ARTISTS at COP17, DURBAN

In the spirit of collaboration and creative solidarity and also in an effort to distinguish the unique contributions as Artists to COP17, COPART will host an open platform for all local and visiting artists to share plans, collaborate and, if needed, support each other in performances or activities.

 

HOSTED BY THE  COPART MOVEMENT

The broad sphere of sustainability oftentimes responds to the symptoms of climate change and environmental decline, or perhaps the structural or technical elements of our system, aiming to try 'fix' the problems, as if only a single component is 'broken'.  Yet we all know the social and natural world is too complex and organic to be treated like a broken toaster.

While many are responding to the technological, scientific, economic and political responses to climate change, artists are working with the systemic cultural foundations that underpin meaningful social change.

Everyone with an imagination is welcome to this open exchange 

WHERE: STUDIO 5 THEATRE at UKZN, DURBAN
WHEN: 29th November 201,  9h30-12h30
Invitation to artists of all disciplines who will be at COP17.
Contact Dylan armadylan@gmail.com or Kyla kylalliandavis@gmail.com  for more information

BUY NOTHING day: 27 November

Greenpop - Cool as Folk party at Assembly!

Please take a few minutes to complete Project90x2030's South African Electricity Policy Survey. Please do it NOW - It only takes 5 minutes and they’d love to know what you think.

http://90x2030.polldaddy.com/s/tell-parliamentarians-what-you-think-about-electricity-policy-in-south-africa

In these last few weeks of run-up to COP17, Project 90 by 2030 is collaborating with a number of other organisations who are concerned about what we leave behind for future generations. They’re taking key questions about our electricity future (and the obvious influence that this has on emissions for South Africa, and all aspects of social and economic justice), to members of Parliament!

Join on Saturday!

Designer Nature - Cross Pollination Workshop

Operation UBUNTU

JOIN ON SATURDAY!

From Saturday, OCTOBER 15th, 8am, in unison with Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Grahamstown, East London (SA), London, Australia, Asia and many USA cities - We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%.

www.occupysa.org/


Our Mission

From the 15th of October we want to see people flood into South African cities' allocated spaces, (www.occupysa.org/) set up general assembly points, public educational areas, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy the public spaces in front of the allocated focal points - not the buildings themselves. 15 October is only the beginning, the start of the occupation, so to those who say: "It is too short notice!" - let your people know and join in as soon as you can. The date of the 15th was decided worldwide - not locally. We are in Unity with all the people on this planet who has said: "Enough is Enough". We have just woken up in our masses and realised - Hey - we are being controlled by corruption and greed - something is wrong with this picture. The 1% of people who own and control everything and who are trying to keep the masses enslaved and asleep has to know that we see through their game. We do not have the answers yet - we'll work on it together to restore a fair and humane society flourishing in freedom. All we definitely agree upon is that something is not right.

Watch: Nobody Can Predict The Moment Of Revolution

http://vimeo.com/29513113

Like our brothers and sisters at Wall Street and in Egypt, Greece, Spain, and Iceland, we plan to restore freedom in South Africa. We also encourage the use of non-violence to achieve our ends and maximize the safety of all participants. We are a peaceful protest. If you get angry they have you where they want you. They have no tools against Peace, Love and Truth. If things get heated we calmly ask our fellow human being to remember it is a peaceful protest or we disperse to re-group. No-one wants to spend time in a local jail.

Who is Occupy SA - Operation Ubuntu?

Occupy SA - Operation Ubuntu is a leaderless resistance movement with people of many colours, genders, sexual orientations, religious and spiritual beliefs and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. The People come as the People. Another thing we have in common is that we have woken up from our sleep. We have changed within - now we can co-create without - nobody is going to do it for us. No Deity is going take away our free will and create Paradise for us - we have to lovingly do it ourselves. No alien race is going to land and re-create it for us, it is up to us as ONE.

This is not organised by Anonymous, although some will wear Guy Fawkes masks, not by the Ubuntu Party, not by communists, the DA, the ANC Youth League, not by any political party, not by George Soros, not by government spies who want to get all the liberals and activists in one spot and then catch them and send them to concentration camps, not by any movement with hidden agendas. This is organised by you who said: "Enough is Enough - I see what is going on and I have to make my voice heard". We are against globalisation and the New World Order and for Unity Consciousness, we are against the monetary system and know that no politician really wants the change that is being called for because then they have no job too.

The original call went out when we were watching Occupy Wall Street on facebook and youtube, before RT was covering it and we thought, hey those are our kinda people. We feel the same, we saw Zeitgeist Moving Forward, we know that the monetary system is ancient and it is time for the new way of doing things. Some of us have seen that democracy is a scam and that freedom is the answer. Now don't start with: "So you want to barter? blah-blah... - We have not decided what the answer is, so join and make your voice heard. If your ideas are better than a Resource Based Economy then make it known. Don't just attack the ones we have been waiting for who are calling for change - do something. You are not alone. We are part of the same people all over the world who have seen there is a better way of doing things - we are not bound with borders, we are all part of the same human family. What happens to one happens to all - Unity Consciousness. There'll also be similar occupations on 15 October in Asia, Canada, Australia, London, and Cities in the USA.

Now we would like to see if you are willing to Occupy SA on and from October 15th.

Who are you?

Are you looking for an email address to contact the leader, you don't find who are the organizers of the event, you find lots of manifesto, you are not sure if there is an official site, are you wondering about us? Then you are on the right track. Here are no leaders, no egos with invested interest - no toes to step on. Chances are that if you have a question - you will have to get the answer! "How are we going to let people without internet know about this?" - Becomes: "How are YOU going to let people without internet know about this?" "Is there an event in my city or town?" Google or facebook search it and if there is not - create it. "Do we have a sound system?" Bring yours. "Do we have food?" Make sandwiches. "Do we have posters and slogans?" Create it. You use your talents and together the whole picture becomes clear. We love it when a plans come together ;-)

But the answer is: Who are YOU?

