The benefits and Challenges of Urbanization

My name is Juan Daniel, I live in an urbanized area in Queens, New York since I was born in 2002, I’m 17 years old now. I wanted to write this Blog because last summer I spent some time with my family in a rural area in the outsides of the city. I learned what is to live like in a rural area outside of the city where I, it was like another world, another society. So I think that got to experience this as urbanization is taking place everywhere now and is such a big deal that it would be a good thing to write why is urbanization so good for our lives but the cost it comes with it in my opinion.

Urbanization in a place like Queens, New York is abundant as everywhere I go I can take public transport and access easily to most of the public services like water, electricity, and health. When I went to the rural area on summertime, a few people that lived there told me and my parents that they wanted to go live in the city as they had many job offers in some companies which offered a normal salary that could help them afford a living place which is a reason why they wanted to move to the city. Urbanization opens of a large window of opportunities for people to have a good live satisfying their needs. Education is a great way to demonstrate it as here in New York and in many other urbanized areas in the world like Miami, Guayaquil, Mexico City or Madrid that are greatly urbanized cities offer many good public and private schools and universities that rural areas don’t have, both free and expensive. Most developing countries experience the process of urbanization, especially once they start becoming industrialized. Cities and towns become hubs of trade and culture, and more people start moving out of the country to gain access to some of these social and financial benefits. Another advantage that urbanization offers is that in urbanized areas food is everywhere at any variety of costs and products but in rural areas sometimes you have to find yourself something to eat or even walk miles to get few water. Technology is also a major benefit as it makes people’s lives easier and better in the cities and urbanized areas. And another major benefit is the culture and social life that resides here.

 Even do urbanization have many benefits it also has its challenges. The Environmental degradation (pollution) is a big negative effect happening worldwide because of urbanization. Human activity that isn't controlled like throwing trash or building infrastructure in some places damage the enviroment, and this damage increases with larger populations. Inadequate sewer facilities lead to polluted water, unregulated growth leads to housing being built in environmentally sensitive areas and a lack of gas or electricity leads to intensive cooking with wood fires, something that seriously compromises air quality. Overpopulation is another negative effect of urbanization as it is because people move to the cities for jobs and basic services which leads to overpopulation that means more crime, more pollution, and conflicts.

In conclusion Urbanization is a major thing happening now to all of us and it comes with many benefits like job offers, basic services, technology, culture and social integration. But some negative things like pollution, over population, crime, etc. Even do I think that the benefits that urbanization gives make up to it making a better place and society to live in.

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