Modes of activism for nature protection
From all over Europe, from Iceland to Poland and Sweden, and from Norway to Spain, to Serbia and the UK, representatives of Europe’s lakes, seas, rivers and glaciers confluenced for the second edition of the Confluence of European Water Bodies 2024 at Ocean Space, Venice. Over 50 academics, lawyers, artists, ecologists and policy makers gathered from 3 – 6 October 2024, aimed at exchanging, experiencing, learning about water representation. How empowering to mobilise with grass roots initiatives to learn about Europe’s various modes of activism for nature protection, creating ceremonies to weave strong relationships with human ánd non human water bodies, and to rehearse new narratives for an ecological and intergenerational politics.
Local fights for water representation
After a full three days with academic legal and artistic panels, a water bodies concert, field trips, an assembly with local activists, a grief circle, ceremonies, singing and pizza, we returned home, fueled and inspired to continue our local fights for water representation. The next confluence will most likely be held much closer to the North Sea… more about that soon!
The Confluence of European Water Bodies is founded by the Embassy of the North Sea, ILP Mar Menor and TBA21-Academy. The 2024 edition in Venice is supported by NICHE (Ca’ Foscari University), GARN (Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature), the Italian Buddhist Union (UBI) and Creative Industries Fund NL. Special thanks to the Comitato per le Grave di Ciano (River Piave) and Poveglia per Tutti (Venice Lagoon) for welcoming the Confluence in their waters between the Dolomites and the Lagoon.
More info about the water bodies can be found on our new website: www.water-bodies.eu
Photo’s: Nicolò Miana
