There's much debate on the causes of climate change. Scientists, politicians and opinion leaders all take the stage to present their vision or ideas. However, cool(E)motion is not focused on the possible causes of climate change. We merely note that the climate is changing, whatever the cause. Let's now focus on what this means for the Arctic. And more specifically, what will happen to traditional culture, when hunters can't trust the ice, when seals disappear and wheater condition deteriorate?

Cool(e)motion urges those in power to focus on the cultural effects of climate changes. We seek attention for this message by creating giant sculptures on ice bergs that will float when spring comes. This way, the sculptural 'hunters' can search for new hunting grounds for people in the Arctic.

cool(E)motionWNF

Tuesday, 30 March 2010

The iceberg is turning!

Have a look at our webcam and compare the right corner with the iceberg behind. It's turning! When will it start to float? We don't know, but come back on http://www.coolemotion.org/ and have a look. Who will send the first mail to announce the start?

Friday, 26 March 2010

cool(E)motion on MSNBC

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sunday, 21 March 2010

Dutch News special (NOS)

Saturday, 20 March 2010

Reuters video reports

We finally succeeded!

The sculptures are placed on the iceberg. Our first plan of going by dogsledges to the iceberg and place them on top was impossible. The sea ice is so bad that even our project seems to be overruled by the fast changing nature. I joined a couple of hunters untill the foot of the icecap, but even there we couldn' t trust the circumstances. Therefore we had to change our plan and put the sculptures with a helicopter on an iceberg that is very near to the village of Uummannaq. As we noticed the locals also can' t trust nature anymore. Normally the white plains are filled with dogsledges but now it is empty.


Thanks to our great team and the help of many local people, including the children of the Children's Home, we succeeded in making the art project. It was a very great experience standing on the iceberg, releasing the sculptures with in the background the famous mountains of Uummannaq. The sculptures look great! The voyage of the sculptures started as we could see that the iceberg already moved this morning.



Friday, 12 March 2010

Finally in Uummannaq

Arrived in Uummannaq, the situation is worse than thought. Not much sea ice, but decreasing temperatures. If we go by boat far away, we don't know if we ever can get back. This because the ice could starts to grow very fast. But our team is thinking in solutions, instead of problems. It' s great to see a whole bunch of international crew getting mixed in finding our famous solutions. For outsiders a sort of verbal fight, between the best friends. Sunday we go with a sort of fishing boat of steel to the North and grave it into the sea ice. We bring hunters, dogs, and sledges and leave them behind. With a small group we go back for a day. As the rest of our team arrives we go back to the Sermigdlig Kangerlua on Tuesday and join the hunters deep into the fjord. We bring food and the sculptures with us, and stay till the weekend. A couple of days we don' t have any communication, but we arranged that a boat, and if he doesn't succeed a helicoper will get us from the ice. This is plan A, maybe it will change, as nature does too.

CE team arrived in IIulissat

After a long trip we arrived yesterday in Ilulisat, and walked to the icefjord. Everybody was overwhelmed by the impressive size of icebergs, as big as complete city blocks. For Jan and Patrick their first Arctic experience. They couldn' t speak anymore as impressed they were.
Later in the hotel we caught ap with Dave Conover, from the Clearwater Foundation, Hudson river, who arranges later next week the skype contact with Pete Seeger. We have had an exciting day, followed by a short evening.
Today we fly over to Uummannaq, where our real adventure starts.
keep you posted,
Ap

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Last update from Netherlands

Today we start our trip to Uummannaq, Greenland. Tonight Copenhagen, tomorrow Ilulisat , and one day later by helicopter to Uummannaq, the most beautifil island in the world. Great to meet Ole Jorgen and Ann again! Let's start the adventure. I can't wait anymore.
Many thanks to the great team of Datema & NMTshipping, who work as hell to get all problems fixed. Problems? Believe me: In a project with this dimension, you have to think in solutions.

Monday, 8 March 2010

Uummannaq - ice conditions

The satellite picture around the Northern Greenlandic Island: Uummannaq still shows no sea-ice. We are sure that the dogs are howling like crazy. They want action! Ole Jorgen Hammeken, our local team member, always speaks in terms of solutions, instead of problems. We need a lot of solutions, but we are sure that we will succeed. For visitors of this site/blog it will give an extra dimension to this excited project. The start of a fascinating adventure in the Northern Arctic.

Saturday, 6 March 2010

cool(E)motion's departure to Uummannaq LIVE on BNR Newsradio


Next Wednesday, 10th of March, 19:30 - 20:00

Our satellite system / countdown to Uummannaq

Yesterday we were at Datema to pick ap the satellite systems. To be honoust: We were fully surprised about the diversity of the technical equipment. It is a strange thought that we place a huge sculpture on an iceberg, but what to think about to cummunicate with that same iceberg? The system will not only send webcam pictures, but also GPS information, as well as temperature and airpressure information. Many worldwide scientists will become jealous. Mark and Willem worked for many weeks, nights and weekends to make this all work. We are more than  thankfull for their commitment!
from L ro R: Willem, Ap and Mark

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Last preparations before leaving to Uummannaq

In the land without any mountains, you won't believe us, but we have a froozen cascade. On this unique cascade we learned how to climb icebergs. ( see: http://www.bever.nl/icewall )
This is the secret reason why we have so good ice climbers in NL.