// Which are the challenges of the future?
// Who decides how to address them?
// How can solutions arise?
>>> Public participation in the decision making has a crucialimportance. The premise of this entry is that in order to formulatewhat will be regarded as the challenges of the future we need toconsult the people. We need to increase public participation in theeveryday life and at all levels.
Our response for this call is to enhance opportunities for publicparticipation creating an atmosphere for that to happen. This proposal,From talks to action - a framework for community participation, iscomposed by two features: the “iCan > < uCan” and the “weStand”,together with a preliminary discussion outline for public and privatetalks. We believe that this operation could instigate public debate andlead to action plans and eventually new policies.

The iCan > < uCan
is a communication device - a 30 meters long tin can telephone with agps attached - to play a communication game. These devices would beplaced in a public space for people to play the communication game andleave them where they were found or take them to another location. Theywill be tracked through the gps and their movements will be followedonline on an associated website.

The weStand
is a wooden platform -40cm high that splits in two pieces, one thespeakers’ tribune and the other a mini auditorium seed – for people tospontaneously gather to debate. It will be placed in a central area ofthe city, where pedestrian traffic is constant. It will have attached a3 m diameter balloon 20 m high that will call the attention from manydifferent areas in the city and a camera and microphone to record thepublic talks which will be visible in real-time on a website. The datawill be useful to collect direct feedback from the population on issuesthat are on debate at a specific moment in a specific place.

A preliminary outline with topics for discussion as Climate change,Waste management, Infrastructure, Public space, Environment,Immigration will trigger the debates. This installation will be placedin an armature of the city. In Oslo it will be along the AkerselvaRiver, linking Maridalsvannet lake and the Oslo Fjord. 20 “iCan >< uCan”s will be placed along the river edges every 450 m, startingat the lake and ending at Vaterlandpark where the “weStand” wouldconclude the journey.

Total budget: €9740 (20x “iCanuCan”s €3870; 1 x “weStand” €4370; IT costs €1500).

concept by Cecilia Benites and Jula-Kim Sieber

www.vimeo.com/14290589