At the beginning of this century only 12% of the world's population lived in urban areas. Half-way through the century that number increased to 30% percent and will reach 50% as we enter the next Century. By 2005, for the first time in the history of the world, more people will live in and around cities than in rural areas. Less than 25 years after that, urban populations will be twice that of rural areas. The impact of those demographic …showed first 75 words of 1233 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1233 total…risk that narrow interests will dominate the dialogue. This is possible in part because people learn to trust each other and because consensus is reached on long-term goals. Change - improving the quality of life for all citizens - can only be sustained if we are ready to organize from the neighborhood/community level up to bring about the structural social and economic changes we need to create a more equitable, caring, and democratic society.