Have you ever imagined the city of your dreams? I’m sure you did, everyone does it while sitting in traffic, saying there is a better way the to organize public transport. I assure you have, sometime, imagined a better neighborhood, more integrated and of course sustainable.
Well, there might be a place for you in one of the earth’s greenest neighborhoods. Yes, places like the one’s you dream about already exist.
One Planet Communities is a vision of a world in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness. So far only seven communities worldwide have met the rigorous standards of an OPC, though eight others have integrated the 10 guiding principles to a achieve degree.
These are hype, modern, interesting, integrated, full of energy (literally), fresh, organic, holistic…and, over all, sustainable, ways to live the life on this planet. My favorite is BedZed, a factory turned into something mouth opening beautiful.
Though I have to say, these are difficult to implement in a big city. They work exquisitely in little cities in Europe, Australia and America. Don’t think I’m criticizing, it’s just a thought, I would love to live in a smaller city, consuming local goods, knowing and interacting with the people living around me. I will, sometime in the near future, be living like this, no doubts. But now I live in a big city, in a neighborhood where people close themselves off behind big walls…
So whats left for us sitting in the middle of a big city? To try, go out there and talk to people living around you, plan a little common area in your condo or a square near your building. Organize activities involving kids, dogs, a lift or car sharing program. Plant trees or a community garden.
Get people together, it works like magic!
Lust for Green 