1. Sustainability in the Netherlands vs. Birmingham, Alabama
The Intersection of Culture and Sustainability
By Austin Dada

2. Introduction (About Me)
Structural/Civil Engineer
EIT Certified
Masters Degree in Structural Engineering at the University of Alabama, Birmingham
Currently Employed at Southern Company (a southeast electric utility)
Former Community Garden Leader for a garden in Birmingham’s Southside

3. Introduction (My Motives)
My Goals
What I hope to accomplish
This Literature Review

4. Introduction (Thesis Statement)
The Netherlands embodies a culture that reinforces the idea of sustainability in everyday life while the history of the formation of Birmingham, AL demonstrates a culture that is quite averse to the ideals of sustainability.

5. Sustainability, a loaded term?
What is the meaning of “sustainability”?
“meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” – United Nations’ Bruntland Commission, 1983

6. Sustainability, a process not an end-state
Sustainability is a balanced approach that considers people, planet, and prosperity
People – community well-being
Planet – environmental and resource conservation
Prosperity – economic vitality
-American Planning Association, 2010

7. Sustainability, viewpoints
The view of Sustainability in the Netherlands vs. the United States
Netherlands – cultural lifestyle, holistic
United States – built environment, green economy, ideological alternative to the status quo

9. Sustainability Index (Netherlands)

10. Sustainability Index (USA)

11. Culture/History Netherlands The Netherlands Philosophy
Dutch Nationalism – “relied on the bicycle to communicate Dutch liberal virtues such as mental balance and level-headedness”

12. Culture/History Netherlands
ANWB – Nerderlandsche Algemeene Wielrijders Bond
Major organization that promoted bicycling as a major form of transportation in the early 1900’s around the start of the first World War

13. Culture/History Netherlands ANWB
“The ANWB considered level-headedness, balance, and maintaining a calm mind as supreme civic duties…”
“…advised its members to avoid hectic motorcar and bus traffic as well as overcrowded, unreliable trains. Instead, they should switch to cycling”
(Ebert) When cycling gets political

14. Culture/History Birmingham, AL A city founded on industrialism
Massive quantities of iron ore deposits
Steel Industry
Once great and all-encompassing industry helped for the city to be coined with nicknames such as the “Magic City” and the “Pittsburgh of the South”
Civil Rights Movement

15. Culture/History Birmingham, AL New Developments Railroad Park
Birmingham Barons Stadium
Increased interest in “Green ways”
Breweries

16. Birmingham’s move to a more Sustainable future
UAB – Sustainable Cities Conference
Enrique Penalosa – former mayor of Bogota, Columbia
“Something has to be done that is a shock. There are great opportunities to be radical.”

17. Birmingham’s move to a more Sustainable future
Gentrification?
Avondale Community
“If we want an area to be reborn, it cannot just be for the poor…” “We have to bring rich people downtown. We should not be shy about this” – Enrique Penalosa
“Rich people are good for poor people” – Enrique Penalosa

18. Birmingham’s move to a more Sustainable future
Poverty Statistics
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2012: 31.2%
Source: 

19. Birmingham’s move to a more Sustainable future
Influx of Biking culture in Birmingham
Veronique Vanblaere – resident of Birmingham originally from Belgium
“…we’re pretty much born on a bicycle.”
“I would like to see everybody on a bicycle.”
Launched weekly Le Tour de Ham social rides

20. Birmingham’s move to a more Sustainable future
New Developments
Railroad Park
Birmingham Barons Stadium
Increased interest in “Green ways”
Breweries
Sustainable Cities Conference

21. Hypothesis, Course of Action, and Possible Solutions

22. Organizations Arup http://www.except.nl/en/