Saving the Planet One Tiny Public Space at a Time | Carmella Cucuzzella | TEDxConcordia

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have you ever considered what a sidewalk

have you ever considered what a sidewalk a street corner

a street corner

a street corner a tiny park or even a bus stop can do

a tiny park or even a bus stop can do

a tiny park or even a bus stop can do for you well today I’d like to share

for you well today I’d like to share

for you well today I’d like to share with you a series of experiments that

with you a series of experiments that

with you a series of experiments that try to save the planet one tiny public

try to save the planet one tiny public

try to save the planet one tiny public space at a time why has this become

space at a time why has this become

space at a time why has this become important today with all that scientists

important today with all that scientists

important today with all that scientists know about the environmental crisis

know about the environmental crisis

know about the environmental crisis today including all the new technologies

today including all the new technologies

today including all the new technologies and all of the improvements to our

and all of the improvements to our

and all of the improvements to our existing technologies the rate of

existing technologies the rate of

existing technologies the rate of environmental damage is still increasing

environmental damage is still increasing

environmental damage is still increasing across the planet so for example the

across the planet so for example the

across the planet so for example the technology in our cars is getting more

technology in our cars is getting more

technology in our cars is getting more and more fuel-efficient yet our fuel

and more fuel-efficient yet our fuel

and more fuel-efficient yet our fuel consumption keeps increasing rather than

consumption keeps increasing rather than

consumption keeps increasing rather than decreasing this is paradoxical but it’s

decreasing this is paradoxical but it’s

decreasing this is paradoxical but it’s not new more than a hundred and fifty

not new more than a hundred and fifty

not new more than a hundred and fifty years ago this man William Stanley

years ago this man William Stanley

years ago this man William Stanley Jevons discovered that gains in energy

Jevons discovered that gains in energy

Jevons discovered that gains in energy efficiency ultimately lead to gains in

efficiency ultimately lead to gains in

efficiency ultimately lead to gains in urgent energy consumption so you would

urgent energy consumption so you would

urgent energy consumption so you would expect that the wider you build our

expect that the wider you build our

expect that the wider you build our highways the less we have traffic but

highways the less we have traffic but

highways the less we have traffic but it’s the exact opposite the wider we

it’s the exact opposite the wider we

it’s the exact opposite the wider we build our highways the more we

build our highways the more we

build our highways the more we experience traffic congestion and the

experience traffic congestion and the

experience traffic congestion and the exact same thing is happening with the

exact same thing is happening with the

exact same thing is happening with the way we use energy in our homes since

way we use energy in our homes since

way we use energy in our homes since 1990 in Canada energy efficiency

1990 in Canada energy efficiency

1990 in Canada energy efficiency improved by 45% in the residential

improved by 45% in the residential

improved by 45% in the residential sector yet energy consumption increased

sector yet energy consumption increased

sector yet energy consumption increased by 7% technology is doing amazing work

by 7% technology is doing amazing work

by 7% technology is doing amazing work yet our energy consumption goes up

this is a very strange paradox that

this is a very strange paradox that points to very counterproductive

points to very counterproductive

points to very counterproductive behaviors so technology cannot be the

behaviors so technology cannot be the

behaviors so technology cannot be the only way we go ahead and solve our

only way we go ahead and solve our

only way we go ahead and solve our environmental crisis our behaviors are

environmental crisis our behaviors are

environmental crisis our behaviors are one of the many factors and our

one of the many factors and our

one of the many factors and our environmental problems you may ask why

environmental problems you may ask why

environmental problems you may ask why do we feel so passive we see this all

do we feel so passive we see this all

do we feel so passive we see this all the time we’re bombarded on a daily

the time we’re bombarded on a daily

the time we’re bombarded on a daily basis with all this information about

basis with all this information about

basis with all this information about the catastrophic effects of climate

the catastrophic effects of climate

the catastrophic effects of climate change yet how many of us in here know

change yet how many of us in here know

change yet how many of us in here know what a kilogram of co2 is or does and

what a kilogram of co2 is or does and

what a kilogram of co2 is or does and does that kind of information help

does that kind of information help

does that kind of information help change our individual actions like

change our individual actions like

change our individual actions like taking the bus instead of the car or

taking the bus instead of the car or

taking the bus instead of the car or taking the stairs instead of the

taking the stairs instead of the

taking the stairs instead of the elevator so if these expert messages are

elevator so if these expert messages are

elevator so if these expert messages are alien to us if they don’t inspire us

alien to us if they don’t inspire us

alien to us if they don’t inspire us what is all around us and has the power

what is all around us and has the power

what is all around us and has the power to influence our behavior individually

to influence our behavior individually

to influence our behavior individually and collectively directly and every

and collectively directly and every

and collectively directly and every single day that’s our public spaces how

