By the year 2000, nearly half the people on earth will live in cities. And the world's urban population will double in the next 25 years.
Isolation, violence, crime, drugs and racism are common phenomena in cities. How are governments, local authorities and individuals to cope with these massive challenges?
Visiting some of the favelas (shanty towns) in Rio de Janeiro recently, I found the poverty and filth depressing. But even in that situation there were men and women of all ages who were taking responsibility for the way their communities will go. Providing child care, dealing with poor housing and sewage facilities, combatting drugs and illiteracy are high on their agenda. Seeing how determinedly they faced their problems, one could only be encouraged that even in situations which seemed hopeless, hope can be born from the concerted efforts of individuals and groups.
A worldwide initiative to tackle city problems has grown over the last few years. It includes people from a wide range of organizations. There has recently been a series of workshops in North and South America. And an international consultation on 'Change in the Cities' will take place at the Moral Re-Armament conference centre in Switzerland, in August.
In Canada, Vancouver citizens responded to a challenge by Hon David C Lam, Lt Gov of British Columbia 'To build bridges to community instead of walls which divide.' They organized a workshop in May against the background of mounting tensions between French and English Canadians over proposed constitutional changes. Held in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, the workshops involved people in the critical challenges facing metropolitan areas. Those who took part included a group from Quebec, the Chinese community, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, members of the Vancouver School Board and church leaders.
Vancouver City Council, said Alderman Philip Owens, 'is on a mission to get all the people of different cultural backgrounds and income levels to work together. The only way neighbourhoods can be successful is if everybody has a part.'
18 -19 May saw a similar gathering in Washington DC. Attended by representatives of eight non-profit service organizations, its focus was on the causes of crises in cities.
Speakers at the workshop stressed the importance of facing both the painful realities of the city and the feelings of powerlessness that overwhelm most people. 'There is a lack of loving and caring, of self-esteem,' said Gloria Cousar of the Greater Washington Housing Authority. 'Esteem grows out of knowing that you can work with others to get out of the mess, to break out of the cycle collectively. Identify a higher purpose - empowerment is the result of vision.'
One can identify with B Harold Smith, President of the Adams Morgan Civic Association and an initiator of the conference, who said that, 'an inner spiritual journey of self-recognition' must precede and lead to 'an outward journey of service' - that it is not sufficient to 'throw money at our problems.' He sounded a theme which resonated through the day. 'Racism is alive, economic deprivation is alive' and the message of affluence, greed and materialism 'is being projected to everyone through the most powerful medium ever - TV.'
By Judith 'Robo Ukoko
