Case Study Fill-The-Blank

Typhoon Haiyan in [blank_start]Tacloban City[blank_end] in the Philippines, a category [blank_start]5[blank_end] hurricane in [blank_start]November 2013[blank_end]. Winds of up to [blank_start]290[blank_end]mph, with storm surges of up to [blank_start]10[blank_end]m. [blank_start]6,300[blank_end] people were killed and [blank_start]600,000[blank_end] displaced as [blank_start]90[blank_end]% of Tacloban City was destroyed. [blank_start]14 million[blank_end] people total were affected, and [blank_start]6 million[blank_end] lost their jobs, which led to [blank_start]crime[blank_end] in the city as well as [blank_start]food and water[blank_end] shortages. [blank_start]UK[blank_end] sent shelter kits while a total of [blank_start]1200[blank_end] evacuation centres were set up, and NGOs and other countries sent [blank_start]food and water[blank_end]. After the immediate responses, more [blank_start]cyclone shelters[blank_end] were built and new houses were built [blank_start]on higher ground[blank_end]. Foreign investors helped the people gain back their [blank_start]jobs[blank_end], and the government set to work on repairing the lost city, including its [blank_start]port and airport[blank_end].

The Somerset Levels are in [blank_start]south-west[blank_end] England and is an area of [blank_start]low-lying farmland[blank_end]. [blank_start]January 2014[blank_end] was the wettest on record, and the area suffered [blank_start]long periods of rainfall[blank_end] as well as high tides and [blank_start]storm surges[blank_end], which swept water up the rivers. This resulted in [blank_start]£10 million[blank_end] pounds in damage, with [blank_start]14,000+[blank_end] hectares of land and [blank_start]600+[blank_end] houses flooded,[blank_start]16[blank_end] farms and [blank_start]1000+[blank_end] livestock evacuated and villages, [blank_start]power[blank_end] supplies and [blank_start]transport links[blank_end] cut off. It also led to a huge amount of debris and [blank_start]stagnant[blank_end], contaminated water. Cut off villagers used [blank_start]boats[blank_end] as transport and local communities gave support with the help of volunteers. Afterwards, the government launched a [blank_start]£20 million[blank_end] action plan to reduce the risk of flooding in the area: this included [blank_start]8km[blank_end] of river being dredged to [blank_start]increase its capacity[blank_end], local roads being raised so that communications would remain intact during floods.

Rio General Facts. Rio [blank_start]de Janeiro[blank_end] is located in [blank_start]south-east[blank_end] Brazil, on the coast by the [blank_start]Atlantic Ocean[blank_end]. It's a city of great culture and diversity, with great [blank_start]industrial and financial[blank_end] centres and [blank_start]5[blank_end] ports and [blank_start]3[blank_end] airports. Because of this, Rio has seen a big increase in growth. This is because of [blank_start]rural-urban[blank_end] migration, high [blank_start]birth[blank_end] rates, and foreign migrants attracted to the city's [blank_start]economy[blank_end].

Rio Opportunites. Rio has a very [blank_start]diverse[blank_end] population and has been deemed a [blank_start]World Heritage[blank_end] site due to its cultural influence. It's also where the annual [blank_start]carnival[blank_end] takes place, which draws in tourists and locals alike. It's home to a major port which exports a lot of Brazil's goods, such as [blank_start]coffee[blank_end], [blank_start]sugar[blank_end] and [blank_start]iron[blank_end] ore, as well as a [blank_start]financial[blank_end] sector, and in turn provides [blank_start]6[blank_end]% of Brazil's total employment.

