{"id":261,"date":"2015-11-09T12:33:56","date_gmt":"2015-11-09T16:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/aivakhiv-acene\/?p=261"},"modified":"2015-11-09T12:34:26","modified_gmt":"2015-11-09T16:34:26","slug":"basta-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/aivakhiv-acene\/2015\/11\/09\/basta-update\/","title":{"rendered":"BASTA update"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Here are my notes from the November 2 meeting of BASTA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1) We discussed the option of a larger multi-day, multi-venue event <\/strong>(e.g., Earth Week which will be having its 45th<\/sup> anniversary almost coterminously with the 30th<\/sup> anniversary of Chernobyl; the \u201cHuman Era\/Error\u201d theme) vs. a continuous series of events <\/strong>that could be monthly (too difficult initially), quarterly, or on some other periodical basis. There was a general sense that starting small is fine, and that we could build up to a larger event. Volunteers to look into what was already being planned for Earth Week: Brian (St. Michael\u2019s College), Deane (UVM).<\/p>\n

2) We discussed the nature of the events: should they be primarily a form of experiential public spectacle <\/strong>(artistic, creative, engaging, fun) or primarily about the sharing of knowledge<\/strong>? There was a general sense that the two can and should be blended together. This blending of \u201cways of knowing\u201d \u2013 artistic\/creative expression, enjoyable\/outdoor activities plus<\/strong> knowledge, panels, debates, etc. \u2013 would make BASTA distinctive. E.g., a kick ball game turns into a speaker event; dirigibles; lake raft or ice event before or after public debates, etc.<\/p>\n

3) An idea (proposed by Deane) that resonated with most was that we should work on connecting climate change <\/strong>to things that are already part of mainstream American public culture. We discussed creating events that would link Burlington <\/strong>to other places around the world (such as Burlington\u2019s sister cities<\/strong>, or twin\/sister lakes<\/strong>, which we should propose to the city\u2014a few specific lakes in Macedonia and Rwanda were mentioned), that would involve lay people <\/strong>(such as farmers <\/strong>coping with climate change), and that would be scheduled according to prominent events in the cultural\/phenological calendar<\/strong>: e.g. Groundhog Day as a kind of \u201cglobal climatological check-in,\u201d freeze (or melt) days on the lake or the barge canal (akin to, if smaller than, Ottawa\u2019s, Quebec City\u2019s, and Saranac\u2019s ice festivals), etc. These could all be lined to the proposed Burlington Phenological Calendar that the post-Natalie Jeremijenko group has discussed; the Abenaki community could be reached out to in this (and maybe the Earth Clock group?).<\/p>\n

4) Other topics discussed:<\/p>\n