On 22 and 23 June, artists and EuroNatur employees attracted attention in Brussels with two high-visibility events. With artworks and a flash video, they brought the Renewable Energy Directive into focus.
Art meets nature conservation: the three artists Sarah Yates (right), Laura Ottone (front) and Aleksandra Nina Knezevic (left) at their creative work.
© Marilena D'auria
"The rivers are too valuable to destroy," says painter Aleksandra Nina Knezevic from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Hydropower projects endanger the Blue Heart of Europe in the Balkans.
© Susanne SchmittAt the central Place du Luxembourg, the heart of Brussels, the three international artists Sarah Yates, Laura Ottone and Aleksandra Nina Knezevic took up residence on 22 June and painted nature paintings and comics. The artists willingly let look over their shoulders. "I support the campaign with my art because I am convinced that it is important to protect Europe's nature," says the British painter Sarah Yates, who has become famous for her murals with bird motifs.
One day later, at nightfall, EuroNatur staff in Brussels presented a stirring video on the RED4Nature campaign. The message: the Renewable Energy Directive, which is currently being revised, can work for the climate as well as for nature. The location was well chosen, as the Place du Luxembourg is the place where many MEPs go out in the evenings and is particularly busy during the EU summit week.
"This has been a successful week. We've had art meet politics, youth activists questioning their politicians, and we took up space where people usually wouldn't expect it. We projected our video during the busiest time of the year with probably around 2000 people who work in the institutions to have seen it. We hope this can help spread the message“, said Bruna Campos, Senior EU Policy Manager at EuroNatur.