First remember who you are not. You are not a slave who keeps on moaning - "Oh my gosh it's Monday again, I hate my job, I barely make enough to get through the month. I can't wait for Friday to do what I want. I have sooo much student debt, I have no medical aid. Why must I pay so much more for electricity and then the Escom bosses get 150% salary increases? Why does two bags of groceries cost more than R500? Why does my cellphone not last forever? Why is everything made to break down? Why have I voted for my politician and nothing has changed?"

You are one of the human family who knows that actually all energy is free, cars can run on water, free education and medical is a basic human right. You are abundant. You are powerful. You are awake. You are who you were born to be. You are the one you have been waiting for to bring forth change.
October 15th is a day where people of the world will show they are tired of the world as it is, will take to the streets and start to work for a worldwide change. Nobody has to tell them what to fight for, nobody has to give magic solutions, nobody has to lead the way.

If the call for October 15th belongs to someone, that is you!. Take the ownership of the call, launch it as if you were the main organizer, do the manifesto you want and post it in the NEWS section, disseminate it by all media you have, do from it whatever you believe in. In time we will draw up a manifesto together, combining everything. Do what you KNOW is for the Highest Good of All. Do what you want to be done to you. Love your perceived enemy - they are just sleeping still. Shout the wake-up call. Let your voice be heard. Do what your heart guides you to do.

So if people ask you, who is behind the call, you know what to answer:

"I am".

Because that is what we need, that people take back the world by themselves, without corporate or political funding, without any funding, with no partys, unions, associations who tells them what to do, just gathering together, using collective inteligence to start thinking what to do with this planet. We do not have to have all the answers by the 15th. The 15th is only the beginning of the borderless, leaderless happening that will change the planet.

October 15th the world will be under our influence. It will become whatever we want.
So, who are you?

Operation Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a Nguni word which has no direct translation into English, but is used to describe a particular African worldview in which people can only find fulfilment through interacting with other people. Thus is represents a spirit of kinship across both race and creed which united mankind to a common purpose.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has said "Ubuntu is very difficult to render into a Western language…It is to say. 'My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in what is yours'…"

Ubuntu: a person is a person through other persons.
We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210640619002570  

Design an environmentally friendly trophy

CALL FOR DESIGN PROPOSALS FOR AWARDS TROPHY

The Department of Arts & Culture have an Annual Services Awards Ceremony for honouring exceptional work in the fields of Arts & Culture; Museums; Language; Heritage; Libraries; Archives; and the Minister's Special Award. For the 2011/12 awards ceremony trophies, the Department of Cultural Affairs and sports is inviting proposals and designs from VANSA artists and designers.

The brief and specifications are as follows:

Aesthetically beautiful, sleek, aspirant, prestigious, inspirational, delightful, sought-after, glamorous, intrinsically sculptural - a statue designed for a handheld trophy or award. It requires a base with provision for an engraved plaque - details for the engraving will be supplied on request. You are encouraged to explore the boundaries of design and innovation. Preferably, the materials used should be environmentally friendly. Twenty nine trophies will need to be produced for the awards including the engraving and packaging. Please bear in mind, there is a limited budget for this project so designs should take this into account.

Please submit your proposal, design and quotation for the production of the 29 trophies to VANSA Western Cape by 21 October 2011.

Contact VANSA Western Cape for any further details
www.vansa.co.za

To inspire you, here's some great work by designers from all over the world:

Trophy for the 2008 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Sustainable Industries Awards, designed by Australian sculptor Mick Zalesky

Read about this design and its story at onedegree.com.au/invisible-parent/a-sustainable-piece-of-history/

And have a look at some very unique and inspiring trophies at:

• www.tinklertastic.co.uk/trophy_gallery_15.html 
• www.gaudio-awards.com/awards/sustainable-awards

Dear artist friends

A contact through 350.org is calling for artist applications on climate change related work. Submit your video work and spread the word to other artists! 

Last Chance Travel is a travel agency disguised as performance art (or is it the other way around?), specializing in expertise about how and where to travel in a post-climate change world.  We are also a gallery showcasing other artists, performers, scientists, designers and activists making work that visualizes climate change impacts.   As part of the project, we'll also be building an online repository of images that will continue to grow after our time in the physical space is over. 

A call for artistshas just been posted, looking for work (performance, 2D art, video, lectures) that helps to visualize climate change impacts. If you're an artist, activist, or any other interested person or group, SUBMIT YOUR WORK! They aim to accumulate a beautiful, thought provoking collection of imagery from around the world. 

THANK YOU 
TO EVERYONE WHO WERE INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATED IN MOVING PLANET ON 24 SEPTEMBER!!

Have a look at this video by Ecobuzz.org: vimeo.com/29569441 and photographs of the Cape Town Moving Planet parade: www.flickr.com/photos/fairtradesa/sets/72157627631751393/. Also check out photos from Moving Planet events that happened ALL OVER THE WORLD at www.moving-planet.org

9 Days left to Moving Planet!

Saturday, 24 September 2011, is moving closer and we're all getting more excited! Remember to decide what low-carbon mode of transport you're using to get to the Cape Town Train Station Forecourt, whether it's train, bus, minibus-taxi or carpooling. Remember you're allowed to bring your bicycle on Metrorail for R10 extra on the day. See you there!! Also please help spread the word, here is some visuals that you can use, share, post, circulate and MOVE around to let people know about the event.

