Im Pamela Braide from Nigeria. I coordinate the Youth Employment Summitt Network and am also involved with other development initiatives.

Recently theres been "sanitization", read massive demolition, of houses in Abuja the capital city. The casualties have been an entire market, several settlements and business blocks. The Government claims to be correcting over a decade of fraudulently sold plots and is driving a hard lesson to show its not business as usual. I must make it clear that these communities grew over time and the Housing Council officials were up to thier necks in supplying most of theses makeshift deeds of occupancy. A lot of people had no idea they were not following legal procedures.

Whatever the long term gains of following the original masterplan, the human cost right now is enormous. Thousands of persons are homeless and without business premises. The crime rate has shot up already. It does not take a genius to guess more violence is to come. Our police could barely cope before....what happens now?

I get confused as to how so many human lives are not factored into this equation of demolition for greater good.... no alternatives etc.

Do you have any such stories to share?
I really would like stories or views that show some solution.

If anyone is interested, they can find reports on the French and Spanish discussions for the Habitat JAM here for Spanish and here for French.

Incredibly hectic 72 hours. It was though a pretty grand challenge to get thousands online to discuss in realtime urban issues. Given the challenge it was quite amazing to see thousands from around the world sharing their views and perspecitves on how to make the planet's cities a more livilable and sustainable place. Beyond visions, conrete action that will hopefully impact and be integrated into the WUF in 2006.

TIG supported the overall process by enabling the event to engage Spanish and French speakers (huge thanks to Damian, Sessi and their teams of moderators!). It was amazing to see people in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Africa, India and more, sharing challenges and brainstorming opportunities and solutions. Possibilities.

I think it was the challenge, and the courage to try something different that overall, despite a rough learning curve and tight corners, made the event a success and a a new process worth exploring and replicating around policy processes in the future, above all as a way to enagage civil society globally.

For those that took part in the discussions and want to read the views expressed in the forums now that the waters have calmed down, the Habitat JAM site is actually still accessible.
To read a part of the Spanish discussions or in French.

And of course you can continue to discuss the issues in this themes boards.
It would also be wonderful to see people adding their projects, events, articles, resources, images etc..., or those that they are aware of, to the Urban Sustainability theme . Our objective, through this input of content, is to create a listing that grows as a map that connects all that is relevant to the World Urban Forum. To generate and share knowledge.

Urban Sustainability: The World Urban Cafe

Hi my name is Cheryl and I write and compile content for TakingITGlobal's online community. Every two months I work with youth advisory members, TakingITGlobal designers and web developers to present a Featured Theme page on an important social issue with global impact on young people everywhere. This time the task was urban living, city life, urban sustainability.

What is urban sustainability? What does it mean? Why is it imporant?

Urban sustainability begins with a vision – a re-visioning of what came before. It is an all-encompassing strategic design that excludes no living being, ensures basic human needs are met (shelter, clean water, sanitation and security), and strives for the ongoing pursuit of peace, financial autonomy, meaningful engagement, sustainable development, cultural appreciation, and social justice.

But a vision and a plan are not enough to realize our dream cities. We, the citizens, are the agents, the implementers, who on a daily basis must work to sustain the quality of life we all long for. Without our commitment, no urban environment can sustain itself.

~~~
Thank you to Environmental Youth Alliance for partnering with us and sharing your knowledges and expertise. We couldn't have done it without you :]

We, TIG and EYA, created this web space with you and for you. It is yours to explore, enhance, and complete.

Hi Cheryl, i am Ranya from Tunisia, i am very interested in the topic of this blog, it is important that we, the young people, focus on this subject because we have the possibility with our ideas, visions or dreams for a better tomorrow to help improving this situation and making a concrete decisions.
I would want to remind you that an another space is available to express and to react about this, so don't forget to join the online community of Habitat Jam from 1st to 3rd december 2005 to discuss together during 72 hours about the environmental sustainability in our cities...

Link : http://www.habitatjam.com/