Transport

Traffic problems

Traffic congestion is caused by commuters travelling to work

Most people live in the suburbs outside city centre

Commuters tend to travel at the same time of day

They tend to travel alone

Cars and road space are not used efficiently

This causes traffic jams during the rush hour

Traffic solutions

In order to reduce traffic we should change our working habits

The internet can now be used to connect people

More people could work from home

Meetings can be held as video conferences

Workers could be given flexible timetables

Another solution would be to tax drivers

Workers should share their cars and travel together

In London, for example, there is a congestion charge

This helps to raise money for better public transport

Public transport needs to be reliable and efficient

Positives of Public transport

We need to reduce our dependence on cars

Parking a car can be extremely difficult in big cities

Well-designed transport systems are comfortable and convenient

Modern public transport can be fast and cheap

Public transport can help to reduce pollution in cities

Investment in buses and trains will ease traffic congestion

Buses can be given special lands to avoid traffic

Negatives of public transport

Public transport if often slow and unreliable

Metro systems and trains are often dirty and crowded

People feel like “sardines in a can”

Cars are much more comfortable

Road safety

Driving while tired or drunk is extremely dangerous

Mobile phones can be a dangerous distraction for drivers

They draw the driver’s attention away from the road

The use of phones while driving has been banned in many countries

Punishments are becoming stricter

Television campaigns are used to remind people to drive safely

Speed cameras have become more common

Speed bumps are another form of traffic calming

Many streets are designed with the aim of slowing traffic down

Water

Importance of clean water

Water is as necessary natural resource

Humans need access to clean, safe drinking water in order to live

Poor water quality is a major cause of disease and death in some countries

Water usually needs to be treated before we can drink it

Developing countries often lack the means to treat and supply water to citizens

Developed countries tend to have much better sanitation

Citizens have access to clean tap water

Drinking water is not contaminated by sewage or waste water

The supply of clean water would improve public health in many developing countries

Water supply

Urban life would be impossible without water supply systems

These systems are massive engineering projects

Many professionals are involved in their planning, construction and maintenance

The supply and distribution of water are major concerns

Water is becoming scarce in some countries

Areas that suffer droughts often need to import water

As populations grow, there is more pressure on water supplies

This could lead to a water crisis

Water and politics

The supply of water is also an important political issue

Huge amount of water are needed for agriculture and industry

The irrigation of crops accounts for a large proportions of water use

A water crisis could lead to political conflicts or even wars

Argument: water should be free

Some people believe that water should be free for everyone

Governments should supply water to all homes at no cost

Private companies should not be allowed to profit from this natural resource

Money from taxes can be used to pay for water supply systems

Argument: water should not be free

If water is free, people take it for granted

They do not think about how much water they waste

They leave taps running while washing or brushing their teeth

If we have to pay for water, we will use it more responsibly

Water supply systems are extremely expensive

Investment is needed to maintain and improve them

Private companies may provide a better service than governments

If they provide an efficient service, they will make more money

They will repair leaks to avoid losing money

Bottled Water: Opinions

Some people carry bottles of water wherever they go

For example, they take bottles of water to work or to the gym

They believe that bottled water is healthier than tap water

They also argue that it tastes better

However, other people believe that we should consume less bottled water

Plastic water bottles add to litter and waste problems

Companies should not be able to make a profit from water

It is unethical to make money by selling packaged water

There is no difference in quality between bottled and tap water

Work

The benefits of staying in the same job for life

Employees have a stable career with one employer

They have a good pension and health insurance

Their salaries gradually increase

They may be promoted within the organization

They demonstrate loyalty

Experienced staff can be trusted with more responsibility

They become part of a team

There is a clearly defined path for development

The benefits of not staying in the same job

People often change jobs in order to further their career

Another company may offer a promotion or a higher salary

People who change jobs can gain experience

They can learn different skills

Changing jobs is interesting and challenging

People can retrain in a different occupation

In a fast-changing world workers need to be flexible

People need to develop a range of experience and skills

Self-employment

Nowadays, it is easy to set up a company

The Internet provides a global marketplace

Self-employment offers greater freedom than working for a company

However, there are risks to starting a new business

Self-employed people may face financial difficulties

Many businesses fail to make a profit

There is less stability in self-employment

There are no benefits like pensions, sick pay and holiday pay

Self-employment involved hard work, long hours and total responsibility

Unemployment

Unemployment is a big problem for individuals, communities and society

Some people are unable to find a job

They may not have the sufficient level of education or qualifications

They may find themselves homeless

Unemployment causes frustration and stress

Jobless people may become involved in crime as a means to get money

The unemployed need careers advice

Governments need to provide vocational courses and retraining

Unemployment benefits: positives

Some governments pay unemployment benefits in order to help jobless people

Unemployed people need financial support until they find a new job

By claiming benefits they can continue to pay for their homes

The benefits system helps to reduce poverty, homelessness and crime

Unemployment benefits: negatives

Some people claim benefits rather than working

They become dependent on the government

They are not motivated to find a job

The benefits system is a burden on taxpayers

All citizens should work to earn a living and support themselves

Receiving benefits affects people’s self esteem

Work/Life Balance

It is important to achieve a balance between work time and leisure or family time

Too much work can result in stress and poor health

“workaholics” may neglect their families and friends

People need to take regular holidays

Companies should be expect employees to work overtime

Nowadays, many people work part-time or have flexible working hours

Technology allow people to work from home

Many companies provide childcare facilities

A good work/ life balance can raise job satisfaction

Happy, healthy workers are more productive

Technology and work

Internet, fax and mobile phone technologies have revolutionized working life

Workers can communicate via email, online networks and video conferencing

Technology can connect workers in different countries

It gives people more freedom

It can also save time and money

Some people believe that offices could disappear in the future

Virtual online offices may replace them

Child labour

In some countries, children are exploited

They do repetitive jobs for very low pay

Children are often used in agriculture and factory work

The employment of children is prohibited in other countries

Many people think that children should be free to enjoy their childhood

Governments should make education a priority

They should build new schools

They should supply the resources to educate children

Children need to be given the knowledge and skills for adult life

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 1026