Invite/emailer:


Website/blog banners:





Download and print the leaflets (right-click and choose "Save link/target as..."):
http://www.janetbotes.co.za/PRINT_4_on_a_page_leaflet.pdf

And the poster (right-click and choose "Save link/target as..."):
http://www.janetbotes.co.za/MovingPlanetCapeTown_POSTER.pdf


And here's the links to share!
Moving Planet Cape Town
"Like" us on Facebook
RSVP on the Facebook Event Page
Moving Planet - CT on Twitter

Also if you're keen to help with some mud stenciling and reverse/clean graffiti during next week, sms Janet at 072 331 5057.

Things to do at home

Project 90x2030 - committed to inspiring South Africans from all sectors of society to do their bit to preserve the environment, committed to changing the way they live by 90% by the year 2030 - just launched their Interactive Household Tool - check it out at housetool.90x2030.org.za. It provides you with ways and ideas to make changes in your home that save energy, carbon, water and even money...



Also join in with Planting Season starting on 23 September! www.plantingseason.co.za. Here's what it's all about:

Imagine 1,000,000 South Africans uniting on a single day to plant an organic vegetable in their home or office.

On September 23rd, 2011 we will take a giant leap to becoming self sufficient. Add your name to the list and learn the basics of organic gardening from some of the top experts in the country!

For some awesome ideas on where to plant your veggies and herbs, have a look at the gardensinunexpectedplaces.tumblr.com blog!

National Parks week: 12-16th September 2011

www.capetowngreenmap.co.za/blog/free-entry-national-parks-week

Build, create, help it GROW

The Greening float for the Moving Planet procession on the 24th of September needs help being built! We are working on it Tues, wed and thurs this week at 2:30pm in Cape Town! Email schools@unimasouthafrica.org or artlovenature@gmail.com for more information...

Vote for your favourite Human Rights logo

You might remember a post about a competition for a HUMAN RIGHTS logo - read it again here. Well, now it's time to vote! Public voting start 27 August. Be sure to cast your vote at humanrightslogo.net.

HUMANEARTH EXHIBITIONS: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

HumanEarth is a series of exhibitions centered on the theme of human interaction with nature, to raise awareness for the ways in which we harm the planet and also the ways that we are living in harmony with it.



After several years of commitment to the evolution of environmental understanding, a reshaping and shifting of administrative responsibilities is under way. As you probably know by now, Ecojunki no longer functions within its original context. The HumanEarth Exhibitions now function as an entity, in association with Copart.



The main focus of the HumanEarth exhibitions is to create awareness and to encourage change.



We would appreciate aid finding the following:

1. One marketing assistant

2. One administrative assistant



At this stage, these positions are offered on an unpaid internship basis with the promise of future compensation.



Please contact:



Nastasha daniels

Artist, curator and organiser of HumanEarth Exhibitions



C | 078 857 7551

E | Nastasha797@gmail.com



FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES



www.humanearth.withtank.com

www.copartist.org

www.dontcopoutcopart.blogspot.com

350 Moving Planet - Cape Town

"In Cape Town, a collection of green leaders have come together to create a massive event that will celebrate environmental successes while simultaneously demanding change from our leaders.

The Cape Town Moving Planet event will feature a huge march/parade with floats, costumes, puppets and more, with thousands of people, young and old, marching to make change. The event will seek to raise awareness of climate-friendly alternatives to damaging practices like driving your car, cutting down trees, and many other harmful actions. As fun and exciting as it will be, the event will also be a petition, demanding change in the policies and programs put forth by our government that damage the environment.

Alongside the march we will also be hosting an exciting bike ride to promote cycling as an active mode of transportation.

The event should be very exciting and seeks to represent all members of the Cape Town community. We would love it if you got involved, as we want this to be the most powerful and exciting event to date. We are still in the early planning stages of this event, so more specific details like the time and location are to come, but we are excited and hope you are too!"

For more information:

About the Moving Planet action day:
www.moving-planet.org/about
www.350.org

GET INVOLVED!

Event Page for the Cape Town event: www.moving-planet.org/events/za/cape-town/978
Facebook Page for the Cape Town event: www.facebook.com/pages/350-Moving-Planet-Cape-Town/137845456301050


Some of the amazing organisations represented by the people that have joined for this event so far:

• Project 90 by 2030
• Shikaya
• GreenPop
• Fairtrade South Africa
• ...350 Africa
• LitterAWEH!ness
• Anti-fracking Group
• WESSA
• Ecobuzz
• UCT Green Campus Initiative
• Public Health Movement (PHM)
• Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN)
• Cape Town Bicycle Map
• Green Your Art (GYA)
• Skateboarders Association
• UNIMA South Africa
• COPART
• Jungle Theatre Company
• Anglican Church

BUILDING A MOOP TASK TEAM

Do you want to be part of the MOOP task team? Then contact the Afrika Burn organizers. Here's what they've sent out as their call for action:

MOOP, EM.OH.OH.PEE,

Do you know what it is? It stands for Matter Out Of Place, it's refers to rubbish, trash, and anything that does not belong where it lies. Its what there was alot of left in Tankwa Town after the last event. Its what we gave you a big lap on the wrist about in the last newsletter. We believe it happens because of laziness, lack of planning, lack of caring and probably a good done of not enough education.......So to this end we are staring a MOOP Task Team led by the fabulous Shani Judes.

The team is not there to pick up the MOOP, but to EDUCATE to erradicate MOOP at AfrikaBurn in creative and clever ways. They going to be all over MOOP and MOOPERS like a rash in the next while. Does the MOOP problem irritate the crap out of you? Get involved, join the team and send in your ideas to monique@afrikaburn.com.

