Chinese Eco-cities

[Positivist]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/13/tianjin-eco-city_n_806972.html#s221860

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120503-sustainable-cities-on-the-rise

http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-03-25/economy/31235972_1_eco-beijing-projects

http://www.timeslive.co.za/scitech/2012/06/17/chinese-eco-city-touted-as-sustainable-living-model

What are your thoughts on these? Certainly interesting in my opinion, and though, still under a capitalist system, an improvement no doubt. Though the planning of these projects often conflict with the otherwise market framework of the economy and these citites are no exception.

[cynicles]

Whatever the cappies build we can always take over later!

[JPSartre12]

Let me just say that, an evolutionary biology undergraduate, I'm absolutely in love with them. I only skimmed the articles and glanced at the pictures, but they look pretty self-sustaining and eco-friendly. I could probably ramble on and on about the ecology of these.

If we could incorporate those sort of communities with a partially- or mostly-planned economy, I think that that would be a wonderful step.

[Lynx]

Nice to see internal stimulus in action. Take note, America.

[cynicles]

Let me just say that, an evolutionary biology undergraduate, I'm absolutely in love with them. I only skimmed the articles and glanced at the pictures, but they look pretty self-sustaining and eco-friendly. I could probably ramble on and on about the ecology of these.

If we could incorporate those sort of communities with a partially- or mostly-planned economy, I think that that would be a wonderful step.
As a person who has recently developed an intense interest in urban planning an it's impact and possible implications for social interaction and the environment I must insist you ramble.

[The Burgundy Rose]

hate to be a downer but the eco cities in china are being built solely so that the Chinese can argue they are doing more than the west to tackle climate change which gives them license to continue dumping huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere from the horde of very very very very NON eco friendly cities where the residents are exposed to huge amounts of vile fumes. china is the country with the largest CO2 emissions in the world and has already taken over the usa as the world's largest oil consumer which means, i dare say, that the world will reach peak oil production before 2019, and if anything will end capitalism as we know it (and perhaps civilization along with it) its the depletion of this resource upon which every country, every business, every life is quite literally built upon.

edit: actually china hasn't overtaken the USA yet as the largest oil consumer but at the rate it is going it will do sooner than one would think.