The first case study comes from the Colby-Sustainable Development website. The article, “Pricing Traffic Congestion”, describes the crowding of traffic in London, England. The congestion leads to an increase in pollution near the cities. In order to solve these problems, London implemented a congestion charge. Any person who drives into central London from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday, must pay 8 pounds. As a result, people have been using the bus system to travel into the city, which reduces the number of vehicles on the road and pollution. This kind of development may only be available to those who live in countries which have a high gross income and GDP. Those who live in the lower classes of London might not have the luxury to travel downtown because they cannot afford the charge. Additionally, England needs to have a stable economy in order to cover the costs of the system. Some countries may not have the flexibility to spend government money on patrolling the congestion charges of its citizens. Link: http://personal.colby.edu/personal/t/thtieten/Allison.htm
The second case study comes the Center for Global Development website. The article, “Improving the Health of the Poor in Mexico”, describes an attempt to reduce illness, low birth weights, infant mortality, and poor nutrition of the poor in Mexico. The program, Oportunidades, involves the Mexican government giving participants financial support. Then, the family uses the money to take their children to the doctors or to send them to school. Participants also have access to nutrition counseling and supplementary foods. In Module 5, we learned one way to view development is to look at the health statistics of a nation. Mexico is continuing to improve their health statistics with the program Oportunidades, thus developing into a better country. Additionally, the case study can be related to Hans Rosling’s TED talk. Many of us have might believe child mortality rates are not very high. Oportunidades is attempting to fix this misconception by bringing to light the problem and solution to the high death rate and poverty of its children. Link: http://www.cgdev.org/page/case-9-improving-health-poor-mexico.
The two case studies I have discussed are related to the development in my home town of State College, PA. The first case study is related as certain roads are known for being congested in my town. Atherton Street and Park Avenue are congested nearly every day. However, the congestion is much worse in major cities than in State College. Residents of my town are encouraged to ride their bikes or take the bus as much as possible. Yet, citizens still drive all the time. We should make more of an effort to conserve our environment by riding a bus or bike. The second case study can relate to my town as well. State College contains a small group of poor citizens. A program similar to Oportunidades would most likely flourish as many families don’t have access to food or shelter. The money would probably come from the state or local level as the government might not be willing to participate. The program would encourage lower class citizens to live a healthier and productive life.
Hello Amanda, I am Tenaya. The two case studies I chose for this module was about the pipeline in Cameroon and Chad and the other was about the Lufumbu Village Water Project. I chose one with a positive perspective on development and one with a negative perspective. The Lufumbu Village Water Project was a good case study, not only for its main purpose, water access, but that it helped the village in more ways than they originally thought. I enjoyed reading about the case studies you chose. The case study about congestion was interesting, I wish the use of bikes and or public transport could be used more like it is overseas. I think it’s a good start to a serious congestion and pollution problem.
http://sites.psu.edu/geog30/2016/02/23/the-good-bad-and-the-ugly-of-developement/
Hi Amanda,
I found your second case study very similar to the one that I did based in India. In mine, a organization called Restless Development works with disadvantaged poor children to help them break out of poverty. Similar to how your study looks at how a organization helps poor families in Mexico, mine examines trying to give children a opportunity to learn and thrive. My hometown and the areas around me, just like yours, does have some poor families and individuals that could really benefit from organizations like Oportunidades and Restless Development. If we do not help them, then their situations will never improve and their children will have the same future.
http://geog030.dutton.psu.edu/2016/02/24/the-downsides-of-development/