World Climate Conference Spirit of Bula in Bonn city centre
Bonn · The Fijian dancers stole the show at the start of Climate-Tour Bonn. Over the next two weeks, the city of Bonn wants to use campaigns and events to motivate citizens to become more active in protecting the climate.
Bringing the World Climate Conference to the citizens, achieving acceptance and calling for calm: these are the objectives the city of Bonn is pursuing with the so-called Climate-Tour, which over the next two weeks will use colourful and primarily green campaigns and events to motivate citizens to become more active in protecting the climate while at the same time allowing them to connect to the mammoth event in the WCCB and the Rheinaue, which is not open to the general public. On Sunday, Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan, together with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji and President of the World Climate Conference, Frank Bainimarama, opened the series of events organised by the Department of International Affairs and Global Sustainability.
However, there was no getting away from the impression that the proportions did not add up. Visitors were annoyed that while Cop23, one of the largest conferences Germany has ever staged, is taking place in the middle of the city, there was only a tiny stage for the Climate-Tour, set up on the fringes, like one of the many stands for “Bonn Lights Up.” The event definitely deserved a little more attention.
However, it was the guests from the Pacific who stole the show, bringing their positive “Bula-Spirit” to the federal city. The Fiji Police Force Marching Band had not only come to the Marktplatz with a choir, but also with several traditional dancers in grass skirts, whose powerful performance thrilled the public.
Bonn, however, confined itself to words. One interview followed another on the mini-stage as politicians, school children, cyclists and activists answered questions. And a previously announced Flashmob – a contradiction in terms – turned out to be a collective quick sketching of a chalk picture. And the presentation of the song “I am an Island”, which will also be played at the ceremonial opening of Cop23, and which is Bonn’s official contribution to the conference, consisted of playing of a music video. The few stands around the stage did not have much to offer other than information leaflets. Only a few virtual reality glasses, allowing a glimpse into extreme weather phenomena, were popular.
It was left to the duo Marion & Sobo to set a creative and artistic note. The charming songs provided a delightful bright spot until the early evening hours, before, at dusk, fire clowns, another performance by the Fiji dancers and a concert from Steal a Taxi offered some further highlights.
On the Münsterplatz, the Europe House announced by the Pulse of Europe, turned out to be a simple tent right next to the construction fence at the Bonn Cathedral. The conclusion at the end of the day: the attractiveness of the Climate-Tour can certainly be improved upon in the next two weeks. If not, the fear will be that Bonners’ only memory of Cop23 will be the difficult traffic situation.
(Original text: Thomas Kölsch. Translated by Kate Carey)
