Radio Mundo Real

Public transport, highways and roads to transport commodities determine the use and conception of territory also at an urban scale where communities and civil society are not consulted or even considered in the planning phases mainly based on economic interests.

This was reflected in the different discussions that took place as part of the National Congress on Land, Territories and Sovereignty (CNTTS) that began last September 30 in Cali, Colombia.

Privatization of public services, poor health and education levels, Territorial Planning that has displaced people from their communities and financial capital’s investment are some of the current problems addressed in the debates.

In response to all this, clear mandates for Colombian urban organizations affected by this business-oriented model are expected to emerge.

Real World Radio interviewed Alfredo Mondragon at the event in Cali. He is an activist of the Colombian student movement. He believes the territorial planning and infrastructure projects will end up worsening the already existing economic-urban segregation “since the residents of the cities are treated as commodities”, he said.

“Urban land is dedicated to building precarious housing, causing new forms of marginalization by forcing people to become indebted”.

Mondragon also analyzed other issues like violence, security and urban mobility as part of a policy of social control.

Photo: notiagen.wordpress.com