Musings

There is no doubt in some ways that Detroit is one of the cities which have, in the 20th century been one of the greatest contributors to greenhouse gases, due to its once thriving car manufacturing industry. The onslaught of globalisation and offshore manufacturing has however seen this once awe inspiring industrial powerhouse struggle to transform and diversify, its failure to do so resulting in its eventual collapse and now, ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, buried in the city’s US$ 18 billion debts (Davey et al, 2013). Today its depopulated inner city suburbs are representatives not merely of a bygone era, but a shocking indictment of our waste and willingness to simply abandon resources rather than consider attempts of revitalisation and re-urbanisation.