Comments on: slums of hope http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/ Sustainable, Memorable, Livable Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:40:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: a village… once upon a time http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-118928 a village… once upon a time Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:47:47 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-118928 [...] but instead of its negative connotation I’m thinking “slow-urban”, a slum of hope attracting urbanites, an inexpensive property characterized by the lack of urban infrastructure but [...] [...] but instead of its negative connotation I’m thinking “slow-urban”, a slum of hope attracting urbanites, an inexpensive property characterized by the lack of urban infrastructure but [...]

]]> By: smaller houses, better communities http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-118571 smaller houses, better communities Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:00:23 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-118571 [...] my post slums of hope I suggested that slums (as another form of urban organization) had their own virtues: the new urban [...] [...] my post slums of hope I suggested that slums (as another form of urban organization) had their own virtues: the new urban [...]

]]> By: made up urban spaces http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-98933 made up urban spaces Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:52:13 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-98933 [...] my post slums of hope I suggested that slums (as another form of urban organization) had their own virtues: the new urban [...] [...] my post slums of hope I suggested that slums (as another form of urban organization) had their own virtues: the new urban [...]

]]> By: Global Culture » the economist on cities (part 2) http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-24754 Global Culture » the economist on cities (part 2) Mon, 14 May 2007 02:47:57 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-24754 [...] Et in suburbia ego?: presents the debate between suburbia and downtown with equal amount of critics claiming each one will prevail. If anything the debate on Global Warming has tipped the scales in favour of city cores, but perhaps the more important argument yet to be recognized in the evolution of global cities is the fact that their growth will be powered by a legion of immigrants with limited resources (see the south in the hearth of the north) and while they would gladly buy a small apartment downtown or settle in a nice community in the suburbs the fact is that most of them get trapped in the slums of hope. These often neglected areas contribute to the growth of cities in a very important way and yet are out of control. There is no stopping the ongoing migration that makes them grow, but only smart cities will find a way to integrate these people in the economic life and build flourishing corridors abundant with life and hope. [...] [...] Et in suburbia ego?: presents the debate between suburbia and downtown with equal amount of critics claiming each one will prevail. If anything the debate on Global Warming has tipped the scales in favour of city cores, but perhaps the more important argument yet to be recognized in the evolution of global cities is the fact that their growth will be powered by a legion of immigrants with limited resources (see the south in the hearth of the north) and while they would gladly buy a small apartment downtown or settle in a nice community in the suburbs the fact is that most of them get trapped in the slums of hope. These often neglected areas contribute to the growth of cities in a very important way and yet are out of control. There is no stopping the ongoing migration that makes them grow, but only smart cities will find a way to integrate these people in the economic life and build flourishing corridors abundant with life and hope. [...]

]]> By: Global Culture » the economist on cities (part 1) http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-23804 Global Culture » the economist on cities (part 1) Mon, 07 May 2007 19:52:00 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-23804 [...] The world goes to town is The Economist report on the important milestone that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago in slums of hope: our urban obsession would’ve finally conquered the majority of the world population. A must-read, the special report touches on all the important themes related to the evolution of cities in the age of globalization and migration. Since some of the themes have been recurring in this space, I created a brief summary of the special report with links to my own posts on cities: [...] [...] The world goes to town is The Economist report on the important milestone that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago in slums of hope: our urban obsession would’ve finally conquered the majority of the world population. A must-read, the special report touches on all the important themes related to the evolution of cities in the age of globalization and migration. Since some of the themes have been recurring in this space, I created a brief summary of the special report with links to my own posts on cities: [...]

