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CLIMATE CHANGE ANNUAL STREET ART EXHIBITION DECEMBER | 13TH – 14TH, 2012 | LUGARD ROAD | FORT PORTAL

“Communicating Climate Change through Art”

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BACKGROUND The Fort Portal Climate Change Annual Street Art Exhibition was a showcase of visual communication of climate change. The event was organized by Kabarole Research and Resource Centre and Jabulani Africa with financial and in-kind contribution from Care Uganda, Broederlijk Delen, Mpanga Growers Tea Company and Coca Cola. Based on the theme, “communicating climate change through art” was officially opened by Julius Mwanga, the Director of KRC, Mr. Godfrey Ruyonga, the Kabarole District Environmental Officer and closed by Honorable Alex Ruhunda, the Member of Parliament, Fort Portal Municipality.

Photo: Kiwanuka of Jabulani Africa Arts interpreting the message on the art piece about climate change.

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PARTICIPATION The picturesque event attracted an audience of over 300 people and participation of key actors in the Civil Society and Private Sector

that are championing the Climate Change agenda. Led by Kabarole Research and Resource Centre, these actors have embraced new thinking in the way we communicate

climate change. .

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KEY MESSAGES The key message of the event was: Bringing climate change realities into the public domain & Promoting sustainable environmental behaviors and practices among individuals and communities This messages was communicated through street display of artworks, comedy, drama and community theatre, mobile cinema, photography and live music by different performing groups and individuals.

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LAUNCH OF THE EXHIBITION Director KRC

The Director KRC, Julius Mwanga lauded the innovation of communicating climate change through art. He said that it’s necessary to bring this new thinking and methods to communicate climate change because a cross section of people in rural communities still regard it an abstract phenomenon and difficult to visualize, “Climate Change is real”, he said, and appealed to the people not to look further for signs of climate change but to observe the extreme weather events like erratic rains and droughts, floods and mudslides and changing weather patterns, as pointers to climate change. He underscored human activity as the single most important contributor to climate change. He hailed the interest of private sector actors like Mpanga Growers Tea Company and Coca Cola in climate change work because it directly affects their production and entire value chains. He called upon the communities to embrace the work of civil society and private sector in regard to climate change, saying “there is no life without the natural environment”

The Director KRC, Julius Mwanga

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DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER Mr. Godfrey Ruyonga, the Kabarole District Environmental Officer, posed four engaged the audience in a provocation exercise with the following questions to which appropriate responses were generated.

Mr. Godfrey Ruyonga, the Kabarole District Environmental Officer

Questions

Responses

What is the natural environment?

These are living and none-living things that were handed down to us by our ancestors for use by this generation and the generations to come. Destruction of these things potentially contributes to climate change.

Who is the custodian of the natural environment?

Every person, man/woman, rich/poor is a custodian of the natural environment. We all naturally assume a stewardship role in conserving the natural environment. We cheat ourselves when we for example, drain water catchment areas.

What should we do to curb climate change?

For example, plant trees. Do not plant Eucalyptus and pine in water catchment areas. Planting trees does not require huge chunks of land to plant wood lots. Start with one tree in your home. For example, Ficus Natalensis (Omutoma) has value to supply animal feeds, soft wood, and back-cloth.

Who is affected by climate change?

Every human being, fauna and flora, are affected by climate change. This relates to the stewardship role given to humanity to preserve the natural environment for generations to come.

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ART WORKS Artists may have no ready climate change solutions, but they have capacity to come up with the images to make visible and important the most abstract and distant of climate change challenges. This is what was displayed by Jabulani Africa to communicate climate change in a uniquely visual way.

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PHOTOGRAPHY Communicating Climate Change using photo action is an effective communication tool to engage local communities who are often left out of climate change negotiations. This is the strategy that Kabarole Research and Resource Centre is championing to address this gap and in particular during the climate change street art exhibition.

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DRAMA At the event Toro Cultural Research and Development, a local community theatre group treated and endeared the audience to climate change educative drama.

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MUSIC Traditional music is rich in folklore and teaches values of preserving the natural environment. This communication tool was used by Kigambo Araali, a legendary local artist. He performed a provocative traditional song known as “Ekirale” while engaging the audience in a discussion of what trail they are making in preserving the natural environment and actions to curb climate change.

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CINEMA

Kabarole Research and Resource Centre exhibited the power of film through mobile cinema to influence perceptions and practices about climate change. At the climate change street art exhibition, a film entitled “Turning up the Heat” produced by Oxfam International was relayed to the public. This documentary examines the impact of climate change on agriculture, health, and water resources in Uganda, with the aim of raising awareness of these issues in the community and through building constructive dialogue, contribute to improving and strengthening adaptation strategies.

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OUTCOMES The event envisaged to identify key issues from which to base future outcome-oriented, dialogue-based initiatives that would contribute to making real impact on future climate change arrangements. The event brought together over 20 leading actors working in this area representing a broad group of Stakeholders.

As a result, leaders of government, civil society and the private sector agree that the annual street art exhibitions be organized going forward to provide people–oriented platforms for dialogue and negotiations along specific themes of climate change. Attracting the will of the private sector to join the climate change negotiations and debate at the street art exhibition was a significant outcome of the event.

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WHAT THE MEDIA SAID Saturday, December, 22nd 2012 http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Using-art-to-halt-climate-change

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OFFICIAL CLOSURE

The event was officially closed by the guest of honor, Hon. Alex Ruhunda, Fort Portal Municipality. He said that he was fascinated by the innovation that KRC and Jabulani had put into communicating climate change. He appealed to them to continue in the good work aiming at leaving foot marks for the generation to come. Understanding climate change he said, has remained elusive to the rural communities and continues to affect production and entire livelihoods. He said there was urgent need to explore alternative communication methods that will make climate change appear real to the people. The climate change street art exhibition is one unique way to do it, he said.

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EVENT PROGRAM Time

Activity Description Day one -13th December 2012

Responsibility

Day Two - 14th December 2012

Responsibility

8.30–9.30am

Arrival and Registration of exhibitors

KRC & Jabulani

Exhibition by different Artists and film show

All exhibitors

9.30am

Official opening of the event

Exhibition by different Artists and film show

All exhibitors

10.00am

Opening Remarks & Launch of the exhibition

Director KRC to Officiate at the Launch

Exhibition by different Artists and film show

All exhibitors

10.30–11.00am

Tour of stalls

Invited Guests

Exhibition by different Artists and film show

All exhibitors

11.00am– 1.00pm

Exhibition begins (Music, Drama, Photo and Art works)

All exhibitors

Exhibition by different Artists and film show

All exhibitors

1.00 – 2.00 pm

Lunch break

2.00pm –5.00pm

Exhibition Continues ((Music, Drama, Photo and Art exhibition)

All exhibitors

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Film Shows

KRC

6.00 -8.00pm

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Exhibition by different Artists and film show Closing Remarks

Film Shows

All exhibitors Hon. Alex Ruhunda (MP Fort Portal Municipality

KRC

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