ETC Group News
30 March 2009
www.etcgroup.org
LAST CALL FOR GEO-ENGINEERING SUBMISSIONS
PIE-IN-THE-SKY CONTEST DEADLINE: APRIL 1 2009
There are just two days left to submit your very own wacky geo-engineering scheme to the first-ever international Pie-in-the-Sky contest sponsored by ETC Group, which closes this Wednesday, April 1. Contestants have their work cut out for them to surpass the outlandish schemes the real geo-engineers are concocting: sulfates in the atmosphere, mirrors in the sky, iron in the oceans, whiter clouds, fake trees. While preposterous, these schemes are being seriously debated by politicians, pundits and carbon-offsetters the world over and are poised to receive more research dollars and more air time in high-level international meetings. Practical, crucial measures – like reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and protecting vulnerable populations from the devastating effects of climate change – get short-changed.
Contestants in the Pie-in-the-Sky competition, armed with a good sense of humour and a healthy dose of skepticism, are aiming to expose the climate-profiteers and their reckless plans that, in the absence of precaution, could worsen climate chaos. If you agree that the future of the planet shouldn't be left to geo-engineering technophiles, join the campaign and send us your best/worst pie-in-the-sky example.
A selection of the submissions we've received so far can be viewed at: http://pieintheskycontest.org/
Submissions should be sent to geoengineer@etcgroup.org before April Fools' Day (April 1 2009). The winner will be announced on Earth Day, April 22 2009.
Submissions should be no longer than 200 words and can be submitted in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese. Sketches, designs or videos that help explain the technological strategy – or impact – are welcome. If you don't like to type, make a video in which you explain your idea, post it on YouTube and send us the link. The winning techno-fix will be crafted into a cartoon that ETC will publish on its website and elsewhere. The winner will receive a T-shirt emblazoned with his/her winning geo-engineering scheme.
Watch our contest announcements on YouTube in
English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6rlPOyt3ks
Spanish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CnEQMew1rk
French: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjBmyIXKENs
Send us your proposal on April Fools' Day or before!!
For more information:
Kathy Jo Wetter (Durham, NC, USA) kjo@etcgroup.org
Phone: +1 919 688 7302
Silvia Ribeiro (Mexico City) silvia@etcgroup.org
Phone: 011 52 5555 6326 64
Diana Bronson (Montreal, Canada) diana@etcgroup.org
Phone: +1 514 273 6661; cell +1 514 629 9236
Pat Mooney (Ottawa, Canada) etc@etcgroup.org
Phone: +1 613 241 2267 cell: +1 613 240 0045
