We live in a wonderful age! Scientists have proven that many simple, affordable, and often enjoyable activities make us healthier and happier: breath fresh air, avoid dangerous driving, be physically active, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, maintain friendships, play games, and avoid excessive stress. Even chocolate, red wine and sex are perscribed, in moderation, for health sake.
Health
Does Living in a Poor Neighborhood Harm Your Health?
A study conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the 1990s found that living in poor neighborhoods can actually hurt your health.
TheCityFix.com
The Boon in British Cycling
A new report from the London School of Economics looks at the “cycling economy” that is taking the United Kingdom by storm and the economic benefits generated by individual cyclists.
TheCityFix.com
New Report Evaluates Transportation Policies for Healthier Communities
Major study by the Partnership for Prevention identifies numerous ways to reduce air pollution, increase physical fitness and reduce traffic risk.
Healthier People and Communities
Urban Parks for Healthy Cities
Urban parks have an important role to play in solving the health and fitness crisis, but too many acres of parkland are not helping people become healthier. How can park systems be designed to be better-used and live up to their potential?
Philadelphia Daily News Digital / The Inquirer Digital
Health Concerns For Urban Cyclists
A new Canadian study should be of interest to any urban cyclist concerned about his/her health. The study shows what is apparent to most cyclists already - smoking tailpipes, especially from diesel trucks and buses, can have serious health impacts.
Environmental Health News via San Francisco Chronicle
Building A Healthier Environment
The built environment plays a big role in public health, and the professions involved in creating the built environment need to pay more attention to building healthy places, argues Clark Manus, president of the American Institute of Architects.
Architect
Mapping the Nation's Well-Being
Who's the happiest and healthiest of them all? The New York Times posts an interactive map of the national Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
New York Times
From Breadbasket to Food Desert
The rural Midwest produces much of our nation's food supply, and yet small towns in the heartland and around America are increasingly and ironically becoming food deserts - places where citizens have little access to fresh, healthy foods.
Grist
Tree Cover Linked with Healthier Babies
A study of tree cover and pregnant women suggests that women living in areas with more trees are less likely to give birth to undersized babies.
The Oregonian
The Global Challenge of Unsafe Water
Unclean and unsafe water is an increasingly vexing problem for the world's cities, which are struggling to meet the needs of rapidly growing populations. But there has been some positive work in developing countries.
Citiwire
Green Building, Black Lung?
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED building rating system has helped grow the ranks of green buildings, but some say it ignores the human health impact of those buildings.
Yale Environment 360
AARP Asks: Is A Streetcar Coming To Your City?
AARP takes a comprehensive looks at streetcars, exploring their past demise, comeback, and now spreading to as many as 40 cities. Special attention is given to the Portland Streetcar and how the streetcar enables better mobility for seniors.
AARP Bulletin Today
Building a City of Healthy People
This piece from Next American City looks at health in New York City, and why the city's new health commissioner is looking at elevators, escalators and other subtleties of the built environment.
Next American City
Air Pollution Strongly Linked to Heart Ailments
A new report from the Health Effect Institute concludes that there is a strong correlation between exposure to traffic and heart ailments.
The New York Times
Coal & Oil - Biggest Health Culprits, Says National Academies
The National Academy of Science has released a report showing that health effects from burning fossil fuels cost the economy about $120 billion a year. Global warming was not included due to uncertainty, so it's focused mostly on air pollution.
The New York Times - Environment
Pittsburgh Preps for its Debut on the World Stage
Why the decision to host the next G-20 summit in Steel City is a good one.
Forbes.com
California's Classrooms Going Green
With what some are calling the worst classroom conditions in the nation, California is trying to solve the problem by replacing all of its portable classrooms with green buildings.
Good
wish you were here: liveblog from the Association for Community Design Annual Conference
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 06:27
I’m watching local Rochester-area advocates respond to presentations by three panelists on the subject of “Community Food Supply and Environmental Justice” at the Association for Community Design annual conference. We’re here hosted by the Rochester Regional Community Design Center.
Place May Be Major Factor In Cancer Rates
Reports have long linked higher cancer rates to different racial groups, but a new study suggests that location may play a more significant role in the prevalence of the disease.
American Cancer Society
