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6/1/76 - Habitat - United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Vancouver
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6/1/76 - Habitat - United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Vancouver
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "6/1/76 - Habitat - United Nations
Conference on Human Settlements, Vancouver" of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
HABITAT
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
CANADA
JUNE 1, 1976
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. SECRETARY GENERAL, DISTINGUISHED
DELEGATES -- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS SENT ME HERE
COMMITTED TO A CONSTRUCTIVE AND COOPERATIVE ROLE IN THESE
DISCUSSIONS -- AND TO HELP BRING ABOUT THAT ENDURING SPIRIT
OF PEACEFUL, GLOBAL HABITAT TO WHICH THIS INTERNATIONAL
ASSEMBLAGE IS DEDICATED.
PRESIDENT FORD GAVE ME A MESSAGE FOR YOU, BEFORE I LEFT
WASHINGTON. I SHALL READ IT TO YOU NOW:
"Your CONFERENCE WILL FOCUS WORLD ATTENTION ON A
CHALLENGE WHICH CONFRONTS US ALL -- HOW TO ENHANCE HUMAN
DIGNITY IN THE VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES WHERE PEOPLE
LIVE. IT IS AN IMPOSING TASK. IT WILL TAKE ALL THE
IMAGINATION, DETERMINATION, AND PERSERVERANCE THAT PEOPLE
AND THEIR GOVERNMENTS CAN SUMMON,
GERALO A FORD CIBRARY
Digitized from Box 2 of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-2-
"IN A FEW WEEKS THE UNITED STATES WILL CELEBRATE A
GREAT MILESTONE IN ITS HISTORY -- THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY
OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. THIS WILL SERVE AS AN OCCASION
FOR PONDERING THE LESSONS OF TWO CENTURIES OF EXPERIENCE
-- OF THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES -- AND HOW WE ALL MAY
BENEFIT FROM THEM AS WE CONTEMPLATE OUR FUTURE.
"In THIS SENSE, THE CONFERENCE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
WHICH IS INTENDED TO MAKE POSSIBLE A GLOBAL EXCHANGE OF
EXPERIENCE COMES AT AN ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE TIME FOR
US AMERICANS. OUR HISTORY IS A REFLECTION OF OTHER PEOPLES
IN OTHER PLACES. THROUGHOUT OUR EXISTENCE AS A NATION, WE
HAVE BEEN ENRICHED BY IDEAS BROUGHT TO OUR SHORES BY
MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE GLOBE AND BY
THOSE WHO DID NOT STAY BUT WHOSE IDEAS LEFT AN ENDURING
IMPRESSION ON OUR LIVES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS. THE
CONFERENCE WILL PROVIDE US WITH YET ANOTHER MEANS BY WHICH
WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THE WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS AND
ADD NEW DIMENSIONS TO OUR VISION OF OUR NEXT 100 YEARS.
"THERE IS NO TASK MORE COMPELLING THAN THE IMPROVEMENT
OF MAN'S CONDITION, THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU MAKE COULD HAVE
A PROFOUND AND LASTING INFLUENCE ON ALL OF US. THE UNITED
STATES WILL COOPERATE WITH YOU IN SEEKING TO CHART PATHS
THAT OFFER THE PROMISE OF BETTER AND FULLER LIVES FOR ALL
PEOPLE AND HABITATS TRULY WORTHY OF MAN."
SIGNED: GERALD R. FORD
-3-
As WE SEARCH FOR THE KEY TO WHAT PRESIDENT FORD CALLS
"HABITATS WORTHY OF MAN, WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT WE WILL
BE JUDGED, NOT so MUCH ON OUR SKILLS IN THE ARENA OF WORLD
POLITICS, BUT IN OUR WILLINGNESS TO LAY ASIDE THE DEBATES
THAT DIVIDE US AND CONCENTRATE ON THE GREATER NEEDS THAT
BROUGHT US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE,
HABITAT IS A CREATIVE CHALLENGE, SINCE IT IS CERTAIN
THAT OUR OFTEN STERILE -- AND TOO OFTEN RIGID -- THINKING
OF THE PAST WILL NOT SERVE THE AWESOME NEEDS OF THE FUTURE,
THIS CONFERENCE DEMANDS A RADICAL CHANGE IN OUR ENTIRE
PERCEPTION OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS. ABOVE ALL IT CALLS FOR A
LONG RANGE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS AND
OPPORTUNITIES OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS RATHER THAN DEALING
SEPARATELY AND SHORT RANGE WITH EACH CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE MUCH TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER;
MUCH TO TAKE BACK WITH US FOR POSSIBLE APPLICATION TO SIMILAR
NATIONAL PROBLEMS OF OUR OWN, FOR, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBERS AND
THE PROBLEMS ARE GLOBAL -- UNIFYING US IN RESOLVE -- THE CHOICE
OF ACTION BY THE NATIONS HERE ASSEMBLED WILL BE DEFINED IN THE
LONG RUN BY NATIONAL APPLICATION DICTATED BY LOCAL NEEDS, LOCAL
ECONOMICS, LOCAL CUSTOMS AND LOCAL EXPERIENCE.
