Sustainability....Is it possible or just a dream?

Ok. I just had to write something about this.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/arts/design/26masdar.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Please read the above article and click to view the 10 picture slide show.

Ok. Ready to read on to my not always so humble thoughts?

Obviously, I live in the Middle East. I sat in the foyer of the munchkins' school building chatting with a few other mums just the other day. They were all moaning about how villas in a certain area of town are getting broken into in the middle of the night while the occupants are asleep. Very frightening stuff. They feel that this type of crime is on the rise. Hmmm....not sure I agree with that.....but moving on...... Oh yeah....and the school is in a compound with a huge wall around it - very typical. A new school in the area has an even bigger wall and looks like a fortress to me. Sigh....

I know MANY people here who live in big walled off compounds. I know MANY people here who live in flats with 24 hour security, and loads of constantly recording security cameras. This is a region of extremes. The man who is washing the Ferrari is only getting paid the equivalent of maybe a dollar or two (not even a whole 2 euros I think) to wash that car. The man washing that Ferrari probably dreams about one day having a little money to be able to get married - a simple basic joy of being a human being. The feelings of the mums moaning about the break-ins - as the world economy changes, the crime is going to rise. Wow. I just can't think and live that way.

When the husband traveled to India on business recently, he stayed in huge fancy hotels. He didn't feel safe walking the streets alone, so he stayed in hotels that had big green areas to roam in. The photos he took (sorry I can't post them) show a stark contrast between his hotel and the slums beyond. And what's worse, the 'slums beyond' were not really slums but typical housing. Again, wow.

The world is heading more towards the 'gated community' thing because I think "rich" people are scared. When I go shopping in certain areas, I 'dress down.' I wear scruffy baggy clothes and old shoes. I carry only a basic bag for my money and my purchases. I try not to look like a target. Do I feel safe? Yes, absolutely. But, why walk around begging for trouble? Hmmm....

Right now, what I miss most about the home country is walking a dog outside. I know, I know...dogs are 'haram' but I really miss having one.

The pictures I saw of the new development in the article just doesn't look like a place I'd want to go strolling with a dog. What about if friends want to visit? I have a friend with a new baby. What does she do? Park her car outside, unload all the baby stuff, put all the baby stuff with baby in little itty bitty car (what about if you have more kids), and drive to see the friend living in the new development. If I lived in the new development, then I don't think anyone would ever want to come see me. Where I currently live, it is hard to find parking for visitors. Not many of my friends visit me. We just meet up somewhere for a coffee.

I spend a lot of time with this kind of stuff jumbled up in my head. It's therapeutic to spit it out once in a while.

Peace.