Robert Neuwirth: The "shadow cities" of the future

http://www.ted.com Robert Neuwirth, author of Shadow Cities, finds the worlds squatter sites -- where a billion people now make their homes -- to be thriving centers of ingenuity and innovation. He takes us on a tour.

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• shanty towns
• squatters
• Shadow Cities
• ingenuity

[nach0king]

Good contrast between the free "slums" and the legal neighbourhoods.

But... without property rights how are they secure in their property? And also, think of places where people have access to politics but politics doesn't go their way, like perhaps some banlieues in France. Having politics isn't the same as having good politcs... although Turkey's ground-up model of subdivisions sounds excellent and could definitely work elsewhere, I'm sure.

Excellent video overall. I really enjoyed it.

[PeaceProfit]

yes*indeed, where lies the greatest adversity, rest the highest potential for growth and wonderment, unbounded beauty, creativity and unexpected change, will always arise from what man or nature oppresses and challenges the most . . .

Such is the nature and history of life . . .

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most

intelligent, but rather the one most responsive to change."

~ Charles Darwin

Truth be told is truth to behold . . .

BL*M

[MillionthUsername]

Property rights always work. What he describes is obviously not property rights but politicians making people go into debt for what is already their property which they clearly homesteaded. Would it kill people to make proper distinctions?

Otherwise, the presentation was very interesting.

[GrowMap]

And by the way, tenants (renters) in the U.S. have only 30 days "guarantee" they won't be evicted. Landlords can and often do throw them out at will for no cause and then keep their security deposit and cost them huge inconvenience and cost. Tenants have almost no rights because of this. This is happening to someone I personally know as I type this - being thrown out in selfish retaliation because he was injured and is unable to return to work for the landlord in spite of paying rent on time.

[GrowMap]

What few know is that the reason these communities exist is because of the society standards we have collectively allowed to be foisted upon us. So many believe they are better somehow and have been conditioned to believe that they are "middle class" when in truth they are one paycheck away from homelessness themselves.

When they lose their good career or job and have debt and then poor credit and then can not find another job or place to live BECAUSE of poor credit they too will be THERE!

[noobler9]

I don't see this as anything new, it's very very interesting however, seeing a sped up 1000X version of humanity's progression of housing though, shanty towns aren't the good life, not at all, they're a stepping stone to building communities that are real towns, they're a way of handling HUGE numbers of people moving to urban centers, in a decentralized manner

[098anne]

It is both sad and inspiring to see this talk. Freedom and security is worth living in squalor. He did not address the safety of living in these slums. The crime or corruption.

People opting out of one society to form another.. But is it better? He did not show even one school. Maybe I'll read the book as suggested.

[teaguetodd]

anyone interested in this should really read mike davis' book "planet of slums". neuwirth's book is also very good, but davis goes into some more detail. . . . . as for what neuwirth says in this video, try to be fair to him -- he wasn't given enough time in this talk to go into all the details of what he learned while researching his book. read his book and give him a chance before criticizing him.

[daveadler]

wow could you have missed the point more completely?

[pudicus2]

His argument is government and outside help can augment their lives.  Same with what you just said. It makes complete sense to me.

[hoomelemele]

I used to run into these types of people all the time when I lived in SE Asia, they flourish on poverty and destitution. He doesnt address WHY these people are moving into the shanty towns, something tells me he paid for this w/ a government grant.

[justindr660]

well done