It’s not everyday that a group of like-minded and intelligent individuals come together to propose actual solutions in the interest of solving pressing global issues. The ongoing event, (running from 13th March-31st March 2009) Climate for Change, www.climateforchange.fact.co.uk, aims to do just that. Created in response to increasingly urgent environmental concerns, this event is hosted by FACT, (the foundation for art and creative technology) UK’s leading organisation focusing on the commissioning, exhibiting, and supporting artists' work. The premise of this event is to explore how the environmental crisis, the food crisis, and the housing crisis is negatively affecting our planet. There are workshops, screenings, events, discussions, and meetings all catered towards the interest of utilizing local activism and engagement as a worthy tool of creating cohesive ideas. All events are being held out of FACT’s main two galleries and their media lounge in Liverpool. You can take a look their events held in gallery 1 at www.climateforchange.fact.co.uk/calendar. Residents from Eyebeam’s Sustainability Research Group, Stefan Szczelkun, Melanie Gilligan, Ghana Thinktank Project, N55, Anthony Iles of Mute Magazine, Glenn Davidson and plenty more local activists are participating throughout the events expounding their knowledge in helping event goers understand our overall ecological future. Iles also re-released and updated the magazine’s Climate Change issue – Mute Vol 2, no.5 It’s Not Easy Being Green from May 2007 in order to include fresh commentary on how environmental changes has affected current affairs. Iles will also hold discussions and screenings that run throughout the exhibition.

Considering this is the first event of its kind, we have yet to see how this inspiring call for change and environmental activism will shape future attempts at personal reform within participant’s daily lives or even spark innovative options for international policy reform. The interesting thing is that Climate for Change is just not trying to convince us of grocery shopping with trendy reusable bags or shutting off the water when we brush our teeth, this is about serious and conscious lifestyle changes in order to build a more sustainable Earth. Now some may deem that this sentiment of local environmental activism (turned global) seeking cooperation amongst each other as hopelessly naive, others would commend the brave souls for willingly throwing themselves at the heart of such a dilemma. Basically, this two and a half week event may serve as enough of a catalyst to elicit change or it might merely provoke impressive goals that become easily derailed. Climate for Change and FACT are embarking on a massive project with no clear solution within reach, making this event all the more experimental and a worthy undertaking to pay close attention to.