single day that’s our public spaces how

single day that’s our public spaces how could we draw upon the power of even the

could we draw upon the power of even the

could we draw upon the power of even the most banal of our public spaces in our

most banal of our public spaces in our

most banal of our public spaces in our cities to be able to mobilize collective

cities to be able to mobilize collective

cities to be able to mobilize collective environmental actions okay what does

environmental actions okay what does

environmental actions okay what does that mean so let’s imagine for a moment

that mean so let’s imagine for a moment

that mean so let’s imagine for a moment that we’re walking in our own

that we’re walking in our own

that we’re walking in our own neighborhoods and that we’re able to

neighborhoods and that we’re able to

neighborhoods and that we’re able to encounter these crazy installations

encounter these crazy installations

encounter these crazy installations reminding us of what we can do on a

reminding us of what we can do on a

reminding us of what we can do on a daily basis to better protect our

daily basis to better protect our

daily basis to better protect our environment this is not a fantasy I’m

environment this is not a fantasy I’m

environment this is not a fantasy I’m going to present you two examples before

going to present you two examples before

going to present you two examples before I talk about my initiative that either

I talk about my initiative that either

I talk about my initiative that either raise awareness with public spaces or

raise awareness with public spaces or

raise awareness with public spaces or directly engage citizens and the reason

directly engage citizens and the reason

directly engage citizens and the reason why I chose these two examples is

why I chose these two examples is

why I chose these two examples is because they show the different kinds of

because they show the different kinds of

because they show the different kinds of ways we can use public spaces awareness

ways we can use public spaces awareness

ways we can use public spaces awareness is all about knowing and and making

is all about knowing and and making

is all about knowing and and making people know about a topic but engagement

people know about a topic but engagement

people know about a topic but engagement is doing so we’ll start with the first

is doing so we’ll start with the first

is doing so we’ll start with the first example which is an example in Amsterdam

example which is an example in Amsterdam

example which is an example in Amsterdam there was a you know everybody likes

there was a you know everybody likes

there was a you know everybody likes Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Amsterdam but even Amsterdam has some unsafe areas

but even Amsterdam has some unsafe areas

but even Amsterdam has some unsafe areas so the community got together and they

so the community got together and they

so the community got together and they decided to make one of these unsafe

decided to make one of these unsafe

decided to make one of these unsafe areas safer by using lighting but they

areas safer by using lighting but they

areas safer by using lighting but they didn’t want to introduce heavy

didn’t want to introduce heavy

didn’t want to introduce heavy infrastructure they wanted an

infrastructure they wanted an

infrastructure they wanted an environmental solution and so they

environmental solution and so they

environmental solution and so they worked with scholars and professionals

worked with scholars and professionals

worked with scholars and professionals for to design this kinetic stick that

for to design this kinetic stick that

for to design this kinetic stick that collects energy through human activity

collects energy through human activity

collects energy through human activity and when you hook it on the tree the

and when you hook it on the tree the

and when you hook it on the tree the entire layer area lights up making this

entire layer area lights up making this

entire layer area lights up making this once unsaved or marginalized space into

once unsaved or marginalized space into

once unsaved or marginalized space into a beautiful and even welcoming area and

a beautiful and even welcoming area and

a beautiful and even welcoming area and this was done by people just walking and

this was done by people just walking and

this was done by people just walking and running together on a daily basis so it

running together on a daily basis so it

running together on a daily basis so it impacted an entire community and was

impacted an entire community and was

impacted an entire community and was good for the environment

good for the environment

good for the environment and their health so let’s go to another

and their health so let’s go to another

and their health so let’s go to another example this was in Paris 2015 this was

example this was in Paris 2015 this was

example this was in Paris 2015 this was also an example that used public space

also an example that used public space

also an example that used public space but this time to raise awareness the

but this time to raise awareness the

but this time to raise awareness the other example but then they used they

other example but then they used they

other example but then they used they use public space in this case in a

use public space in this case in a

use public space in this case in a rather shocking way and I’ll explain

rather shocking way and I’ll explain

rather shocking way and I’ll explain this was one of the very important

this was one of the very important

this was one of the very important events on climate change the UN climate

events on climate change the UN climate

events on climate change the UN climate change conference in 2015 so there was

change conference in 2015 so there was

change conference in 2015 so there was tons of experts there all kinds of

tons of experts there all kinds of

tons of experts there all kinds of experts there and yet the most moving

experts there and yet the most moving

experts there and yet the most moving experience there was not all the talk of

experience there was not all the talk of

experience there was not all the talk of climate change and all the data that was

