This conference is an example. We come from very different cultures, we speak different languages, we think differently. Yet, we have found it exciting to share our ideas, to challenge our complacencies. Translators and interpreters have helped us bridge some of our differences. One of the biggest challenges of participatory planning is the need to bridge cultures.
Different cultures exist even in one country.
Each of these circles is occupied by a different culture. In this case it is professional or interest cultures, but it could be nationalities or provinces, even age groups. The language, the values, the personalities of professionals in each of these fields are quite different. For instance, the culture and world view of people who work in tourism is quite different from the culture and world view of environmentalists. Each of these cultures has its own language, values, morality, and perceptions of the other cultures.