Climate Connections media and climate workshop: 2pm-5pm, Sat 27 March 2021
by Crossing Footprints for Oldham Libraries in partnership with Community Arts North West
– a FREE SPECIAL ONLINE EVENT for anyone aged 10+

Can social media bring people together to educate and tackle climate change? Find out how to make quick social media micro-videos that can have impact against climate change and also bring different communities together. Work with a group of artists and activists to generate action to tackle the damage being done to our climate. Combine images, video clips, text, spoken words. Connect your experience here with other parts of the world, be a part of a powerful collective film made up of many voices.

REGISTER YOUR PLACE at www.climate-connections.eventbrite.co.uk

With artists Kooj Chuhan, Emmanuela Yogolelo, Rabia Begum, Klaus-dieter Michel, Maya Chowdhry, Ricardo Vilela and leading writer and researcher Alex Randall from Climate Outreach.

**INCLUDES LAUNCH OF COMPETITION WITH PRIZES incl. shopping vouchers**

Climate change is affecting us everywhere – the UK, Pakistan, West Africa, Bangladesh, South America, Syria, China, the USA, you name it. This is an afternoon of hearing from experts, activists, community members and artists about the problems and the solutions we are facing, then creating your own short slideshow film combining photos, videos and text. We’ll be putting these out on social media and they will become part of a collective film over the next few weeks. If you have settled in Oldham from outside the UK then we’d love to hear what you know about the environment in your country of origin.

The speakers at Climate Connections media and climate workshop will explore how the arts can be part of fighting against global warming, how climate justice connects with migrant justice, how we can amplify positive activities already happening and asks whether Oldham can influence COP26.

• 2-4pm Main Workshop:
  • an ongoing discussion with a panel of speakers
  • breakout rooms in small groups each with an artist helping out
  • finding photos and video clips and making a slideshow film
  • adding your own words about actions and solutions to the problems
• 4-5pm Training Session and Screening
  • a training session on how to create short social media videos
  • the launch of a competition and open call for more video contributions
  • a screening of all the media we create to close the event

This will be an opportunity to bring together a diverse range of people in Oldham from different backgrounds. Oldham Library is a part of the Libraries Of Sanctuary movement and we particularly welcome people with experience of having been refugees.

International participation: Communities close to libraries in Bremen and Hamburg, Germany are collaborating with Oldham on this project and limited tickets are available for them.

Look out for the follow up Climate Connections social media competition!

Full details about this project at https://crossingfootprints.com/climate-connections/ .

This event is included in Peshkar’s Young Digitals Festival 2021. Climate Connections media and climate workshop is presented by Oldham Central Library in partnership with Community Arts North West as part of the national Libraries of Sanctuary movement.

Artists / Activists who will be running the media and climate workshop:

Maya Chowdhry is an artist, poet and activist. She creates immersive and democratic experiences for participants, drawing from creating work in radio, poetry, web, video and Installation. Her current work utilises transmedia storytelling, digital poetry and augmented reality. The themes of her practice interrogate the areas of seed sovereignty, world water scarcity and climate justice. She is currently working on ‘Galvanising Change’ – an interactive audio Installation that uses sensors to measure audiences’ emotional responses to climate change narratives. 
https://interactiveartist.org/

Alex Randall is the Programme Manager for both Climate Outreach and the Climate and Migration Coalition; a network of refugee and migration Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working together on issues around climate change. Alex was lead author on the Moving Stories report, which explores the real lives of people displaced by climate linked disasters. He has written frequently for The Guardian newspaper and other outlets on climate change and migration.
https://climatemigration.org.uk/alex-randall-climate-migration/

Emmanuela Yogolelo is a singer-songwriter, music facilitator, cultural leader and producer originally from the world’s second largest tropical rain forest, the Congo basin. Her interest in climate justice activism started when she was commissioned by HOME in Manchester to create and perform a new interactive performance as part of the annual Horizons Festival. She chose to use her personal experience of climate change as a refugee and third world citizen to create an interactive performance
https://emmanuelayogolelo.com/

Klaus-dieter Michel – I am a conceptual artist; Ideas and concepts are my capital; My work-styles and outcomes are interdisciplinary.
Installation : to convert spaces into monuments
Performance : to fit the artist-self into the process
Video : to play with time, duration and montage
Digital : to make virtual machines
Objects : to infuse meaning into things
Materials : to use matter as expression
https://art.memetic-tv.net/

