Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1311619
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 NOVEMBER 2020 7 ENVIRONMENT Artwork asks politicians to demonstrate they are listening on World Children's Day ON World Children's Day, 20 November 2020, artist Olafur Eliasson asks political leaders and changemakers to demon- strate they are listening to the next generation. Initiated by Eliasson's public artwork Earth Speakr, kids' messages on the future wellbeing of the planet are being delivered to politicians prompting reaction, and ampli- fied on social media under #Lis- tenToTheFuture. Over 250,000 people have collectively taken part in Earth Speakr since it launched in July on the occasion of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU 2020. Eliasson start- ed the multilateral artwork – featuring an app and a web- site available in 25 languages – to amplify kids' hopes and concerns on climate change, promoting cross-generational exchange across Europe and beyond. Art and culture pro- vide a space, a meeting point, to connect and share perspec- tives, while celebrating differ- ences. When engaging with a work of art you can gain a sense of feeling listened to, seeing your ideas reflected in the form and structure of an artwork. To me this two-way exchange is essential. Earth Speakr is an artwork made by kids who express themselves creative- ly about the climate and their own future. The artwork invites you to listen to their brilliant, funny, and, not surprisingly, heart- breakingly honest messages. World Children's Day is a re- minder to us all to show kids – and to demonstrate through action – that their down-to- earth views are entirely valid and much-needed in shaping our future. They must become co-designers of our tomorrow. To recognise the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in- cluding the child's right to be heard, I ask politicians and other people in power to work to make this happen, not just today but every day of the year. – Olafur Eliasson, Artist Kids are speaking up Children from 70 countries and counting are co-creating the artwork by sharing their views – in their native languag- es – using the app's augment- ed-reality technology. The vid- eo messages are addressed to adults, but also to other kids, offering solutions, ideas, and sharing frustrations. For each child born, a tree should be planted. – suggests a leaf from Leiria, Portugal. To ensure kids' messages are being heard, over 108 Earth Speakr virtual or in-person events, organised by a growing network, are actively inviting kids to be the artists and bring their surrounding environment to life. Goethe-Institutes and German Embassies across the EU have supported the artwork from its initiation, enabling kids to discuss their messag- es first-hand with local politi- cians. Innovative collaborators and partners, including Dokk1, Aarhus Public Libraries (Den- mark), the cultural institution TBA21–Academy Ocean Space (Italy), World Clean Up Day, and Young Innovators by EIT Climate-KIC are integrating Earth Speakr into their envi- ronmentally-focused activities. Earth Speakr is funded by the Foreign Federal Office and re- alised in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut. To take part, download the Earth Speakr app from Google Play or App Store. Earth Speakr in Malta Like Earth Speakr, we think that children represent the present and the future, and their voices need to be listened to by the current leaders to ensure the environment they are set to inherit is not one damaged beyond repair as a result of pollution, habitat de- struction, mass extinction and climate change. Earth Speakr gives children an engaging, yet very powerful, platform through which to find their voices, speak their minds and amplify their messages. The earth is suffering, children are speaking out, but are the adult world leaders actually listen- ing? Amy (17) & Ella (15) Founders of Kids Against Plastic During these particular times, our planet needs hope, and the key to our future are our chil- dren. We believe that by giv- ing children an empowering experience through the Earth Speakr application, we are pro- viding them with a broad plat- form to share their thoughts and ideas about the world we live in. This would give every- one the optimism that is much needed all around the world. – German Embassy in Malta and German Maltese Circle In October, Olafur Eliasson presented Earth Speakr during the TED Countdown, along- side Climate Activist Al Gore and Musician and Actor Jadon Smith. In Malta the German Maltese Circle hosted work- shops to bring Earth Speakr into the hands of kids. Studio Olafur Eliasson has collabo- rated with leading institutions and experts to create Earth Speakr toolkits – free of charge and available in 25 languages – to inspire kids in museums, libraries and classrooms to speak up for the planet. Across the country Kids are taking part across the country, with messages ar- riving from cities and towns, from Pembroke to Ta' Xbiex to Rabat. Kids have created Earth Speakr messages to air their concerns, creatively share ide- as, or to support international environmental days such as World Clean Up Day and the Global Climate Strike. In Mal- ta a high number of kids have categorised their messages un- der the headlines City, Plants and Pollution.With individual messages animating local envi- ronments, the artwork reveals a global picture of hyperlocal views, united in the framework of the artwork.