Rio's Challenges. Rio's services are seeing a lack of funding; there is a big shortage of schools, meaning half of students drop out when they turn [blank_start]14[blank_end]. Only [blank_start]55[blank_end]% have access to a local clinic, meaning the life expectancy in Rio is only [blank_start]63[blank_end]. Leaky pipes cause [blank_start]37[blank_end]% of water to be lost - however now [blank_start]95[blank_end]% of people have access to water. Electricity is a similar outlook; the poorest areas tap into the mains system illegally, which means [blank_start]blackouts[blank_end] occur frequently, but now the city has [blank_start]80[blank_end]km of new power lines. The city also suffers from a lot of pollution: it's the most [blank_start]congested[blank_end] city in South America, and the resulting air pollution is estimated to cause [blank_start]5000[blank_end] deaths a year, covering the city and a brown [blank_start]smog[blank_end]. [blank_start]200+[blank_end] tonnes of sewage pour into [blank_start]Guanabara[blank_end] Bay from the polluted rivers - however [blank_start]14[blank_end] sewage works have been built since [blank_start]2004[blank_end]. [blank_start]Limited[blank_end] access to favelas also makes waste a huge issue, as most of it is dumped nearby, encouraging [blank_start]disease[blank_end].

Rio's Challenges 2. The poorest 50% in Rio only earn [blank_start]13[blank_end]% of the city's total income, in comparison to the richest 1%, who earn [blank_start]12[blank_end]%. As a result, [blank_start]2 million[blank_end] people live in [blank_start]favela[blank_end]s - illegal settlements where people have built homes on land they don't own - and there are a total of [blank_start]1000[blank_end] in Rio alone. The houses are [blank_start]poorly[blank_end] built and unorganised, and are often built on the [blank_start]slopes[blank_end], limiting access. [blank_start]60[blank_end]% are built in suburbs, [blank_start]25[blank_end]% in outskirts, and some are even being built [blank_start]40km[blank_end] from the city centre. Unemployment is [blank_start]20%+[blank_end], and infant mortality can be as high as [blank_start]50 per 1000[blank_end]. Therefore, crime is a major issue in these areas: murder, kidnapping and other violent crimes occur often, and [blank_start]gangs[blank_end] dominated favelas through [blank_start]drug trafficking[blank_end]. To tackle it, in 2013 [blank_start]PPU[blank_end]s were set up to take back control from gangs, and have cleared [blank_start]30[blank_end] small favelas, though many say they have targeted ones nearest to the [blank_start]Olympic Stadium[blank_end]. Similarly, [blank_start]Rocinha[blank_end], the largest favela in Rio that looks over the famous [blank_start]Copacabana[blank_end] Bay, has been improved so that [blank_start]90[blank_end]% of houses have electricity and are built from brick.

Rio: the [blank_start]Favela-Bairro[blank_end] Project, 19[blank_start]95[blank_end]. A [blank_start]site-and-service[blank_end] scheme where local authorities provide [blank_start]land[blank_end] and [blank_start]services[blank_end] for residents to build more secure and sturdy homes. This scheme has been implemented in [blank_start]Complexo de Alemao[blank_end],which has [blank_start]26,000[blank_end] inhabitants. The scheme meant that the favela's roads were [blank_start]paved[blank_end] and officially named and the hillside was secured to prevent [blank_start]landslides[blank_end]. They were provided with a water supply and a proper [blank_start]drainage[blank_end] system, facilities for health, [blank_start]leisure[blank_end] and education and a [blank_start]PPU[blank_end] to maintain levels of crime in the area. The scheme also resulted in the installation of a [blank_start]cable car[blank_end] to the nearby commercial centre, where each inhabitant was granted a return ticket every day. They were given full [blank_start]mortgages[blank_end] and access to [blank_start]credit[blank_end] so they could buy better [blank_start]materials[blank_end] for their homes. However, the scheme has come with many disadvantages: the newly built infrastructure was not [blank_start]maintained[blank_end] after its construction, and the residents lack the [blank_start]skill[blank_end] and [blank_start]resources[blank_end] to repair and maintain them. This means the buildings fall into [blank_start]disrepair[blank_end], and become [blank_start]derelict[blank_end]. The scheme has not made any improvements to the [blank_start]literacy[blank_end] rate in the area, and subsequently the level of [blank_start]unemployment[blank_end] remains unchanged. Worst of all, the improvements to the favela have meant that [blank_start]land value[blank_end] and [blank_start]rent[blank_end] has increased, making the poorest inhabitants even worse off and increasing the level of [blank_start]poverty[blank_end]. There was also speculation about whether the [blank_start]£1 billion[blank_end] budget would even cover every favela in Rio.

