Goethe-Institut Washington
812 7th St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
(Washington,
DC, July 24, 2015) – The social and environmental crises of our time
cannot be resolved by relying solely on politicians, engineers or the
market. Instead, each individual must
explore what is possible. This attitude is reflected in the stories
being told on the online platform
FUTUREPERFECT (www.futureperfectproject.org)
Three
American surfers produce skateboards from fishing nets discarded in the
ocean off the Chilean coast. Agricultural engineer Ahmed Saleh
introduces rooftop gardens in the Gaza Strip, providing
families with a source of self-sufficiency while deepening bonds
between individuals and nature. From Brazil comes a story about poetry
evenings in slums; in Switzerland a bank is succeeding in supporting
small and medium enterprises; young people in Tunisia
are volunteering in a nursing home.
FUTUREPERFECT presents these and many other stories to foster international exchange about a better future.
FUTUREPERFECT began with 39 stories from 17 countries; every week
at least one story will be added from a widening circle of countries.
FUTUREPERFECT
challenges us to question patterns of thought and everyday behavior by
showing that everything can be different.
The network of worldwide Goethe-Institutes is working with local
partners such as prestigious foundations, socially- and
ecologically-oriented magazines and journalists, architecture
institutions and museums to identify relevant and transformative
projects
and develop stories.
All stories can be found in English and German on the central platform
www.futureperfectproject.org,
and in their
original language on the country portals of the Goethe Institutes. The
stories and images are published under Creative Commons licenses;
sharing and retelling them is explicitly encouraged. Like the main
characters of the stories, Futurzwei and the Goethe
Institutes want to foster a good interaction with the world through
these stories and show what is possible when people use their individual
strengths and opportunities.
Recent and Upcoming FUTUREPERFECT Events:
May 6 – August 7, 2015 Goethe-Institut Washington, DC, USA
Stories for tomorrow – lived today, everywhere. A selection of the stories featured in the project.
July 1, 2015, 6:30 pm:
Haus der Berliner Festspiele,
Berlin, Germany
FUTUREPERFECT: Opening Night – World Stories and Stratagems
With Harald Welzer, Berthold Franke, Péter Pozsár, Lia Rea, Alex Rühle, Luise Tremel
July 7, 2015, 6:30 pm: Goethe-Institut Washington, DC, USA
with KAL (Kevin Kallaugher), Sarah Browning, Marc Gunther, Nancy Averett, Erik Assadourian.
Videos of the presentations by KAL and Sarah Browning can be heard
here
July 31 and August 1: Vigántpetend, Hungary
Poster
presentation, laboratory and wall of ideas, discussion with HelloWood
und FuturePerfect Hungary in the temporary HelloWood Village, dedicated
to the living environments of small communitites in the 21st
century
October 8, 2015, 11 am - 7 pm: Goethe-Institut Paris, France
FUTUREPERFECT. A Conference
The French project partners, the FUTURZWEI
Team, artists and supporters supply positive suggestions and
perspectives for a sustainable economic and living praxis. Contact:
Tsveta Dobreva: Tsveta.Dobreva@Paris.goethe.
October 28, 2015, 7:30 pm: Goethe-Institut Rotterdam, Netherlands
FUTUREPERFECT: A Common Good?
Experts
from grassroots movements, science and economy discuss the common good
economy and initiatives which showcase concrete social participation.
Always in the background: In what kind of world do we want to
live?
Contact: Barbara Mulzer: Barbara.Mulzer@Amsterdam.
