hello...

I know that we are all suffering from information overload...

And I know that it's 2011 already, and that Bruce Sterling has added blogs to his list of 'dead media'...

But here I am, starting a blog. Cities and Citizenship is going to focus on the opportunities and challenges facing those of us who are seeking to democratise our cities. It'll be Sydney-centric, because that's where I am, but hopefully will have something to interest folks in other places too.

The first few posts are now online. One is a report on a recent conference that took place here in Sydney on The Right to the City. Another talks about the recent controversy over an inner-Sydney Local Council's debate on whether to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against corporations and institutions associated with the occupation of Palestine. Another couple reflect on recent public art exhibitions in Sydney -- Intersections by Belinda Campbell, and Real Estate by Mini Graff and Jason Wing.

Forthcoming posts include an attempt to respond to Adam Greenfield's challenge for us to think about the nature of 'public objects' in the networked city, a review of Mark Purcell's book Recapturing Democracy, and some reflections on Sydney's extraordinary 'green ban' movement in order to mark the 40th anniversary of the first green ban.

Thanks for dropping by!