Urban Sprawl and the Automobile

1954 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Car emissions impact on global warming

Urban Sprawl and the Automobile

Urban sprawl is a widespread concern that impacts land use, transportation, social and economic development, and most importantly our health. Poorly planned development is threatening our health, our environment and our quality of life. Sprawl is blamed for many things such as asthma and global warming, flooding and erosion, extinction of wildlife, and most importantly the public health such as social isolation and obesity due to people driving everywhere. Building offices, homes, shops, schools and other buildings influences the building of roads, transit and other transportation modes. This relationship that can lead to safe, walkable, diverse and lively communities or out of control, poorly planned urban sprawl. Unfortunately sprawl has been winning and the public health is at risk.

Literature definitions for sprawl are difficult to pin down because there are numerous things that cause it and what it causes. Sprawl can be described as random development characterized by poor accessibility of related land uses. It affects the landscape being changed for the use of the public. Schools, hospitals, commercial strip development, and low-density residential developments dominate sprawl. As we sprawl farther from community and city centers, Americans are forced to drive more often and greater distances. As we sprawl more, we drive more. And as we drive more, we pollute more. Vehicle smog is one of the main pollutants increased by sprawl.

Smog looks and smells bad. The word itself sounds bad. In the short term, living with smog-filled air causes burning eyes, throat irritation and difficulty breathing. Over the long term it can lead to chronic lung disease, asthma attacks, debilitation, even d...

... middle of paper ...

... 15 to 25 percent in the number of miles people drive, hours of vehicle travel and projected pollution from a sprawl development forecast over the next 20 years. We can only hope that more equitable regulations will be set forth to lower pollution and help save the public health from its tragic downfall.

Works Cited:

1) www.epa.gov

2) www.epa.gov/otaq/04-ozone.htm

3) www.epa.gov/epahome/other2_0810.htm

4) www.lungusa.org/asthma/ascpedfac99.html

5) www.cts.cv.ic.ac.uk/staff/wp2-noland.pdf

6) www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile1-1.txt

7) http://www.ibiza-bangkok.com/bkk_c/traffic/index_e.htm

8) Brenner, Robert D. Testimony U.S. EPA before the Senate environment and Public Works Committee, August 1, 2000

9) Heart, Brennet, and Biringer Jennifer. The Smart Growth - Climate Change Connection. Conservation Law Foundation. November 1, 2000.

Show More
Related

  • Juvenile Justice

    872 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is a great deal of controversy over the trying and sentencing of juvenile offenders today. Many will argue that because the severity of Juvenile crimes has risen, the severity of its consequences should rise; however, no matter how serious the crime is, juvenile offenders tried as adults receive far worse than they deserve. The majority of Juveniles tried as adults are hardly given any form of human rights. Adult jails are not the environment children should have to experience, especially those sentenced for misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes. There are other solutions to reducing juvenile crime. It does not take adult court to straighten out kids on the wrong path. Most children are not even able to recognize that what they had done is wrong. There may be no perfect solution to reducing juvenile crime, but there are ways far more effective than adult trying and sentencing.

    Read More

  • Mercutio Case Study

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    She fired Juliet’s passion in her relationship with Romeo, then told Juliet it all meant nothing and to go marry Paris. This brought Juliet’s death. Even though the Nurse meant the best for Juliet, her actions still brought the demise of Juliet and Romeo (although her actions had a larger consequence on Juliet’s death rather than Romeo’s). Juliet was told by Nurse that “his name is Romeo… he’s the only son of your worst enemy” (a1, s5, l136). Unknowingly, the Nurse was hyping their relationship from the start onwards, setting Romeo and Juliet up to their unfortunate fates. The Nurse was Juliet’s advisor and she should’ve stayed loyal to Juliet’s decisions and remained her confidante. However, she suddenly switches over to Juliet marrying Paris. This changeover was rash, unexpected and too sudden for poor Juliet to cope, who was being forced to wed Paris, while wanting to be faithful to Romeo. Therefore, the Nurse brought Juliet and Romeo’s death upon

    Read More

  • Friar Lawrence To Blame In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    509 Words  | 2 Pages

    The nurse practically raised Juliet, she was like her mom. Nurse was responsible for many reasons, she did not counsel Juliet when she saw that she was in love with Romeo, a foe of her family; she was also disloyal to Juliet when Juliet had asked advice from her for her refusal to marry Paris. The Nurse was not only disloyal to Juliet, but to her own kind, the Capulets. Running around behind their backs trying to get Juliet

    Read More

  • Themes of Courage, Prejudice, and Maturity in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

    582 Words  | 2 Pages

    Courage is displayed through the actions of Dill and Atticus. “‘You can’t run three hundred miles without your mother knowin’” (Lee 188). Dill runs away from his new foster parents because he feels that his foster parents didn’t care, need, nor want him. Dill couldn...

