Project Survival Mediaphotography

Art for climate change

joelukhovi — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:20:41 +0000

Advancing dialogue in the field of climate change has been a challenge in the past for visual artists. Not at all any more, since artists are waking up now to climate change. But what good can they do – and how green is their work? I reveal how they’re dealing with the threat of catastrophe through several projects that were carried out at the ongoing COP 17 in Durban, South Africa.

From various media outlets’ efforts to try to clarify and make relevant the climate change story, two points stand out. One involves the challenge of adequately addressing the nuances of science, making the story both scientifically rigorous and yet accessible.

The other involves how to make climate change issues tangible to a public which, studies show, often thinks the issue is remote from them in time and space.

Now, artists have begun to address both issues, mainly finding relevant avenues to address the climate change challenge. And, increasingly, they are getting their inspiration from scientists and researchers. Several are delighted that climate change is attracting the attention it needs.

Photography by Joe Lukhovi.

Joe Lukhovi is a freelance photographer currently based and living in Nairobi, Kenya. His style is diverse, ranging from portrait to documentary photography.

Photographer Joe Lukhovi covers the Global Day of Action in Durban

robertvanwaarden — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:36:43 +0000

On Saturday, December 2nd, 2011 a huge rally and march was held in support of strong climate change action in Durban, South Africa. Thousands of African and South African activists took to the streets to appeal to the COP 17 delegates and negotiators about the climate change impact to the world.

These photographs by Project Survival Media Photographer Joe Lukhovi do a great job capturing the many voices calling for climate justice and a fair, and binding agreement from the United Nations.

Women, Food Security and the Green Climate Fund

robertvanwaarden — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:58:38 +0000

This morning at COP 17 in Durban, South Africa, a creative action was staged drawing attention to the lack of funding and support for women who are the primary food producers across the globe. Issues facing women are at the heart of these climate talks and particularly when it comes to representation under the Green Climate Fund. Around the globe, women are largely responsible for providing food for their families and as climate change impacts increase, available food resources and the cost of food will be adversely impacted.

For HI RES, No Watermark Image, contact psm@projectsurvivalmedia.org

Occupy COP 17 – General Assembly Portraits

robertvanwaarden — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:48:12 +0000

The Occupy Movement has gripped people from all over the world. At COP 17 in Durban, South Africa, a General Assembly is being held outside the conference to discuss different solutions for the Earth’s collapsing systems. Project Survival Media spent some time speaking with participants at the first General Assembly on November 28th, 2011. These portraits and stories bring to light why they are here and what is motivating them to continue to show up at what seems like a failing process.

#Occupy Cop 17 General Assembly – Images by Robert van Waarden

Portraits of the Conference of Youth – Durban, South Africa

robertvanwaarden — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:46:51 +0000

This past weekend in warm and rainy Durban, South Africa, youth from around the world gathered for the 7th session of the Conference of Youth (COY). The COY is held prior to the United Nations Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) every year.

This year, COP17 is taking place in Durban, South Africa and tens of thousands are descending on the city to talk about saving our planet. In our experience, all to often the participants of the UNFCCC just talk. Here at Project Survival Media we have found that some of the most amazing action on solving the climate crisis comes from the youth organizers around the world. These faces are some of those young people that are and will continue to move the world towards a just, safe and sustainable future.

Stay tuned for more updates from the Project Survival Media team in Durban, we are just getting started.

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Portraits of COY7 in Durban South Africa – Images by Robert van Waarden

10:10:10 in Utrecht, Cradle to Cradle

robertvanwaarden — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:34:21 +0000

In conjunction with the Global Work Party, Cradle to Cradle, a event informing children and adults about sustainability was held today in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The Cradle to Cradle event was packed with kids and families, enjoying the sun, learning about sustainability and creating cool things with recycled materials. The photographs below show kids making wallets from old milk cartons and art from recycled material.

The Global Work Party was organized by 350.org and 10:10 and is being heralded as the world’s largest day of civil action ever. Be sure to hop on over to 350.org for more photography around the world.

Crossposted from photographer vanwaardenphoto.com

On Assignment in Arizona

robertvanwaarden — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:17:22 +0000

“Just seeing the future for us and knowing that they [our parents] wanted a better future for us, I have the same feeling for, not myself, but the kids and for my relatives and that something better will be in the future for them, that keeps me going. Knowing that we have succeeded in one step and maybe we can continue on and see a better future for all of us.

[One of] the other things that keeps me going is knowing that one of my great aunts and my great uncles [had] respiratory problems. Their breath was taken away slowly inch by inch, feeling like they were being suffocated. When they died, thinking about them and thinking that how much better it would be for the rest of the people here. I don’t want them to die that way anymore, I want them to be able to breathe.” Fern Benally, Navajo Activist.

Shadia and I just finished an assignment in Arizona, covering an incredible group of activists that are working hard to stop dirty energy on the Navajo Reservation and pushing the envelope on clean energy development. We are focusing on the closing of one of the coal mines in the area, the tactics that were used and what this means to the people affected by the closure.

The former coalmine is in the Benally’s backyard, land that has been the families for thousands of years. For the last 30 years, 24 hours a day, the large coal trucks would rumble by the house and the coal crusher would drown out nature. Now, thanks to incredible co-operation and dedication amongst groups like the Black Mesa Water Coalition, Grand Canyon Trust and the Sierra Club, the life of mine permit was revoked in January. Now, the Benally’s can hear the birds sing and watch the stars like their ancestors did long before Europeans came here.

There are still many examples of environmental racism here in Arizona and across our planet. But, it is important to celebrate victories and share the knowledge so that we can all move towards a sustainable future. More to come on this project in the future.

The Rise of a Climate Movement – 20 Images from 2009

robertvanwaarden — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:16:09 +0000

2009 will be defined as the year that the climate movement exploded. Millions of people around the world got behind the call for a strong deal in Copenhagen. Although the final result was a failure, the activists pictured in these images know that they are Not Done Yet! These 20 images are from the year of climate activism and important events around the world.

Images – ‘Best Of’ from the Climate Conference in Copenhagen

robertvanwaarden — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:34:40 +0000

Gallery of the ‘Best of’ images from COP 15 in Copenhagen.

Photography of the Climate March in Copenhagen

robertvanwaarden — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:00:20 +0000

Over 100,000 people converged in Copenhagen on Dec. 12, 2009 to march towards the Bella Center and demand a fair, ambitious, and binding treaty at the end of the Conference of Parties. This gallery is a selection of some of my best photography from the day.