Conceiving Tomorrow’s City: What City Dwellers Say

This document is a summary of the work accomplished by the World Conference of Inhabitants held in Mexico in October 2000, which was the result of several years' work in every continent aimed at giving a voice to ordinary inhabitants, especially those of poor districts, concerning the problems affecting life in the cities for the 21st century. Cities are the creations of their inhabitants. However, the latter have been kept away from decision-making processes in every area of urban life. The dominant economic system and economic globalization have deprived society of its know-how, aggravated urban poverty, devastated the environment, and broken the social fabric.

The inhabitants gathered in Mexico attempted to answer the question, "What city do we want for the 21st century?" The resulting proposals highlight the assertion of values and principles and the formulation of strategies for change, they recall the non-application of rights, and offer proposals for the organization of inhabitants. They aim at building a collective ideal and a city that is democratic, educational, inclusive, liveable, sustainable, productive, and safe