An extended version of Hard Rain launched at Keele University in North Staffordshire on Thursday 9 February 2012, with the university’s new Chancellor and renowned environmentalist Jonathon Porritt joining creator Mark Edwards to open the display at 3pm.
Whole Earth? Aligning human systems and natural systems responds to thousands of requests for an exhibition that illustrates solutions to the problems highlighted in Hard Rain. It shows that we have the technology (mostly) to deal with our global problems – the vision has been written out often enough – but governments need grassroots support if they are to scale up these solutions and move towards sustainable development.
It is designed to engage the next generation of decision-makers – students at universities now – as well as the general public, in the campaign for sustainable development.
“The key challenge,” says Edwards, “is to find new ways of showing political and business leaders there is grassroots support for sustainable development. Governments can’t get ahead of their electorates. They understand the need for sustainable development, but it is not a priority - voters are not urging them loudly enough to act in favour of the future. What’s needed is a new kind of joined-up campaign designed and led by tomorrow's decision-makers - students at universities now."