GYA artist gathering on Friday, 22 July

22 July 2011
3pm

37 Bryant Street, Bo-Kaap

Cape Town, South Africa

GYA is about "Greening your art" and at the moment is focused on creating a platform for artists to gather and talk about ways that we can change all stages our artmaking to be eco-conscious and authentic.

On the 22nd of July we'll be having a look at what Michelle Searle did in a park in Bryant street in the Bo-Kaap in Cape Town. She initiated and pulled through a project where she and her neighbors improved the park so it would be safe for kids to play there. She did a creative mural, and also painted a flower on the pavement in the park, where kids now play and Michelle and other women can have activities with the kids.We'll have snacks and something to drink in the park and at Michelle's home (just around the corner from the park) while talking about either further improving the park or identifying another park or area that needs creative upliftment.

Please bring:
a smile, creativity, enthusiasm, snacks and something to drink (no Coca-Cola please - try and bring ethical, fairtrade and environmentally aware snacks and drinks!) :-)

Looking forward to see you there!

DIRECTIONS
Buitengraght...into Bloem...sharp left into a road with no name...into Buiten street.....up...& up turn left at Big green house..and drive along Bryant Street to a bright pink house. We meet at the house and then walk the few metres to the park.

For more info about the park or this gathering call Michelle at 021 424 7054 / 0825044130. For more info about the GYA gatherings in general call Janet at 072 331 5057.

Google map link to the venue



Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=209404052413414

HumanEarth needs YOU

HUMANEARTH EXHIBITIONS: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

Following the reshaping of Ecojunki in merging with COPART, the Humanearth exhibitions function as an entity, in association with the COPART Movement. The main focus of the Humanearth exhibitions is to create awareness and to encourage change. It is a series of exhibitions centered around the theme of human interaction with nature, to raise awareness for the ways in which we harm the planet and also the ways that we are living in harmony with it.



The following positions are available:

1. One marketing assistant
2. One administrative assistant

At this stage, these positions are offered on an unpaid internship basis with the promise of future compensation.

Please contact:

Nastasha daniels
Artist, curator and organiser of humanearth exhibitions
C. 0788577551
E. Nastasha797@gmail.com

FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES
www.humanearth.withtank.com
www.copartist.org
www.dontcopoutcopart.blogspot.com

Anti-Plastic (Fan)tastic

The CTWW challenge by reducefootprints.blogspot.com for the week is to go without plastics as far a humanly possible.

Generally I find it easy with regards to taking your own fabric bags when you go shopping, when the challenge really kicks in when choosing what to buy - plastic is used in packaging, labeling, products themselves, and even the basket that you carry your groceries to the counter, where you pay with your plastic card that you retrieve from your synthetic materials (sometimes plastic!) wallet. The toothpaste tube, toothbrush and water bottle when you go hiking.

In Cape Town, I find buying veggies, fruit and eggs from the Ethical Co-op, Wild Organics, the market in Hope Street or Zetler's Pharmacy in Mill street/Orange street the best option. Your fruit and veggies are put into brown paper bags, without copious amounts of unnecessary plastic packaging, your eggs without extra packaging around the carton holder. The Fruit and Veg city in Roeland street is of course also an option, where you can choose bunches of carrots, radishes and other veggies without plastic packaging, held together with twine.


Wild Organics - you can visit their store in Woodstock, or order your very own wild bag, delivered to a collection point close to you! Go to www.wildorganics.co.za for more information

myplasticfreelife.com is a blog by Beth Terry, who committed to stop buying new plastic. Her blog records and shares her story and progress, and is an inspiring look into what is possible, and where our biggest challenges lie. Read about Gardening without plastics, delivered in three parts, or about plastic labels and fruit packaging, a possible alternative for brushing your teeth and many more interesting posts to read, ponder and apply in your own life.

Change the World Wednesday

The Reduce Footprints blog - reducefootprints.blogspot.com - has a nifty initiative that relies on people making the commitment to change their habits and lifestyle one step at a time on a weekly basis. Weekly challenges gives you as eco-conscious person an easily-attainable goal and mission to do or aim at each week. And, like with all habits, as soon as you've done it over a couple of weeks, it's so ingrained into your routine and life that the tradition will catch on with your family and friends too, and before you know it, you HAVE changed the world! ;-)

This week's challenge is to just think about and share you proudest green achievement:

This week we'd like to hear about your proudest "green" achievement. Perhaps you started a compost for the first time or purchased organic food. Maybe you stopped driving a car or added solar panels to your home. It could be as small as carrying a reusable bag or as large as building an energy efficient home. Whatever your proudest Eco-friendly achievement is ... we want to know about it. Please leave details and tips/ideas so that we can all celebrate with you and perhaps try the activity ourselves.

Up The Ante: Of all your green achievements, which one was the hardest to accomplish and why? How did you overcome the obstacles?

Post your comments at reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2011/07/change-world-wednesday-ctww.html

See a list of their past challenges here

Integrated Waste Exchange

City of Cape Town has a Waste Exchange initiative! Here's a quote from the website:

What is IWEX?




IWEX (Integrated Waste Exchange) is a free online system that enables waste generators and users to exchange waste materials. Operating on the principle that ‘one person’s garbage is another person’s gold,' IWEX facilitates the re-use of waste, thereby conserving energy, minimising resource use and reducing the pressure on Cape Town's landfill space. The service is freely available to anyone who generates or uses waste, including companies, individuals, institutions, schools, NGOs and community groups.

It's super easy - you register and are immediately able to log in, add your waste materials that you have available, and can look right away at waste materials that other individuals, companies or organizations have available.

