Greening the Ghetto

Majora Carter, founder of Sustainable South Bronx, presented several environmental and economic issues in her Ted Talk. Majora fully supports a sustainable development in regards to inner cities. In her talk, she presented several visionary techniques that should be implemented to restore multiple areas in the South Bronx, where she grew up. She provides a myriad of shocking examples that show that inner cities need green areas in order to thrive and survive. Majora outlines several medical complications that have arisen due to the lack of "green" in the city environment - i.e. asthma, obesity, and diabetes. She also touches upon the fact that through the years, several national highway incentives have blatantly disturbed the peace in many South Bronx neighborhoods. According to Majora, economic, environmental, and social degradation all stem off of one another. After much toil and many tribulations, she was able to successfully implement a "green" waterfront space - the first the South Bronx has seen in about 60 years. She relates certain happenings with Katrina and in Bogota to the current situations that can be found in the South Bronx. Majora Carter is making a strong statement that sustainable developments benefit all parties - the government, community, and individuals alike.

Majora's mission directly coincides with the seventh theme of Catholic Social Teaching, Care for God's Creation. She promotes sustainable stewardship of the land, of God's creation. Her philanthropic endeavors support a green, eco-friendly environment in which government and community can both equally thrive. Majora insists that we must take responsibility in promoting green environments, especially in inner-city areas. Sustainable South Bronx takes into consideration the effect its acts will have on generations to come. By ridding the South Bronx waterfront of debris and solid waste, Majora respects God's creation. She also enacts the CST theme of Solidarity in her attempts to unite the whole South Bronx. Yet another Catholic Social Teaching theme that Greening the Ghetto supports is the Call to Family, Community, and Participation. By participating in "greening" activities in the inner cities, individuals better their communities while simultaneously bettering their families. Greening the Ghetto lends a hand to and remembers several low-income families, thus embodying the theme of Dignity of Work. As Majora suggests, we must come together to promote a green environment in which our nation and its accomplishments can grow and flourish in the likeness of God.