Patrick Condon, chairman of the urban-design program at the U.B.C., believes that Vancouver’s current housing plans to build “high-density tall towers” expanding outside of downtown is not the direction the city should keep growing in.  Condon thinks Vancouver should focus on townhouses and low-rise buildings instead of “expensive, energy inefficient and, to many, an alien building form.” towers ; plus preserve small parks and walkways to create more neighbourhoods like Kitsilano and Granville Island.

Like most other citizens, I agree with Condon views on the future development for Vancouver. From a personal point of view, there are currently two buildings being built in a one block radius of my apartment building. Also both of the new ‘towers’ block my view and sunlight. Vancouver should redirect its direction of expanding from vertically to horizontally, so growing the downtown area and Vancouver as a whole by creating more townhouses and low-rise buildings outside of downtown.

Why is this better? For many reasons explained by Condon, but simply because smaller buildings are safer (earthquake), cheaper, more efficient and more appealing than living in a concrete and glass jungle. I believe it is not to late for Vancouver to adapt and change its goals in order to create an even more ‘liveable’ city.

http://http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Barbara+Yaffe+Vancouver+push+taller+towers+short+sighted/10246881/story.html

http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/episodes/revenge-of-the-electric-car

Documentary: “Revenge of the Electric Car”

More information about Tesla and other electric cars. What surprised me, that I learned from this documentary, is how the electric car became “extinct”. It really shows the power of companies ,which further magnifies Tesla’s current threats and their need to further expand to make Tesla more accessible to a larger demographic.  It also makes me think about the future of cars, although the crazy flying cars of the’ future’ might not be invented yet, I think we are getting closer to this era of high tech, sustainable cars . Personally I really enjoyed the assignment because of my interest of electric cars, so this documentary further inspired me and gave me an insight to the industry.

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/wild-west-of-groundwater-billion-dollar-nestl%C3%A9-extracting-b-c-s-drinking-water-for-free-1.587568

In British Columbia we are blessed with an abundance of fresh and clean water, and Nestle and other similar companies see an opportunity in this blessing. B.C. has little regulation of groundwater, making it easy for Nestle to bottle millions of litres of the fresh ground water for free. Although it is unethical to “steal” water, the government cannot stop Nestle simply because they are not breaking the law. Nestle is willing to work with the government in creating regulations, but at the end of the day “the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits” (Friedman) which is Nestle intention. As Friedman said, “one man’s good is another’s evil” and until the government makes final changes to Water Act this will continue. Regardless of the free water and the government’s role, Nestle doesn’t worry about what is ethical, because a business cannot have social responsibilities.

On the other hand while I agree with most of what Friedman argues, I also believe businesses are becoming more aware of what is ethical and what social responsibilities people respect. PUB, a water purifying and recycling company in Singapore, is refining sewage water making it safe for drinking and other uses. This of course brings profit to the business but also Singapore has more available water during water shortages. As new businesses constantly emerge, I think people are finally looking for the few that seem to have a grasp on social responsibility, in hopes of a stronger future for society as a whole, however minimal.

PUB website: http://www.pub.gov.sg/Pages/default.aspx