Thomas Zeinzinger joins Elevate on Friday March 6th. "Using Blockchains to save the Commons" is the title of the panel discussion.
Free entry at the Festival location Forum Stadtpark! -> Full programme info.
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Elevate's festival theme 2020 is "Human Nature". What's your second thought about it?
Great theme and important to talk about.
And your first?
That it seems to be hard for human (men?) not to destroy themselves.
Quo Vadis Humanity? In 2009 Elevate's main theme was the climate crisis. 10 years have passed. Whats your take on the next 10?
The demonstrations of Fridays For Future brought back hope and are slowly affecting the public opinion accompanied with much more extensive media coverage. Furthermore, the technological progress gives us much more options than 10 years ago. Henceforth, in the next 10 years we will see tremendous changes in the energy and mobility sector triggered by companies like Tesla and regulatory frameworks like the European Green Deal and the Clean Energy Package. It will shake up existing companies and the ones which can't transform, will go out of business and make way for others.
The relationship of humans and technology - more reasons to be pessimistic or optimistic? Can you name some?
We finally start harvesting an almost limitless power source - the sun - to power our thirst for progress. Therefore, I think we will see many changes due to the technological progress, without the need for energy from fossil fuels. I'm optimistic that we will be able to get rid of mass meat production through precision fermentation, get sustainable individual transport through automated electric vehicles, get a more decentralized renewable energy supply through solar panels and wind turbines and will finally have a global internet via lower orbit satellites to have communication everywhere. Last but not least, though blockchain systems, we will be able to largely automate technology and build completely independent and self-sustaining economies for commons but also for various societies.
And our relationship with nature? Of course we are "part of it", but....where are we going?
There is a general trend towards urbanization and my hope is, that we will finally be able to give back nature (maybe commonly owned) to the other species and we can enjoy a much richer and diverse wildlife when we visit it. I also hope that in 20 years from now we have so much renewable energy, that we can produce carbon-neutral synthetic fuel for airplanes, so that we can enjoy nature on far away places without ruining it.
"Psycho-spiritual crisis", "a psychotic society",... How bad is the status quo of humanity?
I can't see that and would never say that society is in a crisis. Perceptions change and if structures in live are changing (which happens quite fast right now), then a large portion of people are having difficulties to handle it. If we manage to solve the climate crisis, we will see a more and more connected global society and a better connection to nature and other cultures.
A message to the Elevate Festival community? What can we do?
Everyone can do something against the climate crisis. Some things are hard and some are easy and it depends a lot on everyone's personal situation: Some stop flying, some make holidays nearby, some move closer to their workplace, some buy an EV car, some install solar panels, some are changing their diet to less meat, some insulate their house, some demonstrate in the streets to raise public awareness and some influence their relatives to change their carbon-intense lifestyle. Whatever you do - it is securing a better future for your and others kids.
Elevate features many amazing artists in the music & arts programme. Can we meet you on the Dancefloor too?
I absolutely love the performances at Elevate and rest assured, you will meet me on the dancefloor.
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Thomas Zeinzinger joins Elevate on Friday March 6th. "Using Blockchains to save the Commons" is the title of the panel discussion.
Free entry at the Festival location Forum Stadtpark! -> Full programme info.
