Hope, Human and Wild

In Hope, Human and Wild, Bill Mckibben describes in detail a city quite different from what we're used to in the states: Curitiba, Brazil.  While still thought of by some as a "third world" city, it does a better job than most of keeping it's air clean (designing the city with factories downwind), trees plentiful, (the city went from 2 square feet of green area per inhabitant to 150 square feet, even as it's population tripled), and streets rubbish free (a program was put in place exchanging food for people bringing in recyclable items).  It has an ultra-efficient bus transit system that is the envy of the modern world, with 85% of it's population making use of it.

What makes Curitiba - with its government budget dwarfed by most major cities - so successful?  It could be that there's less bureaucracy to bog down new ideas, or that the city's infrastructure was designed with speed and efficiency in mind (e.g. minimizing loading time by raising platforms a few feet at bus stations).  However, I believe that the answer lies in one of the cities core values, the idea that respect is a two way street.  If everyone in the city feels respected, then they start to feel responsible for the conditions around them.  For example, mobile bus classrooms helping Curitibans become more employable increased the level of connectivity they feel with the local government.  The sense of community and the overall quality of life are enhanced as people see the city doing them a service and want to repay the favor.  The city seems to be in an upward spiral; the prouder citizens feel about their hometown, they more they are willing to do to protect it.

Mckibben says that "99% of Curitibans told pollsters they were happy with their town".  This type of satisfaction level can only be achieved elsewhere if local governments start respecting and considering the interests of every class of citizen.