Sunday, December 04, 2005

Why the habitat jam - fire?

Comment by: Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN Habitat, Kenya

You are quite right that the problem of slums will not be solved by research alone.

However, I am informed that as of last Kenya had the second highest number of registrants participating in the Habitat Jam. The fact that thousands have been willing to patiently wait in line sometimes for hours in order to be able to contribute to this debate has been a profoundly moving experience for me.

The fact that the debate on slums has moved from the academic world to streets of cities such as Nairobi, Dakar, Cape Town and Mumbai, Rio, Lima and Manilla is in and of itself a powefull signal to world leaders on the need for concerted action.

Devastation: Siyaongwana Nokilunga of Doornbach sits on a stool at the spot where her shack formerly stood. Full Story Photo: Andrew Ingram Cape Times

1 comment:

Dylan said...

I wonder how many houses they could build if the ANC sold Zuma's house in Paris? Or just one of those stupid warships in false bay that roars around harrassing whales? On another note, check this out for how the world is leaving the US behind in hemp policy: http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/hemp112205.cfm

InternAfrica is a not-for-profit organisation addressing the Cape Habitat Crisis through education of sustainable green building methods as demonstrated here on HouseIT