Customer Reviews

Ecocities: Building Cities in Balance With Nature

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Urban design specialist/activist Richard Register first coined the term "ecocity" in his 1987 book, Ecocity Berkeley. This 2002 book greatly expands upon the original concept.

He begins the book by noting, "Cities are by far the largest creations of humanity. Designing, building and operating them have the greatest destructive impact on nature of any human activity. As we construct them today, cities also do little for social justice, not to mention for the grace and subtlety of human intercourse." However, in this book he argues that "cities can actually build soils, cultivate biodiversity, restore lands and waters, and make a net gain for the ecological health of the Earth."

Register admits, "Am I anti-car? Absolutely!" He notes that "Efficient, economical public transportation can't work in sprawl," and argues that "we need to go beyond trying to repair the car and its infrastructure and instead build the ecocity." He suggests that we need to "Reverse the transportation hierarchy," and that "it is important to plan for pedestrians first, bicycles next, rail transit next, 'flexible' (on-the-road-busses) transit next and, lastly, cars and trucks."

He adds a somber note towards the end of the book: "I've thought long and hard about why so few become involved in ecocity organizations and why most foundations decline to help us while telling us we are doing great pioneering work. Now I think I know the answer. We point the finger at ourselves, and only a few are strong enough to face that truth. It's one thing to blame distant corporations, globalization, the loggers and industrial farmers, the greedy shareholders, power-hungry executives and vote-grasping politicians. It's quite another thing to see that we may all have to change and, not only that, but build something that has never been seen before."

This book will be of great interest to those interested urban planning, ecology, and similar topics.

The book was in good condition and sent on time. Would purchase from this seller again.