Urban Growth and Environmental Decay Essay Example for Free

Urban Growth and Environmental Decay experimentAlthough history may be seen as a tapestry portraying the wars and conquests of humankind, it may also be seen as the continuous expansion of human presence in the planet, the domestication of animals, and the reshaping of natural environment into unmatched that fits the needs of humans. Humans argon always chasing aft(prenominal) the next frontier, oftentimes compromising the environmental cleanliness and healthiness of their very own surroundings (Haughton Hunter, 2003). The history of San Francisco is also characterized by a continuous expansion and chasing after the proverbial next frontier. Brechin (2001) in his book, Imperial San Francisco Urban Power, Earthly Ruin explores the history of San Francisco and challenges the stereotypical witness that the city is tolerant. By tracing through 150 years of the citys history, the author was equal to uncover grievous features of the citys history. San Francisco was one of the maj or sites of the Gold Rush in the middle nineteenth century. The founding members of the society, usually from the South, engaged in mining coal and other minerals in the theatre.This resulted to the environmental devastation of wet lands, streams and forests of San Francisco (Brechin, 2001). The aristocracy who managed most of the mining industry derived tremendous profit from such industry. These gain were then diverted into other endeavors such as the exploitation of forests, currency speculation and extraction of oil. As a result of the process, several towns were destroyed. The forest region virtually Lake Tahoe diminished drastically, a wide area of farmland were buried by the onslaught of mining debris, leading to the contamination of the soil and bodies of water around the area.In addition to this, Brechin (2001) underscores that the research on nuclear power started at the University of California and was completed in the Manhattan Project. The price of progress is stagg ering Although San Francisco, today, is a famous city and frequented by tourists, such progress was accomplish at such a big cost to the environment and consequently, the cost will be transferred to the in store(predicate) generations. San Francisco, according to Brechin (2001) epitomizes the city in the Atomic Age, together with the environmental havoc that it brings.The example of San Francisco is also be repeated in developing countries. A lot of people are now migrating from the countryside into the cities. This trend makes the cities crowded, unsustainable in terms of the peoples use of the environment and causes pollution. In spite of these environmental issues, these cities are experiencing economical growth. The question, however, is that until when will this growth be experienced? (Evans, 2002). The presence of economic growth alongside environmental fall is also present in Africa, where most of nations in the region are developing ones.Although the efforts of these co untries for development are bearing fruit, the environmental issues and problems being experienced by these countries in the continent are the result of activities pitch toward making them more developed. The population of elephants in Africa has been greatly affected because of the desire of people to amass riches from their tusks (Tesi, 2000). Urban growth attracts people from less developed areas of any given country. As such, they would need to take up jobs, use the resources available in their environment and sustain their lives.Along the process, the ecological balance is affected. As shown by the experience of San Francisco, as well as by the African continent, economic growth is accompanied by the degradation of the environment.ReferenceBrechin, G. (2001). The Environment and Development in Africa. California University of California Press. Evans, P. B. (2002). Livable Cities? Urban Struggles for livelihood and Sustainability. California University of California Press. Haughton, G. , Hunter, G. (2003). Sustainable Cities. London Routledge. Tesi, M. K. (2000). The Environment and Development in Africa. New York Lexington Books.