OVERVIEW
“I am Japanese, but after having spent time with this group with people from all over Europe as well as other countries in Asia, not only do I feel like I have learnt much about Europe, but I also understand Asia better.” — Prof. Yoshinori Yasuda, International Research Centre for Japanese Studies.
”What made these two days of intensive, and at times controversial, debate so special in comparison to other meetings I attended in the Asia-Europe setting was not only the well thought through concept, but a very well balanced mix of participants in all aspects: gender and age, perspective and worldview, country and context represented as well as the different fields of professional expertise, political and religious affiliation and walks of life.” — Dr. Heike Loeschmann, Director, Heinrich Boell Foundation, Thailand & Southeast Asia Regional Office.
The first meeting of the Talks On The Hill series brought together 14 individuals from Asia and Europe for a two-day brainstorming session on the various interpretations of the human relationship with nature. The group included activists, artists, academics, and researchers who engage in work related to environmental appreciation and protection.
Beginning with two case studies of indigenous peoples — the Toraja from South Sulawesi, Indonesia and the Sami of Northern Europe — the group examined how art, religion, and politics reflected human interaction with nature, and what they could offer in the ecological movement.