Imagining A Car-Free City | Debra Efroymson | TEDxDPSSTSSchool

Debra Efroymson takes the audience on a stroll in her ideal car-free urban society. She talks in-depth about the benefits of a car-free society and the 'three-headed monster'--the car, the fuel, and the road-building corporations--that prevents a city from becoming car-free. In her TEDx talk, she dares her audience to dream of an urban life where going on walks would include hearing the laughter of children instead of the honks from cars. Debra Efroymson is an avid speaker, environmentalist, writer, and firm believer in creating happier and healthier public. She is a true advocate for this and many generations’ issues starting from sexuality, reproductive health to urban planning, transport policy, economics, and she has extensively been a part of the activism and writing circuit for a long time.
The Regional Director of the Canadian NGO HealthBridge, working with partners and communities worldwide to improve health and reduce health inequities through research, policy, and action. She is also an Advisor to the Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust (WBB) and the co-founder and Acting Executive Director of the Institute of Wellbeing.
In her well-known book “Beyond Apologies, Defining and Achieving an Economics of Wellbeing”, she addresses numerous myths surrounding economic mechanisms and questioned mainstream developmental policies, and the various unsustainable consequences of a multitude of historical economic measures. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@davidsweanor9255]

A terrific talk on the cities we can have if we are willing to work for necessary changes.

[@DebraEfroymson-q1h]

Thanks David! Indeed, there's a lot of work to be done but I hope people will see the light and be willing to try, given how incredible our cities could be.

[@DebraEfroymson-q1h]

Sorry about the bad sound quality...the first few words are cut. ("Most of us in the world today live in cities.") Also one mistake a friend caught: it's pollution that accounts for one in six deaths. Air pollution accounts for about 7 million deaths a year, or 1 in 8. Way too many but I overstated it.)

[@een_schildpad]

Yeah!!! Right on!!! 🙌 I live in the US and really want to live in a city like this. When are we going to get together and build one fam? I'm in!

[@DebraEfroymson-q1h]

Find some friends who agree with you and get started!! It's time to make noise, as I say in the talk. Good luck!!

[@sharleneliu3643]

Absolutely agree Debra. Thanks so much for advocating for a sane future.

[@neelimaa1998]

Love the idea!

[@justinhyatt4703]

This is a great talk, Debra. There are a lot of people who support these ideas. My guess is that you could fill a whole continent worth of people who would be just too glad to live in a carfree environment!

[@DebraEfroymson-q1h]

Exactly, Justin! It's a pity that all of us who would love the freedom of a city without cars are expected to cater to those who want one...just as in the US those who would love to live without fear of gun violence are supposed to endure the gun insanity of others. Well, there's lots of work to be done but thank goodness there's a strong, smart, passionate young generation prepared to do it!

[@tien-zendanguyen2791]

Yay I will spread this idea

[@DebraEfroymson-q1h]

Tien oi, when I lived in Hanoi and it was mostly a bicycle city, I saw how wonderful a city can be when the main mode of transport is fuel-free. Please do share these ideas!!

[@anantotripura3304]

Imagining a car-free city that really loves hearing and meant to us a lot, Debra Mam!