Recently I heard the Swedish singer-songwriter Ane Brun tell the story about how she started to take climate change seriously. For long she hadn’t wanted to think about the issue, she said, avoiding films such as Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”. But when a friend of hers suddenly started to show his personal and very emotional engagement in what will happen to the world if we continue to warm it up, the issue came closer.
After attending the Tällberg Forum summit a couple of years ago it all fell into place, she said. But it wasn’t a very harmonious feeling. Rather like wanting to run out on every street and city square, shouting about her worries and fears.
Some of the artists performing in the concert. Photo: Stadsteatern.
In a way, this is actually what she decided to do. At the international day of action for the “350 goal” last year she gathered an impressive crowd of Swedish top artists to give a marathon concert during 350 minutes.
The initiative “No more lullabies” has the goal to break through the mechanisms that make both individuals and societies close their eyes, and inspire conversations on climate change through music and poetry – beyond political rhetoric, defensive reactions and self-interest.
“It’s time to wake up. We need no more lullabies.”, they write.
And their work to make these messages come through with the help of culture continues. Yesterday and today Ane Brun and several other great Swedish artists give free concerts in one of Stockholm’s parks, as a part of the annual park theater arrangements.
But the concerts aren’t just for those of us who happen to be in Stockholm this evening – anyone can follow them on the Internet, live streamed on Tällberg Foundations home page.
The concert starts at seven o’clock tonight. Enjoy!
