As an ordinary citizen I see so many contrasts in Addis. At the same time, I also understand that development is a complex topic. I haven't visited all the parks but I loved the bike lanes around Ambassador park. My son loved the occasional 'city ride' but it is far from where we live.
I also wonder how accessible such infrastructures are to the majority of the public. I appreciate the small green spaces in some neighbourhoods and wish to see many more of such spaces.
On the other side, there is also the human cost of such changes. For e.g. I hear stories that people are given few days notice to leave their homes and relocate, which is really sad. One thing I observed in general is that the contrast in many aspects is widening.
That’s very true! I also observed all these contrasts. The trade off question you raised is real— especially when people are forced to relocate without sufficient monetary and social support. This also raises the question of who bears the cost versus who benefits from these large scale city parks.
I also agree on the accessibility aspect. They should remain open for the public, but the question of who maintains them and how to create social norms to treat them as public goods that deserve conservation.
As an ordinary citizen I see so many contrasts in Addis. At the same time, I also understand that development is a complex topic. I haven't visited all the parks but I loved the bike lanes around Ambassador park. My son loved the occasional 'city ride' but it is far from where we live.
I also wonder how accessible such infrastructures are to the majority of the public. I appreciate the small green spaces in some neighbourhoods and wish to see many more of such spaces.
On the other side, there is also the human cost of such changes. For e.g. I hear stories that people are given few days notice to leave their homes and relocate, which is really sad. One thing I observed in general is that the contrast in many aspects is widening.
That’s very true! I also observed all these contrasts. The trade off question you raised is real— especially when people are forced to relocate without sufficient monetary and social support. This also raises the question of who bears the cost versus who benefits from these large scale city parks.
I also agree on the accessibility aspect. They should remain open for the public, but the question of who maintains them and how to create social norms to treat them as public goods that deserve conservation.
Thanks for sharing your perspective here!