Rabia Begum is a student, artist and activist. She is a board member on Manchester Climate Change Youth Board and artist working on the newly formed Manchester Art Gallery Climate Justice Group. Rabia has worked on a number of projects with young people in Manchester. These include creating and organising a free four-day family workshop based on the theme ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse’, working as a Youth Co-Researcher, collaborating with Local Alternatives, which set out to reimagine local environments with children and young people. Rabia has written an article on Art UK on Winston Churchill in Gallery Oldham: a complex legacy.
https://www.manchesterclimate.com/youth-board/rabia-begum
https://artuk.org/discover/stories/winston-churchill-in-gallery-oldham-a-complex-legacy

Ricardo Vilela is a Digital Strategist and Producer based in Manchester under the name of Sagitta Media. “Tell the Whole Story” is his motto, which he has been doing over the last 25 years, with a strong focus on Video Production and Live Streaming, and more recently in Immersive Media (Interactive 360 Video and Photography). He has produced award winning work for theatre and drama, and featured on Channel 4, ITV  and BBC 2. Delivering Digital Consultancy services, Sagitta Media supports organisations to better engage with their communities of interest through developing a clear Digital Strategy and producing captivating Digital Products.
https://www.sagittamedia.co.uk

Kooj Chuhan Kooj artistically interweaves racial justice with climate resistance using a range of approaches including interactive media, theatrical VJ work and augmented reality combined with a critical cultural democracy practice. He is a founding member of artist collective Virtual Migrants, won an award for digital arts connecting refugees with climate change, curated the exhibition ‘Footprint Modulation’ on climate migration across five venues in Durham and other stuff he’s done for over 30years including previously working as a musician. Currently director of Crossing Footprints CIC which connects creativity with issues of human rights, environment, inequality and wellbeing.
https://crossingfootprints.com/

Video of panel presentations from ‘Linking Climate Change with Migration’ public event 7th March 2016 at Kings College, which began with a screening of the film ‘Crossing Footprints’ by Kooj Chuhan.  The climate migration panel also included Andrew Baldwin and Alex Randall.  The video is approx 40 mins long:

There’s a great twitter feed from Platform of the discussion if you haven’t time to watch this but want a flavour of the points being made – see bottom of this post.

About the event and the climate migration panel:

The original publicity post about this event is available to view at http://crossingfootprints.com/linking-climate-change-with-migration/ .

On Mon 7th March 2016 a leading climate migration panel explored the connection between climate change and migration and the underlying issues such as whether and how migration should be made more visible across public and policy agendas on climate change. This followed a screening of Crossing Footprints, the film by Kooj Chuhan / Metaceptive projects + media, which shows how recent research linking climate change with migration has strengthened our understanding of this enormously, and how artists have begun to articulate this in human terms.

The event was hugely over-subscribed with a waiting list of 35 people, though there were spare seats on the day itself which suggests we should release quite a few more tickets than the venue capacity in future or possibly charge a small amount to ensure attendance.  Thanks to all who came, the speakers, the chair, and Fernando Mitjans for filming it.

The ‘Crossing Footprints’ film will be available to watch online soon, once it has been fully signed off after final proofing.

Full details of this event which was hosted by Kings College London are available to read  at http://crossingfootprints.com/linking-climate-change-with-migration/ .

The climate migration panel discussion included speakers:

Richard Black, leading scholar at SOAS on migration in the context of climate change
Zita Holbourne, community, union and human rights activist, writer, artist and curator; co-founder of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts
Andrew Baldwin, chair of international Climate Change and Migration research network based at Durham University
Alex Randall, UK Climate Change and Migration Coalition
Kooj Chuhan, artist, filmmaker and curator of the ‘Footprint Modulation’ exhibition exploring climate migration and justice

+ Public launch and screening of the film ‘Crossing Footprints: Human Migration and the Environment’ by Kooj Chuhan / Metaceptive Media, about both the Human Migration and The Environment Conference and the Footprint Modulation art exhibition www.metaceptive.net/footprint-modulation

Chaired by Dr Helen Adams, researcher on human interactions with environmental change at Kings College

Organised by Dr Andrew Baldwin and Kooj Chuhan in partnership with Metaceptive, UKCCMC, the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (Durham University) and the Centre for Integrated Research on Risk and Resilience (King’s College London), SOAS and BARAC.