climate change and all the data that was

climate change and all the data that was being exchanged the most moving event

being exchanged the most moving event

being exchanged the most moving event there was rather these chunks of ice

there was rather these chunks of ice

there was rather these chunks of ice cubes the artist salah/prayer Eliason

cubes the artist salah/prayer Eliason

cubes the artist salah/prayer Eliason used real chunks of melting Greenland

used real chunks of melting Greenland

used real chunks of melting Greenland glaciers these twelve pieces as you see

glaciers these twelve pieces as you see

glaciers these twelve pieces as you see arranged in a circle like a clock a

arranged in a circle like a clock a

arranged in a circle like a clock a reminder that time is of the essence

reminder that time is of the essence

reminder that time is of the essence does anybody see any frightening data

does anybody see any frightening data

does anybody see any frightening data here just chunks of ice sitting right in

here just chunks of ice sitting right in

here just chunks of ice sitting right in front of the Pantheon people watched

front of the Pantheon people watched

front of the Pantheon people watched this ice melt this was a very powerful

this ice melt this was a very powerful

this ice melt this was a very powerful experience these chunks of ice

experience these chunks of ice

experience these chunks of ice represented one tenth of the ice that

represented one tenth of the ice that

represented one tenth of the ice that melts in a Greenland summer but not for

melts in a Greenland summer but not for

melts in a Greenland summer but not for summer

summer

summer not per month not even per day per

not per month not even per day per

not per month not even per day per second so this event touched thousands

second so this event touched thousands

second so this event touched thousands of people causing an international

of people causing an international

of people causing an international dialogue on the melting IceCaps in

dialogue on the melting IceCaps in

dialogue on the melting IceCaps in Greenland this was a powerful experience

Greenland this was a powerful experience

Greenland this was a powerful experience yet

yet

yet we were just witnesses watching this ice

we were just witnesses watching this ice

we were just witnesses watching this ice melt where do we go from there

melt where do we go from there

melt where do we go from there apart from feeling really worried about

apart from feeling really worried about

apart from feeling really worried about our future so we have seen two examples

our future so we have seen two examples

our future so we have seen two examples here so far both using public spaces but

here so far both using public spaces but

here so far both using public spaces but in very different ways on the one hand

in very different ways on the one hand

in very different ways on the one hand we have one that raises awareness the

we have one that raises awareness the

we have one that raises awareness the ice watch and on the second we have one

ice watch and on the second we have one

ice watch and on the second we have one that is directly engaging its citizens

that is directly engaging its citizens

that is directly engaging its citizens so the difference is that awareness is a

so the difference is that awareness is a

so the difference is that awareness is a first step and a very necessary

first step and a very necessary

first step and a very necessary condition for engagement but engagement

condition for engagement but engagement

condition for engagement but engagement is what gets things done we all know we

is what gets things done we all know we

is what gets things done we all know we need to exercise right that’s awareness

need to exercise right that’s awareness

need to exercise right that’s awareness but actually exercising that’s

but actually exercising that’s

but actually exercising that’s engagement and this is exactly what our

engagement and this is exactly what our

engagement and this is exactly what our team at Concordia University aim to

team at Concordia University aim to

team at Concordia University aim to accomplish and improve regarding climate

accomplish and improve regarding climate

accomplish and improve regarding climate change issues so we have two goals one

change issues so we have two goals one

change issues so we have two goals one based on awareness and one based on

based on awareness and one based on

based on awareness and one based on engagement awareness for us is all about

engagement awareness for us is all about

engagement awareness for us is all about moving the conversation of climate

moving the conversation of climate

moving the conversation of climate change out of the university which it

change out of the university which it

change out of the university which it sometimes has a tendency to stay locked

sometimes has a tendency to stay locked

sometimes has a tendency to stay locked in and moving it right into the

in and moving it right into the

in and moving it right into the community so that we can share that kind

community so that we can share that kind

community so that we can share that kind of information to everybody in the

of information to everybody in the

of information to everybody in the community

community

community that’s number one that’s awareness and

that’s number one that’s awareness and

that’s number one that’s awareness and that’s a first step our second step is

that’s a first step our second step is

that’s a first step our second step is engagement and how do we want to do this

engagement and how do we want to do this

engagement and how do we want to do this we want to be able to awaken in some way

