The ways in which a community is strengthened, through their natural environment, varies cross-culturally and across socioeconomic levels. The last example from the study in England showed that Muslim women used green space as a location to develop their social relationships with each other apart from Muslim men. In total, 46% of the participants saw the benefits of improved social relationships when at high quality green space. With the belief that mental health could be improved, 46% agreed and 60% agreed that it would improve their physical health. This study gives great significance to the assumption that green infrastructure is currently used to reap the cross-cultural benefits of health and wellbeing in urban communities. Over all
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Individuals of these communities are not only residents in the suburbs or low-income apartments in which they live. They are also citizens of their nation and human beings. The acceptance of these facts create two questions. What are the rights of citizenship and the rights of human life? How are these rights upheld by the political, economic, and natural infrastructure implemented and maintained in urban communities? Although rights of urban communities are believed to be upheld, these societal infrastructures contain many systems of structural violence as well. Medical anthropologist, Paul Farmer, states that, “structural violence is visited upon all those whose social status denies them access to the fruits of scientific and social progress.” (Farmer) The creation of the violence occurs through the supporting of dividing cities by social status through the inclusivity of communities that have high economic status and the exclusion of citizens in poverty in public policy and civic engagement. Wealthier communities obtain a majority of the political power diminishing the voice of low income communities. The rights of citizenship need to include cultural sustainability in developing a greater accessibility to natural resources. Other concerns regarding environmental health of urban communities include the accessibility of healthcare, safe and affordable housing, and education. To ensure these rights are advocated for, the planning of green infrastructure must include a large audience to meet the needs of all members in a community. The empowerment of neighborhoods will determine the success of the infrastructure for the foreseeable future. (Low,
Individuals of these communities are not only residents in the suburbs or low-income apartments in which they live. They are also citizens of their nation and human beings. The acceptance of these facts create two questions. What are the rights of citizenship and the rights of human life? How are these rights upheld by the political, economic, and natural infrastructure implemented and maintained in urban communities? Although rights of urban communities are believed to be upheld, these societal infrastructures contain many systems of structural violence as well. Medical anthropologist, Paul Farmer, states that, “structural violence is visited upon all those whose social status denies them access to the fruits of scientific and social progress.” (Farmer) The creation of the violence occurs through the supporting of dividing cities by social status through the inclusivity of communities that have high economic status and the exclusion of citizens in poverty in public policy and civic engagement. Wealthier communities obtain a majority of the political power diminishing the voice of low income communities. The rights of citizenship need to include cultural sustainability in developing a greater accessibility to natural resources. Other concerns regarding environmental health of urban communities include the accessibility of healthcare, safe and affordable housing, and education. To ensure these rights are advocated for, the planning of green infrastructure must include a large audience to meet the needs of all members in a community. The empowerment of neighborhoods will determine the success of the infrastructure for the foreseeable future. (Low,