-4-
THE EXPERIENCE OF MY COUNTRY IS SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP
OF OUR FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF IN A FREE SOCIETY IN WHICH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC POLICY IS BASED ON THE ACTIVE
PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF ALL OUR CITIZENS.
IT IS THE COMBINED VOICE, AND FORCE, OF ALL OUR CITIZENS,
REPRESENTING ALL SIDES AND ALL ASPECTS OF THE QUESTION OF
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS WHICH PROVIDE OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WITH
THE CRITICAL INFORMATION AND JUDGMENT ESSENTIAL TO BALANCING
THE OPPOSING FORCES OF INEVITABLE GROWTH AND FINITE RESOURCES,
WHILE RESPONDING TO OUR NEEDS,
NEVER HAS THE FLEXIBILITY OF OUR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
BEEN MORE CHALLENGED THAN BY OUR EXPERIENCE IN URBANIZATION.
IN THE SPACE OF LESS THAN 100 YEARS WE HAVE MOVED FROM A
SPARSE AGRARIAN SOCIETY TO A CROWDED URBAN SOCIETY. IN THE
PROCESS WE HAVE EXPERIMENTED WITH HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS AND
VIRTUALLY THOUSANDS OF INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS TO DEAL
WITH THIS CHANGE.
BOTH OUR MISTAKES AND OUR TRIUMPHS HAVE BEEN HIGHLY
VISIBLE TO US -- AND TO THE REST OF THE WORLD -- AND OFFER
A LABORATORY OF HARD LESSONS TO OTHER NATIONS AT THIS
CONFERENCE, NOW, AND LONG AFTER HABITAT HAS BEEN ADJOURNED.
-5-
WE ARE HERE TO SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE WE DERIVED FROM THE
APPROACHES WE HAVE TRIED -- BOTH THOSE THAT WORKED AND THOSE
THAT FAILED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW NOW THAT IN SPITE OF THE SUPPORT
OF URBANISTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, IN SPITE OF OUR NOBLE
INTENTIONS AND HARD WORK, AND IN SPITE OF STRONG PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE FINANCING -- WHOLESALE URBAN RENEWAL CAN DESTROY
THE CULTURE, SPIRIT AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF AN URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE LEARNED BY THAT MISTAKE, AND NOW RATHER THAN BY CLEARING
THEM OUT, UP-ROOTING THE RESIDENTS AND REBUILDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
FROM THE GROUND UP, WE ARE RECLAIMING OUR CENTER-CITIES BY
PRESERVING AND RESTORING AND ADDING.
WITH RESOURCES so SCARCE, WE MUST BE CREATIVE IN THE
RE-USE OF EVERY EXISTING AND SERVICIBLE RESOURCE THAT REMAINS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LARDER,
As A NATION OF THE WORLD, OUR EXPERIENCE AND OUR LESSONS
CANNOT BE ISOLATED FROM THE GLOBAL EXPERIENCE. INDEED, THE
DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE --- AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MY COUNTRY -- WAS PART OF THAT GLOBAL
EXPERIENCE.
-6-
TODAY, AS THE RAPID SHRINKING OF OUR PLANETARY HABITAT
AFFIRMS THE NAIVETE OF SOME OF OUR PAST CONCEPTS, WE MUST
CONCEDE THAT:
No NATION'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT CAN BE INSULATED
FROM THE GLOBAL ECONOMY -- NOR FROM THE NECESSITY OF
POSITIVE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE KIND WE ARE
ENGAGED IN RIGHT HERE.
FOR SOUND NATIONAL PLANNING BENEFITS THE ENTIRE WORLD
COMMUNITY; AND COOPERATIVE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT AUGMENTS THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF NATIONAL PROGRAMS,
WE CANNOT SHIRK OUR OBLIGATIONS -- AS WORLD CITIZENS --
TO THE NEEDS OF THE MANY POOR PEOPLE AND POOR NATIONS AMONG
US, TOGETHER, WE DO HAVE THE TECHNICAL ABILITY TO PROVIDE
A SUITABLE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY LIVING MEMBER OF THE
HUMAN RACE TODAY. THE QUESTION IS OUR MORAL COMMITMENT TO
THAT OLDEST QUEST OF HUMANITY -- A WORLD WITHOUT POVERTY.
