And now it appears they just might work: New research from the University of Connecticut suggests that minor reductions in vehicle speed are possible through changes in the street environment. Through the use of roadside parking, tighter building setbacks, and more commercial land uses, road designers can make drivers  subconsciously drive more slowly, according to a study of hundreds of roads in Connecticut. It’s a revelatory demonstration of the power of design to change the way people interact with transportation.

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The official launch of the eThekwini South Durban Basin (SDB) Area Based Management (ABM) Climate Change Initiative will take place on Wednesday the 14th of April 2010.

If you eat you support agriculture; food is a basic human need. However, few of us see agriculture as a component of a modern city. In cities we often forget that every time we eat we are depending on someone else to grow our food. Where will we turn to for food in the future?

Unfortunately, urban agriculture is not viewed as a vital part of an urban development. This is not just a problem in Dar es Salaam, but all over the world. For instance, citizens of Vancouver, Canada and New York City, USA fought a long, hard battle to have the right to raise chickens in their backyards. These residents wanted the right to reduce their food costs and have a safe, secure and reliable food supply. Urban farmers grow 15% of the world’s food which is the equivalent of eating one completely urban grown meal once a week. However, in cities like Dar es Salaam we can expect to see much more locally grown food on our tables, especially for those who grow their own food.

Read the full article on the Sustainable Cities : PLUS Network blog ...