Author Archives: Aislingfriel

Wild goats roam around Llandudno, North Wales, boars have descended from the mountains to the centre of Barcelona, and an estimated 1000 monkeys rummage through rubbish and fight for food in the Thai city of Lopburi. Covid-19 has sparked curiosity amongst urban wildlife which normally remains out of sight in the city. As the residentsContinue reading “Cape Town: Happy Feet”

Throughout this blog, I have examined the flows of water, knowledge, capital and waste in the city. This post will follow a different path and explore how alcohol shapes and is shaped by the city. Don’t worry; I am not about to lecture you on the harmful effects of alcohol on our health and wellbeing.Continue reading “Cape Town: Shebeen Queens”

Throughout my exploration of UPE issues in Cape Town, I have come across a variety of delightful images which showcase Cape Town’s beauty. The introduction to this blog series was titled “Beyond the Beauty”. However, now it is time to confront the unique flora and fauna of Cape Town. Unfortunately, this examination of nature isContinue reading “Cape Town: Into the Beauty”

Water, for a long time, has been the centre of environmental concern in Cape Town. The city, however, is battling a major “waste crisis” which has been brought to light by the water crisis. Throughout the drought, residents collected water using bottles which drove increases in plastic usage and waste across the city. Cape TownContinue reading “Bringing Waste to Life in Cape Town”

In my first blog, I discussed the stark inequalities between the informal settlement of Masiphumelele and the Lake Michelle gated eco-estate. Gated communities in South Africa have begun to brand themselves as eco-estates, and nature estates. The Noordhoek mountains of Cape Town are currently transforming into green eco-estates which serve the needs of the affluentContinue reading “Cape Town: Eco-Apartheid”

The three-year drought drew widespread attention to the city’s water supply. The city’s relation with water, however, has always been complex. Cape Town still faces the ever-existing problems of racial inequality and state-led discrimination which deprive many residents of public amenities. Through an examination of water management devices, we can observe how urban metabolisms canContinue reading “Cape Town: Water for all or the city must fall”

Water is a basic human need, critical to life, agriculture and industry. An indispensable element, yet almost two years ago Cape Town was poised to become the first major city in the world to run out of water. I want to begin with an exploration of the metabolic flow of water throughout Cape Town. WaterContinue reading “Cape Town: Day Zero”

Welcome to my blog on the city of Cape Town. I will be posting a variety of entries over the next term, which will examine the city through an urban political-ecological (UPE) lens. I will critically explore a wide range of issues facing the city to develop a narrative into how urban metabolisms shape everydayContinue reading “Cape Town: Beyond the Beauty”