Honduran news has recently been abuzz with legislation that is said to allow the creation of ¨Model Cities¨ within the country of Honduras. While the controversial legislation has been in the Congress an extremely short time (perhaps a week), it made its way to the floor and was approved today. (Interesting how quickly things can move when the need to.)
I was initially drawn to the topic of Model Cities for its name... it sounded so ideal, so optomistic, so clean and lacking in ferile dogs.... I was surprised to learn; however, that the idea of Model Cities is an open invitation for foreign investors to play God here in Honduras. Not only will foreign investors be able to create their own cities, but they will be able to run them as well..... say WHAT? According to multiple news sources, approved legislation will allow investors to purchase or rent a portion of land on which they can build their Model Cities. These cities will essentially be Nation States with their own public services including health and sanitation, police and safety, schooling, public transportation etc. Model Cities will have their own economies, will be allowed to circulate various currencies beyond the national Lempira, and create their own immigration regulations. Spanish does not necessarily have to be the only primarily language.
From a tourist perspective, this sounds AWESOME- it`s like a large scale Epcot Center, where you can travel around the world within the confines of your home country. In an ideal world, Model Cities could offer the opportunity to experience other cultures and worlds most Hondurans and Central Americans have never had access to; however the cynical side of me can`t help but wonder if most Hondurans would ever make it past the front gates. Really, what, if anything, will the average Honduran gain here??? While the government claims this project will inspire growth beyond the confines each city`s Model boundaries, it is difficult to view the project as more than an opportunity for foreign investors to play dress up with Honduras, creating their very own Corporate Elite SIM CITY... all the while resources and attention are being drawn away from the vast majority of campesinos, living in extreme poverty, with out electricity and running water.
The concept of self sufficient, planned cities is not new. China just unveiled plans for an isolated ecocity, and ¨New Towns,¨ or planned cities, have existed since Rome. Very few isolated cities however, have been sustainable in the long term, hinging on the presence of centrally located employment opportunities to prevent residents from traveling and eventually migrating outside of the epicenter for jobs. I have been unable to find other examples of cities designed, run by, and catering to foreigners. If they are out there, please comment and share!!!
From an anthropological perspective, I am extremely curious and will follow closely in the SIM CITY LIVE HONDURAS that is about to unfold.... always with the understanding that projects like these are most likely desperate attempts to gain attention and financial investment without consideration to the long term effects to the overall stability of the country and its inhabitants.
Pepe, you can`t get rid of the pueblo by building a new one...
Articles to Check out: (Can probably translate with Google!)
http://www.latribuna.hn/web2.0/?p=230599
http://www.latribuna.hn/web2.0/?p=232183
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