Blog: Parachutes for the Planet – Touching the Heart through Art The climate crisis can be so overwhelming, and solutions are often technical and policy-heavy. I sometimes feel my heart has to close a bit just to keep engaging on this issue. Laura and Kallan at the CCL Conference in Washington DC in June 2018 So when I first heard about the Parachutes for the Planet initiative – spearheaded by 14-year old Kallan Benson to raise awareness of climate change – it touched a chord in me. And when I saw Parachutes displayed at CCL’s International Conference in Washington DC, my eyes welled up with tears. Each Parachute is a unique creation, expressing the makers’ local concerns. A group display is very powerful, transforming the Parachutes into powerful messages of strength, hope, and communal determination. At the Parachutes for the Planet display in Washington DC on June 11, 2018, Rachel Kyte, Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All, and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, took pictures of the parachutes from the Marshall Islands and tweeted the photos to the President Heine of the Marshall Islands: Rachel Kyte tweeting images of the Marshall Islands Parachutes to the President of the Marshall Islands @President_Heine look here in DC I’m excited to help facilitate a Canadian display of Parachutes in Ottawa in front of Parliament on October 15 at our National Conference and Lobbying Days. At the same time, a sister display will be happening in Washington, DC. While this project was started by youth, the project is for everyone. All you need to get started is a bedsheet cut into a circle, some basic art supplies, and space to get creative and have some fun with others concerned about the climate.
Please consider making a Parachute and/or engaging your local community to make Parachutes. We are receiving positive responses from schools, art galleries, and summer camps to participate in this project. The more we have, the greater the impact! And your Member of Parliament will be excited to see your community represented in the national display. Let’s see how many constituencies we can represent. The power of art cannot be overstated, as it has the ability to open people’s hearts. For instructions on how to start your Parachute for the Planet please go here: http://motherearthproject.org/parachutes/ Canadians, for more information on the project please contact Laura at ccl.westkootenay@gmail.com Canadians, please send your parachutes by October 1 to: Or bring to CCL Canada’s National Conference and Lobbying Days. **Please register your parachute here, and include a brief story about your parachute (25-300 words)** For USA contact info and mailing address, go to this link. CLICK HERE for a one-page description you can share. Blog by Laura Sacks, founder and co-leader of the Nelson – West Kootenay (British Columbia) Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby A Parachute for the Planet from Rajustan India on display at CCL2018 in Washington DC Rachel Kyte Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All, and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All tweeting images of the Marshall Islands Parachutes to the President of the Marshall Islands Marshall Islands Parachute for the Planet at CCL2018 in Washington DC More Parachutes from the Marshall Islands on display at CCL2018 in Washington DC Parachute from Anchorage AK on display at CCL2018 in Washington DC Parachute from Portland OR on display at CCL2018 in Washington DC Rachel Kyte Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All, and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All tweeting images of the Marshall Islands Parachutes to the President of the Marshall Islands Parachute from Redding CT on display at CCL2018 in Washington DC Parachute on display at CCL2018 in Washington DC Parachute for the planet from a Montessori School from Virginia at CCL2018 A healing message on a parachute for the planet at #CCL2018 in Washington DC A Mother Earth Parachute at #CCL2018 in Washington DC. Phone Congress/Parliament and tell them you want a soft land on the climate criis. This parachute clearly show that youth know we need to cut emissions. #CCL2018 in Washington DC A carbon fee and dividend parachute at #CCL2018 in Washington DC This parachute was made with garbage collected at the beach. It is from San Francisco. Displayed at CCL2018 in Washington DC Parachute for the planet from Portland OR at the CCL2018 in Washington DC CCL Abuja Nigeria's Parachute for the Planet at CCL2018 in Washington DC Parachute for the planet from Rajustan India the CCL2018 in Washington DC Children in Sudbury Ontario hold their parachute that was inspired by their city's bridge of nations. The first parachute completed in our network was by CCL Zambia
Credits: Collins Mvula Students holding their parachute in Zambia! Wow, pretty powerful, wouldn’t you agree? Credits ™@Motherearthproject A memorable photo of a baby crawling across Uganda's Parachute for the Planet from Evelyn Namuwolo our leader in Kampala Sierra Leone School Green Club We should stop building houses where rocks are hanging over our houses like mountainous areas. We lost many souls here because of that act. That was the message they were preaching. - Alhassan Sesay A school in Abuja Nigeria made this beautiful parachute Students on Campaign and Advocacy in the Office of the Chief Operating Officer Shiroro Hydro Power Station Engr U.E Chioke (Credits Muhammad Almahroof) Celebrating the World Environment Day in NSP Staff Secondary School Shiroro, Niger State Nigeria
Photo Credit: Muhammad Almahroof The almost final version CCL Mutare's parachute for the planet
Credit: Jussa Kudherezera Laura and Kallan met at the CCL Conference in Washington DC in June 2018 More Parachutes on display at CCL2018 in Washington DC = June 11, 2018 CCL Madagascar beginning their Parachute project
Credits: Juana Colombe Rabemaraina CCL Antananarivo Madagascar's final Parachute for the Planet CCL Nelson - West Kootenay created this parachute with the Nelson community at Canada Day festivities at Lakeside Park CCLer Tanya Coad created the parachute for CCL Nelson - West Kootenay, encompassing local concerns about our warming climate.
#ParachutesForThePlanet from Marshall Islands thanks to #MotherEarthProject – getting ready for the US Senate tomorrow and @ThisIsZeroHour
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Blog: Parachutes for the Planet – Touching the Heart through Art
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