Car Culture Essay, Research Paper
[Introduction]
Even though the automobile provides convenience and unprecedented mobility, motor vehicles have many destructive effects on people and the environment (1). Each year, motor vehicles kill 40,000 to 50,000 people in the U.S., Americans spend $200 million a day for building and rebuilding nation s roads, and motor vehicles have much things to do with land loss, air pollution, global warming and ozone depletion (2). To solve this U.S. car culture problem, I have searched for solutions as follows. First, I will explain basic causes of environmental impacts. Second, I will examine constructive actions practiced by individual, environmental groups or grassroots groups. Finally I will think about some basic solutions that we can practice individually.
[Basic causes of environmental impacts]
I think that U.S. car culture is a result that several potential basic causes of environmental stress have interacted. However, among these stresses I assume ignorance and misinformation, corporate capitalism, and attitude are the most responsible stresses. Motor vehicles corporations give public misinformation for their short-term profits and they do not take these problems seriously. Also we should not overlook politicians who get a bribes to protect their business. In Western culture, auto vehicles are symbol of power, sex, excitement, or success.
[Activities by Grassroots Groups, Environment Organization, or Persons]
Greenpeace has tried to reduce the devastating effects of the car culture. They provide information and knowledge thorough Internet, and also have rebuilt a car to reduce air pollution caused by the car culture. Greenpeace has had a Renault Twingo redesigned so that the car consumes only half as much petrol as the original (3). In this way, it is possible to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of car traffic. They said, halving the petrol consumption is feasible as a first step for all cars.
Auto-Free D.C. is a grassroots organization working to transform the metropolitan region s transportation system. They advocated elimination of the massive subsidies that encourage automobile use and their redirection to fund sustainable transportation projects: public transit, bicycling and pedestrian facilities. Auto-Free D.C. believed that we must end our forced dependence on the automobile as a precondition for achieving an environmentally sustainable, equitable, and livable community (4). Auto-Free D.C. leads the fight to reclaim Rock Creek National Park from automobile abuse through its Free-the-Park bicycle rides and ongoing lobbying of the National Park Service. They testified on the Clean Air Plan before the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee. Auto-Free D.C. co-organized the Metro area s first National Bike-to-Work Week festivities in May. Also, they helped defeat Metrobus fare increases by pressuring the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
The Euro-America Clean Air Foundation has recently instituted a National Clean Air Education campaign. This campaign assimilates several independent programs and productions in a united effort to improve environmental education and awareness. Clean Air Commandos, the first video release of the projected Clean Air series, is presently being offered to schools and corporations. This video is an acclaimed, education video that relates what children can do to help reduce air pollution and environmental degradation. The Clean Air Demonstration Team, the Clean Air Challenge, and a unique interactive Clean Air program comprise a significant portion of the Community Outreach Program. The Clean Air Demonstration Team is a crew of Clean Air professionals who tour schools and demonstrate to children how air pollution can be significantly reduced with proper vehicle maintenance and the use of existing technology (5).
[Solutions]
It is hard to overcome capitalism together with ignorance, misinformation, and attitude. However, those things can be cleared through education, organization, and fighting. As an individual, I was also ignorant and misinformed in this society about the car culture. I am sure that there are still many people who have no information or knowledge. Actually, I am involved in some organizations and we have regular meeting. I would like to discuss about the car culture in the meeting, and I can inform their members of car culture. For example, we can talk about the destructive effects of car culture, which I have learned in this course, and I am sure we can make some individual solutions together. I can also talk the U.S. car culture with my friends and family.
We can use our bicycles to go to school or shopping instead of cars. Actually, we often use cars in short distance even though it is not necessary. As a matter of fact, bicycle access expands the potential market area of high-speed public transport services at low cost. In Western Europe and Japan today, the fastest growing and predominant access mode is the bicycle (6).
On the other hand, we need to organize a group to establish more efficient public transportation system like bus and subway. I had a chance to go to Japan to study its language. My mother and brother visited me at that time. We traveled some famous places, and we had a lot of fun with a good organized subway system. Most Japanese people prefer the subway or train to the car. Actually, the public transportation systems as I mentioned above are very efficient. Through the organization, we can push our governor to think our environment and finally to make useful public transportation systems.
[Conclusion]
My first action is to learn more about the car culture not only in the U.S. but also in the world from now. I will have more knowledge about the destructive effects of car culture and I will let my friends know what I have learned. Also, I will use my own car as less as possible and I will think our environment whenever I use my car.