we want to be able to awaken in some way

we want to be able to awaken in some way environmental behavior in all of us so

environmental behavior in all of us so

environmental behavior in all of us so that we are empowered to act more

that we are empowered to act more

that we are empowered to act more environmentally so you may be wondering

environmentally so you may be wondering

environmentally so you may be wondering how do we do this so we’ve we’ve devised

how do we do this so we’ve we’ve devised

how do we do this so we’ve we’ve devised three principles of which we set aside

three principles of which we set aside

three principles of which we set aside for ourselves to be able to achieve

for ourselves to be able to achieve

for ourselves to be able to achieve these two goals awareness and engagement

these two goals awareness and engagement

these two goals awareness and engagement first the citizens are our enablers what

first the citizens are our enablers what

first the citizens are our enablers what that means is every single installation

that means is every single installation

that means is every single installation that we work on because we all

that we work on because we all

that we work on because we all to work on public space installations

to work on public space installations

to work on public space installations like our two previous examples every

like our two previous examples every

like our two previous examples every single one of them is directly related

single one of them is directly related

single one of them is directly related to a community priority so we work with

to a community priority so we work with

to a community priority so we work with the community we understand the

the community we understand the

the community we understand the priorities and our public space

priorities and our public space

priorities and our public space installations are focused on that second

installations are focused on that second

installations are focused on that second public spaces for us are key because

public spaces for us are key because

public spaces for us are key because they are the points of junction between

they are the points of junction between

they are the points of junction between academic knowledge and community action

academic knowledge and community action

academic knowledge and community action so this is the point of interaction

so this is the point of interaction

so this is the point of interaction where everything happens for us and

where everything happens for us and

where everything happens for us and third design challenges are our method

third design challenges are our method

third design challenges are our method to generate tons of unconventional and

to generate tons of unconventional and

to generate tons of unconventional and crazy ideas and the reason why they’re

crazy ideas and the reason why they’re

crazy ideas and the reason why they’re interesting for us is because we can

interesting for us is because we can

interesting for us is because we can mobilize people from all over the world

mobilize people from all over the world

mobilize people from all over the world especially with you know with social

especially with you know with social

especially with you know with social media it’s very easy and this is what

media it’s very easy and this is what

media it’s very easy and this is what we’ve been doing with our design

we’ve been doing with our design

we’ve been doing with our design challenges because our initiative is

challenges because our initiative is

challenges because our initiative is based on the island of Montreal and

based on the island of Montreal and

based on the island of Montreal and because we wanted this to be a long-term

because we wanted this to be a long-term

because we wanted this to be a long-term project where we use public space

project where we use public space

project where we use public space installations as a way to communicate to

installations as a way to communicate to

installations as a way to communicate to come to our communities different issues

