Stephen Sills- Soc202
T-R 2:00-3:15
In the Unites States and Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries, urban populations were the center for deadly disease such as typhoid, cholera, and influenza. They were tagged as the slums of their culture, and placed in the lower impoverished class. But through time came better buildings, advances in education, medicine, improved sewage, and cleaner water. These advances gave the urbanized areas healthier living conditions. Today there are still areas in these cities with very poor living conditions, but are now able to survive without worrying about deathly illnesses or starvation. Immigrants know that no matter how cramped they may be in these developed cities they will survive, and their children will have a much better chance to thrive.
In other countries however, the chances of urban living aren’t as fare. Nicolas P. Retsinas wrote, “The United Nations estimates that, today, 2.8 billion people live on less than $2 a day”. In China for example millions of people are leaving their rural homes for the city. Most go to live in the very low class conditions, without proper shelter, education, and live in areas with gangs and heavy crime. Like that of the 19th and 20th century these modern day cities are prone to deathly diseases that go without treatment.
The population of a Mega-City is at least 10 million, and there are 20 Mega Cities worldwide. Because urbanized cities take up more than half of the global population, they have significant pull in our culture and economy. Whether we realize it or not our ties with these “slums” are very interconnected and affect us greatly. If action is not taken to help, guide, and manage these Mega-Cities we will all feel the impact of the fall.
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-plcretsinas0819.artaug19,0,7641629.story
Author of article: Nicolas P. Retsinas
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