[ References ]
1. G. Tyler Miller, Jr. Sustaining the Earth 1998. Wadsworth Publishing Company
2. Auto-Free Ottawa. The Full Cost of the Car. March 25, 1996
flora/afo/cc0.html
3. greenpeace/ climate/smile/feq/faq2.html
4. Cole, Kevin. Auto-Free D.C.
gallaudet.edu/ kjcole/bike/autofree.html
5. cleanairkids/cleanairkids/over.html
6. Replogle, Michael. Integration of Bicycles with Public Transportation. 1994.
crest/sustainable/nmv-mgmt-asia/ch7.html
31e
Другие работы по теме:
Comparison Of Kingstons And Jacksons Stories Essay
, Research Paper This paper examines the theories of Dean Barnlund regarding culture and how Shirly Jackson and Maxine Kingston demonstrate Barnlund’s ideas. The paper will specifically look at how culture dominates the behavior of people, how and why culture is so powerful that very few people realize the impact that it has on them, and how culture completely surrounds people.
American Culture Essay Research Paper 091300SOCA 10202On
American Culture Essay, Research Paper 091300 SOCA 102-02 On American Culture To a typical foreign anthropologist American culture could be seen very competitive and individualistic. While other countries only play 1 or 2 sports throughout their nation, North America is involved in a vast variety of competitive sports.
Shakespeare In Love Essay Research Paper Modern
Shakespeare In Love Essay, Research Paper Modern theatre still falls more or less in the category of popular culture, it is the cinema that equates more to the Elizabethan drama than the theatre. Thus it is a film Shakespeare in love, that we see exploring a fictional depiction of the life of William Shakespeare.
The Argument Culture Essay Research Paper In
The Argument Culture Essay, Research Paper In The Argument Culture, Deborah Tannen describes our adversarial society in debates and dialogues. Tannen discusses our culture?s style of seeing issues, questions, and conflicts as having two sides that battle each other for one goal, victory. She says that not only does this argument culture or culture of critique we live in make life more challenging and alienating, it also reduces the amount of information made available to viewers or information seekers.
Leaver Cultrures Essay Research Paper Any culture
Leaver Cultrures Essay, Research Paper Any culture that takes just what it needs form the surroundings and leaves the rest is called a leaver culture. These people are very nomadic, such as the pygmies in the Forest People. Leavers move to an area that they fell they can live off the surroundings for awhile without using everything up.
The Name Judith Essay Research Paper Is
The Name Judith Essay, Research Paper Is it important to know what is behind your name? Now in days, many names are given without knowing their meanings or where they come from. For example, I was given the name of Judith just because my parents heard it and liked it. It depends where and in which culture were they raised.
Discrimination Essay Research Paper Most people think
Discrimination Essay, Research Paper Most people think the United States is a good place to live, however the United States has more discrimination problems then any other nation. By eliminating, or reducing discrimination the United States would make living here pleasant for all of its residents. As a result, stopping discrimination would, make people feel safe to be then selves, allow an equal opportunity for everyone, and expand U.S culture.
Is America A Multicultural Society Essay Research
Paper Everybody who has been to the USA was probably astonished to see so many ways of life and so many different coloured people living next to each other. One could easily think that Amerika is a very good example of a multicultural society. But is this really true?
Theo Essay Research Paper SummaryThis article shows
Theo Essay, Research Paper Summary This article shows us how Christianity has changed throughout the ages. We can see how Jesus has become the dominant figure in today?s western culture. It tells of how Christianity differed with the teaching of the ancient Romans, and how God wanted us to live our lives. People stopped being afraid of death and their values were changing, becoming much different than those of the Romans.
Beowulf Values Essay Research Paper Every culture
Beowulf Values Essay, Research Paper Every culture has distinctions that separate it from other cultures. That it what makes them so unique. The have different religions, foods, ceremonies, rituals, and holidays. The perceive the world in different ways, and also have certain values that they treasure very much.
Greeks Essay Research Paper Our culture is
Greeks Essay, Research Paper Our culture is ruled by social norms. In America it is expected that we abide by these unwritten laws. Whether viewed by a small group of people or society as a whole, breaking such guidelines could have devastating effects. I choose to do my experiment with the least intimate group of people; total strangers.
