Living in a Big City vs Living in a Small Town - Coursework Example

Living in a big living in a small town Order No.255174 November ‘08 Living in a big living in a small town Living in a big city is quite different from living in a small town. This paper will outline the pros and cons of both and will arrive at a conclusion. Most people are undecided on which place is better to live. Indeed it is very difficult to decide as both living in a big city and living in a small town have their advantages and disadvantages. Introduction Many people think that living in a big city is very good. They believe that there is devlopment here and that life is modern. Life in a city is easy with good transport and communication facilities . People get more time for things they want to do. At the same time there are many people who like living in a small town. To them life in a small town is quiet and peaceful. You are able to live a healthy life because of the fresh air and less pollution. However if one were to consider the cons of living in a big city or a small town one can identify so many. For instance air pollution is a big problem in cities. Also cities are expensive. As for the small town, since there is not much development life here is less convenient. Tranport and communication facilities are insufficient. All this shows that living in a big city or in a small town has its advantages and disadvantages. You choice whether you want to live in a big city or a small finally depends on your needs. Living in a big city The greatest advantage of living in a big city is the better services you get when compared to a small town. Healthcare is one of the most essential services a person requires. In big cities this service is easily available. There are many modern medical centers providing quality care. Other than this one has easy access to daily essential items. Again, the large number of mass media and Internet connections keeps you updated on almost everything in the world. There are more job opportunities in a big city than in a small town. Children get to go to good schools. The choice is more in big cities. It is also easier to get into higher education One of the main difference between small town living and big city living is transportation. For those who do not own a car small town living is not the best option. In small towns there is no public transportation like buses and cabs. In big cities one has to consider the noise factor. For those who prefer a quiet life the idea of living in a town is far more appealing. In a city, there is constant noise coming out from horns and sirens of vehicles, noise from airplanes, etc. Life in a big city is more active too. You have a large number of recreational places for amusement. In general cities have a superior overall living standard compared to that in a small town. Life is very fast in big cities and advantageous for people who are very active and energetic. The main problem in the big cities is the negative changes that are taking place in the ecology. There is noise pollution and atmospheric pollution. There is a marked deterioration in the environment because of the increase in the number of vehicles, waste disposal by industries, and so many other factors. Living in a small city One of the main benefits of living in a small town is that you get plenty of open space. You do not get claustrophobic as in bigger cities. Living in a small town provides you a more relaxing way of life as the pace of life is slower here. Small towns knit people together. Crime is comparatively less as everyone knows each other, and strangers can be easily identified.. People get involved in community development. According to Norman Crampton, "Small towns nurture the essential first part of civilization - civility...people dont honk their horns very much in small towns." People who live in a small town often have a comfortable life style without the stress that accompanies jobs in cities. Cost of living is less. There is less of loneliness as there are more of relationships between residents. Children can grow up in a healthy atmosphere. However, small town life is not for everyone. There may be less noise but it is not exciting. People who do not want to live in the faceless environment of big cities, who believe in family values, in community, want affordable housing and other services above all want to slow down the pace of life will vote for small town living Conclusion It is difficult to say whether it is better to live in a city or in a small town. But for a person who wants a fast life, wants to face challenges, wants excitement, for that person big city living is the right choice. In big cities you get to face challenges as you are placed in a variety of situations everyday. The challenge is in finding alternatives as things tend to go wrong more often in cities than in small towns. The biggest attraction is the diversity you get in a big city. A city is made up of different races, religions, of people with different abilities and interests. One does not get this variety in small towns. This exposure to diversity is very important as this makes you view the world with a different perspective altogether. This can prove beneficial to your growth as a human being. This is not to say there is no personal growth in small towns. But the excitement of meeting new people is certainly lacking. Again the variety of cultural activities like dance and music performance available in big cities will help in developing an interest in art. