http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/News and meetings from Urban MatrixenEUKNThu, 8 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/news/2009/01/Cameroon-s--Paris-Dream--leaves-thousands-homeless_1006.htmlMore than 7,000 people have been left homeless in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde, since city officials began tearing down slums to make space for development projects. The city is also cleaning up areas prone to flooding and landslides. The initiative has led to displacement and protests. Three shantytowns have been pulled down this year in what city officials are calling a cleanup operation. When the project is finished, the former slums will be transformed into public gardens or sold to private developers. Plans have also been made to improve drainage on the ancient riverbeds to protect new structures against flooding. Authorities call the plan The Paris Dream.NewsWed, 7 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/news/2009/01/Call-for-Participation--Europe-s-Creative-Regions-and-Cities_1004.htmlIn the context of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009, the Committee of the Regions and the European Commission are jointly organising a two-day forum, on 20 and 21 April 2009. The Forum will showcase the creativity of Europe’s regions and cities and demonstrate the importance of creativity and innovation for economic development.NewsTue, 6 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/news/2009/01/City-Ferry-Rotterdam_1005.htmlFrom March 2010 onwards, the Rotterdam region will see the operation of a new means of public transport: the city ferry, with fifteen stops on the Nieuwe Maas between Krimpen aan den IJssel, Rotterdam and Vlaardingen. Later, the service is likely to be extended to Capelle aan den IJssel, Spijkennise, Maassluis en de Botlek. This has been announced by RET (the Rotterdam transport operator) and the City Region Rotterdam.NewsTue, 6 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/news/2008/12/UK-house-prices_1019.htmlUK house prices will not recover their 2007 peak for at least a decade, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has warned.NewsTue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/news/2008/12/Slovakia-joins-the-euro_1017.htmlThe European Commission will closely monitor the changeover to the euro in Slovakia starting on 1 January 2009. News updates on the latest developments, based on surveys conducted by the Commission and the national authorities, will be available daily from 1 January to 16 January 2009.NewsMon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/meetings/2009/01/Global-City-2009_1000.htmlAbu Dhabi's emphasis on sustainable urban development and its growing status as a global hub for business and tourism will receive a major thrust early next year when the world's top urban planners, decision-makers, mayors and international media will gather in the capital to participate in Global City 2009.MeetingTue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/meetings/2009/01/Urban-futures---AGS-Annual-Meeting_1001.htmlToday, around 50% of the present world population – composed of about one billion people in the developed world and 5.5 billion in the developing world – lives in urban areas. And by 2050 – when the population will have grown to around nine billion – this proportion will have risen to 70%, so that twice as many people will live in cities as do today.MeetingMon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/meetings/2009/01/LAS-Conference-2009_1002.htmlLatin America has the largest percentage of urban population of any world region in addition to the most unequal distribution of income. This inequality is most apparent in cities, where the richest and the poorest live in close proximity, and social inequality becomes tangible and flagrantly evident in spatial terms. How can urbanists affect policies that foster social inclusion?MeetingWed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/meetings/2009/01/UITP-procurement-clean-road-vehicles_1003.htmlIn October 2008, the European Council and the Parliament have adopted the new Directive on the Promotion of Clean and Energy Efficient Road Transport Vehicles. The European Commission had presented a revised proposal, COM(2007)817, on 19 December 2007, which was discussed in the European Institutions earlier this year. It is expected that a final text will be published in the Official Journal by the end of this year.MeetingThu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100http://www.eukn.org/urbanmatrix/eukn/meetings/2009/02/Intermodes_1000.htmlINTERMODES is aimed at all international players in the passenger transport sector: elected officials, international authorities, community groups, manufacturers, operators, researchers wishing to contribute towards perfecting intermodality on the domestic and European levels and/or developing solutions that promote intermodality. These solutions will be presented during the Convention and through the associated modular exhibition.MeetingWed, 4 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100