Here is a write-up from one of Sustainable Cities interns, Caitlin Purvis. Based in Colima, Caitlin is working to engage marginalized groups, particularly youth, into discussions about public space.

Unlike in South Surrey, where Caitlin Purvis grew up, the neighbourhoods she is currently working in are covered in graffiti.

Tags are painted on most surfaces in the communities of Colima, Mexico, including walls, benches and rocks.

There are no garbage cans and few sidewalks – the ones that do exist are dilapidated – while barren fields, basketball courts or run-down gardens serve as public spaces.

 For the original article, click here.

Join Sustainable Cities for Part I in a series on Urban Sustainability in partnership with Royal Roads University June 23rd, 2010 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. PT

Are youth the missing link in achieving greater urban sustainability? Listen in to a discussion with young interns and experts from around the world talking about their experiences in leading-edge international initiatives being used to engage youth in long-term planning and urban sustainability.

Moderated by Professor Ann Dale, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Community Development, and led in partnership with the International Centre for Sustainable Cities http://sustainablecities.net, panelists include:

• Steve Dotterrer, Principle Planner City of Portland
• Pam Phan, Youth Planning Program coordinator, City of Portland
• Kathleen Wilson, Youth Led Development Coordinator at The Co-operators, Regina
• Caitlin Purvis, Sustainable Cities Youth Interns in Colima, Mexico
• Doug Ragan, Senior Associate with Sustainable Cities, and PhD Candidate at the University of Colorado’s Children, Youth and Environments Centre
• Rebecca Foon, Planner with Sustainability Solutions Group
• Afton Halloran, Sustainable Cities Urban Agriculture Youth Intern in Dar es Salam, Tanzania (Afton will contribute her insights and experience after the panel discussion has concluded due to her location in Tanzania)

Aakash Ganga, or River from the Sky, is a sustainable system that channels rooftop rainwater from every house in a village through gutters, and then pipes it to a network of multitier, underground reservoirs. Currently implemented in six drought-prone villages in the Churu District of Rajasthan, the system captures enough rainwater to meet the drinking needs of an entire village for 12 months. Aakash Ganga is the brainchild of social entrepreneur and Sustainable Innovations president BP Agrawal, who also won the USD 100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability earlier this year. The system currently supplies some 10,000 people with fresh water, and the Government of Rajasthan has signed a letter of intent to implement Aakash Ganga in 50 villages to serve another 125,000 people. A100-village plan is being evaluated for implementation as a public-private-community partnership or social enterprise by 2011 or 2012. A video demonstrates the system in action.

Website: www.sustainableinnovations.us/akashganga/

(Source: Springwise)