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and as mentioned before big cities definitely provide a better way to live if you are ambitious and prefer to lead a busy and active life. If you want to grow be it in your career or your personal life it is the big city. Opportunities in towns are limited and more suited for people who have retired or are happy with what they have. References 1. Norman Crampton, Quote retrieved from http://www.housesunderfiftythousand.com/smalltownliving.html Fast food / unhealthy food in university or high school cafeterias Order No.255174 November ‘08 Fast food / unhealthy food in university or high school cafeterias Abstract Of late there has been much criticism about fast food being available in university or high school cafeterias. Pizza, candy and soda compete with healthy and nutritious food in school cafeterias, leading to students eating less of fruits and vegetables and an increase in calorie intake which in turn has led to obesity among other things in many students. How has this affected our children? What are the effects on children? What needs to be done to counter this? These are some of the questions being asked today. This paper tries to answer these questions. Introduction It is common knowledge that obesity has increased in children and teenagers in the past few years. And many attribute this to the fast food or junk food easily available in school and university cafeterias. Many kids do not eat traditional lunches anymore. They prefer to buy from vending machines that serve fast food. The reasons for easy availability of fast food are many. One of the reason is nowadays in campuses, be it school or university, canteens too have become trendy. To cater to this trend fast food is to be seen in all the menus. Pastries, burgers, rolls, chips, ice-creams, chips and colas can be found in almost all canteens of educational institutions. Now what is this fast or junk food? According to nutrition experts junk or fast food is any food with a low nutritional content and high sugar and fat content. Constant eating of this kind of food has long term impacts and may lead to obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, and anemia from lack of nutrition and so on. The awareness of the ill effects of fast food is increasing day by day. According to Laura Bird (2002), “The school lunchroom has long been a battleground for food activists and parents concerned about the nutritional quality of their childrens midday meal. Now, with rising unease over the fast-growing rates of obesity, criticism is escalating from legislators, researchers and consumer groups who say fast-food, vending machines and the troubled economics of school cafeterias are culprits in the alarming growth of childrens waistlines.” The Effects of Fast Food It is not just obesity that results from eating of fast food. There are other effects as well. By eating burgers and pizzas and consuming cola products children and teenagers are not getting the nutritious food that is necessary for healthy growth. Fast foods do not give a feeling of fullness as they contain more of refined starch. Hence children tend to consume more of it. The temporary effects are constipation and restlessness. Fast food contains only empty calories. This is paving the way for diseases like diabetes, heart problems, sleep disorders, etc. The problems that arise out of drinking sodas or colas include obesity and decaying teeth. Vending machines installed in school come in the way of the federal school lunch and breakfast programs which insist on high nutritional value. It is not compulsory for vending machines to meet nutritional standards and is outside regulatory jurisdiction. Why school and college cafetarias serve fast food Schools are becoming increasingly dependent on the revenue they get from stocking fast food in their cafetarias. Their contracts with soft drink companies and ohers brings in good revenue which pays for a portion of the running expenses of the schools. Money is one of the compelling reasons that make schools and universities stock fast food in their cafetarias. Another reason is the schools want to ensure that the students buy lunch in their cafetaria and not in the nearby fast food outlets that have sprung up near schools. Aggressive marketing has made children prefer fast food ans schools too are forced to cater to their tastes. When pizzas, hamburgers and French fries are available nearby it is obvious that students will eat that even if healthy foods are available in school. Shortage of staff is another factor that has contributed to this trend. Cafeterias stock frozen foods and ready-made mixes because they take less time to prepare than healthier foods. A reversal of this trend More and more teachers, parents and students themselves are becoming aware of the ill effects of eating unhealthy food. As a result many today are demanding a better quality lunch than the “empty calorie” unhealthy food provided by educational institutions. A single concerned parent who is concerned at the lack of nutrition the child receives every day at school is enough to rally other parents to force schools to change the kind of food they provide in their cafeterias. Many legislators too are concerned about the lunch programs of schools and the presence of fast food and vending machines in schools and are considering laws to ban fast food in educational institutions. One school has come with a novel way to combat this trend. This school has encouraged its students to nurture an organic garden in their school. Through this they learn not only about planting and harvesting but also about nutrition and sustainability. Students are encouraged to eat the food that they grow in their garden. They are introduced to new varieties of vegetables. Children are happy eating what they have grown. This experiment is certainly worth emulating. Another solution could be to install vending machines for nutrition bars like granola bars, nuts, milk, yoghurt and other healthy snacks instead of pizzas and colas. Prices have to be kept low to make them attractive to students and also to compete with junk food. Conclusion It is a matter of concern that throughout the country fast food from Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and Dominos is increasingly available in high-school cafeterias. The fast food companies have captured the school cafeterias in a big way. By keeping a lower profit margin fast food companies market their products in schools, all for the sake of creating brand loyalty. Obesity among students is turning out to be a crisis. However it is heartening to see that many districts and schools in spite of the onslaught of unhealthy food are finding ways to fight this problem and are trying to provide healthier, sustainable food to the children. References 1. Bird Laura (2002), School Lunches Face Scrutiny As Nations Kids Get Fatter, http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1023994415867700040.djm,00.html   Read More