economy has the same level of profoundness as a rain forest – I already made this very clear from the beginning – and yet I see a similarity, a connection worth exploring. In my view the lessons of Darwin haven’t really landed into our cultural understanding yet. Where some see an inappropriate metaphor, I see a tentative reality. Hence, I linger on perceiving economy as ecology. As it provides a viable starting point when dealing with environmental issues, that may lead to inspiration, surprising insights and a deeper understanding of the matter at hand. Whether you take it as a metaphor, artistic frivolity, dangerous experiment, or tentative reality, doesn’t matter that much. If you want to play, we can play. Best wishes, Koert p.s. (*) Esther, regarding your doubts with having to swallow a practical agenda around the eco-currency. I think these doubts are real, yet conquerable. Personally, I have to admit that I don’t think all that much about my position as an artist. I highly appreciated Calvin’s statement: “art is about everything else”. I like the art world and I am glad that the art world likes me too, but I like the real world even better. Esther, knowing your work, I think we can agree that as artist we both choose to balance somewhere in the spectrum between “l’art pour ‘art” and ‘engaged activism’ or ‘applied practice’. I guess every single project is a balancing act on this 2D spectrum. I can understand you are moving in a slightly different part of the spectrum, however I also notice quite some overlap. Personally, I always find it fruitful to work with people who nudge you a bit out of your comfort zone, as long as the project maintains a certain balance that everyone is comfortable with in the end. (**) Regarding the use of metaphors as conduits, I agree with Tapio this can lead to shortcomings sometimes. I often tell my students that a metaphor only goes as far as it goes, and when it breaks down you have to leave it. Yet, I think metaphors should not be dismissed merely as linguistic trick we use to increase the effect of our words. Metaphors are a fundamental part of our thought processes whenever we try to think abstractly. “Metaphor is a fundamental mechanism of mind, one that allows us to use what we know about our physical and social experience to provide understanding of countless other subjects.” Surely, this is not something I invented; here is classical book I can recommend: “Metaphors We Live By” (1980). By George Lakoff & Mark Johnson
------- Original Message -------Subject: Re: [Paralelo] Following up on Para-
lelo... Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:13:14 -0300 From: Gisela Domschke To: Koert van Mensvoort CC: paralelo@listcultures.org
Hi all I would like to share with you an article recently published in the Guardian about a scientific study that challenges the argument that shopping down trees in Amazon improves social conditions. h t t p : / / w w w. g u a r d i a n . c o . u k / e n v i r o n ment/2009/jun/11/amazon-deforestationdevelopment And here an interview with Indian economist Vinod Thomas, where he states how environmental investments could take Brazil to a leading economical position in relation to other Bric countries (Folha Sao Paulo): http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ambiente/ult10007u571123.shtml Best Gisela -------- Original Message -------Subject: Re: [Paralelo] Following up on Paralelo... Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:29:10 +0200 From: Koert van Mensvoort To: paralelo@listcultures.org
Hello All, I would like to share a few articles relevant for the ECO-currency idea. 1. Farmers are already being paid not to cut down trees. 2. An essay for the people who are against 79