Aug 27, 2008

Electric Picnic working to achieve Eco-librium

In the light of responsibility we all have to address our impact on climate change, POD Concerts & Aiken Promotions have announced details of a range of environmental measures to be implemented at this years' Electric Picnic. As well as the introduction of a large number of eco-friendly initiatives for this year's Picnic, 2008 marks the launch of a long term Sustainability Strategy to make the Electric Picnic one of the most 'Low Carbon' festivals in the world...

A new area, the Global Green, has been created at this year's festival. This will be the place at the festival to relax and reflect. The area will feature Amnesty's Tea and Bingo Hall, eco-fashion, demonstrations of renewable energy such as wind & solar power, Trocaire, Friends of the Earth, green crafts, and the launch of the EmissionZero carbon calculator. Stop Climate Chaos, Change and others will be active in the Global Green and Cultivate's 'Re-Think Tank' will be the place to open your mind with cutting edge short films and art.

Cultivate's Rethink Tank - Electric Picnic 2008

  29-31 August | The climate is changing … will you?

See full programme of events

Cultivate's rethinktank will be the place in the Global Green at the Electric Picnic to relax and be inspired with cutting edge short films, talks, debates, exhibits and art that will inform and entertain you. Slowdown and take in some good organic food, subtle beats, and reflect on a better world.

At the hub of the Global Green in the rethinktank, Cultivate presents:

Rethink.. the future and the way we live.

Redress.. ideas for ethical fashion.

Reform.. the latest in eco-design.

Re-engage.. artists and designers come together around critical issues.

The Carbon Confession Box.. calculate your carbon footprint and relieve your carbon conscience by confessing your carbon sins.

Friday 

19.00 The Powerdown Show - The Challenge Ahead   

Cultivate's Powerdown TV Show is a series of ten twenty minute programmes that aim to inform individuals and groups on the context and responses to climate change and peak oil.  www.cultivate.ie

19.30  Design Anarchy - The Uncommercials from Adbusters   

Short films and art from Adbusters, a magazine that details the work of culture jammers from all over the world who want to advance the new social activist movement of the information age.  www.adbusters.org

20.00  The Story of Stuff - Short Film by Free Range Studios   

Written and presented by Annie Leonard, this film takes you on a provocative tour of our consumer-driven culture, from resource extraction to iPod incineration. It'll teach you something. It'll make you laugh.  www.storyofstuff.com

21.00  One World Sounds - DJ Set with William Softly

www.oneworldsounds.com

23.00  Design Revolutionaries  - Creativity with a Conscience   

While other creative agencies work to sell products, Freerange work to sell ideas that build a more just and sustainable world. They believe the right stories told in revolutionary ways can transform society.  www.freerangestudios.com

Saturday

11.30  World Café Discussion - Climate's Changing. How Will We?   

The British Council's Challenge Europe Climate Champions lead a World Café discussion on the question of this year's Electric Picnic.

12.00  The Powerdown Show - The Power Of Community   

The second episode of Cultivate's Powerdown TV Show, a series of ten twenty minute programmes that aim to inform individuals and groups on the context and responses to climate change and peak oil. www.cultivate.ie 

12.20  Skilling Up For Powerdown - Turning Crisis Into Opportunity   

How should we respond to climate change and high energy prices?  Davie Philip, Cultivate's education manager and the co-ordinator of the Transition Network in Ireland, explores the vision of Transition Initiatives.  www.cultivate.ie

13.00    Eco Black Eye -  Duncan Stewart on Ireland's Environmental Performance   

Duncan Stewart, the award-winning architect and well-known TV presenter, gives this short no-holds-barred presentation exploring how Ireland can improve its green and clean image. www.easca.ie

13.30    The Climate is Changing. Will You?    Creatively Communicating Climate Change   

Minister Eamon Ryan, Duncan Stewart (Eco Eye), John Gibbons (Irish Times), Andrea Carroll (EmissionZero), Jim Gannon from (Change, RPS) and Eric c. Lohela (Sustainability Consultant USA) join Cultivate's Davie Philip and others for a discussion on how we can creatively get the message across on the issue of climate change.

15.00    Change your World. Change the World  - The Change Campaign   

Jim Gannon from RPS and the Change Campaign outlines Irelands plan of action on climate change. www.change.ie

15.30    Design Outlaw  -  The Life of Buckminster Fuller   

Designer, architect, engineer, inventor and philosopher, Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) was undeniably one of the key innovators of the 20th century. Michael John Gorman, author of "Buckminster Fuller: Designing for Mobility", gives an illustrated presentation on the life of Fuller, the creator of the geodesic dome and champion of autonomous living.

16.00    What the F**K is Sustainability  - The Natural Step   

The Natural Step is a simple science-based tool for analysing the complex issues associated with sustainable development. John Harrington outlines the system conditions that must be met in order to have a sustainable society.

16.30    Sustainable Development My Ass!   - Just How Unsustainable We Are   

Gavin Harte (sustainability consultant, former national director of An Taisce and the founder of the Village project) explores how sustainable we are and what we will need to do to weather the storms approaching.

