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RSPB NI, the leading wildlife conservation charity, is calling for aspiring artists to speak up for nature, highlighting the nature and climate emergency.

Whether you’re a complete beginner, budding artist or have a wealth of experience, the charity, with the support of TEDxStormont and the world-renowned contemporary visual artist, Colin Davidson, is calling on artists of all ages to use their skills to illustrate a nature rich and climate safe future they want to see for Northern Ireland, as part of its Revive Our World campaign.

Building on the idea of activist art, a term used to describe art that is grounded in the act of ‘doing’ to address political or social issues, the competition aims to give a platform to a range of voices showing those in power why they should address the nature and climate emergency before it’s too late.

The winners will not only be crowned Artist of the Year but the artwork will be centre stage at TEDxStormont Countdown in November to coincide with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Colin Davidson, who is one of the judges for the competition, said, “Art can capture and communicate a uniquely personal experience. Portraying the spirit and emotion of a subject is what drives me in my work. Art can offer the viewer a door into another way of looking at our world, and that’s why I’m looking forward to seeing the entries for this year’s competition, to see what excites people about the future of Northern Ireland.”

Sara McCracken, RSPB NI’s Head of Fundraising and Communications commented, “Throughout history, some of the biggest changes have been brought about by a small group of passionate people, from civil rights to votes for women, including the start of the RSPB itself. Over the years, artists have explored and documented history and politics to huge effect, the nature and climate emergency is the defining issue of our time, this is your chance to have your say and ‘canvas’ for nature.”

Curator of TEDxStormont and CDPB CEO Eva Grosman, added, “At TEDx we passionately believe in the power of ideas to inspire, change attitudes, lives and ultimately the world. The Countdown initiative is the perfect opportunity for Northern Ireland’s climate change experts and environmental leaders to discuss ideas for change. The nature and climate emergency effects everyone, and through this competition we want to shine a spotlight on the voices of the public who want to see a change in how we treat our natural world.”

There are no restrictions on the type of artwork, it can be anything from photography and painting to ceramics or even crochet. The competition is split into four categories Adults (18+), under 8s, 8-11, and 12-17.

Please email a photo of your artwork to Campaigns.NI@rspb.org.uk with the heading ‘Canvasing for Nature Competition’, and tell us your entry details (name, age, contact telephone number) and category by 20th July 2021.

The artworks will be judged by Colin Davidson supported by a panel made up of representatives by RSPB NI and TEDxStormont.

RSPB NI works to protect precious species and habitats across Northern Ireland and is campaigning for targets in law to save nature through its Revive Our World campaign. The charity has been operating in Northern Ireland for over 50 years to inspire a world richer in nature. The charity has more than 10,000 members, around 60 employees, 300 volunteers and 10 reserves. For more information on the competition, visit http://bit.ly/RSPBNIArtistOfTheYear

 

TEDxStormont Countdown is set to return this autumn as a part of TED’s global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ideas into action.

TEDxStormont Countdown is due to take place in November 2021 to coincide with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. The COP26 summit aims to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

In the run up to the Countdown event, TEDxStormont will host a series of online and in-person initiatives and campaigns to encourage conversations about climate change across Northern Ireland with a focus on five core themes – energy, nature, food, materials, and transport.

In the first session, TEDxStormont is to host Shaping Our Electricity Future: Have Your Say which will see passionate climate activists take part in an online event focused on reimagining the electricity grid so that it can deliver a clean electricity future. Experts from SONI, the company which runs Northern Ireland’s electricity grid, will put their plans to the group for insights and challenge.

Taking place on 25 May, the virtual session, hosted by an actress and comedian Nuala McKeever will be an opportunity for attendees to contribute to the consultation and play their part in creating a grid which delivers world-leading levels of clean electricity.

The event will also hear from young climate campaigner Anna Kernahan, and Sara McCracken, RSPB NI’s Head of Fundraising and Communications will introduce RSPB’s Artist of the Year competition. The charity with the support of TEDxStormont will be calling for artists of all ages to use their skills to illustrate their vision of a nature rich and climate safe future for Northern Ireland. The competition aims to give a platform to these voices and encourage politicians to match their words with action.

Curator of TEDxStormont Countdown, Eva Grosman said:

“The Countdown initiative is the ideal opportunity for Northern Ireland’s climate change and environmental leaders from a range of sectors to join together to discuss and action the key solutions that will prevent further damage to our environment.

“TEDxStormont Countdown’s aim is to highlight, through open discussion, the important issues such as food, nature, energy, materials, and transport, that are having major impacts on our environment.

“TEDxStormont Countdown live is set to return in November as part of the TED Countdown which will see global leaders of climate action join together to highlight the major challenges and solutions to the core climate issues. In the run up to the COP26 in Glasgow,

TED Countdown will raise even more awareness of the climate crisis and will provoke our leaders in Government and beyond to think ahead to what must be done to save the planet for good.”

Natasha Sayee, Head of External Communications and Stakeholder Engagement at SONI said:

“Shaping Our Electricity Future is SONI’s direct response to the climate crisis and is fundamental to Northern Ireland’s ambitions of reaching at least 70% electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The move to clean electricity will affect everyone in Northern Ireland, and we want to engage with the public to hear their opinions on how best to move forward ensuring we meet the targets and respond to the Climate Crisis.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with TEDxStormont Countdown once again to highlight solutions and big ideas to the changing way we work in order to protect the planet. We want Northern Ireland’s electricity system to enable and support the climate emergency response. We are stepping up to do this and through our partnership with TEDxStormont we urge the public to join and help us inform how we can all move forward in a greener, cleaner society.”

