An article I wrote about urbanization

Urbanization

Urbanization has become a trend. The urban world is changing rapidly, whether in the west or in countries in transition, the changes taking place in our cities are of revolutionary proportions. It thus becomes vitally important to look at how cities develop and how they are planned. （L.J. Duhl & A.K. Sanchez “WHO healthy cities and the city planning process” 1)

If I was the city planner and had the authority to change one thing about my hometown, I will let citizens to take part in urban planning during the process of urbanization.

To do urbanization, we should think about the process, the way to reach the final goal and the most important part—what is the final goal. The final goal beyond all question is to benefit people. Citizens make up this city and are under the most influence during the process of urbanization. Also, put people first is always encouraged by the leaders of the world. During the process of urbanization, city planning is the biggest part also the most important part. Form that way, to let citizens to join in the city planning is the greatest way to set up a both functional and artistry city that can reflect the real thought of citizens.

For starters, if we let all citizens to join in city planning, they’ll consider more about the functionality then designers. In the move Urbanized, the designer of Brasilia care too much about the artistry, the way to let people surprise when they see the design of the city. So that causes inconvenient for citizens to go outdoor, even go to the supermarket they need to use their car, because the distance between building is too big. And that cause the traffic jam.

Moreover, if we let citizens to join in city planning, their opinion can reflect their real thought. In the move Urbanized, Khayelitsha is a small town in South Africa, it was known as its high crime rate. The government solve this problem through to corporate with VPUU. They use social engagement and town planning as tools in fighting crime. The aim is to improve the living conditions for residents. VPUU rised some money from other country and planned to rebuild some pavement for local people in the city center. Rather then start planning where need to have a way to go, they let people walk freely on the grass land. Two weeks ago, they started to plan the path on the basis of footprints made by people. Through that way, they build up a road that pleases the locals. Besides, because the high crime rate, VPUU ask of local’s opinion and build up series of “active boxes” — spaza shops doubling as safe houses and community patrol bases — are planned along the main pedestrian routes to and from stations and taxi ranks. They will be open 24 hours a day to allow unquestioned access by anyone who feels threatened. (“What is VPUU? Designing for safety in spaces #WDC2014”) Through those way, the crime rate in this city decrease 40%.

In Santiago, some designers (also live in Santiago) think about how to solve the increase number of slum-dweller. They found the main reason that cause those people to live in slum is they can’t afford the rent, so they decide to help them to build up house. They help poor people build up the non-decorated house and let them to choose what they want to buy for design their house. In the process, they found that if you let them to make a choose between bathtub and water heater, all poor people choose bathtub. They also do an experiment same to that to people those lives in rich area, all of them choose water heater. That tell us don’t make decision for others if you didn’t know their condition, let them do their decision. This is an analogy to urban planning, city is where citizens live, so let them do the decision for their city. (Urbanized documentary 2011)

So here is the problem, if citizen participation has that much advantage, why we aren’t yet at full civic engagement? The concept of "abide by the ordinary people and do not do government affairs" advocated in China's traditional political culture still has a negative influence today, which makes citizens have no intention or no intention to participate in political activities. Due to long influenced by the idea of "ranking of officials, citizens generally fear officer, democracy consciousness weak, some party and government officials are bureaucracy and" top-down "mind-set, reflected in policy making and public service supply, unwilling to delegate, think ordinary people just passively accept, is reluctant to let citizens from subjective participation. (Lixiang Peng 1) Even if some citizens have the idea of expressing their will or suggestions, they will be quietly killed by the government. Moreover, the improvement of civic participation is limited by the level of education. At present, the average level of education is still very low in some areas of Our country.

Moreover, due to the lack of a clear understanding of participating qualifications and procedures, as well as the lack of understanding of their own status and role in social life, it is difficult to form an independent personality in the short term. In addition, as government performance evaluation is a systematic project, professional evaluation techniques and knowledge are required. Citizens should have professional assessment knowledge to participate in government performance evaluation, while ordinary citizens cannot become professional assessment subjects due to the influence of their own cultural quality and insufficient understanding of government behaviors. (Zhengli Ma 1)

All in all, citizens should be allowed to take part in urban planning in the process of Urbanization. Through this way, the city planning could not only become more functionality, but also reflect the real thought of citizens and benefit the people.

Works Cited

(Note to arrange your items in alphabetical order.)

1. L.J. Duhl & A.K. Sanchez “WHO healthy cities and the city planning process” 1

2. Lixiang Peng “On the Existing Problems and Countermeasures of Citizen Participation in China” Source: Legal System and Society, 2013, 01 page:1

3.Urbanized (documentary 2011)

4.“What is VPUU? Designing for safety in spaces #WDC2014”

网址：http://futurecapetown.com/2011/07/what-is-vpuu-designing-for-safety-in-spaces-wdc2014/

5.Zhengli Ma “The Dilemma and Countermeasures of Citizen Participation in Government Performance Evaluation in China” Article number: 1002-2589 (2013) 35-0011-02. page:1,2