Let's make use of this initiative to reuse and recycle! Go to www.capetown.gov.za/en/iwex

WARP at the Grahamstown Festival

1-10 JULY 2011

WARP
AT THE
GRAHAMSTOWN FESTIVAL

ADMISSION FREE

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING RESEARCH CENTRE
LUCAS AVENUE, GRAHAMSTOWN

A CORAL INVOCATION
in hyperbolic crochet

---

Woodstock Art Reef Project, Cape town

Satellite of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project
created by: Margaret and Christine Wertheim
of the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles.

AN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ART PROJECT

http://artreefproject.ning.com
http://crochetcoralreef.org

KIRSTENBOSCH ECO-ART HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

Enjoyable and informative eco-art workshops for children will be presented at Kirstenbosch by Sue Nepgen, art and environmental educationalist. Activities on the theme of ‘A Joyful Look at Plants and Water’ include an introductory discussion, a guided walk next to the shallow waterways and other relevant parts of the Garden, as well as video-microscope investigation of plants and aquatic life. The highlight of the session is the creating by each child of their own artistically painted 3-D clay model of landscapes with rivers, including indigenous plants and other modelling materials. Opportunities for watercolour painting will form part of the session. Experienced assistants will be at hand to ensure safety and individual attention.

Venue:
Gold Fields Environmental Education Centre, Kirstenbosch

Dates, times and fees:
Grades 1-3: Tuesday 5th or Wednesday 6th July, 9.30 am – 1 pm. Cost: R90.
Grades 4-8: Thursday 7th July, 9.00 am - 1 pm. Cost: R95.

There are a limited number of partial or full bursaries available.

Booking details:
Contact Michaela or Sue at 021-7946609 or email snepgen@xsinet.co.za

Woodstock Art Reef Project needs YOU

WARP IS PUTTING THE CORAL PIECES TOGETHER FOR THE GRAHAMSTOWN EXHIBITION.

There is a lot of work to be done to make sure pieces can stand-up, hang down or be tied in position - some need extra support like stuffing or wire re-inforcing, sewing in loose ends..... If you have spare time to join in the effort at the BLUE SHED in the waterfront, you will be most welcome!

There is lots else to get in place as well....
contact Maria at O72 648 0818 to make sure she's at the SHED when you want to join in - please sms if needed.

Moving Things Film Festival at Out the Box 2011

CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Out the Box Festival of Puppetry and Visual Performance is calling for dynamic, creative stop-motion and puppetry films for the MOVING THINGS FILM FESTIVAL, which will take place from 3-11 September in Cape Town, South Africa.

Out The Box is South Africa’s premier Puppetry and Visual Performance Festival, and this will be the third year of this unique film festival and the sixth exciting year of Out the Box.

Films will be screened at the Independent Labia Cinema on Orange Street in Gardens, Cape Town. Moving Things 2011 will host a number of workshops and master-classes with talented stop-motion animators.

If you are interested in submitting a film for Out the Box 2011, please download and complete an application form by clicking here

Want more info? – Contact the festival office at + 27 21 462 5811 or visit www.unimasouthafrica.org/moving-things

Limitations? – Only your imagination!
A MAXIMUM OF FIVE FILMS per artist will be considered.
Deadline for submissions: 15 July 2011

---

This call for participation was released by Unima South Africa, in their UNIMA SA Newsletter

JULY DESIGN WORKSHOP by Karen Suskin, Haldane Martin, Helen van Zyl

Nominations open for ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals

Nominations open for ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is recognising and celebrating excellence in South African arts, culture and creativity.

ACT is now open for nominations for the ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals which will be presented at the 14th annual ACT Awards. Artists up to the age of 30 years that fall within the first three years of their professional careers are eligible for nomination.

"The encouragement and acknowledgement of excellence is of utmost importance to the future of South African creativity. ACT is grateful to the Distell Foundation for sponsoring the ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals and we value the opportunity to support emerging artists and enhance excellence in the sector," says Pieter Jacobs, General Manager of ACT.

Emerging artists at a time in their careers when they have shown commitment to and reached some professional standing in their chosen discipline may be nominated in one of four categories:

• Visual Art (Painting and Printmaking, Sculpting, Public Installations & Photography)
• Performing Arts (Dance, Acting, Musical Theatre & Physical Theatre)
• Music & Singing (Classical, Contemporary & Jazz)
• Design (Craft, Graphic Design, Fashion Design & Web Design)

Winners of the ImpACT Awards are selected by an independent panel of judges. Awards will only be presented if a satisfactory number of quality nominations are received in the various categories and the adjudication panel reserves the right to carry over such awards to the following year.

The closing date for nominations is 29 July 2011. For guidelines and nomination forms please visit the ACT website at www.act.org.za.

The highlight of the Awards Ceremony is the presentation of three Lifetime Achievement Awards to luminaries for their lifelong contribution to theatre, music and visual arts in South Africa. Past recipients of this accolade include Miriam Makeba, John Kani, Gcina Mhlope, Ronnie Govender, Peter Clarke, and David Koloane amongst others. Lifetime Achievement Winners are nominated and selected by the ACT Board of Trustees.

The 14th annual ACT Awards is presented in partnership with the Vodacom Foundation, the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO), the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) and is supported by the Distell Foundation, Classicfeel Magazine and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA).

WARP AT THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE on THURSDAY

THURSDAY 9 JUNE 2011

WARP AT THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE
155 LOOP STREET CAPE TOWN

ADMISSION FREE



Woodstock Art Reef Project (WARP) Presentation & Crochet Art Works show case plus a talk about sustainable fishing during the Alliance Française ‘Green Week’.