Sara McCracken, Head of Fundraising and Communications at RSPB NI said:

“Northern Ireland is waking up to the nature and climate emergency and we are pleased to see important legislation such as the Climate Change Bill moving through the Assembly, as well as our participation in the upcoming COP26 event.

“TEDxStormont Countdown is a platform for Northern Ireland’s leading environmentalists and activists share ideas and thoughts on what needs to be done to protect the planet. Last year’s TEDx Countdown saw vibrant discussions and thought-provoking proposals exchanged on how to be kinder to our planet, and what actions are required in the global effort to affect this needed change.”

“We look forward to this year’s TEDx Countdown, especially the unveiling of the RSPB NI Artist of the Year, which will see incredible works of art that capture a future vision of nature and why it must be preserved.”

Join us for an informal conversation between Professor Monica McWilliams, Co-founder of The Women’s Coalition and Henrietta Norton film director and step daughter of Mo Mowlam, to celebrate Mo’s personal and political legacy and successfully negotiating the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations on the 8th March 2021.

Women like Mo and Monica and the many others who played such a key part in the process are too easily forgotten in this story but their role was pivotal to the peace agreement’s success.

Monica and Henrietta will celebrate Mo and the women she worked alongside in this intimate and informal conversation in memory of Mo’s legacy.

Date: 8 March 2021
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YNi9dLr4R6KGWpFqVlJOkA

#IWD2021 #ChooseToChallenge

Dr. Donna Hicks is an Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, and the former Deputy Director of the Program on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution (PICAR).

She worked extensively on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and as a member of the third party in numerous unofficial diplomatic efforts. In addition to her work in the Middle East, Dr. Hicks founded and co-directed a ten-year project in Sri Lanka. She has also worked on the conflicts in Northern Ireland and Colombia and conducted several US/Cuba dialogues.

She is the author of the book, Dignity: It’s Essential Role in Resolving Conflict, published in 2011 by Yale University Press. Her second book, Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People, was published by Yale University Press in August 2018.

• Date: 10 March 2021
• Time: 1pm – 2pm
• Register at: https://tinyurl.com/drdonnahicks

Q&A hosted by Adriana Morvaiova, Diversity and Inclusion Champion

Part of Pop Up Leadership Academy for Ethnic Minority Leaders organised in partnership between Centre for Democracy and Peace Building and Washington Ireland Program, and supported by Irish American Partnership.

Following the success of the first webinar, which marked the 40th anniversary of the foundation of Solidarnosc – the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc, which led to the collapse of communism and a peaceful transition to democracy across Central and Eastern Europe, we are launching Re-thinking Solidarity series.

Re-thinking Solidarity will bring together leading academics, historians, philosophers, theologians, social activists, policy makers and legislators to engage in thoughtful reflection and re-think what solidarity means today, in light of a variety of societal changes, the current geopolitical situation and the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic.

We will explore the idea of solidarity in the context of religion and inter-faith dialogue; environmental and financial sustainability; politics and political psychology; and equality and social justice.

The series of webinars will be chaired by Lord Alderdice – a psychiatrist who, as Leader of Northern Ireland’s Alliance Party was one of the key negotiators of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, then first Speaker of the new Northern Ireland Assembly, and subsequently one of four international Commissioners who oversaw security normalization in Ireland.  A member of the House of Lords since 1996 and Convenor of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords during the Coalition Government, he was President of Liberal International – the global federation of liberal parties – and currently has various appointments at the University of Oxford including as Director of the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict.

Re-thinking Solidarity webinars will be subsequently published as a series of essays, and when it is possible, we do hope to convene further seminars in Oxford and Rome.

Re-thinking Solidarity is organised by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building and the Political Theology, in partnership with St. Benet’s Institute, St. Benet’s Hall, University of Oxford and The St. John Paul II Institute of Culture at Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum in Rome, and supported by the Polish Cultural Institute in London.

 

Re-thinking Solidarity

 

• 23 Oct 2020: Solidarity, religion and inter-faith dialogue

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/y4hqhrpk

• Lord Alderdice (chair)
• Dariusz Karlowicz, Political Theology
• Nazila Ghanea, University of Oxford
• Daniel Greenberg, Jewish Law and Ethics
• Jaroslaw Kupczak OP, St. John Paul II Institute of Culture, Angelicum

 

• 20 Nov 2020: Solidarity between the generations – environmental and financial sustainability

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/y5p7www3

• Lord Alderdice (chair)
• Helen Alford OP, Vice Rector, Angelicum
• Kalypso Nicolaidis, University of Oxford
• Carlos Fidalgo Gallardo, Universidad de Sevilla
• Marek A. Cichocki, Political Theology

 

• 18 Dec 2020: Solidarity, politics and political psychology

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/yyrm2bnz

• Mark Devenport, former BBC NI Political Editor (chair)
• Deniz Arıboğan, Uskudar University, Istanbul
• Ewa Thompson, Rice University
• Alejandro Crosthwaite OP, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Angelicum
• Michał Gierycz, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Economic Studies UKSW

 

• 19 Feb 2021: Solidarity, equality and social justice

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/y5p8t5s4

• Lord Alderdice (chair)
• Fr Michal Paluch, Rector of the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)
• Dr Austen Ivereigh, Fellow in Contemporary Church History, Campion Hall, Oxford
• Sally J. Scholz, PhD, Chair, Department of Philosophy, Villanova University
• Professor Tomasz Zyro, University of Warsaw and Political Theology