Changing cities Flashcards
Site of Birmingham
Birmingham is located in the centre of the West midlands on the Birmingham plateau
Birmingham is a dry point site on a south facing sandstone ridge overlooking the River Ree.
Situation of Birmiwngham
In the 1830’s Birmingham began to spread outwards rapidly.
Canals and railways connect Birmingham with other midlands towns such as Coventry and Stafford, enabling manufacturing to easily source raw materials and reach markets.
It has great accessibility as it is surrounded by a multitude of main and ring roads that radiate out of big cities
Site of Mexico City
Founded in 1300s by the Aztec empire on an island in Lake Texcoco.
Lake provided drinking water and a ready source of fish
Situation of Mexico City
Surrounded by Highlands and mountainous landscapes provided good protection during the Aztec era.
Flat land allowed for many buildings to be built.
CBD and inner city surrounded by a mixture of industrial areas and squatter settlements.
Impacts of migration in Birmingham (Pros / cons)
Migration offers increased workers who help grow the economy and pay taxes.
Others believe migration is good for multicultural aspects - learning ideas and cultures for different restaurants and services.
Young migrants balance the UK ageing population.
Local governments feel migration puts pressure on different services:
- Healthcare and education
- Housing competition leads to less affordability as prices increase
Political parties against economic migrants into the UK as they take jobs that could gone to British workers - racial tensions
Impacts of migration in Mexico City (Pros / Cons)
Arrivals from western countries means most of these live in richer close to the city centre with access to different services (increased inequality).
High numbers arriving in countryside puts pressure on housing; poor people have to build homes in shanty towns and badly overcrowded slums.
Prompted government to begin a home building programme mostly on the Southern and Eastern edges of the city, which have focuses of middle-income people.
Birmingham sustainability - recycling and green transport
Uk households produce 30 million tonnes of waste annually which goes to landfill sites.
The recycling rate for England was 43% in 2013, however Birmingham only achieved 30%.
Birmingham have introduced coloured dustbins to sort rubbish into glass, metal, plastic.
Birmingham buses reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the city, and bus lanes persuade people to use the bus.
Electric vehicles introduced by the CABLED project
Mexico sustainability (Bottom up / Top down)
Bottom up strategies:
Community based initiatives in the SE outskirts of Neza created a plan to develop the area by raising money through savings and built schools through voluntary work.
Opened a healthcare centre and a home building programme for countryside migrants.
Top-down initiatives:
Mexico City Green Plant initiative focused on areas such as public spaces, waste handling and land use.
Metrobus introduced - eco friendly vehicle.
Air pollution in Mexico City reduced by 35% from 2000 .
