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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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Figure 2. Draw<strong>in</strong>g for the number 3 of thejournal (Designed by Ultravioleta).(“Galician <strong>Geography</strong> under construction”)After a long wait, we can say that Galician <strong>Geography</strong>–<strong>in</strong> the context of Social Sciences <strong>in</strong> Galicia– has been<strong>in</strong> a period of un<strong>in</strong>terrupted expansion for more than adecade (aproximately). Nevertheless, the members ofthe Galician <strong>Geography</strong> scientific community cannotbe satisfied nor shout too loud, basically because thissentence, despite be<strong>in</strong>g true, is also very weak and verynew. We are not fac<strong>in</strong>g a situation of scientific hegemony(and we wouldn´t want it for <strong>Geography</strong>), nor also are wea wide and well-organized community. The opposite isthe case, we must talk about the fact that this situation isthe result of the “do<strong>in</strong>g” and “th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g” of a non-shapedcommunity, without <strong>in</strong>stitutional help (Figure 2).Fortunately, <strong>Geography</strong> as a science and also as aprofession has shown once aga<strong>in</strong> that it is over all of usand all the personal<strong>in</strong>terests that can andcould exist. Nevertheless,with all theprocesses <strong>in</strong> movement<strong>in</strong> Galicia, wemust try to support ameet<strong>in</strong>g space. Galiciangeographersneed it, because we Figure 3: Cartoon for the first edition of the Journal (Desg<strong>in</strong>ed by Ultravioleta)are used to live back(“I am a Geographer and I am proud of it… Sometimes more than another ones”)to back among us, ly<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the deepness of ostracism and <strong>in</strong> the most serious of thevulnerabilities. As a result, to appear suddenly <strong>in</strong> History or <strong>Geography</strong> means toforget about our scientific and personal prejudgements, bear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d that theimportant issue <strong>in</strong> these structures is the usefulness to the collective which <strong>in</strong>tegratesthem and, as an extension, to the rest of society –<strong>in</strong> this case to the citizenship ofGalicia–, host<strong>in</strong>g them.A different question from crazy enthusiasm and from overflow<strong>in</strong>g arrogance ispride (Figure 3). Pride as a symptom of dignity. We must be proud of be<strong>in</strong>g geographers<strong>in</strong> Galicia, orig<strong>in</strong>ators of the very much needed spatial-based studies. Moststill live <strong>in</strong> deep ignorance of this sense, fac<strong>in</strong>g away from <strong>Geography</strong>. So: we musthave self-esteem, of course, but this must be corrected by prudence and humbleness.We still are the “poor sister” of Social Sciences, despite everyth<strong>in</strong>g.References1. ABALAR. 2003. “Editorial-Manifesto”, en abalar, a xeografía galega en construcción.Abalar (№ 0), Santiago de Compostela.2. ABALAR. 2003. “Editorial”, <strong>in</strong> abalar, a xeografía galega en construción. Abalar (№ 1),Santiago de Compostela.125

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