By Ryan Schleeter, National Geographic More than 50% of the world’s population already lives in cities, and this number is expected to grow to a whopping 70% by 2050. More and more people move to the world’s fastest-growing cities each day—Karachi, Pakistan; Shenzhen and Beijing, China; Lagos, Nigeria; and Bangkok, Thailand, lead the list. Most of these migrants move from rural areas to megacities, not … Continue reading Our Urban Future in Film
ENVIRONMENT The bad news: Exotic acacia trees pose a pesky problem for native coastal dunes at Los Angeles International Airport. The good news: Giraffes like them—a lot. (Los Angeles Times) Use our resources to better understand invasive species and how to control them. Discussion Ideas The LA Times article says acacia trees pose a “pesky problem” for coastal dunes near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). … Continue reading Making Invasive Species Useful at the Zoo
ENVIRONMENT A new study has found that cities supported far fewer species of birds and plants compared with similar areas of undeveloped land. However, it also showed the vast majority of flora and fauna in a city reflected an area’s “unique biotic heritage.” (BBC) Use our resources to better understand biodiversity. Discussion Ideas This fascinating new study has a “good news/bad news” quality. What is … Continue reading Study Records Biodiversity in Cities
UNITED STATES More Poor Live in Suburbs than Cities Bucking longstanding patterns in the United States, more poor people now live in the nation’s suburbs than in urban areas, according to a new analysis. Discussion Ideas: The Los Angeles Times article describes a study that shows more people living in poverty in the nation’s suburbs than its urban areas. Read the short section on the … Continue reading More Poor Live in Suburbs than Cities
WORLD San Diego Opens City Office . . in Tijuana Opening a satellite city office in a far-flung neighborhood is not unusual in sprawling cities like San Diego, California. But one thing sets apart Mayor Bob Filner’s newest outpost: It is in another country. “Dos ciudades, pero una region—we are two cities, but one region,” Filner said. Discussion Ideas: The new San Diego city office … Continue reading San Diego Opens City Office . . in Tijuana