-7-
IT IS CLEAR THAT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF HUMAN BEINGS
IN SETTLEMENTS, RESULTING BOTH FROM HIGH BIRTH RATES AND
FROM MIGRATION, CRITICALLY COMPLICATES THE TASK OF PROVIDING
A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EACH AND CALLS FOR A REDEDICATION
TO THE WORLD POPULATION PLAN OF ACTION ADOPTED ALMOST
UNAMINOUSLY IN BUCHAREST IN 1974 AND NOW BEING EFFECTIVELY
IMPLEMENTED IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.
IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT WE CANNOT ACHIEVE A WORLD WITHOUT
POVERTY WITHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EXPANDING WORLD ECONOMY,
GOOD INTENTIONS ALONE WILL NOT TURN THE MAGIC KEY. WE CANNOT
ACCOMPLISH IT WITH A ONE-WAY FLOW OF FUNDS FROM THE RICHER
NATIONS TO THE POORER NATIONS --- A METHOD TRIED AND FOUND
WANTING, BOTH BY THE NATIONS WHO HAVE BORNE THE HEAVY BURDEN
AND BY THOSE WHO HAVE FELT THEIR NATIONAL PRIDE COMPROMISED
BY A RELATIONSHIP OF CONTINUING DEPENDENCY ON THE GOOD WILL
OF OTHERS.
THUS, WE BRING TO THIS CONFERENCE A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS -- TEMPERED BY OUR NATIONAL EXPERIENCE
AND FAITHFUL TO THE FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
-- PARTICULARLY RESPONDING TO THE EXPRESSED CONCERNS OF
- DEVELOPING NATIONS,
-8-
THE UNITED STATES EMPHASIZES FOUR AREAS OF PRIORITIES
AND PROGRAMS TO ASSIST THOSE COUNTRIES:
FOOD PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND NUTRITION.
POPULATION PLANNING AND HEALTH.
EDUCATION, AND
HUMAN RESOURCES.
EACH OF THESE IS ESSENTIAL TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS POLICY -- BUT, UNTIL NOW, WE HAVE TENDED
TO DEAL WITH THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
HABITAT ITSELF, IN ITS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE
HUMAN SETTLEMENT, REINFORCES OUR NATIONAL DETERMINATION TO
EFFECT CHANGES IN SOME OF OUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS:
FIRST: To ACHIEVE IMPROVED RURAL/URBAN BALANCE, WE
ARE DEVELOPING NEW INTEGRATED AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACHES
TO HELP NATIONS WHO WISH TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RURAL REGIONS,
THIS WOULD FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARKET TOWNS AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO THE BOUNDLESS GROWTH OF SINGLE URBAN CENTERS,
IT IS AIMED AT THE INCREASE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION --
AND WITH IT, THE SOUND DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL REGIONS,
-9-
SECOND: WE ARE TURNING TO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
TO PROVIDING SHELTER FOR THE URBAN POOR.
ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUMENTS FOR THIS IS OUR
HOUSING INVESTMENT GUARANTEE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS FINANCED MORE
THAN $1 BILLION OF SHELTER PROJECTS, AND WHICH IS NOW THE
LARGEST SINGLE SOURCE OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCING FOR SHELTER,
AT ITS INCEPTION, THIS WAS A PROGRAM FOR THOSE OF MODERATE
INCOME. WE ARE SHIFTING THAT EMPHASIS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE POOR,
THE HOUSING INVESTMENT GUARANTEE PROGRAM WILL BE USED
INCREASINGLY TO ASSIST THE POOR TO HELP THEMSELVES, IN TWO
WAYS: (1) BY FINANCING SITES AND SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO
BUILD OR COMPLETE THEIR OWN HOUSING; AND (2) BY FINANCING
THE IMPROVEMENT OF SLUM AND SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS TO PROVIDE
BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS,
THIRD: WE WILL SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF MAJOR
DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTS -- APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND CREDIT
FOR SMALL PRODUCERS, FAMILY PLANNING, HEALTH, NUTRITION,
AND EDUCATION -- so THAT THE PROGRAMS WILL PROVIDE BETTER
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE POOR TO EXPAND THEIR INCOMES AND GAIN
EASIER ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES THEY NEED.