Twitter feed from Platform about the event:

Platform ‏@PlatformLondon Mar 7

Read ‘Open letter from the Wretched of the Earth’ about racism in UK climate movement http://tinyurl.com/hsqrxrg  @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Civil society groups working on climate and migration under lots of pressure because of ideologically enforced cuts @metaceptive

Need to get away from language of genuine refugees and not genuine. Their all human beings says #ZitaHolbourne @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Need more nuanced analysis of links between climate, war, economic injustice on migration. People just trying to live, says #ZitaHolbourne

UK migrants aren’t even called migrants, they’re ex-pats! #ZitaHolbourne @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Ideas of loss and damage, reparations need to come in, in regard to climate justice. @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Slow onset climate change, disaster climate change – differing implications for climate justice? @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Question: “What kind of lives do we want migrants & refugees to have (when they arrive)?” Read this: http://tinyurl.com/zegsf28  @metaceptive

Interesting! @DFID_UK initially not interested in ‘climate refugees’ as they saw term as demonising says Richard Black. @metaceptive

> Kajal Nisha Patel ‏@KajalNP Mar 7
> Excellent discussion live with @PlatformLondon @Metaceptive & @KoojChuhan

War, climate change, resource exploitation – interconnect to refugees and migration. Syrian refugees before the war for example @metaceptive

We must counter the rise of the far right re. migrants, refugees, climate change. We must link it up says #ZitaHolbourne @metaceptive

Large numbers of Calais refugees from areas impacted by extreme climate change says #ZitaHolbourne @metaceptive

Climate change, migration, anti-racism to be brought together in Trades Union movement in UK, Look at issues together says #ZitaHolbourne

Western elites can’t cope with climate crisis so we displace onto the climate migrant. Provocation. Discuss @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Academics working with artists and activists – an integrated approach was so important. Different languages brought together @metaceptive

As artists, how can we think of other ways of communicating beyond the numbing and stereotypical imagery @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

As artists it’s our responsibility to communicate in ways people can understand @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Feminism, gender, militarism, border zones and how they operate in climate and migration @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Who has the power to define the terms of the debate? the types of knowledge that’s considered legitimate @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

“Geopolitics of Fear” – climate and migration in respect of India and Bangladesh @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

climate change and migration now being theorised in new ways… and with decolonial theory @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

extraordinary photographs of climate and migration by @shahidul @KingsCollegeLon @metaceptive

“art helps us lose the separation between the issue and us” #climatechange @metaceptive @KingsCollegeLon

Mon 7th March 2016, at 6.30pm.
Room K2.31 Nash Lecture Theatre, 2nd Floor, King’s Building, King’s College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS
To attend please register at http://linking-climate-change-with-migration.eventbrite.co.uk/

Is the devastation of our climate forcing increased migration and is it projected to worsen in the future?

A new film shows how recent research has strengthened our understanding of this enormously, and how artists have begun to articulate this in human terms. In stark contrast virtually no mention was made of migration in the Paris climate summit agreements.  A leading panel explores the underlying issues and asks whether and how migration should be made more visible across public and policy agendas on climate change?

The film screening and panel discussion event includes speakers:

Richard Black, leading scholar at SOAS on migration in the context of climate change
Zita Holbourne, community, union and human rights activist, writer, artist and curator; co-founder of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts
Andrew Baldwin, chair of international Climate Change and Migration research network based at Durham University
Alex Randall, UK Climate Change and Migration Coalition
Kooj Chuhan, artist, filmmaker and curator of the ‘Footprint Modulation’ exhibition exploring climate migration and justice

+ Public launch and screening of the film ‘Crossing Footprints: Human Migration and the Environment’ by Kooj Chuhan / Metaceptive Media

Chaired by Dr Helen Adams, researcher on human interactions with environmental change at Kings College

VENUE: Room K2.31 Nash Lecture Theatre, 2nd Floor, King’s Building, King’s College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS
MAP: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/campuses/strand/Strand.aspx  tel: 020 7836 5454

This event is FREE to attend. REGISTER to confirm your attendance at: http://linking-climate-change-with-migration.eventbrite.co.uk/

Please share the event on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1681901928757452/

Organised by Dr Andrew Baldwin and Kooj Chuhan in partnership with UKCCMC, the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (Durham University) and the Centre for Integrated Research on Risk and Resilience (King’s College London)
http://crossingfootprints.com
http://www.climatemigration.org.uk
http://www.dur.ac.uk/geography
www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/research/cirrr/

Event Flyer:

Mon 7th March 2016, at 6.30pm.
Room K2.31 Nash Lecture Theatre, 2nd Floor, King’s Building, King’s College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS
To attend, please register at http://linking-climate-change-with-migration.eventbrite.co.uk/

Is the devastation of our climate forcing increased migration and is it projected to worsen in the future?

A new film shows how recent research has strengthened our understanding of this enormously, and how artists have begun to articulate this in human terms. In stark contrast virtually no mention was made of migration in the Paris climate summit agreements.  A leading panel explores the underlying issues and asks whether and how migration should be made more visible across public and policy agendas on climate change?

