The Green Chile Challenge sees a group of outdoor enthusiasts traveling by bicycle through the diverse country of Chile. Utilizing portable video conferencing technology in the fist initiative of its kind, they will connect communities and ecological groups in Ireland and Chile.
Aims and Objectives
Foster lasting relationships between communities and environmental groups through discussion in an effort to stimulate social and ecological change. Pursue new educational possibilities with communities through computer mediated communications while facilitating and introducing a collective approach to art practices that utilize new digital media. To apply a range of creative and critical strategies which will address the complexities of real life problems, including social exclusion in urban and rural communities.
Methodology
Advances in computer and network technologies regularly promise educators new ways to enhance teaching and learning possibilities. Technological tools can now provide far-reaching information, access and flexible use of data. The Green Chile Challenge seeks to educate people about the viable relationship that can exist between technology and ecology. The project focuses on issues of sustainable living, renewable energy recourses, air pollution, loss of bio-diversity as a consequence of deforestation and land conservation. This interactive experience seeks to transform individuals from passive to active participants in an exciting and educating journey, into integral pieces in a virtual experience with real consequences. In the initial stages we wish to liase between groups in Chile and Ireland to formulate the content and topics to be discussed, while constructing a viable working methodology. We will work with these groups who will vary from local school children to grass root groups and established environmental organisations respectively in Ireland and Chile. The second phase of the project will see a team of four cyclists travel to Chile carrying a new rugged, waterproof, portable video conferencing system combined with Inmarsat GAN Sat-Phones, to provide video conferencing between the communities in Chile and Ireland. Starting in the arid northern region of Chile the team will make their way south travelling a distance of over 2,705 mi/4,329 km. As the team progress they will send back daily reports of their experiences of the culture and the environment. At pre determined locations they will host the live discussion between the two counteries. Sustainable Ireland will host the Irish event in their new Cultivate offices in Dublin’s Temple Bar, offering groups and school children a physical space in which they can learn more about the expedition and the issues involved through a new interactive exhibition. These new innovative experiences will open the public to unique interfaces that allow visitors to use their own intuition to access complex systems of digital content that will involve people in the adventure together.
Do you you know of any groups, individuals that could assist us or would be willing to participate. Email me and let me know