Should people move to the countryside?
Cities are bursting at the seams as remote areas are left behind.
Cities are made up of buildings and roads and buses, packed with people rushing to school or work. On the same morning, country villages might see a handful of cars on narrow country lanes, and are quiet and peaceful after dark. Most people in the world live and work in cities. The Japanese government hopes to make it more appealing for people to move away from cities to the countryside. In Japan, rural communities are at risk of disappearing without new people and young families moving in. Is it a good idea to encourage people to move out of cities? Or is that unfair on countryside communities, which suddenly have to deal with lot of new people moving in, buying or renting houses so local people can’t afford to stay?
Yes – the countryside is much nicer
Many cities cannot grow fast enough to meet the demands of so many people. In big cities people often have to live in small or low-quality homes and spend a lot of their money on rent. People work hard to earn enough money to move out of the cities and into the countryside. They want more space to enjoy nature and lead a quieter life. The countryside is a good place to grow up because you know your neighbours and the roads are smaller and carry less traffic. You can easily go out for walks and ride your bike and get close to nature. It’s much easier to have a garden in the country too. Many cities are so big now that they just don’t function properly. It takes ages to travel through them. The countryside is just nicer.
No – cities are exciting places to live
Cities are supposed to be big, busy and bustling. People arrive bringing lots of new energy and exciting ideas. Most jobs and opportunities are found in cities, too – that’s why people move there. There is also much more to do in a city than in the countryside, such as theatre, street festivals, parties and fun.
Cities are for people who like energy and excitement; villages are for people who want a quiet life. Plus, if lots of people move to villages then they would all need somewhere to live. This makes it harder for local people to find homes. In the countryside, people can often only travel by car, but in cities there is lots of public transport like buses and trams, which are more eco-friendly. Cities are designed for people.