Uploaded on 2015-10-08 by RyabovaElhana

1. Job opportunities. I give this criteria number 1, because many people firstly associate cities with job vacancies. 2. Infrastructure - this is one of the most importance factors of comfort city life and it makes cities more livable. 3. Education. Nowadays cities are still the centers of different educational possibilities, though it's possible today to learn through the Internet and not to live in the city. 4. Health care. Everyone agrees that it's a key factor of livable city to have wide web of quality and affordable health care for all categories of inhabitants. 5. Environment factor, of course. No one city or town could be livable and comfortable without healthy environmental conditions. Why do we live where we live? I have lived in Moscow for 2 years, after l had married and sterted live with my husband. Because of I'm not a native Moscow inhabitant, I could see all advantages and disadvantages of this city clearly than native citizens. And I see, that the main reason for my husband and my friend to live in Moscow are aligned with my top-5 criteria, but it's not the same for me. The first reason is well-paid job. It's the most important reason why our family and friend live in this city. But for me it doesn't matter, because I study in post-graduate school now. The second reason is infrastructure. Yes, it's a very serious reason, because life in a big city with many modern conviniences, with central heating, shops and cafes near your house is very comfortable. I like it very much! The third reason for me is educational opportunities! Life in a big city, in the capital of great country allows to choose any university you like. For example, I got my second education in the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (PFUR), one of the most popular Moscow universities. But studing at the university is not only one opportunity of Moscow city. You can visit different additional courses, exhibitions, master-classes to improve your skills, take part in defferent conferences (as I do), and all of these in one city! Excellent! Another serious reason for me to live in a big city is transportation. Though I didn't include it in top-5, because there were more important factors, but for me having the poortunity to move from one place to another in any time is very important. Not all Russian cities have such good transportation as Moscow, that's why it's so important and amazing for me. Health care is also in the list of reasons, because medical care in Moscow much more better then even in nearest towns, though it's rather expensive. If you have enough money, you will be healed perfectly, but if money is limited... As said, sink or swim. Environmental factor is very important for me (I'm an ecologist), but ecological conditions are not very good in Moscow, though last few yeras situation became better. But for me environmental factor is mainly the reason to leave Moscow than to livi in it. To what extend does your own place of residence fulfill your ideal livability criteria? 1. Job opportunities - 80% 2. Infrastructure - 90% 3. Education - 90% 4. Health care - 70% 5. Environment - 50% So, the total score of livability is 76%. Not bad, but it could be better. Of course, there are a lot of key points we should improve in Moscow. What would you change? The first related problems we need to solve are transportation and environment. Why are they related? Because we have a lot of private transport inside the city, which pollute atmosphere and soils and creates a lot of traffic jams and autocrashes, which stopped vehicular movement. We need to improve and extend public transport using, because it helps to solve both problems of transportation and pollution, and we have some positive dinamics in it, for example "the day without car" or "go to work by bicycle" actions - which popularize public and non-motor transport, but of course the proplem is still serious. Another changes we should do are: - save and creep our parks and green zones; - make more bicycle roads and walkways; - stay high roads only for public transport ans special cars (like medical, police and fire-engine cars), and close Moscow historical center to cars at all; - clean Moscow-river and another surface water bodies and make there recreations zones; - modernize our state ambulances and social services; - take out brownfield manufactures and many other things. Why do we move? 1. Dubna. This is a small town on the board of Moscow region. It's very nice, clean and comfort university town with interesting research projects and good education. It;s green town with perfect environment and safety conditions. I spent there a few years and want to return in it. It's my favourite livable place. 2. Malmo. For me, as an ecologist, Malmo is a very interesting city and brilliant project of green rehabilitation. I want to visit this city or to spend there some years to see all the changes inside. It will be great, if I could work there as an ecologist and researcher. 3. Belfast. I'm very interested in Ireland, its landscapes and culture, so I like any of its towns and cities. Why I chose Belfast? Because it will be possible, that my husband move to work there, and so my dream'll become a reality. That's why I "in absentio" like Belfast with all my heart. ![enter image description here][1] ![enter image description here][2] ![enter image description here][3] [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14443085653104999.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14443085953109489.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14443086388005262.jpg