The New Materialism: better, not more. November 26, 2012 // By: Andrew Simms Today marks international Buy Nothing Day. Begun in 1992 in Mexico to protest against over-consumption it became an annual diary fixture in North America where, this year, inescapably it is being dubbed 'Occupy Xmas.' Britain is exhorted by its organisers to, ‘lock up your wallets and purses, cut up your credit cards and dump the love of your life – shopping.’ That will work for some, especially those whose wallets and credit cards are already empty or overextended. But, it leaves two problems. So, is it possible to both save the economy and build a better relationship with the world of, ‘stuff.’
We argue, yes, in our new pamphlet The New Materialism: How our relationship with the material world can change for the better, published to coincide with Buy Nothing Day, if you embrace ‘stuff’ in a different way. The new materialism is about an economy of better, not more. A Manifesto for the New Materialism: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Agree with this? Close. Scientist creates lifelike cells out of metal. Scientists trying to create artificial life generally work under the assumption that life must be carbon-based, but what if a living thing could be made from another element? One British researcher may have proven that theory, potentially rewriting the book of life.
Lee Cronin of the University of Glasgow has created lifelike cells from metal — a feat few believed feasible. The discovery opens the door to the possibility that there may be life forms in the universe not based on carbon, reports New Scientist. Even more remarkable, Cronin has hinted that the metal-based cells may be replicating themselves and evolving. "I am 100 percent positive that we can get evolution to work outside organic biology," he said. The high-functioning "cells" that Cronin has built are constructed from large polyoxometalates derived from a range of metal atoms, like tungsten. The metallic bubbles are certainly cell-like, but are they actually alive? The early results have been encouraging. Urban Intervention: A Reclaimed Parking Spot. Since we’re on the subject of grass today, check out Green Corner, a collaboration between Helsinki-based artists Otto Karvonen and Jon Irigoyen.
Described as an “urban intervention” the idea was fairly straightforward: install a grass turf lawn in a parking space creating a temporary park that calls into question the ideas of ownership and use in public spaces. Green corner is a spatial artwork consisting of lawn that is installed on a parking space. The lawn is equipped with some comfortable garden furniture, to provide a relaxing break in the middle of the hectic urban space. The work raises questions about public space in general; to whom it belongs and what can be done with it. [...]
The project functions also as an invitation to a workshop taking place in June. The workshop explores the public spaces in Kallio [a neighborhood in Helsinki] and the future prospects of the area. It would be fun to see this project expanded to entire street or intersection. Mark Boyle: How I lived by spending nothing for two years. Moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2693546/ There's No Tomorrow. Design For [every]one - home trainer on Behance. Third-World Wind Power: First Look.