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01 The Past
Though megacities are a recent phenomenon, many traits of the modern metropolis have their origins in our past. We look to Britain's industrial revolution for answers…
The Past

The Past

For much of human history there have existed cities that dwarfed the villages & towns around them. Rome, Baghdad, Constantinople, Beijing.
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02 The Present
As megacities emerge at an increasing rate, the problems they face become many and varied.
Metropolis Now

Metropolis Now

In 2008, cities became the dominant human habitat and half of humanity now lives in cities.
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Lonely in Tokyo

Lonely in Tokyo

The youth of Tokyo are miserable, but the city's elderly aren't faring much better.
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Growing in the Gutters

Growing in the Gutters

Half of Manila's population lives in slums, but institutional corruption means that little has been done to help the urban poor.
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Trash Talk

Trash Talk

In megacities across the globe, the poorest populations are doing incredible things with rubbish.
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The Shenzhen Effect

The Shenzhen Effect

The story behind Shenzhen's three-decade transformation from village to megacity.
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Fashion Disasters

Fashion Disasters

Rocked by a series of fatal disasters, change is coming to Dhaka's garment industry.
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Outwards and Upwards

Outwards and Upwards

Hundreds of thousands have flocked to Karachi in search of a better life, but can the city cope?
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Bad Breath

Bad Breath

Bad air is a problem that affects most megacities but many governments are keen to play down its effects on the population.
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Capital Gains

Capital Gains

Lagos's dynastic government prefers to service rich over poor, and shows no sign of losing its grip.
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Crisis By Cartel

Crisis By Cartel

Mexico's cartels are migrating into the capital, and many of the inhabitants are struggling to keep up.
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Shit Storm

Shit Storm

The struggle to keep water clean is one of the most pressing issues in the megacities of the developing world.
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Fraud's New Frontier

Fraud's New Frontier

Cybercrime in Brazil is on the rise, with gangs offering training to aspiring fraudsters at very reasonable rates.
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