Chapter 7: Uniting Divided Cities

Molly O’Meara Sheehan

Unable to afford “formal” dwellings, as many as 1 billion people worldwide seek shelter in “informal” settlements, often in the most precarious places_ on steep hillsides or floodplains, in garbage dumps, or downstream from industrial polluters_ living not only with the constant threat of possible eviction but also the risks of natural disasters and disease from lack of water and toilets.

While cities of the industrial North claimed all slots in the list of the 10 largest cities in 1900, by 2001 only Tokyo and New York remained on that list. Urban centers in the developing South now dominate the ranks of the world’s largest cities. Demographers expect that by 2015, Los Angeles and Shanghai will be bumped from the 10, as Karachi and Jakarta move up.

Governments could do much more to help their poorest citizens feel secure in their own homes, make a living, and improve their environment. And in doing so, the world’s relatively poorer cities could well leapfrog their wealthier counterparts to create an urban development model that values both people and nature.

Worldwide, poor people's voices are rising in various political arenas. From Bombay to Buenos Aires, slum residents are organizing to fight for greater rights and better lives.

• Poverty and Inept Government in an Urbanizing World
• The Paradox of Slums
• From Bulldozing to Upgrading
• Securing Homes and Jobs
• Opening Up City Hall