19h00 : WARP Presentation
by Leonie Hofmeyr-Juritz

20h00 : « Fish with a Future »
talk on sustainable fishing and the SASSI inititiative by Chef Pete Goffe-Wood

CORAL CROCHET SIT IN
WARP participants will present a crochet sit-in during the evening
_____________________________

A GROTTO OF CORALS

A small installation of corals in progress will be showcased for the duration of the Green Week 7-10 June 2011.

Woodstock Art Reef Project, Cape town
Satellite of A the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles.

AN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ART PROJECT

http://artreefproject.ning.com
http://crochetcoralreef.org

_____________________________

REGULAR GATHERINGS
SATURDAYS
11 AM TO 4 PM the BLUE STUDIO
V&A Waterfront Blue Shed (Near the Aquarium)

THURSDAYS
9h30 TO 12h30. WOODSTOCK LIBRARY

021 448 6426
OFF MAIN ROAD ON VICTORIA WALK, BETWEEN PLEIN AND ABERDEEN STREETS.

JOIN WARP CROCHET
GATHERINGS WORKSHOP TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS



Crochet Coral for the Art Reef Installation
Meet Artists Scientists Crafters and Crocheteers

Maria 072 6480818 and Leonie 082 7773205
woodstockartreef@gmail.com

The search for a Human Rights logo - DESIGN ONE!

On May 3, 2011 the Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle launched a world-wide competition to find a logo for the issue of Human Rights, an issue which is one of the priorities of the German foreign policy. Creative people from around the world who are committed to human rights can submit their designs or rate and comment on the entries of others until July 31, 2011. You can find more information on the competition on the website of the German Embassy www.yaounde.diplo.de. You can also follow the following direct link:

http://www.jaunde.diplo.de/__Zentrale_20Komponenten/Ganze__Seiten/en/__Aktuelle__DiA__Seiten/humanrights__Logo__en__Uebersichtsseite.html?site=15641

They are also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/humanrightslogo

International Conference on Arts, Society and Sustainable Development

Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa, 27 – 29 June 2011

Hosted by the Faculty of the Arts at Tshwane University of Technology, the International Conference on Arts, Society and Sustainable Development will take place in Pretoria, South Africa, on 27-29 June 2011, aiming to encourage debate around the socio-cultural development of communities, development of products, entrepreneurship, and the economy, discussing aspects such as the ability to brand, determining niche markets, developing business plans and attracting customers.

The goal of the conference is to assemble art practitioners (visual and performing), professionals, designers, academics, researchers, government officials, cultural workers, and industry partners to share creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries; and to offer a platform for the interrogation of the relationship between the arts and community development.

Contact:
Gladys Sibanda or Irene Botes;
e-mail: botesjc@tut.ac.za or artsinfo@tut.ac.za;
jupiter.tut.ac.za/supps/2010/Arts%20Int%20Conference%20Call%20for%20Papers_new.pdf

Art on the beach

Here's some images by Gretchen Hesse of land art pieces created at Plettenberg Bay as part of Site Specific!



If you have no idea what's been happening at Plet, have a look at this blog entry: ecojunki.blogspot.com/2011/05/site-specific-in-plettenberg-bay-next.html and at the Site Specific website: sitespecific.org.za





Photographs by Gretchen Hesse

Mountain and Veld vs. Cloud and Carbon

These two landscapes are seen on the N1 route from Johannesburg to Cape Town - one of the main roads for the Intercape city to city bus service.

So many people opt for flying to their destination - trying to spend as little time as possible on their travel. What we are really missing out on is the act of the journey - the opportunity to see different landscapes speeding by as we travel by train or bus. The joy of reading a book, and chatting to the person next to you for hours on end, while you are taken closer and closer towards your destination.

We need to start slowing down, and try to enjoy the things we do - reducing your carbon footprint is not just about choosing different products and services which does less harm to the environment. It's about slowing down, doing less, enjoying more, simplifying and consuming less. Choosing to not always travel by air means making a commitment to contributing to less carbon emissions. Increasingly more planes are built and put into the air to answer a growing demand for people who would rather fly than travel by bus or train.

"Some 16,000 commercial aircrafts pump out 600 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. It is estimated that by 2020 airplanes will be the single biggest contributor to global warming. It is expected to be bigger than all the other sources of carbon emissions combined. Ground level emissions are less harmful than the carbon emissions by airplanes, for the simple reason that they are deposited directly into the atmosphere."

Ekta Mulchandani at:
www.4ecotips.com/eco/article_show.php?aid=671&id=287

Shell and the economics of truth

This Press Release was issued by the TREASURE KAROO ACTION GROUP
http://hwb.co.za/media-article.php?id=423
1 June 2011

---

Shell and the economics of truth

Wednesday, 1 June 2011, Cape Town: The ongoing and much-welcomed debate on the safety and sensibility of using hydraulic fracturing to retrieve shale gas in the Karoo has been overshadowed by a systematic corporate strategy of being economical with the truth.

Despite the South African Cabinet's declaration of a moratorium on all applications for licences to conduct hydraulic fracturing in the exploration of shale gas reserves in the Karoo, major oil and gas corporations continue to lobby government and the population that the method—commonly referred to as "fracking"—is safe and viable.

Shell South Africa Energy Limited, a division of Royal-Dutch Shell, immediately after the moratorium announcement, ran full-page advertisements in the national weeklies and distributed flyers at Shell service stations making a number of claims about fracturing. These adverts are currently under investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority for being misleading and untruthful.

In a live debate with Jonathan Deal, Chairman of Treasure the Karoo Action Committee (TKAG) held at the UCT's Gordon Business School, the Chairman and Vice President of Shell South Africa Energy Limited, Bonang Mohale, stated that there has never been "a single case of groundwater contamination resulting from fracturing”

"In our 60 years we have never found these fractures going up to the surface. It has just never happened in 800,000 wells. What is likely that can go wrong is, again, in the construction of the well itself: these things do collapse. In the 800,000 wells we have done there is not one single bit of evidence that a well owned, managed and drilled by Shell has ever collapsed."

