Conference: the list and characteristics of global cities

We live in an increasingly urban and open world. The majority of the world now lives in cities; and mostly in large metropolitan cities.

St. Peterburg’s European University hosted and co-sponsored an international conference on globalization. Nearly 40 participants from the United States, the United Kingdom, India and Russia came together to discuss globalization and cities. The conference involved academics and policy makers, architects and city planners. It was the sixth in a series of forums on globalization that have been co-sponsored by the Washington-based Kennan Institute and the Toynbee Prize Foundation. The conference examined changes in the nature and the role of cities in a globalized era.

Conference participants discussed what makes a global city in the 21^st century. They agreed that the most powerful cities were those that were international financial and business centers, including New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, Frankfurt and Zurich. Speaking about a global city, it has been mentioned that it is one that has the capability, both economically and politically, to service global firms and markets.

Globalization is changing the way cities around the world are developing, but, according to the experts, St. Petersburg is still a long way away from becoming one of the global capitals. With its cultural resources and enormous tourism potential, it is not considered to be a global city. However, it has been generally agreed that if Moscow isn’t a global city already, it certainly has the capacity to become one in the future. Moscow has a diverse and relatively developed service sector. Financial services are developing in Moscow. For example, more than 50 foreign and international banks have regional offices in Moscow.

The participants discussed “the McDonaldsization of architecture,” a phenomenon in which global cities come to look more and more alike as international architectural norms undermine individual cities’ distinct characters. The biggest challenge is to find the right balance between preservation of the old and the introduction of the new. The participants stressed the need to preserve the city’s heritage while still ensuring that the cityscape contributed to economy and the well-being of its population.

Exercise 10.

a) You will read an article written to a newspaper about the health hazards of modern-day life. The following words and phrases are contained in the article. Check them in your dictionary.

dice, v	играть
fraught with danger	полный опасности
lead (led)	вести, приводить
gums	десны
liver	печень
grave	могила
vein	вена
pant, v	бежать задыхаясь, часто и тяжело дышать
throb, v	пульсировать
inhale, v	вдыхать
stroke, n	удар
rash, n	сыпь
rush, v	действовать, выполнять слишком поспешно
lead, n	свинец
hesitate, v	колебаться
thump, v	сильно бьющийся
collapse, v	свалиться
fragrance, n	аромат, благоухание

b) The author describes a typical day in the life of a businessman, and the dangers that he faces at different times of the day. Read the article quickly and answer the questions after the text.