Landscape Democracy 2015 Working Group D - Case Study 5

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Place name	Kouhsar mehdi
Location	Shiraz
Country	Iran
Author(s)	Saeid Saadat

Rationale: Why have you chosen this case for the landscape and democracy seminar?

This case is located in Shiraz (Iran). Unfortunately in the city you can easily find different samples of inappropriate decision from authorities, which significantly affects the appearance of Landscapes in the city. As we all know the natural elements that are playing an important role in the landscapes can be considered as identities of each city or place. Moreover, these identities are parts of people's memories. These changes in the landscapes of a city not only put these identities in danger, but also has impacts on the memories of local residents. And here I intend to highlight the diverse of many reasons which can end to demolishing the natural elements. Actually, the respective project is constructing roads that connects east of the city to the west. In process, contractors face some barriers such as Mountain,Trees and Houses and just because the project has the label of NATIONAL PROJECT they have the permission of remove these barriers. So it's pretty predictable how much it affects the landscape and also people historical attachment, especially the owners of destroyed houses. Generally it is clear that people give meaning to democracy and related issues, so if just government (people in power) decide what to do, how to expand the cities, villages, places or etc. we can find a dictatorship state. To sum up, in my point of view it really fits with the so called LED as a good example.

Representation of your observations

• you are basically free to use one or a mix of different presentation techniques
• possibilities are: analytical drawings, graphical representations, collages, video clips, comic/graphic novel, written essay/visual essay
• please add any visual material to the gallery, videos can be placed below, you may add text as you like

• Observations
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  case representation

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  case representation

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  case representation

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  case representation

Reflection

What are the major challenges for changing the situation?

Typically everything has two side, Advantages and Disadvantages; and generally the challenges begins when the majority of people's attention is drawn to the advantages of each project, in other words their attention are distracted by different advertisements and propaganda which show off to cover the other side of the project. However, both side should be considered and figured out whether it is worth or not. So transparency for the projects and the process of them is crucial, in order to have a better vision. Likewise, about this project I have to mention that if two parts of the city (i.e. eastern and western parts) are connected to each other, could be useful for the traffic problem and also for decreasing the range of time wasting. But on the other hand, we have to concern what we are going to loose during the progress of project; blocking the way of climbers on the mountain (which used to be a trend especially among the youths), cutting down the trees and disappearing the green spot (that is really important for a city like Shiraz with such warm climate) and at last but not least demolishing many houses that located on the road line. As a result to have significant changes we need adequate awareness and adequate infrastructures.

What could be a starting point for democractically-based change?

• Please add approx. 150 words for each questions

Firstly, I would suggest to priorities the benefits and results and also keep in mind the fact that not always the first solution is guaranteed to be the best one. For instance, in this case, why not making a tunnel below the ground in stead of bridging into cluster of houses and buildings. On the other hand the majority interest will also be decisive to even initiate such plan, let alone implementing it. Consequently, the start would be the social approval of a master plan which directly involves people into it, and latter the comprehensive analyze of in hand alternative, not just in sake of financial issues but in sake of further outputs like maintainance of green spots and natural topographies.

Stakeholder Mapping

Create a visual representation of the stakeholder groups that are involved in your case. Try to cover the following aspects in your representation: Power (high, medium, low) / Support (positive, neutral, negative)/ Influence (high or low)/ Need (strong, medium, weak)+ also map the relationships between the stakeholder groups

• Stakeholder Map
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  Stakeholder Map

Change Scenario

Look at the various methods and tools available and think how they can be applied creatively. Think about the needs of different stakeholder groups - you may need a methodical mix to address them all. Visualize a scenario illustrating how these methods/tools can be applied within an imagined time frame

• Change Scenario
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  Change Scenario

Cross cutting theme

Through the cross cutting approach I figured out the most challenging issue would be the awareness and education of people on the current phenomena, the environment and the ongoing projects which are involved in their landscape and their life. In this regard, when locals who are the final users have specific idea and knowledge about the projects, the effective participatory of them would rise significantly. Therefore, not only the experts and stakeholders as the only traditional decision-makers are engaged but also the locals with the projects around them. In addition, the benefits of such projects needs to be considered too. For instance, the construction of roads that ends to shortage of traveling inside or outside a city, causes also reduction of traffic and therefore their following advantages will enhance not only the quality of life but will cause less expenses of transportation. Likewise the commercial projects which might have at the end some side effects on environment but delivers many advantages such as regional development or financial benefits, should be prioritized against their marginal environment effects. Apart from that, people should feel more responsible about their landscape so that they will act more explicitly about the surrounding events. And if they try not to put all the responsibility on authorities, they can increase their role in decision making. Thus, they don't need to protest to claim their delayed rights, and subsequently people in power will be more cautious and be more transparent. Nevertheless, due to the strong inclination of interests toward financial benefits the first and foremost concern should always remain the landscape and people involved with it.

Concluding reflections

Apparently, the respective project is going to be finished after more than ten years including all phases such as researches, analysis, cost evaluation and so on. This has brought huge amount of money, energy and human resource expenditure! So the proposals I like to give to my case might not be a solution nor a good ending however, it can be a cautiousness for future generation. It can draw people's attention to their environment since if people don't try to increase their consciousness and awareness, they can not ask for their rights, they can just be informed when it is too late. Besides, such projects which have got the label of nationality, is so challenging to be stopped, but the power of people is much more than the other side in case of their active participation in related affairs. On the other hand, media and press should act more responsible because they play an important role in each society as the connection between citizens and authorities. So people should aim their critical arrows to the government and authorities and make them to be more transparent.

As this course was advancing, I got involved with this project, it became more and more clear that less people are involved in their surrounding events, so more demolishing and irresponsible actions will take place to the environment. Consequently, I believe that passive citizens needs to be shifted into active citizens to have a dynamic and transparent society.

References

* Please make sure that you give proper references of all external resources used.

* Do not use images of which you do not hold the copyright.

* Please add internet links to other resources if necessary.

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