. AFRICOM joins several other regional command units like United States Pacific Command (PACOM). AFRICOM is based in Stuttgart, Germany.

The National Weather Service used strong language in attempting to get people to heed their advice to evacuate prior to Hurricane Ike last month, "Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family, one- or two-story homes may face certain death." However, thousands remained in the deadly area and refused to leave. National Geography News has an interesting essay on this topic.

Within urban and rural communities, geography plays a critical role in development of the built environment. Urban planners must rely on knowledge of geographic space when deciding how best to manage growth through land-use planning. Learn all about land-use planning through this great article from guest writer and planning student Adam Sowder.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a group of ten member countries that encourages political, economic, and social cooperation in the region. Today the group is considered one of the most successful regional organizations in the world, and it seems to have a brighter future. Learn all about ASEAN from this latest article from Geography Intern Colin Stief.