If you were lucky enough to see it, Earth from Above was the stirring, photographic installation project of Frenchman Yann Arthus-Bertrand that toured the world. A decade in the making, the collection of images taken from the air, documented both the World’s natural and man-made happenings. Not satisfied with either the exhibition, or DVD of the same images, in 2009, Yann, who was possibly inspired by Jehane Noujaim’s Pangea Day, is releasing Home. In partnership with French film director Luc Besson, and a global PR firm, Yann is simultaneously broadcasting the film on the same day in over 50 countries. That day, is World Environment Day, June 5. There’s no place like home. (Apologies, it’s late…;)
Tag Archive for 'environment'
the brief.
In recognition of the power of visual communication, Greenpeace Australia in collaboration with The University of South Australia, has launched The Greenpeace Design Awards. The brief is to design an A4 poster that delivers the message ‘Be a Part of the Action’. Entries are open until June 15, from when 8 judges will cut the cream from the clutter. Kudos not coins will be bestowed upon the winning entry, which will be considered for use in major Greenpeace Australia Pacific campaigns. Look here and here to start the cogs turning. Good luck!
The Global Financial Crisis. The Economic Cyclone. The Political Shitstorm. The Global Recession. Regardless the brand of cloak this event is given, 2008 will forever be known as when it emerged. The year the market said “No more”. But as Thomas L Friedman writes in the New York Times, what if, in a softer voice, planet’s ecosystems are also saying “no more”. He writes “We have created a system for growth that depended on our building more and more stores to sell more and more stuff made in more and more factories in China, powered by more and more coal that would cause more and more climate change but earn China more and more dollars to buy more and more U.S. T-bills so America would have more and more money to build more and more stores and sell more and more stuff that would employ more and more Chinese … ” We now know the script. Continue reading ‘what were you doing in 2008?’
I’ll let you do the research, there’s just too much to uncover!
My weekend was spent perched on top of some property just outside of Dayboro, where I was privileged to witness one of the most beautiful, yet destructive storms to hit the Brisbane region in years. I wasn’t really aware of the destruction until this afternoon driving back through Ferny Grove and The Gap. I was completely awestruck as we drove past hundreds of trees uprooted and strewn across houses, schools and roads. Another reminder of the immense and unstoppable power of nature.
via Environmental Graffiti: Welcome to the world of Reverse Graffiti, where the artist’s weapons are cleaning materials. It’s an art form that removes dust or dirt rather than adding paint. Some find it intriguing, beguiling, beautiful and imaginative, whereas others look upon it in much the same way as traditional graffiti – a complete lack of respect for the law. Reverse Graffiti challenges ideals and perceptions while at the same time shapes and changes the environment in which we live, whether people think for the better, or not. Continue reading ‘clean graffiti’
a balinese blessing
I had high hopes for the week in Bali. I’d heard therapeutic-sounding tales of the island’s virtues; a place perfect for relaxation, massages and downtime. This was my main aim for the week; an island getaway.
Only two hours by plane from Darwin, the temperature was similar to the Top End; a little humid and barely dropping below 27 degrees. After being picked up from the airport by my driver, Yeoman, we whizzed through narrow streets lined with a blur of wooden furniture shops, stone statues of ancient gods, and colourful flags. We were on our way to my haven-from-the-world for the week, a ‘cultural village’ called Desa Seni.
The village is about 30 minutes from the airport in Denpasar, so Yeoman and I had time to chat on the way. He told me that after the bomb attacks at Jimbaran and Kuta in 2005, many tourists stopped coming to Bali. Now, slowly they have started to come back. Through the city streets we sped, while Yeoman pointed out some key points of interest on the way, Continue reading ‘a balinese blessing’
tears of a cloud.
Passionate and smart people are sexy. Passionate, smart and environmentally-minded people are hot! EarthFirst.com have put out their list of the 25 Hottest Guys and Girls in Green. The Guys List. The Girls List. Its a bit too easy to say some actors and celebrities are the hottest guys and girls, but look past that and it’s a list of some amazing people (including some people I bet you already have crushes on).
