Many people see large urban cities as a wonder of human imagination and creativity. They represent how far the human population has come in terms of community development. Despite its positive things, there are also negatives from urbanization on the physical health of humans living.
As it would be expected, developing countries tend to see more negative physical health effects than modern countries in regard to urbanization. One example of a developing country experiencing these problems is China. China is a country that in the past 30-40 years went from being an agrarian based society to a significant industrialized country. This industrialization has in effect caused the need for more centralized cities, centralized meaning having lots of jobs and living spaces within a close proximity. In most recent decades, since China’s change to being more of an industrial based economy, the country has experienced record high numbers of people migrating within its borders. In effect, the number of cities with over 500,000 people has more than doubled. These migrations are typically of people from rural areas of China moving to the new urban areas. Due to this large influx in the urban population, there are many possibilities for health challenges among these people.
One very common and fairly obvious negative aspect of highly congested urban areas is air pollution. It could include particulate matter, most commonly attributed to industrial plants and refineries waste, or chemicals like CO2 or Methane. Due to a vast number of people in these urbanized cities, the air pollution is known to be very extreme. These conditions can lead to many different health problems such as: Asthma, cardiovascular problems or disease. When exposed to these conditions for a prolonged period of time, one can experience even more detrimental health effects like: the acceleration of aging, loss of lung capacity and health, being more susceptible to respiratory diseases, and a shortened life span.
Another way that urbanization affects the populations’ health is people’s change in diet. For instance, urban cities tend to have lots of accessible, quick, and easy to get food. This food is also more than likely not as high quality as well as contains a large amount of sodium and sugar. Because this food is so accessible, people tend to eat it more. This increase in consumption of low-quality food can then lead to diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, or many other health conditions.
(Adapted from https://medium.com)

One of the most wonderful aspects of living in a multicultural world is the opportunity it presents for us to learn and grow from one another. Each culture brings with it a unique set of customs, beliefs, and values that shape the way its people see the world. By embracing these differences, we open ourselves up to new ways of thinking, challenging our own perspectives, and broadening our understanding of the world around us.
Imagine walking down the bustling streets of a cosmopolitan city, where the sights, sounds, and smells transport you to different corners of the globe. Here, you might encounter people dressed in traditional attire, hear languages spoken that are unfamiliar to you, and sample exotic cuisines that tantalize your taste buds. In this melting pot of cultures, every encounter becomes an opportunity for cultural exchange and mutual appreciation.
But the beauty of a multicultural world extends far beyond the surface level of food and fashion. It lies in the deeper connections we form with one another, transcending language and borders. Through shared experiences and stories, we discover that despite our differences, we are all fundamentally human, bound by our common hopes, dreams, and struggles. This teaches us the importance of empathy and understanding. When we take the time to listen to each other's stories and experiences, we develop a greater sense of empathy for those who may be different from us. We learn to recognize and appreciate the struggles and triumphs of others, fostering a sense of solidarity and compassion that transcends cultural boundaries.
Multiculturalism also fosters creativity and innovation, as diverse perspectives often lead to new ideas and solutions to complex problems. When people from different backgrounds come together to collaborate, they bring with them unique insights and approaches that can spark innovation and drive progress in ways that would not be possible in a homogeneous environment.
(Adapted from National Geographic)

If you’re an Australian Facebook user who loves to share the news on your timeline, you may have noticed something different recently: You can’t.
In the next few days, though, things should go back to normal. Less than a week after suddenly banning news links for Australian users and shutting down Australian news pages to protest an upcoming law, Facebook says it’s gotten reassurances from the Australian government that it won’t be forced to pay publishers but will instead be given the chance to negotiate agreements with them - which it’s already starting to do. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Facebook has agreed to pay the major Australian media company Seven West Media for news content and is in negotiations with another called Nine Entertainment.
Australia has now passed the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code, which could force Facebook and Google to pay publishers if they host their content. The law is a response to years-long complaints from news outlets around the world about the role that Google and Facebook — and their mammoth digital ad businesses — have played in the decline of journalism and the decimation of its business model in the internet age. The two companies responded to the then-potential law in very different ways: Google made deals with Australian news publishers; Facebook decided to cut them off entirely.
After a few days of Australians seeing what Facebook was like without the news, a sizable amount of worldwide backlash against the company, and talks with the Australian government that resulted in a few last-minute changes to the law, Facebook decided that the new terms were good enough for its ban to end. The law passed a few days later.
Previously, Facebook had banned all users from sharing links to Australian news sources, Australian publications’ pages from hosting any of their own content, and Australian users from sharing any news links, Australian or international.
(Adapted from https://www.vox.com)