17.00    Fashion Evolution    Ethical Fashion – You Are What You Wear!   

Constance Harris from the Sunday Independent joins Re-dress, EDUN, Olivia Hegarty, Deirdre Harte, Rediscovery Centre and the Science Gallery to discuss what it means to make ethical fashion choices. www.re-dress.ie

18.15    Biomimicry – Designs From Nature  - Short Film from TED   

In this inspiring talk about recent developments in biomimicry, Janine Benyus provides heartening examples of ways in which nature is already influencing the products and systems we build. www.ted.com

18.45    Design Revolutionaries  -  Creativity with a Conscience   

A selection of short films from North America's Freerange Studios. www.freerangestudios.com

19.45    Earthling VJ / DJ Set  -  With Just Multimedia and Pat Best   

20.45    Media The Matters  -  Short Films for a Better World   

The Media That Matters Film Festival is the premier showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day.
www.mediathatmattersfest.org

21.00    Six Ways Mushrooms can Save the World  -  Short Film from TED   

Paul Stamets'  has filed 22 patents for mushroom-related technologies, including pesticidal fungi that trick insects into eating them and mushrooms that can break down the neurotoxins used in nerve gas. www.ted.com

22.20    Design Anarchy -   The Uncommercials from Adbusters   

Short films and art from Adbusters, a magazine that details the work of culture jammers from all over the world who want to advance the new social activist movement of the information age.  www.adbusters.org

Sunday 

12.00    World Café Discussion  - Deconstructing Dinner: What is a Low Carbon Diet?   

The British Council's Challenge Europe Climate Champions lead a World Café on the question of local food.

12.30    Get Growing!   - Supporting Local Food Production and Consumption   

An exploration into our options for local community food systems with Trevor Sargent, Minister for Food and Horticulture, Sarah Fleming (Healthy Food For All), Matt Mills and Kaz Jeffries (Sustain West Cork) and the British Council's Challenge Europe Climate Champions.

13.00    What Will We Eat as the Oil Runs Out?  -  Transition Towns and Local Food   

Trevor Sargent, Minister for Food and Horticulture joins Transition Town groups and local food advocates for a discussion on local food initiatives. Transition Towns is a new process for building community resilience in the face of climate change and oil depletion. Pioneered in Kinsale and Totnes, Devon, it is now being implemented in 800 communities around the world.

14.00    The Powerdown Show  -  The Power Of Community   

Cultivate's Powerdown TV Show is a series of ten twenty minute programmes that aim to inform individuals and groups on the context and responses to climate change and peak oil. www.cultivate.ie

14.30    Building Resilient Community  -  The Cloughjordan Eco-Village   

Davie Philip and Gregg Allen outline the experience of being involved in The Village project.  As a living community, The Village will demonstrate renewable energy, ecological building, local food production, natural health care, community-level governance, and play a part in conserving the genetic biodiversity of Ireland. www.thevillage.ie

15.00    Surfing The Green Wave  - Sustainable Living in California   

North American blogger and sustainability consultant Eric C. Lohela will give this presentation on the implementation of sustainability in the USA.  www.ecosplatter.blogspot.com  

15.30    Edenbee Global Swarming   - Eco Social Networking   

An exploration with Dave Hayes of Edenbee into a hive of hot ideas on how social networking can help keep our planet a cool place to live!  www.edenbee.ie

16.00    Artivism   -  Contemporary Street Art   

Irish stencil activist Will St. Ledger presents a rogue show of contemporary street art that communicates critical issues.

16.30    Stop Climate Chaos   -  2 Degrees or Less   

avin Harte, Sustainability Consultant and Niamh Garvey, Climate Change researcher at Trócaire introduce the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and the need for an agreement to keep the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees C or less.

17.00    Global Citizen  -  What Does this Mean in the 21st Century?   

In the context of human rights, climate change and an unraveling global economy what does being a Global Citizen mean today? With Tara O'Leary, (International Association for Community Development, IACD), Nick Wilding, (Carnegie UK Trust), Eric C. Lohela (Sustainability Consultant USA) Noelenn Hartigan (Amnesty) and Dr. Cathy McGuire (Friends of the Earth).

18.00    Global Lunchbox   -  Exploring Peak Oil   

Featuring a short documentary on the history of oil, this 'lunchbox' will explain Peak Oil, why it is such an important issue, and what positive opportunities this crisis may bring.  www.futureproofkilkenny.org (A Transition Town Initiative)

18.30    Sustainable Development My Ass  -  Just How Unsustainable We Are   

Sustainability consultant, former national director of An Taisce and the founder of the Village project, Gavin Harte explores how sustainable we are and what we will need to do to weather the storms approaching.

19.00    Being Human VJ/DJ Set  -  With Davie Philip and Geoff Fitzpatrick   

A transformational journey in sound and vision.

20.00    Future Sounds DJ Set  -  With Steve Reddy   

21.30    Design Revolutionaries   -  Creativity with a Conscience   

A selection of short films and viral media from North America's Freerange Studios and Adbusters.
www.freerangestudios.com and www.adbusters.org

Saturday & Sunday in the Marquee

12.00 - 24.00    Ethical Fashion - You Are What You Wear
(information and exhibits on ethical fashion)

14.00 - 17.00   Ongoing workshops:

  • Make Your Own Slogan T-Shirt with Re-dress
  • Tent Workshop with Olivia Hegarty and Deirdre Harte (turn last year's tents into this year's fashion)
  • Pimp your T-Shirt with the Science Gallery's LED Workshop
  • Craft a Patchwork Map of Africa with EDUN LIVE
  • Turn Waste into Fashion with Designers from the Rediscovery Centre Ballymun