Public health outcomes, like long life spans, result from a built environment that encourages movement.
Andrew Merle explains the advocacy action behind Blue Zones, the places in the world where people live the longest. Blue Zones is also the name of an organization that promotes the characteristics of these five places around the world: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.
To get a more complete picture of the Blue Zones concept, and what makes these places so healthy, Merle interviews Dan Buettner, Blue Zones founder and National Geographic fellow. The big idea behind the article, and the entire Blue Zones concept: "in all five Blue Zones, people do not proactively exercise or seek health. Instead, physical activity just happens naturally as a result of their surroundings."
Blue Zones, the organization, is working with U.S. cities to improve bikeability and walkability, but most of the country still has a long way to go to overcome the car-centric planning that has produced a most sedentary populace. In its most recent initiative, Blue Zones, the organization, is partnering with Degree Deodorant to create the Made To Move grant program, which "will provide half a million dollars in funding for city projects that promote increased physical movement."
FULL STORY: FORGET DIET AND EXERCISE—FOR BETTER HEALTH, WE NEED BETTER CITIES
Is Bloomberg to Thank for New Yorkers' Increasing Life Expectancies?
New Yorkers can expect to live eight years longer than they could just 20 years ago. Do Mayor Bloomberg's policies and initiatives deserve some credit? A mounting body of evidence ties urban form to human health.
Singapore: A Model for Longevity and Quality of Life
Singapore's remarkable rise in life expectancy, driven by government policies on health, green spaces, and social cohesion, has earned it the distinction of being named the world's sixth “Blue Zone.”
Fort Worth Wants Residents to Live Longer
The Texas city is the largest municipality so far to sign onto the Blue Zones Project, an initiative for improving longevity. In a nutshell, Blue Zones wants to make healthy choices the easy ones.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service