College Essay Essay Research Paper There
College Essay Essay, Research Paper There’s a lot of talking these days about what it will mean to live, work and prosper in the 21st century. In fact this century is being hailed as a kind of renaissance. Not the rebirth of classic art and culture, as in the 15th century, but a rebirth of what we understand to be knowledge, how to acquire it and how to use it productively.
Changing Cities Essay Research Paper The late
Changing Cities Essay, Research Paper The late 1800’s were a time of changing of immigration, transportation, and government, which in turn changed cities to a drastic amount. Immigration played a big part in changing the culture of the cities into their own unique culture for every city. Transportation let the people still be connected to other cities without having to travel for months to get there.
Acculturation And Assimilation Essay Research Paper Acculturation
Acculturation And Assimilation Essay, Research Paper Acculturation and Assimilation Culture deals with thoughts, norms, and productions of a certain people. These modes are communicated among humans and not passed down genetically. Therefore, culture is the base from which the study of acculturation and assimilation use to trace similarities with other cultures.
Starting Again Essay Research Paper Start AgainStarting
Starting Again Essay, Research Paper Start Again Starting a new life in another country can be extremely stressful. To adapt to a different culture, to lack of financial support and absence of the family can be a very threatening situation.
Religion Is Important Essay Research Paper I
Religion Is Important Essay, Research Paper I think culture, religion, ethnicity is very important in one’s life. They should know where there from and who they are. Everyone comes from somewhere around the world, even if they were born in another country, they still
Changes In Life Essay Research Paper Today
Changes In Life Essay, Research Paper Today we live in a society that is always changing. This is because of technology. New technology allows us to work faster and better than before. Unfortunately, people have not learned to live together in peace. If I ruled the world, I would try to bring all people together.
Maya Angelou 3 Essay Research Paper The
Maya Angelou 3 Essay, Research Paper The readings from “Graduation Day” by: Maya Angelou and “On Becoming A Chicano” by: Richard Rodriguez were different but they the same point across. They were of different cultures, race, and time era, and they both overcame adversity to excel in their schooling.
SelfDescription Essay Research Paper I come from
Self-Description Essay, Research Paper I come from a very traditional Vietnamese family, where culture is greatly stressed in the household. Growing up, I was taught to follow this culture, I followed it because it was the first thing I learned. Respect, morality, and maintaining a good reputation for the family are some of the most important practices of my culture.
Epic Essay Essay Research Paper What an
Epic Essay Essay, Research Paper What an epic says about its culture is that that was the way they lived like in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Faerie Qveene, and Iliad (Comical Version). The three are epics from their own time and culture they are the same in some ways and different in other ways.
Greek Civilization Essay Research Paper The Greek
Greek Civilization Essay, Research Paper The Greek culture had vast effects on the formation of every culture thereafter. Had Greek culture never existed the art styles, philosophies, literature, and governments of most of cultures that followed would have been extremely different. One of the major areas that Greek culture effected was philosophy.
Why Are So Many Cultures Similar Yet
Different? Essay, Research Paper Why are so many cultures similar, yet different? Culture is the beliefs, behavior, language, and entire way of life of a particular time or group of people. Culture includes customs, ceremonies, works of art, inventions, technology, and traditions. The term also may have a more specific definition and can describe the intellectual and artistic achievements of a society.
The Courtship Of Miles Standish By Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) Essay, Research Paper Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was brought up as a New England aristocrat steeped in European culture. His works,
Definition Of Culture Essay Research Paper Definition
Definition Of Culture Essay, Research Paper Definition of Culture Culture, a term that entails everything and everyone in our society today, is used to describe the relationships that people?s traditions, actions, arts, and styles share throughout the world in different places, times, and ages. Culture can be described as the actions, arts, beliefs, institutions and all other products of human work and thought.
Dance In Culture Essay Research Paper Explain
Dance In Culture Essay, Research Paper Explain how love in our culture is expressed through music or dance? Throughout history society has shown many signs of love through dance. Amazingly for many years expressing one’s feelings has been done through art, poetry, music, or dance. Out of all of the expressions of love, men and women seem to find great expressions through the art of dance.
Effects Of Media Essay Research Paper It
Effects Of Media Essay, Research Paper It is not so easy to understand what exactly Gitlin is trying to state or prove about television. Although it is not clear, Gitlin does state some important points and facts about his view on television and popular culture. Gitlin raises the question of “More to the point, is television now a dominant force in shaping the character of Americans?” I would have to answer yes to this question.