]]> By: Manuel http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-22293 Manuel Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:48:21 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-22293 Just to clarify: False propaganda is assuming that all rich are rich because they exploit the poor. It is also assuming that poor people live in hash condition DUE to globalization and that they will be better off if free trade never existed. The right tools will be indicators of how poor people live now, comparing to past years. Not all maquilas are bad places to work, If we say that "Women who work in maquilas do have a more stable income, but at what cost? What conditions do they work under?" we need then to find first the real answers for these very valid questions and analyse sector by sector, not only a company, and then analyse how the same people lived before. I know the people who worked in domestic service and then move to maquilas because they worked at my house in Monterrey, Tampico and Merida (all in Mexico). The salary we paid was more than average and the work very steady; we also provide social insurance payments, but of course maquilas' salary is higher. The conditions are not bad (they work in the IKEA maquila in Merida and in Sara Lee in Monterrey, we kept in touch with them) and we are happy they found a better job environment. I agree that this is not a 'we did it!' situation but blaming all on Free Trade and transnationals is what I call a false propaganda. No offense intended because I still know that there are a lot of things to do (promote fair trade, increase education, close sweatshops, ban child labour), but at the same time we cannot just deny all the advances and blame the rich in general. Indicators like income per capita, wealth distribution, and life expectancy are going slowly but steadly up at least in Mexico, and we can check that in all the sources. Thanks to Juan for providing an excellent forum to analyse these topics. Just to clarify: False propaganda is assuming that all rich are rich because they exploit the poor. It is also assuming that poor people live in hash condition DUE to globalization and that they will be better off if free trade never existed.

The right tools will be indicators of how poor people live now, comparing to past years. Not all maquilas are bad places to work, If we say that “Women who work in maquilas do have a more stable income, but at what cost? What conditions do they work under?” we need then to find first the real answers for these very valid questions and analyse sector by sector, not only a company, and then analyse how the same people lived before. I know the people who worked in domestic service and then move to maquilas because they worked at my house in Monterrey, Tampico and Merida (all in Mexico). The salary we paid was more than average and the work very steady; we also provide social insurance payments, but of course maquilas’ salary is higher. The conditions are not bad (they work in the IKEA maquila in Merida and in Sara Lee in Monterrey, we kept in touch with them) and we are happy they found a better job environment.

I agree that this is not a ‘we did it!’ situation but blaming all on Free Trade and transnationals is what I call a false propaganda. No offense intended because I still know that there are a lot of things to do (promote fair trade, increase education, close sweatshops, ban child labour), but at the same time we cannot just deny all the advances and blame the rich in general. Indicators like income per capita, wealth distribution, and life expectancy are going slowly but steadly up at least in Mexico, and we can check that in all the sources. Thanks to Juan for providing an excellent forum to analyse these topics.

]]> By: juan http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-22206 juan Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:43:48 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-22206 Abaddon, Manuel, Juan: great comments. A couple of notes: the spirit of this post is that even with the very difficult conditions that people from slums must face every day, there is life thriving at its fullest. Abaddon, character is not to blame for their poor conditions, but deserves all the merit when they are able to pull ahead against all odds and make it to the next level, be that better living quarters or a steady job. It is too easy to fall on common stereotypes about the situations happening in places we don't know. To talk about maquilas without knowing the people that work there or about Canada and Free Trade without full knowledge of the real conditions will lead to a poor debate. I rather hear first hand stories from the places and people you know best. I am assuming Juan knows something about Guatemala and United Fruit? Exploring our Global Culture depends mostly on gaining insight from global citizens that have deep local knowledge and great global awareness. Abaddon, Manuel, Juan: great comments. A couple of notes: the spirit of this post is that even with the very difficult conditions that people from slums must face every day, there is life thriving at its fullest. Abaddon, character is not to blame for their poor conditions, but deserves all the merit when they are able to pull ahead against all odds and make it to the next level, be that better living quarters or a steady job.

It is too easy to fall on common stereotypes about the situations happening in places we don’t know. To talk about maquilas without knowing the people that work there or about Canada and Free Trade without full knowledge of the real conditions will lead to a poor debate. I rather hear first hand stories from the places and people you know best. I am assuming Juan knows something about Guatemala and United Fruit? Exploring our Global Culture depends mostly on gaining insight from global citizens that have deep local knowledge and great global awareness.

