How to do a Gender-Sensitive Budget Analysis: Contemporary Research and Practice Book

What are the implications for the future of wanting something but trying to get it in ways that endanger the very essence of what we want? p10

This is the 'green paradox' as MS has identified it, and as she documents, it is not a purely modern phenomena. This could be a very gloomy book. Grave mistakes have been made, as noted in the chapter on Provins, a walled city that thrived in the middle ages.

It might be said that what the Europeans did when they crossed the Atlantic was merely to continue what they had been doing in the old countries for previous millennium. p29

Drawing these imaginary lines on the land signalled a great shift between humans and nature. p60

But this is not an essentially gloomy nor polemical work. Rather, it is a delightful, insightful and unique world tour with an eye out for how nature has been integrated (or not) into urban life. As tour guide, MS begins with an enticing glimpse into the ancient city of Babylon and our itinerary includes astute speculations on origins and politics as well as the gardens of course but also the art and architecture, commerce and customs; and most importantly the life of the city.

If I wondered about any of the destinations, not so much after reading each chapter and learning about places I had never considered and even two places I had never heard of.

Published in 2006, the message of this book is more relevant than ever.
I would like to see a new, updated edition, a sequel of sorts. How do these highlighted cities fare today? It would be excellent if the illustrations be given more resolution.
More people need to read this wonderful book.

MS quotes a resident of Sao Paolo, with whom I heartily agree
If we all collaborated, nobody would go without.p191