Unit11: Transports and Cities in the UK and in the US:

    Intro:

    Now it is time to take a look at the main issues related to transports and cities in the US and in the UK.

    You will be able to find out more about cities, cars, trains and so on... and a few other issues that often make the news.

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    A few issues American and British cities have been confronted with:

    • The dark side of a few American and British cities/ transportation companies:

    -doc1a: The cost of living crisis in the UK (TBS 2022)

    -doc1b: Surmortalité infantile à Glasgow et en Ecosse (ESSEC 2023)

    -doc1c: The housing crisis in the US (USA Today) (EM Lyon 2023)

    -doc1d: Houston, America's dirtiest city in the US (Kxan)

    -doc1e: Airline low-cost companies polluting more than ever (The Brussels Times)

    • The bright side of a few American and British cities/ transportation companies:

    -doc1f: "Oxford named UK's greenest city"

    -doc1g: What London does to become greener (official website)

    -doc1h: Sustainable cities: Austin as a case in point (official website, Green City)

    -doc1i: Elon Musk, son nouveau projet fou, créer une ville pour ses employés au Texas (Article type ESSEC)


    Go further:

    'Webquest':

    I] TRANSPORTS AND CITIES IN THE US AND IN THE UK: MAIN FACTS:

     

    A) In the UK:

    1-UK cities:

    UK cities: main facts

    Cities in England and the UK

    UK cities map

     

    2- London and its monuments:

    • London: a historical perspective:

    History of London

    The City timeline

    • Main monuments in London:

    London monuments

    • "The City" and its skyscrapers:

    The City

    London skyscrapers: the Gherkin, Lloyd's building, the Shard, the Leadenhall Building (=the cheese grater), the Walkie Talkie (or Walkie Scorchie), One Canada Square

    Are there too many skyscrapers in London?

     

    3- Means of transportation: main issues in the UK:

     

    B) In the US:

    1- US cities

     US cities: main facts

    Historical city maps

    Map of Manhattan

    Grid plan, the American grid

    From the Rust Belt (the manufacturing belt) to the Sun Belt

     

    2- NY monuments

    NY monuments: the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building, the Rockefeller Building

     

    3- Main facts on transports in the US:

    Yellow cabs

    The transcontinental railroad

    Route 66

    Cities vs suburbs in the US

     

    C) New transportation projects:

    1- Google car

    2- Hyperloop

    The royal wedding:

    http://www.theroyalweddingwilliamkate.com/

    British royal weddings (archives)

    http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2011/04/28/from-the-archive-british-royal-weddings/4421/

     

    Anniversary of Princess Diana’s death (August 31st):

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Diana,_Princess_of_Wales

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/princess-diana-death-anniversary

     

    The royal baby:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23423986 (pictures)

    http://world.time.com/2013/07/22/royal-baby-watch-why-the-crowds-in-london-care/ (baby watch, paparazzi, the royal baby and the media frenzy)

    http://world.time.com/2013/07/02/the-royal-baby-stakeout-photographers-at-a-london-hospital-lookout-for-a-new-arrival/ (media frenzy)

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23424954 (people gathering to catch a glimpse of the royal baby, pros of the monarchy)

    http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/06/28/10-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-the-royal-baby/ (fun facts)

    http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/07/25/heir-raiser-prince-george-gets-his-very-own-beer/ (business and advertising)

     

    The monarchy debate:

    http://www.members.shaw.ca/len92/abolish_monarchy.htm

    http://debatewise.org/debates/1835-should-britain-scrap-the-monarchy/

    http://live.reuters.com/Event/Debating_the_future_of_the_British_monarchy?Page=0

    http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/04/what-polls-reveal-about-british-public-support-for-the-monarchy/ (polls, republicans vs royalists)

    http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/The_Guardian_lets_readers_opt_out_of_royalbaby_new_14891.aspx (the media and the monarchy debate)

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/07/22/guardian_s_republican_royalist_option_news_of_will_and_kate_s_offspring.html (the media and the monarchy debate)

    Cost of the monarchy :

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23065599

    http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/04/royal_economics?zid=319&ah=17af09b0281b01505c226b1e574f5cc1

     

    Go further :

    • General knowledge:

     Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London

    Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York

    Gentrification (+definition)

    THE VICTORIAN AGE

    • Movies:

     A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

    Speed (1994)

    Sherlock Holmes (2009), a London movie

    Videos :

    II] URBAN PLANNING AND REGENERATION:

     

    A) Serious issues in UK and US cities:

    1- Urban violence in the UK: UK 2011 riots

    2- Urban violence in the US: stats

     

    B) Urban planning as a solution:

    1- Urban planning can make us healthy

     

    2- Urban planning and regeneration in the UK:

    Green belts in the UK1,  link2

    Birmingham: a case in point

    Garden cities

     

    3- Urban regeneration in the US:

    NY High Line Link1, Link2, Link3 

     

    III] THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN AND BRITISH CITIES:

     

    A) From "smart cities" to "off-shore micro-states"?

    "Smart cities ou villes intelligentes"

    "Villes sensibles"

    "Micro-Etats villes flottantes"

     

    B) NY: a case in point:

    New York's future defenses against storms and rising sea levels

    (TV documentary/Naturopolis)

     


    Quizlet games created by Inès, a former student: