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Cheulando Gayle
Professor Ivonne Lozano Pope
SC-104-M01: Environmental Science
September 16, 2013
TEDTalks - Majora Carter: Greening the ghetto
The speaker, Majora Carter, presented in the lectured video, Greening the Ghetto, about
the sustainability developments that would avert environmental degradation. This topic was
mostly concentrated on the community of Bronx, New York and many arguments were examined
such as the stigma that was associated with the community that gave rise to the accommodation
of polluted facilities, improvements that would enhance the communitys productivity and the
benefits that sustainability practices can have among the developers, government and the
communities.
The agenda of sustainability development was not able to flourish due to the negligence
of government, as a numerous amount of facilities were incorporated within the community that
disabled the growth of awareness. For example, forty per cent of the citys waste, sewage
treatment and pelletizing plants etc. are all centrally located within the community. As a result,
people abiding there are greatly affected and suffered from a variety of ailments such as asthma
(one in every four children is diagnosed with it), obesity (due to the deplorable atmosphere
which prevents an active routine) and poverty (due to the lack of investments from businesses,
construction works that prevent the community to further its growth, etc.). These problems gave

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rise to unacceptable or dangerous lifestyles, which caused a negative impact on the community
and prevent future enterprises to be established.
However, such connotations can be tackled by the establishment of beneficial programs
and agendas that can put the idealism of sustainability development into play. Majora Carter had
mentioned at the beginning of the video of the Hunts Point Riverside Park. This water front was
a victim to the environmental degradation, and due to the individuals who participated in
revitalizing it, this park became a central attraction to the South Bronx, and gave back
significance which had been lost. Other programs were launched in aiding the environment such
as B.E.S.T. (Bronx Ecological Stewardship Training) which provides training on ecological
restoration and awareness for people to acquire jobs within that field. This can cause a financial
stability for people and prevent environmental deprivation. She also mentioned a variety of
infrastructures that would aide in keeping the environment ecologically friendly, termed the
South Bronx Greenway Master Plan. Cool roofs, which utilize solar energy to lower the
temperature of buildings, enable a sufficient way of improving living conditions on a low budget
and without endangering the environment. The renovation of Lovelace Avenue enables the South
Bronx to connect to Randalls Island Park, which will provide new routes to lessen traffic jams.
These improvements can radically change the community, and the benefits gained are abundant
for the government and citizens alike.
At the end of the speech, Majora Carter said that we have nothing to lose, and
everything to gain. In this respect, I completely agree that the profits acquired from imposing
new ecological ideas are enormous to the communities that suffered from environmental
degradation. Many a society is pilloried with various negative issues due to the lack of
government intervention to prevent the establishment of harmful factories. With these ideas,

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individuals could practice a healthy lifestyle, enjoy the natural surroundings free of toxic waste
and protect and preserve it.