[Summary] Rabinovitch, Jonas (1992), “Curitiba: towards sustainable urban development,” Environment and Urbanization, 4:2, 62-73.

by Rebecca Robinson

Curitiba is the capital of the agricultural state of Parana
Developed rapidly in the second of the 1800s as the result of an influx of mostly European immigrants
Large growth in 70s and 80s- became industrial/commercial center
One of the fastest growing cities in Brazil- improvement in quality of life have accompanied growth (public transportation, cultural heritage, city parks, environmental education campaigns)

[Summary] Andy Stirling, “Deliberate Futures: Precaution and Progress in Social Choice of Sustainable Technology,” Sustainable Development, 2007, 15, 286-295.

By Rebecca Robinson

Paths towards sustainability and technology in tension (286)

Sound science cannot replace democracy (the debate between evidence and policy)

Evidence is dependent upon framing of questions and responses

“…available science could not provide an unambiguous basis for policy.”

In regard to nuclear energy, “…different equally ‘scientific’ studies often obtain radically different results.” (287)

Science is a “…necessary rather than a sufficient condition for effective policy.”

[Summary] Jonathan Parkinson and Kevin Tayler (2003), “Decentralized wastewater management in peri-urban areas in low-income countries,” Environment & Urbanization, 15:1, 75-90.

by Monamie Bhadra

In Parkinson and Tayler’s “Decentralized Wastewater Management in Peri-Urban Areas in Low-Income Countries” the authors explains the benefits of designing and building sustainable and decentralized management systems to solve the problem of ineffective wastewater disposal in peri-urban areas, but mostly discusses the constraints in implementation. Although the authors provide a rudimentary framework to build and evaluate such a decentralized system by exhorting capacity-building, they do not present any concrete guidance for operationalization.

[Summary] Douglass, Mike, et al. (2004), “The Livability of Mega-Urban Regions in Southeast Asia – Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta and Manila Compared”

by Rebecca Robinson

• What is a ‘livable city’?
• Why are we concerned about the livability of cities in a global era?
• Where do we begin to make our cities more livable?

“Livable” is a normative concept that implies values- since values vary “a livable city means many things to many people”

To assume some values were more important would obviate dialogue or trying to form consensus

Cities are sign of social technological innovation and human achievement

Vision of cities to be “perfect mix of rural and urban in a cooperative society” (1)

Modern cities are not utopias with the ‘good society’ but are “practical, highly economistic and “developmental”” (2) because they are based on ‘neoliberal public policy’ (unmitigated capitalism will right any wrongs)

[Summary] Peter Marcuse, Marcuse, Peter (1998), “Sustainability is Not Enough,” Environment and Urbanization 10:2, 103-111.

by Bradford Pete-Hill

Peter Marcuse’s article focuses on the perception, meaning and application of the word “sustainability.” Sustainable programs and policies are devised from a unique relationship between sustainability and justice. For instance, what is sustainable can be just and what is just is not always sustainable and vice versa. Although sustainability is a goal for environmental issues it should not be the policy for creating livable cities.

[Summary] Mike Douglass “The Morphology of MUR Expansion” in in Gavin Jones and Mike Douglass, Eds., Pacific Asia Mega-Urban Region

by Rebecca Robinson

Discusses nature and form of transformation of MUR (Mega-Urban Region) with emphasis on 1990-2000 era

Expansion of MUR in Pacific Asia related to intense globalization (urban economies have opened and huge amounts of capital flows and opening of domestic banking have increased the trend)

The transformation of these cities makes them appear anything but “developing” (“modern transportation, industrial platform, suburban housing, etc”)

“Are they unique to Asia?” or are they similar to the Boston/Washington megalopolis?

[Summary] Tim Short “Sustainable Development in Rwanda: Industry and Government” Sustainable Development, 2008, 16, 59-69.

by Bradford Pete-Hill

The strategy of more developed nations primarily includes policies for the present and plans for the future. They execute plans in the present which also will have a positive impact in the future. However, in less developed nations, plans consist of planning only for the present due the dire conditions and lack of resources the nation faces at the time. Therefore, planning for the future in less developed nations is not only overlooked but sometimes ignored. After the 1994 Rwandan genocide the country was faced with an economic and societal crisis.

[Summary] Matthew Clarke and Sardar Islam National Account Measures and Sustainability Objectives: Present Approaches and Future Prospects” Sustainable Development, 2006, 14, 219-233.

by Rebecca Robinson

National accounting measures misaligned with concept of sustainability (the ability to provide for present needs without jeopardizing the ability for future generations to do the same)- GDP only focuses on present production.

“GDP and GNP have become the main indicators not only of economic success but often social and political success also.”

[Summary] Jennifer Bair — “From the Politics of Development to the Challenges of Globalization,” Globalizations, Dec 2007, 4: 4

by Monamie Bhadra

Jennifer Bair’s article, “From the Politics of Development to the Challenges of Globalization, treats the discourse surrounding the Group 77’s attempt to create the Code of Conduct of Transnational Enterprises (the Code)—via their quest for a New International Economic Order’s (NIEO)—to its transformation into the Global Compact (the Compact) at the United Nations as an analogy for the trajectory of the eventual subsumation of development discourse under globalization rhetoric.  The Group 77 was created in 1964 when developing countries met for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

[Summary] Marcus Taylor — “Global production of the uneven development,” Globalizations, Dec 2007, 4: 4.

by Pete-Hill, Bradford

Classic Globalization Theory on Production and Labor.
The current structure for global development has rendered the ideal of 1st and 3rdworlds obsolete. In examination of material items and labor forces it is essential to understand the global capitalism. The redistribution and symbolic nature of resources motivates the critical development of global capitalism studies. Global capitalism and controlled by production and the division of labor. The division of labor is facilitated by the growth of the global market. The expanding production of materials must be met by the expanding production of laborers. Advancement in production paves the way for social, cultural and political progress.