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Cultura 21

Cultural actions and ecology are being constantly discussed within Cultura21. This network deals with environmental concerns out of both an artistic and scientific perspective. As such it brings the question of culture to bear upon the most widely used, at the same often least understood or even misunderstood term, namely that of 'sustainable development'.

One reason for this is as David Haley explains a scientific led debate about climate change leaves often the wider public unable to follow what is at stake. There is the fear that industry and lobbyists pay even to develop counter arguments. Always the limit is set by the political precaution that no public panic should be caused by spreading fear. Thus life should continue as if all problems in the making can not only be solved, but money made off the process aiming to find a solution. Thus the response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was as confusing as not only a matter of what is technical manageable under such extreme conditions. The same applies to the radiation leaking out of the defunct Fukushima reactors. Even those who have survived up to now in close by range to Chernobyl have been taught an important lesson when looking at what is happening in Japan. They thought often enough why their government at that time did not inform them in time about the cloud about to release radioactive materials once a rain would triggered off artificially. The rain came down without warning. They thought then they had no Internet, no global news coverage and hoped in future the public would be informed in time to seek other precautionary measures or seek safety before it is too late. But what has happened in Japan after an earthquake close to 9 on the Richter scale triggered off a Tsunami, has led even some to believe a military like emergency government rules in Japan and thus only spare news and information was released. Only step by step did the government admit the area around Fukushima was unsafe for people to stay there.

Thus, artistis like David Haley, Avviva Rahmani and Insa Winkler attempt through art to bring about another way of informing the public. Insa describes how people respond to unusual heavy rain fall often as if a sign of God, but certainly they do not connect it necessarily to climate change.

Given art as a way to alter perception by deepening sense experiences while relating differently to an abstract phenomenon like climate change, radiation, needs for water management, it is crucial to pick up the thesis of David Haley as he speaks about the need to acknowledge first of all 'the limits of sustainability'.

Thinkers of Cultura21

Sacha Kagan
Research Associate, Institute of Cultural Theory, Research and the Arts (IKKK), Leuphana University Lueneburg (www.leuphana.de/ikkk)
Founding Coordinator, Cultura21 International (www.cultura21.net)
Founding Director, International Summer School of Arts and Sciences for Sustainability in Social Transformation (ASSiST : http://assist2010.ning.com )
Personal website: http://sachakagan.wordpress.com

Oleg Koefoed
Ph.D, Philosopher
Cultura21 Nordic & International
oleg@cultura21.dk
Mob: +45 53 53 95 72
http://www.cultura21.dk

Davide Brocchi

Hans Dieleman

Hatto Fischer

Artists within the Cultura21 network

Dr. David Haley
Senior Research Fellow
Director, Ecology In Practice [EIP]
MA Art As Environment Programme Leader

MIRIAD
Manchester Metropolitan University
G10 Righton Building, Cavendish Street,
Manchester M15 6 BG

T: +44 (0)161 247 1093
F: +44 (0)161 2476870
M: 07725 405 365
W: www.artdes.mmu.ac.uk/profile/dhaley
W: www.miriad.mmu.ac.uk/artandecology

Insa Winkler

Talking Umbrella Projekt: 
http://www.futurelandscape.eu/files/index_submenu.php?seite=4&folge=00

Peaceflower KIel:
http://www.futurelandscape.eu/files/index_submenu.php?seite=9&folge=24

Important links:

Cultura21 eBooks series: http://magazin.cultura21.de/piazza/texte

Cultura21 Webmagazine: http://magazin.cultura21.de/

National Centre of Biotopes and Wetlands:www.ekby.gr

David McNicoll, Journey of a Citizen to alter Ottawa City Hall's agenda on development and sustainability:  http://web.ncf.ca/journeyofacitizen

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