EXHIBITION OF AWARD WINNING CONTRIBUTIONS

Biological and cultural diversity from the gender perspective: this was the topic of the "WomenLifeDiversity" contest organised in the run-up to the UN Biodiversity conference by genanet - focal point gender, environment, sustanability. All women were invited to draw, take pictures, or compose writings in order to illustrate their views on (bio)diversity. The contest was realised under the patronage of Christine von Weizsäcker. The jury had to choose the winners from among almost 50 contributions, handed in by women from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The winning contributions had been presented in an exhibition at the Planet Diversity conference in Bonn, from 13 to 16 May 2008 at Gustav-Stresemann-Institute.
Here you can get an impression of the exhibition posters:

1st prize: Julia Vitalis Jury comment: “Julia Vitalis depicts cultural diversity in a residential building in the Berlin district of Neukölln: beautifully painted women look out of its windows and the front door. Complementary to the illustrations, short sentences describe the difficult, but not hopeless circumstances of their lives.” Julia Vitalis, born in 1976, studied Judaic Studies, Gender Studies and contemporary German literature. Among other jobs, she has worked as a research assistant and as a PR professional. Since 2005, she has been living as a freelance artist in the Berlin district of Neukölln.

1st prize: Dr. Sabine Wedel Jury comment: “Sabine Wedels’ photo collage of weeds is impressive both in its artistic quality and the inventiveness of her idea to portray the beauty of these often undesired plants.” Sabine Wedel, born in 1938, is a retired physician who lives in Bremen at the Beginenhof, an inter-generational women's residential community. She discovered her affinity for nature at an early age and remains fascinated by its inconspicuous, yet valuable roadside appearance. She comes from a family of artists and has always been interested in photography and in the visual arts. Over the last few years, she has been particularly involved with digital photography and the possibilities of image processing.

2nd prize: Elisa Geleweski and Annette Köhn

Jury comment: “The documentation of the ‘tree fairies’ project against the cutting down of trees at the Landwehr Canal in Berlin Kreuzberg impressively shows the power of creative action and that local involvement pays off. The cutting down of trees by the Water and Shipping Authority could be stopped – thanks to the ‘tree fairies’ and further actions.”

Elisa Gelewski, born in 1972, is an actress, performing artist and environmental activist living in Berlin. She works on feminist, political and religious themes such as matriarchy, basic income and monotheism. She is co-initiator of the "tree fairies" project, an initiative that creatively supported protests against the cutting down of trees at the Landwehr Canal in Berlin Kreuzberg.

Annette Köhn, born in 1976, is a graphic designer, illustrator, shopkeeper, neighbourhood matador, all around artist and human being living in Berlin.

3rd prize: Regine Maaß

DIVERSITY IS NOT SIMPLY "A GREAT MANY" - A STORY ABOUT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY [EXTRAcT]

Anything appearing in large numbers alarms me. I think of lots of midges, beetles, spiders or wasps. I had my first experiences with great numbers of living creatures growing up at the Baltic Sea. There was a lot of seaweed and eel grass teeming with worms that looked like swimming centipedes that could bite. They bit - everywhere - not leaving any spines but only a burning sensation. Once I had walked across the seaweed and the worms, next came the jellyfish. They were usually harmless in the Baltic Sea, apart from it being a nasty feeling to push through these slippery, translucent things. Sometimes - depending on weather conditions - there were simply too many of them, so I had to return to the shore, again crossing through the seaweed and worms. But one summer the red jellyfish arrived, lots of red jellyfish. They had long strands which I could not see underwater but could definitely feel: it burned infernally, like fire. Our parents said: "Well, red jellyfish, quite a lot of them, it seems, so you mustn't go swimming. It will go away again - everything depends on the wind. And during wartime there were quite some other things floating in that sea. " In Biology class in school, I was told that the number of jellyfish was related to pollution. [...]

Jury comment: “Regine Maaß’ subject is not the value of diversity but rather the threat created by extreme spreading due to environmental influences, for example a species vastly multiplying because of pollution. This different view on diversity makes this contribution so special while the humorous language lends the text a certain ease.”

Regine Maaß, born in 1962, has been running her own office for counselling, planning and further education in holistic and technical environmental protection since 1996. Since her childhood, she has been interested in nature and technology. At first, she studied meteorology. She later went on to study environmental engineering and earn a Master of Engineering. Regina Maaß writes texts and poems and has volunteered as an editor.

Special prize for life’s work: Heinke von Löw zu Steinfurth and her biographer Hannelore Campino

Jury comment: “Heinke von Löw zu Steinfurth has devoted herself to biological and cultural diversity for decades. Her extensive dedication is impressive. Thanks goes to Hannelore Campino for handing in the portrait of this fascinating personality.”

Heinke von Löw zu Steinfurth runs the garden farm "Gartenhof Löw zu Steinfurth" where she also lives in Steinfurth close to Bad Nauheim. The 87-year old ecological gardener and philosopher does not only sell plants but sees her whole work as a way of imparting her ideas. She provides information about alternative lifestyles, ecology and how to live in harmony with nature. She acts on the maxim that a garden should be perceived as ecological habitat and a place to experience at the same time. Hannelore Campino participated in the contest "WomenLifeDiversity" with her portrait of Heinke von Löw zu Steinfurth.

Hannelore Campino, born in 1944, worked as an environmental officer for the City of Bad Nauheim. She is co-initiator of the "Local Agenda 21 Bad Nauheim" and director of the working group "Nature-Environment-Sustainability". Despite having moved to Bonn, she continues to work closely with Mrs. von Löw. Both share their love for the beauty of nature as well as a deep concern for its destruction caused by industrial agriculture, in particular by the use of genetic engineering.

1st Prize children and teenagers: girls’ meeting place “MaDonna Mädchenkult.Ur”

Jury comment: “Cultural diversity is presented in an exquisitely colourful and positive way in the girls’ ‘DreamHousePictures’ ”.

A group of girls aged from eight to twelve, most of them being German-Lebanese, have painted their "DreamHousePictures" at the "MaDonna" girls' meeting place. Journalist and MaDonna staff Güner Y. Balci is credited with the conceptualization and realization of this project. MaDonna Mädchenkult.Ur e.V. is an autonomous, ideologically and politically independent association for the protection of human rights. MaDonna offers open and mobile child and youth work and counselling in the Berlin district of Neukölln.