People & Planet: Michael Palin describes new Sahara photo exhibition as “tribute of hope over adversity”

Michael Palin has described an exhibition of photographs that opens 4th November in London as "a tribute to the spirit of hope over adversity." The exhibition which shows images from the refugee camps in the Sahara, home to over 100,000 people from Western Sahara forced from their homes in on of the world's longest conflicts runs for two weeks before moving on. “I visited the camps on my Sahara series and was hugely impressed by the indomitable resilience of the Saharawi people" said Palin when he attended the opening of the exhibition in Hampstead last month.

The exhibition - Thirst of the Dunes - which is touring the country displays images by Brighton photographer Robert Griffin and London-based photo-journalist Stefan Simanowitz. The pair spent time in the refugee camps in the desert earlier in the year and are keen to raise awareness of the abject situation facing the Saharawis who have lived in exile in four large camps in the inhospitable Algerian desert for over three decades. Known as 'Africa's last colony' Western Sahara, was given to Morocco by the Spanish when they withdrew in 1976. A 16 year war followed and a 19 year ceasefire, but the Saharawi's displaced by the occupation have never been able to return home.

"I only learned about the the plight of the Saharawi people relatively recently. It is a situation that is hard to ignore, although the international community seems to have no difficulty in doing so" says Griffin,  "The refugees in the camps have nothing. They are entirely dependent on external supplies of food and water and face standstorms and temperatures of 120 degrees – but what makes their lives even worse is that no one knows they are even there.”

Through his photographs –the photographers have tried to capture a sense of the lives of the Saharawi and their environment. Griffin says:
"Despite living in such harsh circumstances they have not lost their sense of humanity, optimism, hope or humour - it was truly a humbling privelige to meet them - and I hope that through my photos I've captured something of their spirit, generosity and quiet dignity. They have nothing yet they give everything."

The exhibition – Thirst of the Dunes - will take place in Open the Gate, 35 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 8BJ - 6pm, 4th November - 17th November 2010

FREE opening night preview - 4th November with film-show and panel discussion. 7pm Open the Gate."

The exhibition has been organised by the Free Western Sahara Network and the Western Sahara Campaign UK
For more information visit www.freesahara.ning.com, www.wsahara.org.uk

Rachel

People & Planet: First stop: France

A couple of months back, when I first encountered Wwoofing, I wrote an article about this scheme which allows you to travel on a small budget. One step up from couch surfing, the idea of Wwoofing is that in return for a little manual work you can earn a place to stay, which in turn allows you to learn new skills, meet new people and discover a new place.

The main theme of Wwoofing is that the places you stay and work at have a strong eco and organic ethic, as well as trying to preserve old farming methods. Although the mix of cheapness and new experiences has a certain student appeal, it seems that people of all walks of life and of all ages have taken up this way of travelling. I decided that it was my turn to give it a go and so I set off to a tiny little town just west of Paris to become part of somebody I’d never mets family and to experience what traditional French home life is like...

Follow the link to read more: http://poppysgonewwoofing.blogspot.com/

Poppy

People & Planet: Save Sakineh, the Next 72 Hours could mean life or death

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani could be executed in days. But two men can save her -- Iran's allies President Lula of Brazil and Prime Minister Erdoğan of Turkey.

President Lula and Prime Minister Erdoğan are powerful allies and mediators with Iran who enjoy great respect there, and both countries have condemned the case. Now, we need to push them to deploy all their diplomatic forces and persuade Iran to free Sakineh and stop stoning forever.

Avaaz is launching an emergency ad campaign in influential newspapers in Turkey and Brazil urging them to press Iran for clemency and justice. The ads will deliver our half-million strong petition, reach political circles and directly appeal to Lula's and Erdoğan's leadership and moral authority. If 5,000 of us donate even a small amount in the next 72 hours, we'll make a powerful statement before it's too late. This may be Sakineh's last hope, click here to help Sakineh.

People & Planet: Festival Annual 2009

Luckily the Festival Annual organisers have caught it all on camera and published it in a glossy, full-coloured annual for reliving those glory moments of sun (sometimes rain), music, beer and friendship. La Luminata was lucky enough to be in the VIP section of Latitude festival last year and enjoyed the joy of festival shower-rooms! Oh yes! However for the majority of festival-goers washing is just not an option and it's this fascinating mix of unbridled fun, dressing-up, relaxation and hedonism that makes for a series of bright, imaginative and hilarious photography capturing a specific moment in time.

The book, which was commissioned by Independents United agency, is partly based on user-generated content in the form of tweets, photos and submissions to the project's Myspace and Facebook pages.

The actual annual was designed by Plan B:

“You only had to see the first few photographs to know that this was going to be a vibrant, exciting book; full of character - literally!” says Steve Price. “This was such a refreshing project to work on. There were none of the typical publishing-company-chains-of-command, editors, or (more invitingly) months of corrections. We started the design in June and completed the whole book by mid-September."

We can't wait to see the 2010 version!

People & Planet: Interview with Zandra Rhodes

It’s not everyday that you are invited to interview style queen and fashion legend Zandra Rhodes! La Luminata jumped at the chance to talk to her about camping at Glastonbury, her views on sustainability and how everyone can embrace a unique style…

After fifty years in fashion, Zandra still has an abundance of passion for design. Zandra’s latest venture sees a somewhat unlikely collaboration with Millets and the launch of a bright and funky camping range. Zandra’s signature graphic prints and bold use of colour feature throughout the range, from a teepee tent, a lightweight rain jacket to funky wellies.