In the history of the world, has humanity ever reached a tipping point like the one we seemingly face, with the knowledge we’ve created it and the capabilities to ensure it never happens again? And not just environmentally but economically, culturally, socially and industrially as well? Each day when I read the news I anticipate (depending on the section) which bank has collapsed, how close we are to a recession, what the latest science is telling us about climate change, and with more acceptance than I should have, I gloss over the latest conflict in the West Bank, bombings in Pakistan and the war in Iraq. But in the midst of this insatiable media reporting, some communication mediums give me pause to also consider if there ever been a better time to be positive and opportunistic about the future? Continue reading ‘being blue.’
To commemorate yesterday, the oil lobby group of and workers union of Australia formed an alliance to raise concerns about emission trading schemes which could potentially hurt their industries. Reportedly, Martin Ferguson, Federal Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism (interesting portfolio), also announced increased efforts in coal and gas exploration. Meanwhile, in Wellington New Zealand, host of World Environment Day, Anote Tong, President of the low lying nation of Kiribati, told a news conference marking World Environment Day that changes were obvious in his country of 92,000 people where land had been eroded and crops lost. In other environmental news, the world’s largest landfill was brought to my attention. Residing in the Pacific ocean, in two giant areas exceeding the size of the United States of America, the Pacific Garbage Patch, as it is known, is a culmination of waste discarded from ships, oil rigs and from terrestrial populations, Australia included. In Sydney, winds of 30/40knots continued to batter and drive rain over the coastline and I reflected how fitting it was to feel like I wasn’t in control on this day. At least, not in control of its weather. Or am I?
As a species, we are addicted to habits. Habits are formed by neural pathways in the mind which are created from repeated behaviours. One of the most widespread and hardest addictions to break, is in breaking habits. Tomorrow is World Environment Day. And I have a challenge for you from the Earth, for the Earth is me. Do one thing tomorrow which breaks a habit and helps the Earth. Be it showering by candlelight, contacting Jack Green energy, riding to work, taking a ceramic cup to the cafe on the corner, researching ethical investment funds, donating to charities, purchasing simple products for communities in the developing world. Just do one thing tomorrow that changes your normal behaviour. And then try and do it again on Friday. Continue reading ‘kick the habit.’
ecopera.
The symbiosis of art and ecology has always proved to be a provocative and powerful form of visual communication. WWF’s campaigns against pollution, Greenpeace’s naked protest on a Swiss glacier, and campaigns by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has always challenged and stirred the emotions to illustrate but a few. Ecopera, while flying under the radar of its more established counterparts, is an online, international portal, that allows graphic artists to address environmental issues through contemporary art. There are some beautiful works here and plans to open an online store selling prints and shirts with funds being donated to charities. At last glance, I couldn’t see any names from Australia. Perhaps it will be you?
conscious capitalism.
February 29, 2008
Architecture, Arts/Culture, Business with a conscience, Design, Green, Humanitarian, Inspire, Media and Social Issues
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Whenever I see another toothbrush redesigned, or a men’s razor again claiming it’s the most closest shave ever, now with 4 blades, embedded shaving gel, light titanium handle, magnetized head and revolutionary anti-slice technology, I think why? Simultaneously, I am also continuously amazed at the progression of knowledge and innovation in regards to these and other products, which each year seem to emerge with yet another amazing break through. In this film, via treehugger, this panel of designers, thinkers and business people, debate the question, ‘How do “our own growing individual needs for self-actualization and meaning” affect how we consume? Design is responsible for meeting the needs of consumers in the world. It follows therefore, that designers carry an immense responsibility to identify and design what products and services we need, and the impact they have on the environment in which they are made from, used and disposed of. It’s great viewing for entrepreneurs, designers, brand managers, product designers, environmentalists, businesses and consumers alike. Check it out after hours tonight.
get dirty
Monitor green sea turtles in the Northern Territory’s remote Cobourg Peninsula, work with local Aboriginal landowners to conserve a nature refuge behind Broome’s Cable Beach, or spend an afternoon restoring remnant bushland around Brisbane. Australia’s largest practical conservation group, Conservation Volunteers Australia, teams volunteers with short and overnight-stay conservation projects nation-wide. With over 10,000 volunteers a year and over 2,000 conservation projects under its tool-belt, there are stacks of unique opportunities to contribute, learn and explore. Connect to a local opportunity, or plan a trip to the other side of the continent.“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes.” - Marcel Proust
fashionable business.
