South African court dismisses a major lawsuit by 140,000 Zambian women and children against Anglo American for Kabwe lead poisoning. A setback for affected communities enduring the lasting impact of lead contamination.
Blocks of Arctic ice are melting in the heart of London
As the world discusses climate action at COP24, artist Olafur Eliasson’s Ice Watch installation shows us what’s happening in the Arctic. The ice blocks are on exhibit in front of London’s Tate. Until they’ll melt.
What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. This is the reason why 30 blocks of ice lost from the Greenland ice sheet are on display in the heart of London, in front of the Tate Modern Museum and the Bloomberg Philanthropies European headquarters. They’re relentlessly melting, right under everyone’s eyes. And that’s precisely what it is happening, right now, in the Arctic and all over the world due to global warming.
To make us see what seems far away. This is the aim of Ice Watch London, the installation of artist Olafur Eliasson launched while the world was gathering to discuss climate action in Katowice, Poland, at COP24, a crucial moment to determine what kind of impact we will have on the Planet over the next few years.
“Feelings of distance and disconnect hold us back, make us grow numb and passive. I hope that Ice Watch arouses feelings of proximity, presence, and relevance, of narratives that you can identify with and that make us all engage.Olafur Eliasson
The Ice Watch installation
The Greenland ice sheet loses 10,000 blocks of ice per second every year, and that’s where the ones exhibited in London come from – the Nuup Kangerlua fjord. Being fished out after they had fallen from the ice sheet and already started melting in the ocean, the artist claims the installation hasn’t affected the quantity of ice of Greenland.
Moreover, the studio collaborates with an environmental charity in the art field, Julie’s Bicycle, to calculate the installation’s carbon footprint. Despite the results will be shown once the installation is over, the association estimates that Ice Watch will consume 35 tonnes of CO2. “That’s a lot,” Eliasson commented. “But to put it into perspective, it is the equivalent of flying 33 people roundtrip from London to Nuuk to visit the melting Greenland ice sheet for themselves”.
This sculpture will capture the imagination and help Londoners of all ages to understand first-hand the environmental challenges we all face.Olafur Eliasson
This is what has driven the artist – renowned for his 2003 installation of a sun inside the Tate to show the social effects of a changing climate – to bring ice blocks from Greenland to England. Engage and involve people to make us understand what’s happening and make us realise the importance of talking about the elephant in the room: the effects of climate change. An elephant that is growing bigger, and heavier, that we can’t afford to ignore anymore.
The blocks of glacial ice await your arrival. Put your hand on the ice, listen to it, smell it, look at it – and witness the ecological changes our world is undergoing.Olafur Eliasson
Siamo anche su WhatsApp. Segui il canale ufficiale LifeGate per restare aggiornata, aggiornato sulle ultime notizie e sulle nostre attività.
Quest'opera è distribuita con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 4.0 Internazionale.
Controversial African land deals by Blue Carbon face skepticism regarding their environmental impact and doubts about the company’s track record, raising concerns about potential divergence from authentic environmental initiatives.
Majuli, the world’s largest river island in Assam State of India is quickly disappearing into the Brahmaputra river due to soil erosion.
Food imported into the EU aren’t subject to the same production standards as European food. The introduction of mirror clauses would ensure reciprocity while also encouraging the agroecological transition.
Sponsored article
Sikkim is a hilly State in north-east India. Surrounded by villages that attracts outsiders thanks to its soothing calmness and natural beauty.
Sikkim, one of the smallest states in India has made it mandatory for new mothers to plant saplings and protect them like their children to save environment
Chilekwa Mumba is a Zambian is an environmental activist and community organizer. He is known for having organized a successful lawsuit against UK-based mining companies.
What led to the Fukushima water release, and what are the impacts of one of the most controversial decisions of the post-nuclear disaster clean-up effort?
Nzambi Matee is a Kenyan engineer who produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic waste with the aim of addressing plastic pollution and affordable housing.