The Schumann Square in Brussels will host multiple activities from November 6 to 20, COP27 time until the start of the FIFA World Cup, at the initiative of the Pakman collective, which presented its program, which will expand again, on Friday.
The meeting place, with an area of 150 square meters, will host citizens’ gatherings and “climate nights” around the idea of ”Nuit Debout”, where scholars from the country’s main French-speaking universities will start discussions on various topics such as democracy, energy or even agriculture. The life-size Rosetta Stone will be inaugurated on Sunday and will remain in the square until the end of the gathering before a permanent location is sought for the reception.
In fact, the unofficial start of the occupation will take place this Saturday, with the transfer of the stone from the studio of sculptor Véronique Choppinier, in Limlette, to Place Schumann. The convoy, organized by Foggia, will be accompanied by cyclists.
The Rosetta Stone, which is 2 meters high, 20 tons and weighs one and a half tons, will be inaugurated on Sunday morning, in the presence of members of the Climate Coalition who will remember the main ambitions defended in the fight against climate change and will give an introduction to the Conference of the Parties. Issues. Also on this occasion, a time capsule will be installed dealing with the history of the project and an inventory of the current situation in Belgium, for a planned opening after 100 years, on November 6, 2122, specifies Stéphane Vanden Edde, representative from Pakistan. The Rosetta Stone idea is intended as a nod to Egypt, which is hosting this COP27 conference, and a symbol of openness to the future when deciphering the Champollion 200 years ago was one of the past.
The four faces of the stone will be adorned with statements in four languages (the three national languages and English): a message of anger at climate inaction, a word addressed to future generations, a reminder of the Meadows Report and (not) the progress recorded since the artist signed and finally.
Other activities and procedures
In addition to the opening of the stone, activities will be organized during the day such as conferences, workshops, performances or even performances, in particular on November 12 (many gatherings at the invitation of NGOs will be organized at the same time around the world) or even on November 20, at the same time The opening of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, to boycott this “most anti-climate event in the world”, according to members of the Bachman Group and Rise for Climate.
In the evening, the main French-speaking universities of the country (ULB, UCLouvain, ULiège, UMons and Université Saint-Louis) will occupy a marquee to enliven the “climatic nights”. Nine evenings, from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm, will see scientists from these institutions, but also civil society representatives and citizens come to discuss key issues related to climate change. The first meeting will be held on November 7 on the topic of democracy. Then follows the eighth on energy, the ninth on agriculture, the tenth on economics and the following week, the fourteenth on inequality, the fifteenth on education and transportation issues, the next day on diversity and finally the 17th on health. On November 18, the briefing evening will be held with the idea of presenting a “cross-sectional reflection” on potential brakes and accelerators of the climatic situation, concludes Mr. Vanden Eide.
■ Immediate reportingAnis Corbin And the Nicholas Schenertz with Lawrence Pacciarelli