5 minute read
AL GORE
AMERICAN POLITICIAN & ACTIVIST
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JUSTICE IN LIGHT OF SOLIDARITY
ALA TALEBIAN KIMIA NOORINEJAD ROMINA MEHRBOD OMID KHOEIN
UNIVERSITY OF TEHRAN IRAN
“WE HAVE FLOWN THE AIR LIKE BIRDS AND SWUM THE SEA LIKE FISHES, BUT HAVE YET TO LEARN THE SIMPLE ACT OF WALKING THE EARTH LIKE BROTHERS,”MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Throughout the world, millions of citizens are suffering from living in unjust cities. We are in an age where cutting-edge technology is being used widely in means such as highspeed transport and the internet to bring people closer to each other. However, we have miserably failed to create a sense of closeness between nations worldwide. Solidarity has never been more accessible and yet, we have never been more distant to achieve it. Activists have been concentrating solely on Urban Design for solving this problem. Urban planners, architects, and governments have been held responsible for inadequate spatial quality that lays the foundation of adverse effects on dwellers. Although this notion is important, we have to bear citizens in mind too. It is time to flip to the other side of the coin: a Just City stems from a just society.
In order to have a just society, we need to solve divisions and, to do that, we need to have some primary qualities. These can be divided into two interconnected groups: tangible and intangible. Today’s cities are mainly focused on their tangible sides; a view we wish to alter. We might be able to reach tangible qualities with design and planning, but we certainly need people’s power for the intangible ones.
What are we facing today?
A JUST CITY STEMS FROM A JUST SOCIETY
Crisis, all over the world, has unveiled the gaps between different social strata and people are getting more and more alienated. Low-income sections of society, racial, and ideological minorities are compelled to confine their lives around basic demands for survival. Meanwhile, the affluent class collects wealth and social status. This contrast fosters a sense of alienation and even, in some cases, hatred toward the opposite side.
What do we propose?
• Cities are in the hands of majorities and there are monopolies controlling economic and political issues. Meanwhile, minorities are silently providing services in the shadow of razzle-dazzle affairs that favour the upper classes. Taboos will remain as long as there are fringes around every distinct group of people. A city should be a place to break down all these prolonged borders and, regardless of gender, race, and ethnicity, let everyone take part in shared activities. These actions should commemorate and revive the cultural aspects of each individual’s background.
Cities’ identities are inevitably changing over time, so cities should portray a spectrum of the whole community and abandon their obsolete monochrome values, by which they have prioritised a single group over others. Engaging more minority groups and females as leaders and active members, is one way to achieve this.
• Policies and top-down approaches are needed to prevent chaos and they should be concise and clear. No decent enforcement is doable without comprehensive rules, however they shouldn’t be rigid and unchangeable. In today’s practice, tough restrictions are only applied to common citizens, while they are bended when it comes to people in power, causing great corruption nationwide. A thorough revision has to be done considering current policies. Within a dynamic framework of regulations, all people can make changes based on their visions and needs. The final outcome is a series of tailor-made policies particular to every community.
• People need to know that democracy exists and they won’t be punished for freedom of speech, then they could boldly share their opinions and criticise lawmakers. This is already available in many countries in forms of referendums, democratic elections and participatory decision-making councils, yet still missing in several countries with totalitarian governments. Non-governmental Organisations and professionals can contribute to broaden the awareness of citizens without facing any threats. In order to make sure every group is heard and views are freely expressed, there should be a physical and virtual platform available to all stockholders where people can be educated on how to demand their rights, as well as debate correctly.
Therefore, to avoid centralisation, it’s more rational to spread socio-economic diversity across cities, providing every citizen with similar access to facilities. In addition, an equal and stable context, ready to serve as a neutral environment to cater for all, has to be prepared and planned beforehand. Spatial segregation causes the cohesion of a society to shatter and, over time, the gap between social classes deepens.
NOW, what should people do? Throughout history, keeping to our traditional duties has not been enough. Big changes are made by people who act beyond their duties. Therefore, we have to redefine our responsibilities.
People, as city makers, have to be mindful of the way their cities are managed. This way, the rigid box of policy transforms into a unique and unprecedented form which is exclusive to every society. The time has come! It’s the citizens’ turn to change the way we do urban design and to lead planners towards establishing good regulation. As outlined above, without such a diverse society, it is difficult to come to a conclusion that fulfils all the requirements for a Just City. It is beneficial to have values guiding us along the way.
- Start early. The future belongs to the next generation and we have to amend conventional wisdom toward diversity in our schools, cities, countries, and world.
- Accessible facilities for all. The city should have equity. So every service provided by the government must be in favour of that.
- No discrimination whatsoever. Hierarchy can only function when it comes to endeavour and practice.
- Keep the balance. As we flip the coin, we have to make sure to keep an eye on both sides; planning comprises much more than designing, because design alone won’t be able to combat division.
