City Slicker or Country Bumpkin?

So cities "have the highest potential for eco-living" according to Colin Butfield, campaigns manager of the WWF-UK. I'd absolutely (presently, at least) disagree.

To me cities are the epitome of centralised economies which tend to lead to increased transport (delivery of goods/provision of services) as well as untold 'social problems'.

Its an easy exercise, I did it just last night, but start in any city centre and steadily walk out of it, in one direction, until you are beyond the city limits. Note the differences as you encounter the various strata of socio-economic 'development'. This includes detritus (such as used syringes, discarded alcohol bottles and litter in the city centre) to environmental conditions (such as fresher air, natural smells and calmer traffic in the countryside).

I did muse last night that planned cities may be different, such as Dongtan, near Shanghai in China. But, the jury is still out. My own suspicion is that more autonomous, smaller communities may be a better solution. If, indeed, there is a solution. In other words, we should go back to just the way things probably were some time ago before everything got out of control:

I think 'developing nations' would be wise to pay heed to some of these kinds of issues in 'industrialised nations'.

Bumpkin may be a derogatory term and not particularly fashionable but I'm guessing that too will have to change.