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Creative and Arts-based Students Initiatives in the ELS Empowerment for Sustainability course
In the course Empowerment for Sustainability (ELS21806) students not only dive conceptually into the topic of empowerment for sustainability. Students also create an initiative of own choosing through which they address, in a creative and often artistic manner, ecological, social and existential challenges they care about. In this space a few examples of those initiatives are shared. The course is taught by Valentina Tassone, Martijn Duineveld, and other guest speakers.
Initiative by student Elettra Giampaoletti
Elettra engaged into the creation of a video: Re-member Eva. Through this artistic expression she wishes to stimulate an empathetic bond between people and nature. In the video, current human society is identified with the metaphor of the astronauts as a glorification of modern rationality. Once they land back on earth, the astronauts feel out of place, alone and lost. Eva (nature on earth) has a severe voice and she will speak to them to make them acknowledge the difficult times we live in. But Eva is a mother and as such her voice is caring and comforting too. The astronauts will take a step back, reconsider their actions and finally are able to re-connect to their mother.
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Initiative by student Annika Suichies
Annika has created a mini mental health magazine "Ahead" for other fellow students. Ahead is an attempt to generate awareness and to respond to the mental distress some people might feel in relation to the future. A future in which climate change is expected to have a large impact on the earth and human health. Through this magazine Annika shares her personal story, introduces the concept of existential anxiety, and provides inspiration. Moreover, tips provided by professionals and students on how to deal with the topic are included.
Initiative by student Tessa Stroeken
Tessa has created a song, “There is fire”, representing a call for action. Through her song and related video, Tessa would like to express her concern for the ongoing socio-ecological degradation. The first sentence: “there is fire in the sea”, is an analogy for the climate crisis that is almost too big to comprehend and to consider possible, like a fire in the sea as something not possible or hard to imagine. After this, the song sketches other “fires” in the world that the human society should deal with. On the other hand, Tessa is also providing a message of hope and inviting towards communication and action for more regenerative futures.
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View lyrics
There is fire
In the sea
Though you would think
How could that be
There is fire
Everywhere
Instead of flowers growing
Flames are mowing the trees
Save the future
You would say
But the government won’t
Think of it that way
There are people
That won’t survive
When the sea is rising
Far above their height
There are children
In this world
Who fear their dreams
Won’t be fulfilled
Save the future
You would say
But only a wish
won’t get us all that way
There is fear
Hanging in the air
Climate anxiety
Is the new fair
A good solution
Won’t be found
With just a little bit of
debating around
Save the future
You would think
Lets get all together
And find the missing link
We are hoping
To survive
So get together
We just have to thrive
A bit of fighting
That will do
So scream it out
You know what to do
Save the future
You would say
Time is up
Just listen what we say