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surveys / sustainable
Sustainable cities
All over the world, cities are bursting at the seams. Everywhere, people are being drawn from the countryside into urban centres.
They come for the jobs, for education, for refuge from poverty and war, for the arts, culture and entertainment. Cities offer all of
these things and more. They are crucibles of intellectual, artistic and entrepreneurial vitality.
In many places, explosive urban growth has overwhelmed city services and further impoverished the countryside. How do we make our cities
sustainable? Liveable? These are key questions that will be addressed in June 2006 at the World Urban Forum in Vancouver. It will be one
of the largest gatherings ever of people from around the world interested in not just talk, but in crafting concrete solutions to the
problems of cities.
You too can join in the conversation. Canadian Geographic is planning a special report in its May/June 2006 issue on sustainable
cities. Tell us what you think we should be focusing on in our special report.
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Participate in the global conversation! Go to the
Habitat Jam at habitatjam.com, a global 72-hour internet event from December 1st to
3rd, 2005. It will bring tens of thousands of people around the world together to discuss and debate the urgent and controversial issues
facing our rapidly urbanizing planet.
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COMMENTS |
Alain Deverdenne
Submitted: Sunday, July 16, 2006
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La belle province is a common phrase that we hear from Québec. I've been in that province and their big cities, but this year I found out that with the good road system that they have, they can't even maintain their roads, so many potholes here and there. Being a visitor, what is the thing that you'll remember the most in your trip: the condition of the roads. |
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Angela Shi
Submitted: Tuesday, December 13, 2005
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First the land use planning is very important. Cities can be created with a mix of different land use. This will make our communities more convenient and safe.
Second is to promote the rececling to conserve energy and water, also reduce waste and pollution.
Third is to change transportation planning. More people will travel by walking, biking, and public transit.
Fourth is to restore natural environments, such as woodlots, rivers, and wetlands in cities.
Fifth is to encourage the building of safe, conveniently located, and affordable housing for people in all economic groups. |
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Chris
Submitted: Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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-free extensive public transportation -
high subsidies for implementing solar
panels, etc, on residences -high
subsidies for driving fuel- effecient
cars -high penalties for driving fuel-
guzzling cars -greater taxes for those
who put out more garbage (recycle less) -
no cosmetic pesticide use -building for
beauty as well as efficiency and
conservation -reclaiming downtown cores for
living as opposed to spreading into
suburbia -develop for foot/bike traffic
instead of car traffic (ie: don't put
driveways right in front, but pathways) -
MORE GREENSPACE! -More centres and gathering
places |
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naturalleaf5
Submitted: Tuesday, November 22, 2005
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i 'd like to say something.to chase economical benefit,we must think of the long term plan.we can do lot of things for it.for example,making recicle water tube.it's justto linkthe washing machine to a big jar.in countryside,try to use manure and reduce to use fertilizer.collect wast paper and don't use plastic bag.don't produce things that can use one times.in short term it's not convenintand cost more.but future is bright. |
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Jenn
Submitted: Monday, November 21, 2005
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My understanding of a sustainable city is one that balances culture, economy and the environment (I know, the 'E' word no one wants to hear about anymore!) Are there any sustainable cities in the world? Or is this just a concept we strive for but will never reach? Will it be just one more thing we think, "Yeah, we should really do that better." and feel guilty about because we never will?
I can say all the things that I think will make a city sustainable, but it will never happen - not until there is a serious shift in the school of economics. Our world is too ruled by economics, which in turn is too ruled by short-term gain. How can we create sustainable cities with such short- sightedness?
So, although this is a nice thought, it will never happen. We might as well go back to our SUVs and drive to our sprawling, cancerous suburbs and watch "reality" TV than hope for something that will never come to pass. |
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Ellen
Submitted: Monday, November 21, 2005
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The whole scenario feels like a catch- 22
sinkhole. If the small, financially affluent
percentage of the population is responsible
for consuming soaring amounts of the Earth's
resources (some studies say 75%)then it is
these people who must make changes to their
lifestyle and behaviour. Suggestions to
curb urban dwellers from gobbling resources
include more environmentally-sound products,
services and living environments. The
problem is these are often so expensive
that only the upper crust can afford
them. If the source of the problem also
holds the key to the solution then what
can be done? As projections of ecolgocial
footprints and deficits anticipate our
current consumption as requiring five more
planet Earths to maintain our current
way of living it seems that sooner or
later we are all going to pay. |
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