come to our communities different issues

come to our communities different issues about climate change we wanted to use

about climate change we wanted to use

about climate change we wanted to use the longest urban corridor possible in

the longest urban corridor possible in

the longest urban corridor possible in the city of Montreal as our organizing

the city of Montreal as our organizing

the city of Montreal as our organizing principle for all of our public space

principle for all of our public space

principle for all of our public space installations and so we’ve selected

installations and so we’ve selected

installations and so we’ve selected Sherbrooke Street because it’s 31

Sherbrooke Street because it’s 31

Sherbrooke Street because it’s 31 kilometers it runs east and west and so

kilometers it runs east and west and so

kilometers it runs east and west and so what this allows us to do is it allows

what this allows us to do is it allows

what this allows us to do is it allows us to build an urban narrative of a kind

us to build an urban narrative of a kind

us to build an urban narrative of a kind of environmental awakening an

of environmental awakening an

of environmental awakening an environmental awakening path this is our

environmental awakening path this is our

environmental awakening path this is our idea and our goal is to really exhibit

idea and our goal is to really exhibit

idea and our goal is to really exhibit 31 kilometers which is shurberg Street

31 kilometers which is shurberg Street

31 kilometers which is shurberg Street of concrete and stimulating ways to

of concrete and stimulating ways to

of concrete and stimulating ways to mobilize environmental actions so you

mobilize environmental actions so you

mobilize environmental actions so you walk along Shore Brook Street and you’re

walk along Shore Brook Street and you’re

walk along Shore Brook Street and you’re able to see different kinds of

able to see different kinds of

able to see different kinds of installations depending on the community

installations depending on the community

installations depending on the community and and the installations like I said

and and the installations like I said

and and the installations like I said before are directly related to community

before are directly related to community

before are directly related to community priorities just to give you an example

priorities just to give you an example

priorities just to give you an example of some of the design challenges that we

of some of the design challenges that we

of some of the design challenges that we have organized this is our these are

have organized this is our these are

have organized this is our these are some images from our last one just and

some images from our last one just and

some images from our last one just and our last design challenge what we did is

our last design challenge what we did is

our last design challenge what we did is we called for ideas that would inspire

we called for ideas that would inspire

we called for ideas that would inspire citizens to use the bus

citizens to use the bus

citizens to use the bus all year round and that’s kind of tough

all year round and that’s kind of tough

all year round and that’s kind of tough in Montreal because we have very extreme

in Montreal because we have very extreme

in Montreal because we have very extreme weathers by using the small space

weathers by using the small space

weathers by using the small space surrounding the bus stop itself that

surrounding the bus stop itself that

surrounding the bus stop itself that space that nobody ever looks at that

space that nobody ever looks at that

space that nobody ever looks at that it’s always ignored we all hate taking

it’s always ignored we all hate taking

it’s always ignored we all hate taking the bus right mostly because we wait and

the bus right mostly because we wait and

the bus right mostly because we wait and wait and wait and do nothing right but

wait and wait and do nothing right but

wait and wait and do nothing right but what if these tiny neglected spaces that

what if these tiny neglected spaces that

what if these tiny neglected spaces that are everywhere in the city and that

are everywhere in the city and that

are everywhere in the city and that nobody ever looks at could help us and

nobody ever looks at could help us and

nobody ever looks at could help us and inspire us to change in some way while

inspire us to change in some way while

inspire us to change in some way while we wait for the bus we received about a

we wait for the bus we received about a

we wait for the bus we received about a hundred ideas for more than 20 countries

hundred ideas for more than 20 countries

hundred ideas for more than 20 countries 25 of them only from China and so I’ll

25 of them only from China and so I’ll

25 of them only from China and so I’ll just give you an idea of some of the

just give you an idea of some of the

just give you an idea of some of the ideas that we that we received some of

ideas that we that we received some of

ideas that we that we received some of them adopted the subject in a very

them adopted the subject in a very

them adopted the subject in a very playful manner some of them were quite

playful manner some of them were quite

playful manner some of them were quite interactive

interactive

interactive in the way that they wanted people to

in the way that they wanted people to

in the way that they wanted people to come and use the bus because that was

come and use the bus because that was

come and use the bus because that was the goal others were informative about

the goal others were informative about

the goal others were informative about different questions about climate change

different questions about climate change

different questions about climate change in different consumption patterns in a

in different consumption patterns in a

in different consumption patterns in a very very direct way while others were

very very direct way while others were

very very direct way while others were informative and playful at the same time

informative and playful at the same time

informative and playful at the same time we received many many different ideas so

we received many many different ideas so

we received many many different ideas so our initiative is really at the

our initiative is really at the

our initiative is really at the intersection between knowledge and

intersection between knowledge and

intersection between knowledge and action where each one of our design

action where each one of our design

action where each one of our design challenges like you saw before is all

challenges like you saw before is all

challenges like you saw before is all about rethinking the power of even the

about rethinking the power of even the

about rethinking the power of even the most banal of our public spaces and more

most banal of our public spaces and more

most banal of our public spaces and more importantly is a way for us to relearn

importantly is a way for us to relearn

importantly is a way for us to relearn what public spaces were always meant to

what public spaces were always meant to

what public spaces were always meant to be which are places of dialogue and

be which are places of dialogue and

be which are places of dialogue and places of change so just take a moment

places of change so just take a moment

places of change so just take a moment now that you’re in your own neighborhood

now that you’re in your own neighborhood

now that you’re in your own neighborhood and that you can imagine that in one of

and that you can imagine that in one of

and that you can imagine that in one of the street corners there’s an herb

the street corners there’s an herb

the street corners there’s an herb garden and another one of the street

garden and another one of the street

garden and another one of the street corners there’s a children’s chutes and

corners there’s a children’s chutes and

corners there’s a children’s chutes and ladders game that teaches you

ladders game that teaches you

ladders game that teaches you environmental actions etc etc these

environmental actions etc etc these

environmental actions etc etc these types of things are easy these types of

types of things are easy these types of

types of things are easy these types of things can be done by people like by us

things can be done by people like by us

things can be done by people like by us by you you can initiate you can be the

by you you can initiate you can be the

by you you can initiate you can be the one that plants the seed you can be the

one that plants the seed you can be the

one that plants the seed you can be the one that paints the floor with the games

one that paints the floor with the games

one that paints the floor with the games and then

and then

and then your community and your neighbors come

your community and your neighbors come

your community and your neighbors come and join in so let’s take back our

and join in so let’s take back our

and join in so let’s take back our planet and save our planet one public

planet and save our planet one public

planet and save our planet one public space at a time thank you