2 Reassessment of Urban Sustainability …
37
of sustainable city work only formulation of policies would not suffice, the regulations have to be practical and there has to be community involvement along with
accountability of practice.
2.3.4 Green City
The Green city movement believed in four pillars—ecology, social responsibility,
grassroot democracy and non-violence which would guide to improved quality of
life, harmony with nature, self-reliance and decentralisation. To achieve the potential for ‘green living’ there are opposing views about the low- versus high-density
living and regarding the treatment of the ‘urban commons’. One school suggests that
green living is only possible in low-density, semi-rural context and thus cities need
to be fragmented into smaller units to bring those qualities back. But the other school
points out that this sort of philosophy is absolutely against the spirit of urbanisation
where main features are high density and diversity. It further suggests that highdensity development leads to more compact, mixed-use urban form and reduced car
use reducing the sprawl—leaving more land for open space, gardens, urban agriculture, forestry and horticulture which are to be managed through ‘urban commons’
approach [46]. Zurich, Stockholm and Helsinki are among the cities which have
adopted the ‘urban commons’ structure like urban agriculture, forests and community gardens along with exceptional public transport system and have become much
greener [6].
2.3.5 Self-reliant City
Benjamin Franklin more than two hundred years ago cautioned that ‘the man who
would trade independence for security usually deserves to wind up with neither’ and
that has been the case in present times. Currently, the world economy is based on
distribution lines and people are immensely dependent on supplies which results in
fragmented and passive communities.
The World Health Organization Constitution adopted long back in 1946 defined
health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity’. To achieve this ideal situation, provision of some
aspects like harmony, social justice, suitable food and safe drinking water supply,
elementary education, basic housing facilities, etc., were endorsed particularly for the
densely populated cities. The idea of ‘global village’ having wide network emerged
with improved technological and transportation system. Self-reliance is not only
the capacity for self-sufficiency but something more also. It is believed that a selfreliant city has a self-conscious and self-confident community who has the capacity
37
of sustainable city work only formulation of policies would not suffice, the regulations have to be practical and there has to be community involvement along with
accountability of practice.
2.3.4 Green City
The Green city movement believed in four pillars—ecology, social responsibility,
grassroot democracy and non-violence which would guide to improved quality of
life, harmony with nature, self-reliance and decentralisation. To achieve the potential for ‘green living’ there are opposing views about the low- versus high-density
living and regarding the treatment of the ‘urban commons’. One school suggests that
green living is only possible in low-density, semi-rural context and thus cities need
to be fragmented into smaller units to bring those qualities back. But the other school
points out that this sort of philosophy is absolutely against the spirit of urbanisation
where main features are high density and diversity. It further suggests that highdensity development leads to more compact, mixed-use urban form and reduced car
use reducing the sprawl—leaving more land for open space, gardens, urban agriculture, forestry and horticulture which are to be managed through ‘urban commons’
approach [46]. Zurich, Stockholm and Helsinki are among the cities which have
adopted the ‘urban commons’ structure like urban agriculture, forests and community gardens along with exceptional public transport system and have become much
greener [6].
2.3.5 Self-reliant City
Benjamin Franklin more than two hundred years ago cautioned that ‘the man who
would trade independence for security usually deserves to wind up with neither’ and
that has been the case in present times. Currently, the world economy is based on
distribution lines and people are immensely dependent on supplies which results in
fragmented and passive communities.
The World Health Organization Constitution adopted long back in 1946 defined
health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity’. To achieve this ideal situation, provision of some
aspects like harmony, social justice, suitable food and safe drinking water supply,
elementary education, basic housing facilities, etc., were endorsed particularly for the
densely populated cities. The idea of ‘global village’ having wide network emerged
with improved technological and transportation system. Self-reliance is not only
the capacity for self-sufficiency but something more also. It is believed that a selfreliant city has a self-conscious and self-confident community who has the capacity