Livable Cities
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| https://smartgrowth.org/public-space-towards-a-livable-city/ |
Ch. 11 Livable Cities (p.217) -
The ability to meet basic needs on foot and simultaneously to meet needs for social contact promote economic and social diversity, and are especially important for residents with disabilities, elders, and low-income residents.
This line is a perfect example of building community as people come together and consider a sustainable approach for social contact. It is important that communities provide residents with walkable streets to minimize reliance and use of transportation to get from point A to point B. It would also allow residents to meet and interact with their neighbors. A close-knit community is an opportunity to discuss what part of neighborhood needs improvement to enhance living conditions and possibly come up with ideas to become a greener environment and take initiative by coming up with ideas and solutions to the environmental issues we are being faced with.
Ch. 11 Livable Cities (p. 222) -
Many cities are developing climate action plans. These plans typically have parallel goals of mitigation and adaptation: to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and move toward climate neutrality in order to help reduce the severity of climate change, and to prepare for responding to changes that are now inevitable. A number of cities are also simultaneously evaluating how to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
This line gave me hope for our future as there are many cities that are implementing a climate action plan to better our way of living. The ways to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and move toward climate neutrality are through reducing the burning of fossil fuels for electricity at home by purchasing solar panels, using energy-saving light bulbs, less interaction with electronic devices, line-dry clothes, wash clothes in cold or warm water, installing tankless water heaters, use non-toxic household products, and more. Not only do we have to implement ways to improve our lifestyles but also being prepared for the inevitable.
Ch. 10 The Myth of Catching Up Development (p.95) -
Most people expect science and technology to provide a solution to these dilemmas, rather than taking steps to limit their own consumption and production patterns. It is not yet fully realized that a high material living standard militates against a genuinely good quality of life, especially if problems of ecological destruction are clearly understood.
This line blew my mind as there are people out there that are expecting science and technology to provide a solution to compensate for our own consumption of resources rather than stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility for our actions. We live in a materialistic world that cares about the temporary aspects of life that do not provide us with value as the planet does. It is kind of ridiculous if you think about it as we would sacrifice our good quality of life for a high material living standard. As I have grown up, I was told by my parents that money does not buy happiness. I feel it is not hard to live off of essentials and to occasionally indulge in what makes one content but to sacrifice ones own life for it is not worth it. I find it worse that we are aware that we are responsible for our planet slowly falling apart. It is our selfish desires to blame and our lack of effort in attempting to do what is right by the planet. I personally would have continued living the way I was without implementing changes if it were not for this class informing me of all thats wrong with how we are living.
References
Leopold, A. (2018). The Myth of Catching-up Development. In S. Jackson, A. Nunes-Zaller, J. Salmond, B. Thomas (Eds.). A Sustainable Future: Equality, Ecology, and Economy (p.94-98), Kendall Hunt Publishing.
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