Increasing
urbanisation
©Phil
Maxwell
More megacities
One of the biggest movements of people taking place around the world
is that in which people leave rural areas for the cities, seeking
work and a better way of life.
This movement has been happening
for centuries, and now means that almost 50% of the world’s
population – more than six billion people – live in
urban areas.
The urban population is increasing at two and a half
times than of rural areas, so cities will continue to expand leading
to more megacities – they are cities with more than 10 million
inhabitants. 
©Phil
Maxwell
Image versus reality
Needless to say, for many within these cities, life is difficult
and unhealthy. Despite the image of gleaming buildings, clean streets,
comfortable homes and plentiful work, for many this is simply a
dream. More than 300 million people live in shantytowns or slums.
Called by various names around the world - Favelas, Kampungs,
Tugurios, - they share the same living conditions. They have no running
water, sanitation or energy facilities.
They are built up by their
inhabitants,
using whatever materials are to hand, and are often situated
on wasteland, marsh or are next to rubbish or sewerage disposal
sites. 
©Phil
Maxwell
Why move?
Many people leave their rural homelands in search of a better life
in the city. For some, there is no alternative as their land has
been taken away, or can no longer sustain them.
For others, they
chose to leave in order to seek work that will allow them to
save some money and perhaps one-day return to their original home.
Yet
for many of those who do find employment, the work is hard,
unregulated and poorly paid. This makes it impossible to break out
of the
cycle of poverty they sought to escape. 
©Phil
Maxwell
Working for change
Meanwhile, the development of these shantytowns cause city authorities
enormous headaches, as they grow up with no respect for town planners,
and without any infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals.
Yet they are not always free – the residents in the favelas
of Rio de Janeiro pay taxes like all other city dwellers.
Increasingly,
governments together with NGOs and other voluntary agencies are
trying to ensure that their residents receive essential services,
and there are many projects in different areas which try to empower
local inhabitants to improve their living environment.
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