The film screening and panel discussion event includes speakers:

Richard Black, leading scholar at SOAS on migration in the context of climate change
Zita Holbourne, community, union and human rights activist, writer, artist and curator; co-founder of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts
Andrew Baldwin, chair of international Climate Change and Migration research network based at Durham University
Alex Randall, UK Climate Change and Migration Coalition
Kooj Chuhan, artist, filmmaker and curator of the ‘Footprint Modulation’ exhibition exploring climate migration and justice

+ Public launch and screening of the film ‘Crossing Footprints: Human Migration and the Environment’ by Kooj Chuhan / Metaceptive Media

Chaired by Dr Helen Adams, researcher on human interactions with environmental change at Kings College

VENUE: Room K2.31 Nash Lecture Theatre, 2nd Floor, King’s Building, King’s College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS
MAP: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/campuses/strand/Strand.aspx  tel: 020 7836 5454

This event is FREE to attend.  REGISTER to confirm your attendance at: http://linking-climate-change-with-migration.eventbrite.co.uk/

Please share the event on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1681901928757452/

Organised by Dr Andrew Baldwin and Kooj Chuhan in partnership with UKCCMC, the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (Durham University) and the Centre for Integrated Research on Risk and Resilience (King’s College London)
http://crossingfootprints.com
http://www.climatemigration.org.uk
http://www.dur.ac.uk/geography
www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/research/cirrr/

Event Flyer:

Chamada From Chico Mendes interactive digital art installation at Durham Art Gallery

CHAMADA FROM CHICO MENDES

by Kooj Chuhan

Interactive digital art meets Afro-Brazilian carnival inspired by environmental activism stories from across the world – including Chico Mendes.

This interactive piece brings together art and documentary video, imagery, poetry and sound from across the world to connect with climate justice and the underlying social roots of carnival in Brazil. A large mask containing visuals, music and words from guest artists, film-makers and environmental activists confronts you, representing a world of active change. Encounter six objects which you can play like percussion to make the large mask imagery pulsate and respond to your rhythms, the world needs your active participation.

Chico_Mendes in 1988 – taken by Miranda Smith in Xapuri

The exhibition’s starting point is the powerful story of Chico Mendes, who was a Brazilian rubber tapper, trade union leader and environmentalist committed to protecting the Amazon’s ecosystem. He had opposition from industrialists and corrupt government officials, was jailed, fined and threatened, and in 1988 he was eventually murdered but has now become a national hero in Brazil. “Chamada” means “a call to all” in Portuguese, here signifying a call to other voices to share their experience. The installation is an expression of multiple responses and parallels to Chico’s story.

“What these images reveal is the deep need to pluralise how we understand climate change.  Politicising climate change means grappling with its multiplicity.” Dr Andrew Baldwin, Geography Dept, Durham University.

GUEST ARTISTS: Kooj Chuhan invited artists and activists spanning the globe for media contributions to create a composite work from other parallel to Chico’s story, creating an ‘exhibition within an installation’. The artists, film-makers and activists contributing their work for this exhibition include Sarawut Chutiwongpeti (Thailand), Badrul Alam and Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Heiko Thiele and Zwischenzeit e.V. (Germany), Marcella Haddad (Brazil), Shaikh Mohir Uddin & Rural Visual Journalism Network at Drik (Bangladesh), Fuyumi Labre Lopez (Uruguay/Spain), Milda Lembertaite / Amelia Prazak (Lithuania/Switzerland), Victor Steffensen and the Living Knowledge Place (Australia), Nigel Hulett (Zimbabwe), Ali Pretty and Kinetika (UK), Marian Osman (Somalia) with ‘Democracy Now!’ (USA), Maya Chowdhry (UK), Julia Davenport (UK), Jose Ignacio Lopez Ramirez-Gaston (Peru/Spain).

Still image from ‘Your Climate Change Stories’ video by the indigenous Australian film-maker Victor Steffensen, one of the contributing artists whose work plays within the Chamada installation.

Selected media from these contributors are watchable on extra screens in the exhibition. Percussion loops produced by 17 young musicians from the Future Leaders carnival arts training programme by Global Grooves.

Full details about this project and work at www.metaceptive.net/chamada

Details of the artists and activists involved from across the world in this project can be found at:
http://crossingfootprints.com/chamada/guest-artists-and-activists/

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Presented as a part of the city-wide Footprint Modulation exhibition by Metaceptive Projects and Media, in partnership with the international conference ‘Human Migration and the Environment: Futures, Politics and Invention’ at Durham University 28th June – 1st July 2015 www.durhamconference.eu