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Musings Report 2022-29 7-16-22 The Republic of Super Neighbors
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For those who are new to the Musings reports: they're a glimpse into my notebook, the unfiltered swamp where I organize future themes, sort through the dozens of stories and links submitted by readers, refine my own research and start connecting dots which appear later in the blog or in my books. As always, I hope the Musings spark new appraisals and insights. Thank you for supporting the site and for inviting me into your circle of correspondents.
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The Republic of Super Neighbors
Globally, about 56% of humans live in urban zones. In developed countries, the percentage is about 80%; in developing nations, about 50%.
For this reason, any community template that improves the sustainability of urban neighborhoods is a welcome development.
One remarkable idea has taken root in the 14th arrondissement of Paris: Republique des Hyper Voisins, The Republic of Super Neighbors.
‘It’s a beautiful thing’: how one Paris district rediscovered conviviality
The Republic of Super Neighbors is "a grassroots counterpart to the widely feted, more top-down approach of the 15-minute city – the urban design concept developed by Carlos Moreno, the French-Colombian theorist in which all of a resident’s needs are in close proximity."
The basic idea is simple: the closer essential services are to residents, the less energy and time must be expended to access them.
That's a big step toward becoming more sustainable.
Energy consumption, improving access to essentials and sustainability are only now becoming popular urban planning principles.
For the past 100 years, the core urban planning goal was to optimize vehicular traffic. That is finally changing, as cities around the world are closing streets to vehicles and restricting access to certain times and zones.
But the The Republic of Super Neighbors is far more ambitious than improving proximity: its goal is changing the social nature of neighborhoods to enable a much more friendly, secure, resourceful and community-nurturing way of urban living.
I'm not sure the word "conviviality" does justice to the entire spectrum generated by The Republic of Super Neighbors.
"A 215-metre-long banquet table, lined with 648 chairs and laden with a home cooked produce, was set up along the Rue de l’Aude and those in attendance were urged to openly utter the most subversive of words: bonjour.
For some, that greeting led to the first meaningful exchange between neighbors. “I’d never seen anything like it before,” says Benjamin Zhong who runs a cafe in the area. “It felt like the street belonged to me, to all of us.”
The revolutionaries pledged their allegiance that September day in 2017 to the self-styled République des Hyper Voisins, or Republic of Super Neighbors, a stretch of the 14th arrondissement on the Left Bank, encompassing roughly 50 streets and 15,000 residents. In the five years since, the republic – a “laboratory for social experimentation” – has attempted to address the shortcomings of modern city living, which can be transactional, fast-paced, and lonely."
(For those who've visited Paris, the 14th is adjacent to the 6th (Le Jardin du Luxumbourg), the Montparnasse district, home to Rue de la Gaite and the Les Catacombes de Paris.)
"Conviviality is not just a good feeling,” adds Bernard. “It can become a powerful asset, an essential economic and social agent in the construction of tomorrow’s cities."
The changes wrought in the daily experience of residents exemplify the potential for low-cost community-building:
"Anna Morosova, 31, originally from Russia, believes the project has given her life invaluable stability since divorcing. “I live alone, but if I need help there is always someone,” says Morosova, an architect who is now planning to set up tango classes. "There’s an energy this place gives me."
Mireille Roberdeau, an 86-year-old widow who moved to the area in 2000, says the scheme has given her a reason to get up in the morning. “I was quite timid before,” she adds. “I wouldn’t speak to anyone. I would scowl at people. But now I look forward to going out. It’s good because my doctor says I need to get out."
This change in the character and experience of the neighborhood didn't require billions of euros of infrastructure or millions of euros in top-down bureaucratic management.
Relatively small sums are enough to support such efforts--efforts which have direct and indirect social, health and economic benefits for the residents.
In my experience, community groups can only be sustained if the participants share a set of values and goals that benefit every participant.
The Republic of Super Neighbors has much to teach us about how to establish and sustain just this kind of self-reinforcing, mutually beneficial urban community.
Is this template applicable elsewhere? Adjusted to fit local culture and conditions, I think the principles offer a productive starting point.
Highlights of the Blog
The Only Real Solution Is Default 7/15/22
US Dollar Strength: "Unintended Consequences" Or "The Empire Strikes Back"? 7/13/22
Calm Before the Tempest? 7/11/22
Best Thing That Happened To Me This Week
We took care of a very active 3-year old for three days from early morning until the end of the day. We took care of kids every weekday for many years, but that was 15 years ago. At age 68, I marvel at their energy, curiosity and ability to conjure simple games that are engaging to them.
The highlight was having her help me transplant green bean seedlings and a young taro plant--her first experience with planting and nurturing things to eat.
From Left Field
NOTE TO NEW READERS: This list is not comprised of articles I agree with or that I judge to be correct or of the highest quality. It is representative of the content I find interesting as reflections of the current zeitgeist. The list is intended to be perused with an open, critical, occasionally amused mind.
Carlos Moreno: The 15-minute city
‘It’s a little bit of utopia’: the dream of replacing container ships with sailing boats -- an idea that's been around for years... clearly, regulations need to be modified to enable the adoption of wind-powered cargo shipping...
I talked to 70 parents who raised highly successful adults—here are 4 things they never did when their kids were young (via Maoxian)
Get Ready for the Forever Plague -- cumulative T Cell damage matters... inconvenient...
A reinfection red flag
I’m Sick with Covid, and The Zombie Apocalypse Has Started -- Jessica Wildfire...
Sri Lanka Just Fell. What Do We Have to Do With It? The anti-growth environmental movement deserves much of the blame. -- numerous mutually reinforcing causes in play throughout the periphery...
How much oil remains for the world to produce? Comparing assessment methods, and separating fact from fiction -- please give us whatever story lets us avoid any sacrifices....
Heatflation: How sizzling temperatures drive up food prices--As heat waves strike Europe and China, crops are withering.
As North Carolina warms, one farm is turning to a tropical crop: Taro -- taro is hardy and nutritious...both the leaves and roots are edible....
‘Fonio just grows naturally’: could ancient indigenous crops ensure food security for Africa?
Meat, monopolies, mega farms: how the US food system fuels climate crisis
'Blade Runner' at 40: Why the Ridley Scott Masterpiece is Still the Greatest Sci-Fi of All-Time -- not sure about this headline but an interesting overview nonetheless...
"If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair." C.S. Lewis
Thanks for reading--
charles |
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