Bristol: importance and opportunities. Bristol have become a very important international city, as well as a major UK city. It's brimming with [blank_start]culture[blank_end]: its home to the [blank_start]Old Vic[blank_end], several theatres and music venues and [blank_start]Aardman[blank_end] - the animators of [blank_start]Wallace and Gromit[blank_end]. The city is also home to a vibrant [blank_start]underground[blank_end] scene and nightlife, because of its [blank_start]youthful[blank_end] population. The city also has great [blank_start]transport links[blank_end], with easy access to London and major European centres. The city is also home to [blank_start]two[blank_end] universities, [blank_start]two[blank_end] professional football teams and a [blank_start]Rugby Union[blank_end] team. [blank_start]Tertiary[blank_end] and growing [blank_start]Quaternary[blank_end] industry has increased international investment particularly in [blank_start]manufacturing[blank_end], [blank_start]finance[blank_end] and high-tech businesses. Immigrants coming to the city has provided it with a [blank_start]hardworking[blank_end], [blank_start]high-skilled[blank_end] workforce and has balanced its [blank_start]ageing[blank_end] population. However, it has created pressures on [blank_start]housing[blank_end] and [blank_start]employment[blank_end], which leads to inequality in development.

Bristol: Clean Environments. The amount of waste that is sent to landfill in Bristol has decreased over 10 years; from [blank_start]85[blank_end]% in 2004/5 to just [blank_start]25%[blank_end] in 2013/14. Instead, energy recovery has increased by [blank_start]25%[blank_end] in 2013/14 and the amount of waste produced has decreased significantly too; from [blank_start]475[blank_end]kg per capita/year to just [blank_start]325[blank_end]kg. Their waste goes everywhere for recycling, from cardboard and paper to [blank_start]Kent[blank_end] to aluminium and foil to [blank_start]Cheshire[blank_end] - bear in mind that transporting it however increases their carbon footprint. Air pollution is a serious issue here too: about [blank_start]200[blank_end] people die every year from air pollution, and this makes it the most [blank_start]congested[blank_end] city in England. But Bristol is doing a good job of reducing it, as theyve made it a [blank_start]smoke control[blank_end] area and reduced [blank_start]speed limits[blank_end] in the city, and have encouraged the use of [blank_start]electric[blank_end] cars, public transport and bicycles (heard of a [blank_start]poo[blank_end] bus?!).

Bristol: Social Inequality. Bristol suffers in areas from sever under development. Lets compare [blank_start]Filwood[blank_end], an area in the inner city, to [blank_start]Stoke Bishop[blank_end], a neighbourhood in the outer suburbs. [blank_start]Filwood[blank_end] suffers from [blank_start]1300[blank_end] crimes a year, which leads to [blank_start]62[blank_end]% of its population feeling unsafe. A [blank_start]1/3[blank_end] of young adults are unemployed, and the life expectancy is only [blank_start]78[blank_end] years. [blank_start]Stoke Bishop[blank_end] however is home to many [blank_start]millionares[blank_end], and almost [blank_start]50[blank_end]% of its population have a degree. It only has [blank_start]300[blank_end] crimes a year ad a life expectancy of [blank_start]83[blank_end], as its unemployment rate is at [blank_start]3[blank_end]%. These stark inequalities have led to [blank_start]prejudice[blank_end], riots, and [blank_start]segregation[blank_end] among the population of Bristol.

