Changing Environmental Consciousness Through Urban Planning

[This post is part of the Metropol Blog Series.]

How do you get 50,000 people gathering in a remote desert to Leave No Trace of their having been there… without a garbage can in sight?  How do you encourage a bike, pedestrian and public transportation culture in a country addicted to the automobile?  How do you change the collective consciousness — and behavior — of a city’s population?

Jaime Lerner re-invented urban space in his native Curitiba, Brazil. He participated in the 2007 TED Conference in Monterey, CA, where he gave an inspired presentation about revolutionizing bus transit, awakening green consciousness in a populace accustomed to litter and blight, and changing the way city planners and bureaucrats worldwide conceive what’s possible within the metropolitan landscape. And he throws in a little song for good measure.

What are your thoughts about affecting social change through urban planning?

About the author: Will Chase

Will Chase

Will Chase is Burning Man's former Minister of Propaganda, working on global communications strategy. He was the editor-in-chief for the Jackrabbit Speaks newsletter and the Burning Man Journal, and content manager for Burning Man’s web properties. He also oversaw the ePlaya BBS and Burning Man’s social media presence. Will first attended Burning Man in 2001. He volunteered as the Operations Manager for the ARTery (Black Rock City’s art HQ) and was on the Burning Man Art Council from 2003-2008. He was Web Team Project Manager and Webmaster from 2004 until he transitioned to the Communications Department in 2009.

One comment on “Changing Environmental Consciousness Through Urban Planning

  • Stephen Rogers says:

    As a student about to begin a Masters in Urban Planning I’m very interested in hearing more on this subject. I participated in my virgin burn last year and believe I am hooked for life (though some how it looks as school got in the way this year = the need for me to become a better planner).

    The organization blew me away, as did the populace’s general subscription to the leave no trace/maximize a given environment philosophy. I have also been moved by blog posted after this one regarding mapping techniques tested in BRC and applied in underdeveloped locations across the world.

    Of course, there are endless lessons for participants, and outsiders, developed and tested within the “walls” of the BRC. I look forward to continuing to learn, personally and professionally, from the endless wealth of knowledge and innovation that defines the burning community.

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