Since 1972, the United Nations has celebrated World Enviornment Day on 5 June, in order to enhance political attention and social awareness to the state of our world. This year, in preparation of that day, the American Center will be sprouting eco-warriors. In partnership with Kriti, a local NGO, the Center will host two-days of workshops for children (12 years and above) and adults on a range of themes, from musical response classes to a lesson in Delhi’s bird culture.
Delhi Birds
This is the first year the festival will take place and it will focus on Indian enviornmental issues, though there are some American elements to it. Center director Anne Lee Seshadri said in an email interview, “The lead dancer in our Tuesday night dance performance is American; the exhibit on global warming is from Alaska and we will be showing a short and much acclaimed American documentary
The Story of Stuff (
www.thestoryofstuff.com).”
The EcoArt workshops will turn newspaper into gift bags and teach the attendees how to create artwork from discarded goods, such as product labels and wastepaper. Enrico Fabian will display his photographic essay on the kabaris (ragpickers), with whom he spent four months documenting. Pradip Saha will screen the documentary Hard Times, a discussion with Delhiities about their traffic woes. And Jharna Anurag Singh will show the film Kosi Katha, which tells the story of the people devastated by the 2008 Kosi flood.
The event will take place on 2 and 3 June from 12 pm each day at the American Center, KG Marg, New Delhi. For a full schedule of events, visit http://krititeam.blogspot.com/. Entrance is free, but you must carry a photo ID.