Alert icon
We're changing our privacy policy. This stuff matters.  Learn more  Dismiss

Stewart Brand: Why squatter cities are a good thing

Loading...

Sign in or sign up now!
24,743
Loading...
Alert icon
Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon

Uploaded by on Apr 15, 2008

http://www.ted.com Rural villages worldwide are being deserted, as billions of people flock to cities, to live in teeming squatter camps and slums. And Stewart Brand says this is a good thing. Why? It'll take you 3 minutes to find out. Music: Brian Eno, "Just Another Day on Earth," from his 2005 album Another Day on Earth (Hannibal).

Link to this comment:

Share to:

Top Comments

  • this video taught me nothing.

  • When are some people going to realise finances are not the meaning of life, human needs are limited, but human wants are probably infinite, do you want to keep playing games we can not win at the cost of precious existence, even if you 'win' and become rich you will still die and eventually even memories of the rich man will die, perhaps it would be better to place a higher value on human emotions and relationships.

see all

All Comments (115)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • I found this speech to be excellent and informative, if a bit rushed.

  • Stewart, what about people who are displaced in China and forcibly moved by the government for infrastructure projects, in huge swaths of Africa for multinational agriculture conglomerates, or in Colombia where fields are fumigated in the drug war and then mined by multinationals (Colombia has second largest refugee population in the world.) Are these people moving to those great favelas because of the exciting "urban air"?

  • @agrus001

    judging by the intro and follow ads, all those billions heading to cities are making way for a few, very few, drivers of BMW to roam their former lands

    pretty sick 'philosophy'

  • the slides moved too quickly

  • Squatter cities may be climbing out of poverty, but like economist John Maynard Keynes said, "in the long run we're all dead." Malnutrition and child labor is an unacceptable way to end poverty. These people need a solution to end poverty that does not take generations to fix.

  • if you didnt get the message of this lecture then evidently your not particularly bright. its all pretty damn simple. he makes some good pro capitalist points.

  • @electricaura Totally agree.

  • Good speech. Good points made in favor of capitalism increasing the living standards of humans, not that those indoctrinated in the political style of the day will recognize this. Somewhat unclear points at time, and honestly, the power-point should've gone much slower! Some of us like to READ them!

View all Comments »
Loading...

0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more