Organisers' description :
London grassroot groups are certainly making it clear what they need, from housing and transport to jobs and the environment. Is there a basic demand that underlies these needs? Is the idea of rights to the city a focus for that demand? This meeting explores the idea that Right to the City (RTTC) is a good focus for these needs and demands. It is called by individuals from UCL's Bartlett School of Planning, UCL's Urban Lab, the London-based international journal CITY, and the Just Space Network of London community groups. The meeting is the start of a potential series triggered partly by the talks given last autumn in London by Peter Marcuse, veteran lawyer, planning educator and activist in New York. It takes advantage of the presence in London of 2 activists who have been involved with the US RTTC movement and of the discussion advanced and continuing in CITY by Peter Marcuse and his colleagues. This meeting will be a series of short talks on the London issues, a short talk on the USA movement and then time for a substantial structured debate and discussion.