-10-
FOURTH, IN TECHNOLOGY, LAST MONTH, AT THE UNITED NATIONS
CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT, SECRETARY KISSINGER
OUTLINED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT EVER PUT FORWARD BY
THE UNITED STATES TO DEAL WITH THE APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY
TO DEVELOPMENT. MANY OF THE PROGRAMS HAVE IMPORTANT RELEVANCE
TO HUMAN SETTLEMENTS ACTIVITIES.
SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY OFFERS ENORMOUS PROMISE AS AN
INSTRUMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PLANNING,
REMOTE SENSING SATELLITES CAN BE USED TO COLLECT DATA ON
LAND USE, SOIL TYPES, TRANSPORTATION, AND DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERNS,
MODERN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING SATELLITES,
HAVE A LARGE, UNTAPPED POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE EDUCATION,
TRAINING, HEALTH SERVICES, AND FOOD PRODUCTION.
OBVIOUSLY, SINCE EVERY NATION IS DIFFERENT, ALL OF OUR
SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES WILL NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO ALL NATIONS,
BUT, WE OFFER ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGIES WHICH HELP THE
UNITED STATES IN MANAGING OUR URBAN/RURAL ENVIRONMENT --
BOTH AS AN INSIGHT TO OUR NATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND AS EVIDENCE
OF OUR DESIRE TO SHARE OUR ACCUMULATION OF KNOWLEDGE WITH
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHOSE URBAN GROWTH IS ALREADY OUT-PACING
OUR OWN.
-11-
AND FEW SUBJECTS ARE MORE CENTRAL TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF
OUR HABITATS THAN THE UTILIZATION OF WATER RESOURCES. THE
TECHNOLOGY OF STORING, TRANSPORTING, AND PURIFYING WATER IS
FUNDAMENTAL TO THE HEALTH AND EVEN THE SURVIVAL OF HUMAN
SETTLEMENTS,
IN ADDITION THE UNITED STATES WILL ENCOURAGE ITS UNIVERSITIES,
INSTITUTES, AND TRAINING CENTERS TO ESTABLISH SPECIAL PROGRAMS
FOR STUDENTS AND PERSONNEL OF DEVELOPING NATIONS -- IN
BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS, PUBLIC MANAGEMENT, HEALTH,
WELFARE AND RELATED SOCIO-ECONOMIC FIELDS,
My GOVERNMENT WILL ENCOURAGE FORMATION OF A TECHNOLOGY
CORPS -- TO PARALLEL OUR EXECUTIVE SERVICE CORPS -- TO WORK
WITH AND HELP TRAIN LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE NEW AND COMPLEX
PROBLEMS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS MANAGEMENT,
AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXPANDING THE CAPABILITIES OF
THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR EXCHANGE OF
TECHNOLOGICAL INFORMATION. To THAT END, THE UNITED STATES
ALREADY HAS MOVED TO IMPROVE THE CENTER'S ACCESS TO THE
EXISTING INFORMATION CENTERS OF OUR COUNTRY.
-12-
THE OBJECT IS TO DELIVER THE MAXIMUM USABLE SETTLEMENTS
INFORMATION TO THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THE MINIMUM TIME
AND WITH THE LEAST NUMBER OF BARS TO READY ACCESSIBILITY,
My GOVERNMENT OFFERS THIS CONFERENCE AND THE NATIONS
OF THE WORLD THE BEST OF WHAT WE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE -- NOT
OUT OF CHARITY NOR A SENSE OF BEHOLDEN INDEBTEDNESS.
THE RESOURCES OF THE WORLD -- WHEREVER LOCATED -- ARE
VITAL TO ALL OF US; AS IS THE WORLD ECONOMY BY WHICH WE ALL
MUST LIVE.
AT THE 7TH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, LAST
SEPTEMBER, OUR NATIONS AGREED ON AN AGENDA OF MUTUAL INTERNATIONAL
ACTION, SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH HISTORIC
INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE AND FINANCE.
WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MUCH. WE STILL HAVE MUCH TO DO.
To CONCLUDE WITH THE WORDS OF SECRETARY KISSINGER:
-13-
"MATERIALLY, AS WELL AS MORALLY, OUR DESTINIES ARE
INTERTWINED. THERE REMAIN ENORMOUS THINGS FOR US TO DO. WE
SAY (ONCE MORE) TO THE NEW NATIONS OF THE WORLD: WE HAVE
HEARD YOUR VOICES. WE EMBRACE YOUR HOPES. WE WILL JOIN
YOUR EFFORTS,
"WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR COMMON SUCCESS."
THANK YOU.