World: For First Time, More People In Cities Than In Countryside

[oberliner]

Source: Radio Free Europe

June 27, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Anybody looking out over any of the world's megacities might have doubts about the viability of mankind as an urban creature.

The crowding, the pollution, the poverty, the elitism seem to be universal factors in the city scene whether in India's Mumbai, Brazil's Sao Paulo, or Turkey's Istanbul.

But like it or not, man's future lies in ever-growing conurbations, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In a report issued today, the fund says that for the first time in history, the number of people living in cities will exceed the world's rural population by 2008.

That accounts for some 3.3 billion people living in cities. But the UNFPA says the trend will accelerate with breathtaking speed, and that in less than 25 years the number will grow to 5 billion.


Read more: http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/06/270164E5-A40C-49CF-9BE3-E5D97841FD7A.html

[Miss Chybil]

1. I think it's probably better for humans to gather together and to allow other animals

their space. Let's hope this growing urbanization can be managed in a way to allow the human animal an appropriate amount of comfort and security.

[oberliner]

2. Are you optimistic?

Do you see the move towards urbanization as a positive development? Do you think that this movement has been managed well so far?

[Miss Chybil]

3. No, I don't think it's been managed well so far, but the end of the article talks

about that being an issue to be focused on for future growth. There are up sides and down sides to urbanization,. I'd prefer to live in the woods myself, but if we all did that, would it be good for the woods and all the other animals who already live there? (Would "the woods" still exist?") I think the bottom line is there are too many of us, but as I am not ready to volunteer to leave the planet anytime soon and I can't expect anyone else to, it may be the best course for us to use up as little of the livable surface of the earth as possible and leave some room for our fellow earthlings. One can always hope things will be better managed in the future. I have to admit, though, my expectations are truly limited. It's a very complicated problem and the resolution will come down to money, just like everything else.