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Ecopolis: Fair(er) Futures Festival (Brussels)
Join GEF at Ecopolis, our annual ecological festival where we bring together writers, academics, and civil society thinkers to discuss inspiring visions for a sustainable future!
Context:
Hope is something you need to deserve,” writes Greta Thunberg in The Climate Book. That’s why ECOPOLIS 2023 takes on the challenge of igniting hopeful activism. How do you turn concern or anxiety about the climate crisis into commitment? How to find a middle ground between naiveté and defeatism?
About the event:
Ecopolis is the day to meet people who care about a sustainable future. Because ecological challenges know no national or linguistic borders, Ecopolis is diverse, international and interactive. Ecopolis invites Belgian and international authors to debate the transition towards a socio-ecological society. Inspiring books, documentaries and debates between writers, academics and civil society thinkers about ecology, economy and society are at the heart of Ecopolis
This year the festival brings together different actors from the political, cultural and social environment to discuss this years focus topic, cooperation for a fair – fairer future as core value. This means tackling the conflicts rooted by competition as basic organisational principle on the individual and economic level. Cooperation is understood as cooperation between movements and allyships, the cooperation between countries and the Global South and Global North, as well as the development of commons, such as housing and energy cooperatives.
Speakers
- Kim Stanley Robinson, novelist
- Stephanie Collingwoode Williams, activist in climate justice and anti-racist movements
- Geert Buelens, poet
- Jessica den Outer, author and activists for the Rights of Nature
- Peter Bosmans
Programme:
The festival runs from 10:30 to 21:00, offering different parallel activities, such as panel discussions, workshops or thematic walks around the city. This years programme highlights three different themes, each shedding light on the ecological crisis in a different way.
The first one is Facts and/or fiction. Does knowing more about climate help us make the right decisions? Where can we gain this knowledge from? Can politics and our personal lives also play a role? How can fiction help bring about our hope and a sense of responsibility? Are these questions on your mind too? In this programme item, you will take part in conversations, a walk and performances with a host of scientists and readers (you, for instance) and share inspiration.
In the series of activities under the umbrella of How to, you will get your hands dirty: come screen printing, pimp your clothes and cycle around in the city visiting places full of hope. Engage with real doers on energy sharing, fair fashion and housing cooperatives. Discover how to transform your own commitment into collective action in your daily life. The debate is open!
In the third theme named The Power of Change you will learn how history shows that a better society does not happen by itself and learn in different workshops wat are the deep conflicts and challenges we are facing today. It comes from sustained action by committed people. It took decades of social struggles to bring about the welfare state. Today, many are pushing for a quality society for all.
Learn more about the schedule of the programme and speakers.
Practicalities:
Date and Time: 18 November, 10:30 – 21:00
Location: Muntpunt, Pl. de la Monnaie 6, 1000 Bruxelles (some events, such as walks, happen at different locations, you can find them indicated in the programm)
Language: The main languages of the event will be Dutch, English and French, with simultaneous interpretation provided EN<>NL<>FR for some sessions
Get your tickets here!
This event is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of Oikos and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.