Global Responsibility

Archives

  • Dec 2022
  • Oct 2022
  • Jun 2022
  • Apr 2022
  • Jan 2022
  • Dec 2021
  • Nov 2021
  • Oct 2021
  • Sep 2021
  • Jul 2021
  • May 2021
  • Mar 2021
  • Feb 2021
  • Dec 2020
  • Oct 2020
  • Sep 2020
  • Aug 2020
  • Jul 2020
  • Apr 2020
  • Mar 2020
  • Feb 2020
  • Jan 2020
  • Dec 2019
  • Nov 2019
  • Oct 2019
  • Sep 2019
  • Aug 2019
  • Jul 2019
  • May 2019
  • Feb 2019
  • Jan 2019
  • Dec 2018
  • Nov 2018
  • Oct 2018
  • Jul 2018
  • May 2018
  • Mar 2018
  • Nov 2017
  • Aug 2017
  • Jun 2017
  • May 2017
  • Apr 2017
  • Mar 2017
  • Feb 2017
  • Jan 2017
  • Oct 2016
  • Aug 2016
  • Jul 2016
  • May 2016
  • Apr 2016
  • Jan 2016
  • Oct 2015
  • Jun 2015
  • May 2015
  • Apr 2015
  • Mar 2015
  • Feb 2015
  • Nov 2014
  • Sep 2014
  • Aug 2014
  • Jun 2014
  • Apr 2014
  • Sep 2013
  • Jul 2013
  • Jun 2013
  • May 2013
  • Mar 2013
  • Jan 2013
  • Nov 2012
  • Oct 2012
  • Sep 2012
  • Jul 2012
  • Jun 2012
  • May 2012
  • Mar 2012
  • Feb 2012
  • Jan 2012
  • Aug 2011

Categories

  • Blog
Subscribe
Global Responsibility
Global Responsibility
  • Visit GRLI Website
  • Blog

Changing paradigms for creating sustainable and just cities

  • 19 Jun 2012
  • 2 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

At Rio Centro, many thousands of delegates, media and major groups (women, labor, youth, business, labor, etc.) representatives are meeting to discuss the challenges we face. What a nice change from the 5-star experience at the Windsor Barra, the temporary home to 2, 700 business executives. Finally we had some relevant and engaged discussion about important and urgent topics — food for the brain and soul!

A session sponsored by the Ford Foundation on building and creating just cities pointed out an important new paradigm: we need to look at the arrival of poor emigrants in a city as an opportunity rather than as a problem, like in the 60s and 70s. Addressing the issue of mobility linking housing with work place is also critical.

Naturally, there are fears about the political instability that results from many new low-income emigrants. Yet, there is a proven, direct connection between general income inequality and political instability. Investments by foundations are, as such, risk money. We need to take risks to ensure we limit and reduce inequality, activities and investments that support this.

The latest thinking highlights the importance of non-government associative housing projects. Another related paradigm shift is the need to understand that the different interests for different city spaces need to be transformed from competing interest to combined interests. The effect of moving favelas (slums) into different areas has long proven to be a disastrous strategy. In Rio, an unknown amount of economic activity and value-added activity of low-income areas was wiped out when the neighborhoods were relocated to create space for competing interests, such as commercial buildings. So-called informal settlements are very vulnerable to being relocated, often not only temporarily but (as an example given again from Rio) for a period of 50 years — a sad series of undisputed discriminatory deeds!

A great take-away quote from Luis Ubinas, President of the Ford Foundation:

“Let’s not call investing in low-carbon public transportation solutions a courageous act, it would rather be courageous or stupid not to do so… much like playing Russian roulette with our future!”

In conclusion, a related side comment from one of the panelists (the official list is hopelessly outdated, listing NYC Mayor Bloomberg who is nowhere nearby) who reminds us that rural poverty is even worse than urban poverty as it also concerns social exclusion and is mostly hidden and invisible to the public eye. What a most relevant and engaged session — I feel as being part of a group of people who cares with a sense of urgency. What a relief!

Total
0
Shares
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Previous Article
  • Blog

A tale of two collaboratories

  • 18 Jun 2012
View Post
Next Article
  • Blog

Two Perspectives from the South

  • 22 Jun 2012
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Blog

A message from our Chair

  • The GRLI
  • 9 Dec 2022
View Post
  • Blog

Is insistence on growth the elephant in the room?

  • The GRLI
  • 12 Oct 2022
View Post
  • Blog

A Call to Prospective GRLI Guardians and Board Members

  • The GRLI
  • 26 Jun 2022
View Post
  • Blog

Outcomes: Responsible Leadership Reimagined Conference

  • John North
  • 1 Apr 2022
View Post
  • Blog

Teaching Responsible Leadership, Moral Imagination and Stakeholder Dilemma Reconciliation:

  • The GRLI
  • 26 Jan 2022
View Post
  • Blog

A Message from GRLI Foundation Chair Claire Maxwell

  • The GRLI
  • 21 Dec 2021
View Post
  • Blog

What Transformation Catalysts Do to Catalyze System Change

  • The GRLI
  • 24 Nov 2021
View Post
  • Blog

Teaching Responsible Leadership and Inclusion: Gram Vikas

  • The GRLI
  • 24 Nov 2021
Featured Posts
  • A message from our Chair
    • 9 Dec 2022
  • Is insistence on growth the elephant in the room?
    • 12 Oct 2022
  • A Call to Prospective GRLI Guardians and Board Members
    • 26 Jun 2022
  • Outcomes: Responsible Leadership Reimagined Conference
    • 1 Apr 2022
  • Teaching Responsible Leadership, Moral Imagination and Stakeholder Dilemma Reconciliation:
    • 26 Jan 2022

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

The Global Responsibility blog hosted by the GRLI provides a record of the ongoing collaborative inquiry into the development of global responsibility in how we learn, live and lead.

The Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative is the leading incubator for innovation and new practice in business schools and for collaboration with business in the space of ethics, responsibility, and sustainability.

https://grli.org

  • About GRLI
  • Events
  • What’s important now
Global Responsibility
https://responsibility.global

Input your search keywords and press Enter.