In a time where the lack of water or food are not the only signs for drought, the Museum of Samoa keeps itself in the loop of knowledge through networks and partnerships to enhance further its purposes of attaining to what is relevant to our cultural heritage.
The sunset of the Anthropocene looks like the world has ended and the last sun is about to leave the edge of the sky.
There is also worry that the world is gaining momentum towards its own depletion. Last week the University of Sydney hosted geologists, physicists, mathematicians, museum professionals, social scientists, anthropologists gathered in the Darling Harbour of Sydney, to talk about how each discipline could work together to encounter the challenges which the planet earth faces.
The title of the conference is Encountering the Anthropocene.
A memorable image is placed above the title and indicates a man’s head in the sand under water.
The picture signifies many things of our current planetary situation and what the future may hold. For the first time, human beings are influencing the physical processes of the Earth; we have now moved from being serial depleters of local environments to become a planetary geophysical force.
While geologists make their case to formalize and adopt this epoch, the role of environmental humanities and social sciences has become crucially linked with our allies in the natural and technological sciences in seeking to understand and meet the challenges and changes thrown up by the new epoch.
Our role is to help interpret the impacts, understand the implications, and engage the public in developing alternative ways forward. How to do all this was explored and debated in the conference and its related events and workshops.
google_ad_client = "ca-pub-2469982834957525";
/* Left 300X250 */
google_ad_slot = "8433753430";
google_ad_width = 300;
google_ad_height = 250;
//-->
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script> {/googleAds}
Issues which were interrogated in the conference included:
1. The relationship between the natural and technological sciences and the humanities as we engage from different perspectives in the new geological era of the Anthropocene.
2. The social and cultural meaning and significance of the planet’s entry into an Anthropocene epoch.
3. The roles that artists and writers play in the interpretation and popularization of scientific ideas and themes in the broader cultural landscape.
The Museum of Samoa presented on the cultural impacts of climate change and its various activities which highlight the importance of the museum’s task of safeguarding our cultural heritage.
Ms. Apelu participated on behalf of the Museum of Samoa and reflected on how important such conferences are for the sake of the environment.
Ms. Apelu draws a lot of her personal experience and from the experience of many Samoans in such trying times of climatic changes for the South Pacific.
Her contribution was appreciated and applauded by the participants of the conference who felt that first-hand knowledge to the issues being discussed was very crucial to inspire people to think beyond science and to connect to the human side of the story.
Ms. Apelu commends the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture for allowing the museum to extend its premises to issues that are not obvious to the museum’s goals. According to Ms. Apelu, the need to inform Samoans of the importance of their own contribution to discussions and implementations of environmental rescues by the larger community should not be taken lightly.
“Samoans know very well the meaning of human suffering when it comes to cyclones and tsunamis for instance. It is our duty to share our experiences with others in the region and of course the world. For pain should not stop at the hurt phase.
It should continue to show how we rebuild and the spirit that it takes to move on is a wonderful lesson that many people with different disciplines can learn from.
God knows we all need to work together to make this world a better place to live in.
Samoa is in a good place to offer some help to nations that have lost their soul to development and perhaps in turn, it can remind itself of its own unique and somewhat fading beauty in the scheme of things.”
The Museum of Samoa takes away enhanced partnerships from the conference and inspiration to continue with its challenging task of preserving Samoa’s heritage.
Another year for the museum lies ahead with many activities in line to showcase the reason memories and past are intriguing and important reminders to Samoans of their own innate strengths and abilities.
google_ad_client = "ca-pub-2469982834957525";
/* Bottom Articles */
google_ad_slot = "5910176767";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 60;
//-->
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script> {/googleAds}