Loading

We already know what to do

8 comments
clothes-swop-dance

Clothes-swopping suprise dance at Sergels Torg in Stockholm.

apple-juice-pressing

Fresh apple juice.

10/10/10, wasn’t just a day with an very symmetrical date, it was also an international day of doing something about climate change. All over the globe there were more than 7 300events in 188 countries, where people instead of once again just urging the world to do something instead started doing it for real.

Here in Stockholm our main square Sergels Torg was full of activities, organized by the Global Work party Collaboration. Young people from different countries attending the social entrepreneur training Youth in Progress had brought apples and made apple juice for bypassers. The study circle about urban food growing that I have been participating in  had a stand showing what we have done, and how to preserve different vegetables.

There was also a bicycle ride through town with Greenpeace activists dressed up as sustainable energy sources (wind, water, sun), and solar panels being mounted at the square.

In a tent people could watch the film Home by Yann-Arthus Bertrand (the whole film can actually be seen here).
When a clothes-swopping activity started, loads of people gathered, carrying bags with clothes they didn’t want anymore and probably left the square with just as many items, but new to them. And connected to the clothes-swopping was also one of the more spectacular events of this day: a big flash mob organised by the art collective Rapid Art Response, performing a clothes-swopping dance that made the whole Sergels torg cheer.

I find days like this very uplifting, because they show that the ways to cope with climate change aren’t something we should just walk around hoping to find some day: They already very much exist.

preserving-vegetables

Showing how to preserve for example cabbage and carrots.

Sara Jeswani - Sustainability

October 11, 2010

  • http://www.muchissaidinjest.com gabriel

    That’s so true! I recently saw Ralph Nader speak with a number of other great people from Fair Trade, Greenpeace, etc.

    They said, like you, that the solutions exist already today, but that we don’t have the political will to make them.

    Thank god there are people who take it on themselves to change their own lives.

  • Sara Jeswani

    Yes, there are multiple benefits of doing what one can. Taking some sort of action is by many psycologists said to be the best way of coping with climate related anxiety. I also think one shouldn’t underestimate the feeling of doing something together rather than “just” being a good-behaving individual. What I saw yesterday was in many ways a great social event. And why not have fun at the same time?

  • Pol – Croatia

    I think this is true. Sometimes we concentrate so much on studing and finding solutions neglecting the fact that we should live normaly in between, morover it seems every time we think we are near to conclusion, then some other new question appears. This kind of mutual activity surely helps in that, becoming a way of normal and enjoyable life, instead an unreasonable and demoralising sacrifice.

    It is very good that more and more people and organisations get involved, cooperate and freely share knowledge and experiences (scientificly sound however), because then everything seems so much easier, meaningfull and it builds mutual trust. Of course, it is not always easy to achieve something worthwhile enough to build upon, but luckily healthy food and clothing certainly are something we need in common.

  • Solo

    Never been to USA…specially in the 50s,but gosh how much i like the sense of it…. so much color…brings music in my ears….:)

  • http://twitter.com/midwestguest Dominique King

    Ohhh…that was a scary movie! I haven’t seen it in years, but it still gives me the creeps. I do love the look of those old late 50s/early 60s cars with the big tail fins. There is always something vaguely sinister-looking about them to me, even the ones that don’t have the horror pedigree like “Christine”

  • http://twitter.com/LolaAkinmade Lola Akinmade

    “There is always something vaguely sinister-looking about them to me,”…Haha! I totally agree.

  • Monica-USA

    Very cool to see and hear good luck with your car.

  • Pingback: Tiana Fenstermacher