Natural World Museum News
United Nations Seminar to Focus on Art as a Vehicle for Changing Attitudes Toward the Environment
Celebrity guest, model and environmental activist
The forum is organized by UN DPI in cooperation with the Natural World Museum (NWM) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) joint initiative — Art for the Environment. This ongoing initiative is designed to utilize the universal language of art as a catalyst to unite people in action and thought and to empower individuals, communities, and leaders to focus on environmental values across social, economic, and political realms.
The seminar will help to keep the spotlight on the issue of climate change which has been a top priority of the United Nations and UN Secretary-General
Panellists will include artists representing the six global regions, whose work focuses on the environment and earth's changing needs:
"The beauty of art is that it makes us curious, which leads to conversation and engagement, which is just one step away from 'action.' It is in this context that art is a powerful agent of change to unlearn many manifestations of intolerance, and to help preserve this planet we call home," says artist
The environmental experts on the panel will be led by distinguished former diplomat Ahmed Djoghlaf, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity who will give the keynote address. "There is an umbilical link between culture and nature and between cultural diversity and biological diversity. The unprecedented loss of biodiversity is contributing to eroding the diversity of culture. Responding to the biodiversity challenges will enhance the cultural, civilisational identity of human beings and strengthen their relation with Mother Nature", says Mr. Djoghlaf. The Deputy Director of the UNEP Regional office for
An exhibit, created in conjunction with the seminar and featuring the works of the seven artists will be open to the public from 2 - 31 May at United Nations Headquarters in
The Unlearning Intolerance Seminar Series was initiated by the Department of Public Information in 2004. The series aims to examine manifestations of intolerance as well as explore means to promote respect and understanding among peoples. As its name suggests, the "Unlearning Intolerance" series offers opportunities to discuss how intolerance, wherever it exists and for whatever reason, can be "unlearned" through education, inclusion and example.
In previous years, the seminar series featured issues of global importance with the themes: Confronting Anti-Semitism: Education for Tolerance and Understanding" (2004) (http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/tolerance/previous.html#seminarone); "Confronting Islamophobia: Education for Tolerance and Understanding" (2004) (http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/tolerance/previous.html#seminartwo); Tolerance: The Role of the Media" (2005); "Critical Perspectives in Combating Genocide: What We Can Do to Prevent. What We Can Do During. What We Must Do After" (2005); and, "Cartooning for Peace" (2006).
This year's seminar will be open to the general public, including college and university students. Interested United Nations delegations, United Nations-affiliated non-governmental organizations and UN-accredited media representatives, special guests and the general public are asked to register. Registration is free of charge and can be requested by email to unchronicle@un.org.
For more information about the seminar and the artists, go to: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/tolerance/
For more information about the Natural World Museum curatorial programme go to: http://www.naturalworldmuseum.org.
SOURCE Natural World Museum
Search Our News Using Google Search
Can't find what you want? Try using Google:
