Slow Cities - Theme Cities: Solutions for Urban Problems - page 560

environment, infrastructure, facilities and technologies, autochthonous production,
hospitality, awareness promotion, and what is called an extraordinary category. In
addition the Charter maintains it is important to accept seven additional projects
that are fundamental to Slow Food activities. It must be emphasized that almost half
of these policies (25) in the seven categories are considered obligatory features for
towns wishing to become members.
The various policy goals in the latest version of the Charter are shown in
Table 15.1 which summarizes and rephrases the ideas. The Environment category
lists a familiar set of sustainability policies, such as those to reduce pollution, waste,
and the promotion of renewable energy. The list of polices to improve Infrastruc-
ture are an eclectic group, but follow the sustainability approach in stressing the im-
portance of greening policies and providing alternative transport options to the use
of cars but also emphasize the upgrading of places and the reclamation of historical
areas. This is an indication of the conservation part of this movement that has rarely
been mentioned in New Urbanist ideas or the other new urban themes of the past
thirty years that have been described in previous chapters.
It is worth noting that the Facilities and Technologies for Urban Quality cat-
egory does not simply show the need to improve facilities and reduce both the
problems of noise and what probably refers to the visual pollution produced by the
unco-ordinated kaleidoscope of colours in the signs found in most contemporary
cities. It is also forward-looking in stressing policies that add new technologies to
the towns, such as fibre optic cables, while the desire to promote bio-architecture,
creates another link with green ideas. The policies listed under the Hospitality group
clearly demonstrate an awareness of the importance of improving the experiences
of visitors, showing that the movement wishes to attract tourists to the centres, since
they are essential to maintain and stimulate the local economy. The policies in the
Awareness and Extraordinary categories recognize that it is also important to pro-
mote the Cittaslow approach and to convince local citizens of its value. However,
the most original category that identifies one of the major differentiating features
of Cittaslow deals with the Safeguarding of Autochthonous Features in the city and
its region. They range from production methods, traditions in crafts, cultural events,
to protection for plant and animal species in the area that are under threat due to
increasing use of a small number of types for food and wine production—a problem
that threatens to reduce the seed pool and create a threat to ecological diversity. This
trend, if allowed to continue, will produce a loss of our heritage in cultivation and
also has the potential danger of creating a vulnerability to diseases that may attack
specific plant species that dominate particular food crops. The need to support slow
food policies also draws attention to the importance of educating children in nutri-
tion and taste, so they can appreciate the value and diversity of foods in the devel-
opment of a more healthy diet. This combination of what amounts to worries about
both environmental and traditional cultural losses, and the importance of more
healthy living, lies at the heart of the Cittaslow movement and is a key reason why
it is unique among the various new ideas that have developed to improve the quality