This is clearly not the truth. Between 19 January 2011 and 5 March 2011, a subsidiary of Shell, East Resources Management LLC (ERM), a hydraulic drilling contractor (acquired by Shell in May 2010) and operating in the Marcellus Shale area, USA, notched up six environmental violations in Marcellus. One of these is described in the report as

"Unpermitted discharge of residual waste. Pollutional substances at well site impacted groundwater. Seep expressed itself in sed [imentary] basin. Elevated chloride, barium, strontium and sodium concentrations in seep."

What Mohale also does not reveal is that the collapsing of the well wall is not the only source of contamination of aquifers and surface water sources. What is also likely that can "go wrong" is what happened with the five other serious violations. Again, the report states that Shell's offences were:

"Discharge of pollutional material to waters of the [C]ommonwealth. "

"Failure to properly store, transport process or dispose of a residual waste."

“Pit and tanks not constructed with sufficient capacity to contain pollutional substances.”

“Drilling within 100ft (30m) of surface water or wetland without variance. Constructing a site without permission.”

“Discharge of pollutional material into water of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. What happened: unpermitted discharge to south branch Thornbottom Creek."

In another incident in Australia, a fracking well drilled by Arrow Energy was out of control for more than 24 hours following a blowout on two weeks ago. Shell Energy Holdings Australia Ltd and PetroChina International Investment Company Ltd bought-out Arrow for $3.1-billion in 50-50 joint venture deal in March last year. The blowout spilled roughly 1 000 cubic metres of methane gas per hour into the air.

Fingers cannot be pointed at ERM or Arrow. Shell takes full responsibility. Mohale is on record as saying, when discussing, the operational behaviour of Shell, including its subsidiaries and subcontractors, that "the responsibility lies with Shell.”

"If we subcontract it [the drilling] the responsibility lies with Shell. Subcontractors are our partners and if something goes wrong we are ultimately held accountable."

One of the statements on a Shell flyer distributed at Shell service stations after the Cabinet moratorium, states:

"Shell commits to lead in the setting of global best practices and operational standards."

Six serious violations of environmental law in the space of 45 days in the United States does not speak to "global best practices and operational standards". Nor does the fracking-well blowout in Australia.

Shell's website makes the following claim about the chemicals used in fracking:

The fluids injected into the rock consist of more than 99% water and sand, with a small amount of additives similar to those found in household products."

( http://bit.ly/mU0HSS)

And the Shell advert distributed at Shell service stations after cabinet moratorium says:

"We also commit to disclosing fracturing fluids at each drilling location."

Yet, Shell will not reveal exactly what those chemicals are when asked in a public debate. And what Mohale didn't say was that Shell, along with BP and Total refused to participate in the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Subcommittee (13) on "Drilling, Completion, and Fracturing Fluids". Nor did he reveal that Shell Oil Company (USA) provided US Senate lawmakers "with language to include in a pending climate change bill that essentially would block federal oversight of hydraulic fracturing."

Reports from the USA state that if this language is "incorporated into the climate change law, it would keep the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from imposing regulations on fracturing... [and] recommends that states adopt standards for disclosing the contents of hydraulic fracturing chemicals... but maintain 'the confidentiality of trade secret information' in the fluids".

This statement seems to pre-empt a stand not yet taken by Shell, Bundu, Falcon and SASOL on matters relating to hydraulic fracturing chemicals. Even its Vice President of new-business development at Shell Exploration and Production, Olivier Lazare, who has urged his company to disclose hydraulic fracturing chemicals has been ignored.

Shell's South African website makes the following claim:

"It [natural gas] burns more cleanly than any other fossil fuel, emitting 50-70% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal in electricity generation." ( http://www.shell.com/home/content/zaf/aboutshell/shell_businesses/e_and_p/karoo/natural_gas.html or: http://bit.ly/klt7ax)

This is not factually correct. Recent studies from Cornell University—Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations by Robert W. Howarth, Renee Santoro and Anthony Ingraffea—have shown that natural gas, which is mostly methane—a much more potent greenhouse gas, "with 105 times more warming impact, pound for pound, than carbon dioxide (CO2)".

Howarth has estimated that as much as 8% of the methane in shale gas leaks into the air during the lifetime of a hydraulic shale gas well—"up to twice what escapes from conventional gas production".

"The take-home message of our study is that if you do an integration of 20 years following the development of the gas, shale gas is worse than conventional gas and is, in fact, worse than coal and worse than oil," Howarth said. "We are not advocating for more coal or oil, but rather to move to a truly green, renewable future as quickly as possible. We need to look at the true environmental consequences of shale gas."

Mohale and Graham Tiley General Manager for new ventures and international exploration at Shell are on record stating:

"Fracking is safe and poses no risk to the environment.”

This is as credible a statement as "smoking does not cause cancer". The violations of environmental regulations by Shell, the self-proclaimed market leader in hydraulic fracturing, are a matter of fact. These violations evidence that no reasonable person can possibly argue that hydraulic fracturing is safe and poses no risk to the environment.

Shell has been economical with the truth. South Africa has been misled. Our Ministers, their departments, and our regulators have been misled. Have they also been misled by the other fracking companies that maintain lower public profiles? If the offences in the US and Australia had not come to light, was our government is at risk of making fracking related decisions based on false information?

