(Figure 2)
Economic indicators:
Per capita GDP
$10,000
Unemployment rate
3.70% (2007 est.)
Employment by economic sector
(Figure 3)
Urbanization of Mexico City
Map of Mexico
Attached
Outline of the physical setting (and related issues)
Metropolitan Mexico City lies in the Valley of Anahuac below the Tropic of Cancer. It is surrounded by mountains on all four sides with only one small opening to the north. Two active volcanoes are located south east of the city. Because the region sits between mountain ranges, all the exhaust emission from cars are trapped in the valley creating thick smog and fumes in dense locations. This program is augmented by the anti-cyclonic system in the region, which does not produce winds strong enough to disperse the exhaust emissions and smog. The city council has imitated several environmentally friendly programs to reduce car emissions. The Hoy No Circula, Spanish for “One day without a car”, attempts to restrict drivers to drive on one day of the week, thus reducing pollution and congestion. In many cases, this program did not reach the goals it had hoped for because citizens would buy a second car to drive on days their first car could not. This created not only more pollution but also stronger pollution because most of the low income families would choose to buy a cheaper, more polluting second vehicle. The IMECA on the other hand worked very well with the city to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and pollutants by calling schools, factories, power plants, industry to reduce active hours when the air quality reaches a critical level. Although Mexico City’s surrounding mountains make it hard for air pollutants to disperse, the city has implemented many useful tactics to battle these problems, and the results are showing. The number of annual IMECA shut downs since the 1990’s have dropped dramatically over the past decade from more than five times to less than one
Indicators of growth of Mexico City (Figure 4)
(d) Reasons for growth
The population growth of Mexico City is caused by multiple factors. Economically, Mexico City is the financial hub of Mexico and is responsible for about 21.8% of Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product alone. Many Mexican’s living in other parts of the country feel that they cannot survive in the country side because of a lack of work, basic services, and education and choose to move to Mexico City in hopes of a better future. According to Lee’s model of migration, people tend to migrate from an origin of less desirable circumstances to a destination of higher living quality. In the documentary “Mexico City: Migration & Urbanization”, we se this from the eyes of a Mexico City cab driver. He says that there is no work in the country, food is hard to find, roads are unpaved, a third his town lacks health care, and 80% of his town does not have running water; he moved to Mexico City because situations are better over there.
Results of Urbanization:
Rapid urbanization in Mexico City has caused many changes throughout the city. Housing has become more difficult in the capital due to the massive influx of population annually. Because everyone needs shelter and space is limited, a family of Mexicans are forced to live in one-bedroom shacks located in the Fringes, or shantytowns, without running water, electricity, and sewage. Although these cheap and easy-to-make shelters house more people, they bring with them many problems such as congestion and crime. These shantytowns often house thousands of people per square kilometre and drugs and crime are inevitable in such circumstances. Illegal activities thrive in these shantytowns and selling drugs or joining gang activities are sometimes the only way for families to make some decent living. Fulltime jobs are hard to come by and many children are sent to work as a result to make ends meet. These children who do not receive adequate education often get involved in sexual activities at a young age and teen pregnancies are very common. Consequently, generations of illiterate Mexicans are born and their fates are sealed at birth. This vicious cycle of unemployment, lack of education, and teen pregnancies is the result of overpopulation and rapid urbanization in Mexico City.
Rapid urbanization in Mexico City also brings many health issues to the city. The documentary “Mexico City: Migration & Urbanization” claims that only about three-quarters of rubbish and garbage on Mexico City streets are actually cleaned, leaving behind a quarter of the cities rubbish to rot on the streets. These garbage often clog drains and enter the street sewage system, which then enters the farms near Mexico City. According to the documentary, fruits and vegetables produced near the capital contain lead levels two times above those of similar produce elsewhere. These produce are in return delivered into the city not only creating more garbage but also impairing the metal and physical development of Mexican infants.
Responses to the issues (by the population, government); efforts to address issues; evaluation.
The government and the general population of Mexico City are aware of the detrimental results of urbanization. To address each issue, both have taken big steps to ameliorate the situation. Several key programs have been implemented to reduce carbon emission, street garbage, and traffic congestion.
The Sistema de transporte Colective Metro is an extensive metro system spanning over 207 kilometres in Mexico City. The recent announcement to add an additional twelfth line and a suburban rail system will ease the pressure on the road and encourage people to use public transit. On the surface, public busses, ring roads, one-way streets, synchronized lights, and the Hoy No Circula are just some of the many steps the government has taken to reduce Mexico City’s geological footprint and to ensure quality and secure transportation. In addition, the city council also have some very big plans they would like to initiate such as forcing gas stations to sell only unleaded fuel, providing vapour capturing systems for office buildings, and introducing alternative fuels for government vehicles. Over the years, the city has also considered some drastic measures to control air pollutants including a proposal to blow-up surrounding hills to allow for stronger ventilation and placing gigantic fans to increase air circulation. Many of these programs have worked miracles in Mexico City and have encouraged its citizens not only to care for the environment but also to carry out initiatives on their own.
Nobody wishes to live in a polluted and congest city, and the citizens of Mexico City are no different. Independent organizers have planted over ten million trees in the Mexico City Metropolitan area, and have introduced the organic, inorganic, and 100% plastic trash cans to encourage citizens to improve the city’s air quality and garbage system.
The government and the general population of Mexico City are aware of the detrimental effects of urbanization and several programs have been implemented to reduce carbon emission, street garbage, and traffic congestion. Although there are still many social and economic obstacles in Mexico City, the government and its citizens are working hard to fight these problems one-step at a time.
(Word count:1457)
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