Citing the example of Cuban organic farming, this piece from The Sydney Morning Herald looks at the paradigm that pits cities against all that is natural.
This article looks at the common misconception that human culture (cities, in particular) is an opposing force to nature. But citing the example of Cuba -- the small country that chose to implement small organic farms to provide food after support from the Soviet Union dissipated –- the author explains that humankind's most important cultural creation doesn't necessarily have to be unnatural.
"Cities represent a fortuitous nature-culture alignment; what's best for cities is also best for nature (which is good for citizens, and so on). A sustainable city is virtually indistinguishable from a healthy one - which is just as well, since by next year, says the UN, cities will be the dominant habitat of this over-dominant species."
"Today an estimated 50 per cent of Havana's vegetables are grown within city limits; in smaller towns it's 80-100 per cent. On an annual income of $US3000 ($4000) a head, and with one-eighth of the per-person energy use, life expectancy matches that of the US. But the best organic product is the sense of community. As the lawyer Rita Pereira notes, Cubans saw for themselves that 'you really don't need that much to be happy'."
FULL STORY: In the battle to be green, the human factor can work wonders

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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