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Changing Towns: Architects of Change

Maple Leaf This item is only available for Canadian orders.
This title is a part of the series Architects of Change 2


Catalogue Number:  A150-S03-05
Producer:  PVP Films
Producers:  PVP Films
Producing Agencies:  PVP Films
Subject:  Canadian World Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Global Studies, Health, Nursing, Science, Social Studies
Language:  English
Grade Level:  9 - 12, Post Secondary
Country Of Origin:  Canada
Copyright Year:  2011
Running Time:  52:00
Closed Captions:  Yes


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It is estimated that 80% of the world's population will live in cities by 2050. In recent decades, however, this rapid urbanization has provoked or worsened many social and ecological problems throughout the world. So it is worth asking whether current models of urban development can be improved. By taking a close look at the specific needs of slum dwellers in South Africa, by developing a basis of organic farming in Cuba, and by creating eco-neighbourhoods in China, some social entrepreneurs have been able to transform the urban landscape. Architects of Change featured:: * Carin Smuts, Pretoria, was confronted with the racial tensions that divided South Africa. She vowed to help the victims of discrimination and oppose a system that gave more rights to animals than to men. She founded CS Studio Architects to work with residents of the underdeveloped townships. * Wan Chao, an urban planner in China, is very interested in urban planning that does not focus on rapid development regardless of the environment or the quality of life of the residents. He created the “golden river district”, one of the first affordable, eco-neighbourhoods in China. featuring green spaces and grey water treatment through natural filtration by plants. * Fernando Funes, a Havana agronomy researcher, has long been involved in sustainable agriculture. He maintains that his country’s future agricultural production lies in organic and urban farming, since they the Soviet Union no longer helps them.


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