[sustran] Re: Reminder on sustran-discuss focus on low and middle income countries

[Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory]

Paul Barter wrote:
>
> Many thanks to everyone who participates and makes sustran-discuss so 
> useful. You are an amazing group.
>
> It seems a good time to make a little reminder: *the sustran-discuss 
> list has a focus mainly on urban transport policy issues in countries 
> with low to middle incomes.*
>
> We are not too rigid on this. The experience of rich places can be 
> relevant. There were some examples in the excellent discussion on 
> ownership issues prompted by Mumbai events. Some European examples 
> came up and it was appropriate.
>
> Seattle's east side railroad in a suburban area in the USA would 
> be one example of a topic outside sustran-discuss's focus.
>
WHAT is most interesting for me and what I think has global applications 
is the the extremely perverted way this threat to the railway has been 
created... that it is part of a very complicated landgrab and 
landswap... more, it seems, than bad transport policy in a rich nation. 
So, my feeling is that since that kind of stuff could happen anywhere 
some lessons could be learnt.... the transport thing is this sense just 
a "hook"...

.. BUT will there also be situations soon in the countries which are the 
main focus of this List where highways are next to railways and 
arguments start to widen the highway and lose the railway? (perhaps I am 
contradicting myself)... finally, if the hundreds of the people on this 
list show solidarity with the supporters of that railway project - I am 
going to see if World Carfree Network's Mobility Justice Campaign 
(which, by the way, as I understand  it, put pressure on World Bank and 
govt. in Dhaka to be more accepting of pedal rickshaws) will want to 
take this on - than, when there is another problem in the Global South, 
maybe the Washington State people would be able to return the favour, so 
to speak.

One planet.

- T

> Thanks again everyone for all your generosity in sharing your 
> thoughts. Voices from the 'global South' are particularly welcome.
>
> Paul
>
> (co-manager of the list)
>
> PS.  the list is received by about about 450 people.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>
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>
> ================================================================
> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). 


-- 
--------------------------------------------

Todd Edelman
Director
Green Idea Factory

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