Unit 5: Consequences of Urbanization
Don’t forget this week’s ‘Ideal City’ activity.
- What are some of the problems that have emerged as cities have grown? Can you cite some problems that are not mentioned here?
- Who is most affected by and vulnerable to serious urban problems? What problems arise from poor housing conditions?
- Measure the approximate area of your house in meters squared. Now write down how many people live in your house. Calculate the amount of space per person in meters squared. Compare it to the first column in the table on housing quality. In which income grouping would your house fit? What size (in meters squared) would your house have to be in order to have the same floor area per person as the average house in a low-income country? What adjustments to your family have to make in order to live in that space?
- For each of (or at least one of) the problems mentioned above, find the figures for your own town or city. For instance, how many people are homeless in your own town or city? What is the pollution level?
- Is there an organization or program (such as homeless shelters) that tries to take care of such problems? Take one of the problems and come up with ways in which the situation could be improved? What can YOU do to help?
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