Bristol: Temple Quarter Regeneration. The area is home to [blank_start]Brunel[blank_end]'s first railway station and was an industrial area in the [blank_start]18[blank_end]th century. But it had more recently become very [blank_start]run down[blank_end], and therefore gave a bad impression to visitors as it is often the first place they see when they arrive. So now Bristol aims to completely regenerate it: the target is to create [blank_start]4000[blank_end] jobs by 20[blank_start]20[blank_end], and [blank_start]17000[blank_end] by 20[blank_start]37[blank_end]. There will be [blank_start]240,000[blank_end]m of new/refurbished buildings, creating offices, shops and residences. In addition, the Engine Shed is being developed into a £[blank_start]1.7 million[blank_end] Innovation Centre, which will be home to [blank_start]high tech[blank_end] companies, and the Temple Mead station is being redeveloped into a modern transport hub; the rail line to London is also being [blank_start]electrified[blank_end], which will [blank_start]shorten[blank_end] the journey and make Bristol better connected.

Banbury is on the [blank_start]floodplain[blank_end] of the River [blank_start]Cherwell[blank_end] - a [blank_start]tributary[blank_end] of the River Thames - in the [blank_start]Cotswold[blank_end] Hills, with a population of [blank_start]45,000[blank_end]. Banbury has been massively affected over the years because of flooding: in [blank_start]1998[blank_end], flooding closed down the train station and caused £[blank_start]12.5 million[blank_end] pounds in damage, and in [blank_start]2007[blank_end] heavy rain caused the river to burst its banks. In [blank_start]2012[blank_end] however, Banbury completed their new £[blank_start]18.5 million [blank_end]flood defence scheme. This implemented a [blank_start]2.9[blank_end]km earth embankment to create a flood storage area, which can hold [blank_start]3 million[blank_end] cubic metres of water. The main road has been [blank_start]raised[blank_end] to maintain communications during floods, and new [blank_start]pumps[blank_end] now transfer water further downstream of town. The [blank_start]Biodiversity[blank_end] Action Plan has also created [blank_start]habitats[blank_end] to intercept and absorb more of the rainfall, increasing [blank_start]lag time[blank_end] and also being beneficial to wildlife. This scheme protects [blank_start]441[blank_end] houses and [blank_start]73[blank_end] commercial properties and overall, will bring the town over £[blank_start]100 million[blank_end] pounds of benefits

Swanage is an area with multiple coastal landforms. To the south, you have [blank_start]Durlston[blank_end] Bay, a headland where the waves have eroded the [blank_start]limestone[blank_end] slowly over time. Swanage Bay is an area of [blank_start]soft[blank_end] clay and sand, and prevents the effects of [blank_start]longshore drift[blank_end] through man-made groynes. Just north of Swanage is a [blank_start]headland[blank_end] called [blank_start]Ballard[blank_end] Point, which is made of more resistant [blank_start]chalk[blank_end], and just above that you have the Foreland and [blank_start]Old Harry[blank_end], where erosion has created isolated [blank_start]stacks[blank_end] and white cliffs. North of this is [blank_start]Studland[blank_end] Bay and [blank_start]Heath[blank_end], an area of soft clays and sands where [blank_start]dunes[blank_end] have formed, and behind them an area of [blank_start]heathland[blank_end]. At the north-most side of this area is a sheltered bay, where a [blank_start]salt marsh[blank_end] has formed because of deposits of mud.

Medmerry, Chichester is an area of [blank_start]low-lying [blank_end]and low-value land, originally protected by a [blank_start]sea wall[blank_end], which had recently fallen into disrepair. Building a new one would be [blank_start]unsustainable[blank_end] and very expensive. So in [blank_start]November 2013[blank_end], they devised a £[blank_start]28 million[blank_end] [blank_start]managed retreat[blank_end] scheme which would let the sea breach the sea wall and flood some of the farmland. This in future with create a natural [blank_start]salt marsh[blank_end] which will act as a [blank_start]buffer[blank_end] from the sea and establish a valuable [blank_start]habitat[blank_end] for wildlife, which will [blank_start]encourage visitors [blank_end]to the area. The scheme also helps to protect the surrounding farmland and caravan parks from flooding.