    Read More

  • Three People, Two Deaths, One Great Tragedy

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Nurse was also responsible for the tragic ending of the play. When Romeo and Juliet met, the Nurse became their messenger. She helped them be together even though she knew Romeo was a Montague and that Juliet's family would disapprove. The Nurse brought news to Juliet from Romeo telling her to sneak out so they could get married. She helped Juliet get out of her house by bringing her a rope ladder to climb off her balcony with and telling her parents that she went to shrift. The Nurse kept Romeo and Juliet's marriage a secret from the families. When Juliet's parents said she should marry Paris, the Nurse agreed and said that Juliet should forget about Romeo because he was in Mantua. With the Nurse no longer on her side she had no one to help her and back her up but the Friar. In this way she had a large impact on the terrible ending of Romeo and Juliet.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Essay

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nurse betrayed the trust of both Juliet and her parents. Firstly, as an authority figure in the family, Nurse should not have arranged the meetings regarding their marriage between Romeo and Juliet. By doing this, she is also allowing Romeo to see her as a friend, rather then one of Juliet’s guardians. In act 2, scene 4, Romeo says “And stay, good Nurse. Behind the abbey wall within this hour my man sh...

    Read More

  • Loyalty And Irresponsibility In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    807 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Romeo and Juliet first meet, Juliet orders Nurse to figure out who Romeo was. Nurse upsets Juliet when she says, “His name is Romeo, and a Montague;/The only son of your great enemy” (I.v.142-143). Once Juliet hears this, she realizes that her only love has sprung from her only hate. The Nurse however, doesn’t take this into consideration. She doesn’t see the trouble that this has started, and only cares about Juliet’s feelings. As a result, she delivers this message to Romeo which becomes the beginning of a dangerous relationship. Later in the play after Romeo is banned from Verona, Juliet desperately looks for advice from her Nurse. She is told that,“Romeo is banish'd; and all the world to nothing/That he dares ne'er come back to challenge you;/Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth” (III.v.224-226). What the Nurse is saying to Juliet leads to danger because there is an imbalance between the irresponsibility and loyalty of Nurse’s advice. Nurse thinks she is being loyal to Juliet because she believes that marriage will cheer her up and Romeo will do her no good. She is making a practical decision here, since it is not the person, but the marriage that will make a difference. For Juliet, this is an act of betrayal and it ruins her relationship with the Nurse. This leads Juliet to Friar Lawrence’s plan, which becomes danger. The loyalty and irresponsibility in the Nurse led to more danger than happiness for Juliet. By not thinking twice about her actions, Nurse led Juliet in the wrong

    Read More

  • Extent the Nurse is to Blame in Romeo and Juliet

    634 Words  | 2 Pages

    In spite of this, is certain that the Nurse played a serious role in encouraging the lovers? relationship to blossom. Instead of advising Juliet on the dangers of a love that is ?too rash, too unadvis?d, to sudden?, she continues to place Romeo upon a pedestal, proclaiming his ?face be better than any man?s, his leg excels all men?s, his [body parts] are past compare?. Her haste for Juliet to ?hie hence to Friar Lawrence? cell?, and preparations for ?cords? to be brought for Romeo to ?convoy [to Juliet] in the secret night?, are gestures that illustrate her desire for their relationship to progress quickly. Therefore by offering her approval of Romeo, the Nurse inadvertedly strengthens Juliet?s devo...

