[p2p-research] "We need more megalopolises"

[Dennis E. Hamilton]

I don't believe it is a paywall.  Registration is sufficient to access the
article.  As a registered reader, I was able to access the article directly
and I have no paid subscription to the New York Times.  (I am accessing from
a US IP address; I don't know if that matters.)

 - Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: p2presearch-bounces at listcultures.org
[mailto:p2presearch-bounces at listcultures.org] On Behalf Of Christian Siefkes
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 03:25
To: p2presearch at listcultures.org
Subject: Re: [p2p-research] "We need more megalopolises"

Hi Marco,

M. Fioretti wrote:
> Still reading it, haven't a real opinion yet:
> 
>
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/magazine/19Urban_West-t.html?_r=2&pagewant
ed=all

> 
> The reason I'm inviting to read it on a list like this is this
> paragraph:
> 
> 	[West] suggests, for instance, that modern cities are the real
> 	centers of sustainability. According to the data, people who
> 	live in densely populated places require less heat in the
> 	winter and need fewer miles of asphalt per capita... Small
> 	communities might look green, but they consume a
> 	disproportionate amount of everything. As a result, West
> 	argues, creating a more sustainable society will require our
> 	big cities to get even bigger. We need more megalopolises.
> 
> comments are very welcome

I think a some point where cities become too big to function properly, so
"more megalopolises" (instead of just "more towns and cities") sounds more
than doubtful. However, there can be little doubt that life in cities is
generally more energy- and resource-efficient than rural life (shorter
distances, more public transport, less heating per person required etc.).
Any sustainable society will require a high degree of urbanization.

Sadly, the article to cite is locked behind a paywall. Could you full-quote
it to free it?

Thanks
	Christian


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|------- Dr. Christian Siefkes ------- christian at siefkes.net -------
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