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- rn
- I spent most of the past four years hanging out with street hawkers, smugglers, and sub-rosa import/export firms to write Stealth of Nations, a book that chronicles the global growth of System D--the parallel economic arena that today accounts for half the jobs on the planet. Prior to that, I lived in squatter communities across four continents to write Shadow Cities, a book that attempts to humanize these vibrant, energetic, and horribly misunderstood communities. My articles on cities, politics, and economic issues have appeared in many publications, including Harper's, Scientific American, Forbes, Fortune, The Nation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Metropolis, and City Limits. Before becoming a reporter, I worked as a community organizer and studied philosophy. I live in New York City and do most of my writing on manual typewriters.
2 comments:
Slums around Mumbai airports are causing large bird population around the airport. This poses tremendous risks to the aircrafts taking off. Slums are the places where "avian bird flu" like epidemics will hit hard. Clearing the slums is necessary. More than 50% of the Mumbai population lives in the slums. There are plans to provide free housing to those affected.
But just like all well laid plans this plan also has been tainted by the corruption.
OK, Infojunkie. But consider:
1. Why not work with the squatters to address the issue of whatever is drawing the birds.
2. The big issue described in the article is whether the replacement housing will be adequate and reasonably close to people's work. And whether people even know what's going on. If the airport authority truly wants to make this work, they must form a partnership with the squatters. Only those living there can truly assess the compromises they will make as this process moves forward.
3. Though infectious disease is certainly a risk in high density environments, I have seen no evidence that bird flu has hit squatter communities in a disproportionate way.
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