    Read More

  • The Nurse in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1674 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Nurse possesses many qualities. For example, she is very hearty towards Juliet, kind, protective, compassionate and a loving lady. In some parts of the play The Nurse can be long-winded, insensitive, arrogant, insecure and stupid at times but she loves Juliet very much, partially as she imagines that Juliet is a substitute for her own daughter Susan. She has a bawdy sense of humor, which brings out the naturalness of sex and childbearing. This is seen when she tells Juliet to look for love, - “Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days';. This displays a realistic attitude to love. Such bawdy realism is, like the ribaldry of Mercutio and company, a contrast with the tender, romantic and passionate feelings of Romeo and Juliet. The Nurse is a practical but rather stupid woman at times. She loves Juliet like her own child. Throughout the play The Nurse is very talkative. She will usually do what she believes is right or what Juliet wants, like secretly meeting with Romeo and arranging the wedding of Romeo and Juliet.

    Read More

  • Romeo and Juliet essay

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the nurse is Juliet’s lower-class nurse. She is a loquacious, insolent trusting but yet dishonest character in the play. The only character that Juliet trusts and usually is seen cracking dirty jokes

    Read More

  • Causes Of Suicide In Romeo And Juliet

    971 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Nurse’s job is take care of Juliet and raise her; however, upon learning that Juliet is romantically involved with their family’s enemy, she doesn’t provide any form of counsel to Juliet.” I must another way, To fetch a ladder by the which your love Must climb a bird 's nest soon when its dark.” (2.5.77-79). The Nurse aides Romeo by telling him a way to Juliet’s room showing her approval of the relationship. She did not provide any form of counsel to Juliet or inform Capulet or Lady Capulet about Juliet’s relationship. Due to the fact that the Nurse does not do her job and doesn’t tell Juliet to end her relationship with Romeo, it caused this ill-fated relationship to continue. To add to the issue, the Nurse later betrays Juliet when Juliet begs her for help. “I think you are happy in this second match, For it excels your first, or, if it did not, Your first is dead, or 'twere as good he were, As living here and you no use of him.” (3.5.226-238). The Nurse goes against her previous actions and expects Juliet to forget about Romeo by dispraising him. Juliet wants to remain faithful to her husband and this betrayal along with Capulet’s ultimatum causes Juliet to act hastily and want to die if she wasn’t with

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech: We Must Control Air Pollution

    668 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many kinds of air pollution. The ones I want to talk about are the ozone, acid rain, carbon monoxide and toxic air contaminants. Ozone is formed when hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide react in sunlight. Therefore, ozone is at its peak during hot summer days. Exposure to high levels of ozone can have serious consequences on your health. It can cause respiratory disease, loss of pulmonary elasticity, and premature aging of our lungs. Next, is acid rain, which occurs in the atmosphere in the form of sulfur and nitrogen oxide. These pollutants can have serious damaging affects on aquatic, forest and wildlife ecosystems, as well as deterioration of buildings. Carbon monoxide is another form of pollution. It reduces the blood?s ability to carry oxygen. If a human is exposed to higher levels, it can cause chest pains, angina attacks or even death.

    Read More

  • Environment And Health Essay

    1509 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ffects on human health. These have high negative effects on low income areas, as a result of pollution, visual, oral and air, as well as high levels of overcrowding. The World Health Organisation predicts that in the next 30years most of the world’s population growth will occur in cities and towns of poor countries. This rapid, unplanned and unsustainable pattern of urbanisation, is creating cities into focal points for environmental and health hazards (World Medical Association, 2010).

    Read More

  • Benefits Of Electric Cars

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    OTA stated that based on current trends in population and travel … the number of vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) nationwide is projected to increase by 2 to 3 percent per year from now through 2005, resulting in a cumulative increase of about 40 to 60 percent. Obviously, VMT growth could have a major impact on traffic flow in urban areas, as well as on air pollution (84).

    Read More

  • Effects Of Pollution Essay

    1378 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every other day a new industries are being set up, new vehicles on roads and trees are being cut to make way for new homes. All of them, indirect way lead to increase in CO2 leads to melting of polar ice caps which increase the sea level and pose danger for the people living near coastal areas. Pollution can have an impact in our health not only affects people with impaired respiratory system such as asthmatics, but very healthy adults and children too. Exposure to pollution for 6 to 7 hours, even at relatively low concentrations, reduces lung function and induces respiratory inflammation and, healthy people during periods of moderate

    Read More

More about Urban Sprawl and the Automobile

Open Document