]]> By: Juan http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-22153 Juan Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:32:19 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-22153 In response to Manuels comment of "using the right tools and not false propaganda," what are the right tools and what is false propaganda? Currently we have nations in Latin America who are suffering because of their governments ineptness and greed; the tools, regulations, trade agreements, what ever you want to call it have not worked and if they continue on the same path they never will. Free trade is not something that benefits those suffering populations, it benefits nations like the United States and Canada. These two countries do not have not worry about taxation on imports or exports instead they pass on those worries to the population of those poor countries. Globalization does not offer better wages or better working conditions, the reason why globalization is so lucrative to big corporations is because they can find cheap labor by outsourcing their industry, ensuring that they leave thousands jobless and continuing that colonial period. Women who work in maquilas do have a more stable income, but at what cost? What conditions do they work under? United Fruit Company in Guatemala has provided many jobs to those in that region, but the working conditions were not the best. The company, who had manny connections to the United States Government, decided to continue its influence in the region when the freely elected government of Guatemala was toppled by CIA forces in 1954 because Arbenz wanted to implement a modest land reform. This so called "myth" as you call it, that governments are not involved in business is ridiculous, it is the truth. In response to Manuels comment of “using the right tools and not false propaganda,” what are the right tools and what is false propaganda? Currently we have nations in Latin America who are suffering because of their governments ineptness and greed; the tools, regulations, trade agreements, what ever you want to call it have not worked and if they continue on the same path they never will. Free trade is not something that benefits those suffering populations, it benefits nations like the United States and Canada. These two countries do not have not worry about taxation on imports or exports instead they pass on those worries to the population of those poor countries.
Globalization does not offer better wages or better working conditions, the reason why globalization is so lucrative to big corporations is because they can find cheap labor by outsourcing their industry, ensuring that they leave thousands jobless and continuing that colonial period. Women who work in maquilas do have a more stable income, but at what cost? What conditions do they work under? United Fruit Company in Guatemala has provided many jobs to those in that region, but the working conditions were not the best. The company, who had manny connections to the United States Government, decided to continue its influence in the region when the freely elected government of Guatemala was toppled by CIA forces in 1954 because Arbenz wanted to implement a modest land reform. This so called “myth” as you call it, that governments are not involved in business is ridiculous, it is the truth.

]]> By: Abaddon http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-22131 Abaddon Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:55:39 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-22131 Thank you Manuel for your comments, however I must disagree with you on the issue of "false propaganda." I have mentioned that the wealthy people are in bed with the governments of developing nations, which is a true statement. I have mentioned that people are being forced into labor not because they want to, but because the people have to. It is true that individuals would rather choose to work in maquilas because it is a stable job. When given a choice of working on the streets or at home (where jobs are not stable) to working in a maquila, people would choose the latter. It is not a false propaganda that I am sharing with anyone reading this article, it is a glimpse at the truth that people must face. Thank you Manuel for your comments, however I must disagree with you on the issue of “false propaganda.” I have mentioned that the wealthy people are in bed with the governments of developing nations, which is a true statement. I have mentioned that people are being forced into labor not because they want to, but because the people have to. It is true that individuals would rather choose to work in maquilas because it is a stable job. When given a choice of working on the streets or at home (where jobs are not stable) to working in a maquila, people would choose the latter. It is not a false propaganda that I am sharing with anyone reading this article, it is a glimpse at the truth that people must face.

]]> By: Manuel http://global-culture.org/slums-of-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-22112 Manuel Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:47:08 +0000 http://global-culture.org/blog/2007/04/23/slums-of-hope/#comment-22112 Economy and trade are not win-lose games. Asserting that the wealth of a few is based on the misery of a lot could be true during the colonial times when slavery and explotaition were more generalized. I need to agree that the low wages and poor working conditions in developing countries result in low prices of t-shirts and tomatoes, but I also thing that trade is a win-win situation. In Mexico, is harder and harder to hire domestic service, which was the traditional employment for the poor women, because now they prefer to work for maquilas. So now the remaining domestic labour is better paid (because it becomes scarce) and poor women can choose to work in maquilas because, even given the low payment, it is still better than the alternative (domestic, sell empanadas in the street, no job). We still have a long way to go and there is a lot of work to reduce the weath gap, (besides modern slavery, child labour, sweatshops), but we need to use the right tools and not false propaganda. Economy and trade are not win-lose games. Asserting that the wealth of a few is based on the misery of a lot could be true during the colonial times when slavery and explotaition were more generalized. I need to agree that the low wages and poor working conditions in developing countries result in low prices of t-shirts and tomatoes, but I also thing that trade is a win-win situation. In Mexico, is harder and harder to hire domestic service, which was the traditional employment for the poor women, because now they prefer to work for maquilas. So now the remaining domestic labour is better paid (because it becomes scarce) and poor women can choose to work in maquilas because, even given the low payment, it is still better than the alternative (domestic, sell empanadas in the street, no job). We still have a long way to go and there is a lot of work to reduce the weath gap, (besides modern slavery, child labour, sweatshops), but we need to use the right tools and not false propaganda.

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