With big business gradually waking up to the fact that you can’t do business on a dead planet and consumers eager to support this ethos, earlier this year Marks & Spencer (M&S) launched a five year, hundred point plan to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing its business and the world. The company has pledged to become carbon neutral and send no waste to landfill by 2012. Among other efforts, M&S will also extend sustainable sourcing, set new standards in ethical trading and help customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle. On its website, M&S disclose the progress they are making in line with the plan. They have so far, switched to renewable energy to power 200 of their food stores in England and Wales, re-labeled three quarters of their clothing range printing ‘Think Climate wash at 30′ on their labels, which if followed saves 40% in energy use from washing them at 40 degrees, ordered their first zero emissions electric truck for transportation purposes and have joined efforts with the WWF and other campaigns to encourage the investigation and reduction of personal carbon footprints. And these results are just for responding to climate change.
While these efforts are a world away from us here in Brisbane, as citizens, we too can start to talk about it and request it of our commercial brands and outlets. I recall contacting Virgin a year or so ago and asked if Virgin offered any offsetting options. The person didn’t know what I was talking about. A few months later, and a Virgin billboard announced their green commitment. Now I am by no means claiming the response, but change is afoot and if business doesn’t take action, we need to.
A five-part series called “Altered Oceans,” about a profound disturbance in the ecology of the world’s oceans, has won The 2007 Grantham Prize for excellence in reporting on the environment. The purpose of the Prize is to encourage outstanding coverage of the environment, to recognize reporting that has the potential to bring about constructive change, and to broadly disseminate the Prize-winning story to increase public awareness and understanding of issues focusing on the environment. The Prize is awarded annually to nonfiction work done in North America during the previous calendar year in newspapers, magazines, and books and on television, cable, radio, and online. I came to learn this off the National Geographic website, an amazing resource for any human who wants to learn about the history and state of the natural environment and our dynammic and fragile relationship with the rise and fall, sea breeze and shorebreak, heartbeat and thunder roll of its existence. It also teaches you how to react to a 20ft shark tugging on your calf. Great stuff.
Recently I was fortunate enough to have a few days r’n'r up in the Atherton Tablelands. The one thing more than all else that stood out for me was the green-ness of this wonderful place on earth. There is certainly no shortage of water up there as you can see from these shots. Another little blessing from this trip was the quality time spent with some very cute and fury critters called ‘Lumholtz’ or Tree Kangaroos, yes they do actually live in trees! Although, these ones do appear rather comfortable in the kitchen.
leaving impressions.
With a desire to create images that ‘fix in the mind’, the compositions of artist Josh Keyes certainly demand to be given the chance. His style, while surreal, is distinct from Magritte, Dali, Frida and Rousseau, breaking new ground in the use of scientific relationships between objects and subjects, and environmental settings. Drawing on a cast of animal characters, (an orcha of which has been diving through reoccurring dreams since he was 9), many of his paintings convey a projection of a probable future for us and the planet. But before I apply for a role as an art critic, I’ll allow the man himself to comment. “The polarity between the hard, factual, realism, and emotional expression creates tension. The intersection between things known and things felt is what interests me. As a side note, the scientific, dissection and cross section model expresses a certain hidden or underlying beauty of how all things are interrelated. A cross section can expose the root structure of a tree, or express geological time through the different layers and strata of the earth and soil”. So true. And herein lies the genius of the artist or any creative or innovator; in stating and applying new ideas which appeal and make sense. And in case you were wondering, Josh still paints without a mouse.