If South Africans are going to resolve the controversy surrounding fracking, we need facts, we need truthfulness, we need openess and we need transparency—things that have purposefully not been given to us.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: 5 JUNE

What are you going to do this year for World Environment Day? Show your commitment to the preservation of our environment, and your awareness of our dependance and interconnectiveness to nature by doing one or more of the following:

• HOST A LUNCH
  Host a lunch in your home, invite your friends and ask them to donate anything from R25-R200 to a great cause, Soil for Life. You cook and your friends donate online and you all stand a chance to win great prizes!
  Read more on http://www.eatfortheearth.com/
  
• DONATE A TREE with Greenpop
  http://www.greenpop.org/
  
• VISIT THE EARTH FAIR FOOD MARKET
  Give the franchise supermarket a skip, and buy fresh foods at the Earth Fair Food Market in Tokai. Open every Saturday 9.00 am - 2.00 pm
  
  More info and a map: http://www.earthfairmarket.co.za/
  
• GO HIKING
  
  Wherever you are, find a place to go and walk - breathe in the scent of dried leaves, and enjoy the colours and variations that autumn brings, with the stark and interesting shapes of bare branches against a blue sky.
  
• HELP CROCHET A CORAL REEF
  The Woodstock Art Reef Project gathers every Saturday between 11am and 4pm in the Blue Shed at the Waterfront. They are building a crocheted coral reef as an art installation that aims to raise awareness for our oceans and the effects of global warming on sea life.
  artreefproject.ning.com/
• READ AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SUSTAINABILITYGo and read up about the ways that you can help and support sustainable development, how you can make a difference by making small changes in your lifestyle, and what you can do to make more people aware.
  Read about the pros and cons about each energy option on Life in Balance:"Energy - what is the answer?", an insightful article by Richard Asher
  
  Read The Advanced Energy [R]evolution: Greenpeace's energy blueprint for a sustainable future and green development

...and after World Environment Day:

If you're an artist, come to the GYA (Green your Art) gathering at White Rabbit Studio on 17 June in Gardens, to talk about what we're going to do for Moving Planet on 24 September 2011.

Site Specific in Plettenberg Bay next week!

Pop in next week at Plettenberg Bay for Site Specific - SA’s first International Land Art event.



Download the brochure here: www.ecojunki.co.za/2NewSiteSpecificBrochure.pdf
Also read more about the project, as well as updates on the Site Specific website: sitespecific.org.za


Land Art by Strijdom van der Merwe

Just in case you missed the previous post we had about Site Specific, here is the line-up from their website:

Plettenberg Bay: 22-29 May 2011

22-27 May:
Artists create work along the Milkwood trail, Kranshoek and along the N2 at KwaNokuthula and New Horizons.

Saturday 28 May:

09-17:00
The art route is open to all, it includes a lovely walk along the Milkwood trail and the beaches. Guides are available at Central beach.

11:00
The Mayor of Plettenberg bay launches the event at the Timber Shed accompanied by DJ Jazztrain Live, Nthombo Theatre and The Unlimited Band.

12-16:00
Township art tours to sites in Kranshoek, KwaNokuthula and New Horizons.

15:00
Simon Bannister’s sculpture for the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative is unveiled on a beautiful ridge overlooking the ocean at the Griqua village of Kranshoek.

Sunday 29 May:
The art route can be viewed all day.

And here's an Afrikaans article published in Die Burger, written by Laetitia Pople

Tuesday 03:Editor's Choice: Die Burger: Plettenbergbaai gaan as inspirasie vir landkuns dien
2011-05-03

Deur Laetitia Pople
Kaapstad - Van die wêreld se voorste landkunstenaars en verskeie plaaslike kunstenaars gaan van 22 tot 29 Mei deelneem aan Site_Specific, ’n ­internasionale landkunsgebeurtenis by ­Plettenbergbaai.

Site_ Specific mik om kuns, kultuur, geskiedenis en die omgewing saam te bring en so te wys hoe landkuns mense se indrukke van hul ­natuurlike omgewing kan verander.

Volgens Strijdom Van der Merwe, Suid-Afrika se voorste landkunstenaar en deelnemer aan Site_Spesific, gaan die meeste werke van ­Plettenbergbaai se hoofstrand tot die Milk­wood-staproete in die Piesangrivier-vallei te sien wees. Daar gaan ook werke in die dorp wees.

Onder die deelnemers is die Italianers ­Gabriele Meneguzzi en Vincenzo Sponga en van Suid-Afrika neem Anni Snyman (die stigter van Site_Specific), Angus Taylor, Hannelie Coetzee, Jan van der Merwe, Andrew van der Merwe, Gordon Froud en Simon Max Bannister deel.

Bannister werk tans met Griekwa-klip­messelaars van Kranshoek aan ’n reuse-olifantbeeld wat deel vorm van ’n reeks beeldhou­werke vir die Eden-na-Addo-bewarings­korridor. Van der Merwe gaan saam met die Switserse land­kunstenaar Urs Twellmann werk.

Twellmann, wat al voorheen in Suid-Afrika aan landkuns-gebeure deelgeneem het, skep sy werke en installasies soos Van der Merwe op die plek en gebruik natuurlike materiale van die omgewing.

“Ons almal arriveer op 22 Mei, dan gaan ek die omgewing verken en kyk watter materiale ek kan vind vir my werk. Ek sal ook die inter­nasionale kunstenaars bystaan, almal van ons is ook betrokke by die slypskole,” het Van der Merwe gesê.

Begeleide toere na plaaslike landkuns en ­kulturele optredes in Kwa-Nokuthula, ­Kranshoek en New Horizon vorm deel van die program.

’n Groot openingsgeleentheid word vir 28 Mei om 11:00 beplan in die Timbershed, een van ­Plettenbergbaai se geskiedkundige bakens as ’n eertydse walvisstasie.