La Luminata: We love your new range for Millets. How did this collaboration come about?

Zandra: Oh I know, haven’t they done a good job with it! They saw an embroidered beach tent on my website which I designed years ago. Then they contacted me and I just jumped at the idea because I just think that in the world we’re living in today one should get back more to reality and not all that travel.

La Luminata: Do you see yourself using the range?

Zandra: Well I intend to try and go to the one where it always rains… (La Luminata: Glastonbury?) Yes Glastonbury!  And then I can wear the wellies, and the turquoise rain jacket and be dry in my tent. I think the range could look summery or cheer the winter up!

Zandra started her career as a printed textile designer; creating the bold graphic prints that have become her signature. Zandra soon turned her hand to fashion design and became the forefront of the international fashion scene in the 1970’s, designing dresses for Kate Moss, Princess Diana and outfits for Freddie Mercury.

La Luminata: How did you have to adapt your design approach from designing dresses for the likes of Kate Moss to designing Teepee Tents? 

Zandra: Well the Millets team were fantastic they had already seen my work and they were quite clear they liked the idea of using bright prints. So then together with my design team we worked on making it happen.

La Luminata: How do you think the traditional Millets customer will view your bright and funky designs?

Zandra: Well I hope they will love it! I’m hoping that it will bring another angle to Millets and not just your brown camping gear. You know they’ve been going for enough years put it that way!

Zandra has supported the Environmental Justice Foundation’s (EJF) Pick Your Cotton Carefully campaign by designing a T-shirt to raise awareness of the use of forced child labour and the ecological devastation associated with cotton production. We were keen to find out if Zandra adopts a sustainable and ethical approach to her work…

La Luminata: How important is it for you as a designer to support sustainability and ethical campaigns such as the EJF Pick Your Cotton Carefully campaign?

Zandra: Well I think this is how the whole thing works out with Millets; it puts you much more in touch with reality and life. Wherever we can we do our best to try not to do landfill and we try to live in a sustainable way and make sure that life continues as it were.

We were very eco with the marketing of the Millets range. Instead of flying to South Africa to photograph the tent in the sunshine, we went to Sunningdale in the snow. We had to roll back giant snow balls and melt the snow in order to even do the photograph!

Zandra is known for her distinct image; with bright pink hair, electric blue eye shadow and boldly coloured outfits. We asked her if she had any tips for the La Luminata readers of how to be individual and unique…

La Luminata: Here at La Luminata we believe in creating your own unique style. You have such a distinctive image; can you give any tips to our readers of how to be individual?

Zandra: I think everyone stands a chance of being individual. I’m quite sure when we all get to wear my turquoise wellies there are going to be people that wear them very straight with a pair of black jeans or there’s going to be people that wear a floaty dress and have the wellies at the bottom hippy style. I think that everyone has their own unique way of looking at things and really you shouldn’t be nervous to have that unique way to do things.

La Luminata: Just embrace it!?

Zandra:  Yeah I think embrace it and see what happens!

La Luminata: We love the idea of your turquoise wellies and rain jacket teamed with a bohemian summer dress!

Zandra: Don’t you think!? You could tuck it up and particularly if you’re a long legged girl it would look great. These days you know I wouldn’t be seen dead in shorts but I bet you there will also be people looking glamorous in shorts with their legs on show teamed with the range.

I’m going to have to plan some special outfits one assuming it is going to be wet and cold, what will be alright wet and cold tucked into my wellies? Or how will I look slightly chic if I’m walking around in mud! (Laughs)

We’re sure Zandra will look uniquely chic whatever the outfit! The team at La Luminata can’t wait to try out the range at this year's festivals. Bring on the summer…

Carly Gordon

People & Planet: WWOOFing around the world

Whilst flicking through a Lonely Planet guide over summer I came across something that I'd never heard of before: WWOOFing.

This odd sounding acronym stands for ‘World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms’. This is a programme which spans every continent of the globe and celebrates not only Organic Farming but also preserving traditional farming and production methods. Fancy the opportunity to learn how to make cheese and cider whilst meeting new people and experiencing new culture?

Strangely, within an hour of reading this I met an actual ‘WWOOFer’, as they are humorously called, who had just been working on an organic rice farm in Northern Japan. She said the experience was absolutely amazing and would recommend it to everyone.

Ever eager to travel and do a little learning and good work along the way I’ve signed up. France will be my first stop!

Poppy Sakulku

People & Planet: Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth representatives have been barred from the UN climate talks in the Bella Centre in Copenhagen this morning.

Every delegate from the international environmental campaign group arrived at the centre this morning to find their badges were no longer valid.

Friends of the Earth representatives from countries ranging from Nigeria to Japan and Denmark have been taking part in the negotiations over the past two weeks calling for a strong and fair agreement, with rich countries leading the way with emissions cuts of at least 40 per cent by 2020.

Friends of the Earth is petitioning UN climate secretary Yvo De Boer to protest against the ban and calling for members of the public to add their name at www.foe.co.uk.

Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

“It is a crisis of democracy when campaigning charities like Friends of the Earth are prevented from speaking up on behalf of communities around the globe within the talks themselves.

“We were stunned to discover that every Friends of the Earth delegate has been banned from attending these crucial talks – if this is a consequence of our role as one of the most prominent groups calling for a strong and fair agreement, this is even more disturbing.

“This draconian measure is completely unjustified – the Copenhagen conference is fast becoming an international shambles.”

Via Daisy Green