Galleries

Meeting the Carioca(s)

I’ve arrived in Rio de Janerio to prepare for our “situation”, taking place next week as part of the Multicidade International Festival of Women in Theatre. It’s my first visit to Rio, so as well as preparations I’m fitting in a little bit of sightseeing before what will be a very busy week. On Monday, we will start the workshop to create the performance; there are 5 local participants, and the online team will join as time zones allow. On the flight over, I read “Dancing with the Devil in the City of God”, by Brazilian journalist Juliana Barbassa …

I’ve arrived in Rio de Janerio to prepare for our “situation”, taking place next week as part of the Multicidade International Festival of Women in Theatre. It’s my first visit to Rio, so as well as preparations I’m fitting in a little bit of sightseeing before what will be a very busy week. On Monday, we will start the workshop to create the performance; there are 5 local participants, and the online team will join as time zones allow. Continue reading “Meeting the Carioca(s)”

Getting the bigger picture in Rio

Our research for the Rio situation began with the issue of water quality in Guanabara Bay: world attention is turning to Rio de Janeiro and its waters as the Olympic Games draw closer. However, the pollution of Guanabara Bay isn’t a new problem, and its impact is much greater than a one-off sports event. Many communities’ livelihoods are based on and around the bay, and of course all life is dependent on clean water.

Baracas do TempoOur research for the Rio situation began with the issue of water quality in Guanabara Bay: world attention is turning to Rio de Janeiro and its waters as the Olympic Games draw closer. However, the pollution of Guanabara Bay isn’t a new problem, and its impact is much greater than a one-off sports event. Many communities’ livelihoods are based on and around the bay, and of course all life is dependent on clean water.
Continue reading “Getting the bigger picture in Rio”

A situation in Brasil!

I’ve been invited to create a “situation” in Rio de Janiero, so I’m starting to look at what’s going on there these days – and I’ve discovered there’s a situation brewing in the water.

Remember those protests we heard about, before and during the 2014 world cup in Brasil? Do you know what they were all about, if anything was achieved, or if social unrest continues? I’ve been invited to create a “situation” in Rio de Janiero, so I’m starting to look at what’s going on there these days – and I’ve discovered there’s a situation brewing in the water. Continue reading “A situation in Brasil!”

E-waste recycling in Togo

Our project may be over but the “situations” continue, especially the growing global problem of e-waste. However there is some good news, such as this story from Togo, West Africa, and the StEP initiative – an organisation dedicated to solving the problem of e-waste.

The Togo story headline, “Is e-waste and untrapped treasure?”, underlines what a massive cultural shift we have experienced in the last 40 or 50 years in terms of disposability. Not so long ago, things were mended, and mended again, before they were considered not worth repairing, and even then, they were recycled rather than thrown out. I slept under a patchwork quilt made from offcuts and grown-out-of clothes; pram-wheels were recycled into an excellent trolley once babies became children; matchboxes were glued together and covered in recycled wrapping paper to become dolls’ house furniture; and so on. We had the same stereo, casette recorder, vacuum cleaner, fridge, freezer and toaster for my entire childhood (my mother is still using the freezer). I don’t remember having any broken electronic items, but if we did they probably would have been given to the repair shop to be disassembled and used for parts. Things were made to last, and after they’d lasted they were taken apart for anything that could be reused. We knew then that it was treasure, so how come we forgot?

Of course, we didn’t really forget; we just succumbed to pressure to consume, because it was easier. And now the real cost of that consumption is piling up around us …