Make Change Now
Fab City joins Greenpeace for a global maker event aided by the Fab Lab network.
On August first this year, humanity used up more natural resources than the planet is able to reproduce in a year. Why? We are producing and consuming too much — from fashion and tech to food, single-use plastic, toys and cars. Our consumerism — defined as shopping for shoppings sake, to feel better, be social or validate ourselves — means we buy even if we don’t need something new; we buy and throw away too much and replace things too quickly. What’s trend today, is trash tomorrow. But if we keep living this seemingly “convenient”, throwaway lifestyle, we will keep contributing to climate change, pollution and the destruction of people’s homes, natural wonders and denying many the right to a clean and safe environment. We need to find a way to create a cultural sea change where we truly value our goods again and keep them for as long as we can. Where happiness is not built on what we own but who we are as human beings and how we engage with people and nature. Because behaviour change is difficult, this change needs to be easy, fun and accessible.
MAKE SMTHNG Week
MAKE SMTHNG Week (Nov 23–Dec 2 2018) is a week of action to bring people together to gain first-hand experience of making more out of what we already own — by sharing, caring, repairing, upcycling, pimping and swapping fashion, food, tech and toys. The event website and social media channels (@makesmthng) help connect makers from around the globe with each other in a global alliance. MAKE SMTHNG Week hacks a mega-moment of consumerism by kicking off on Black Friday and the start of the christmas shopping season — with fun and creative workshops we not only say MAKE SMTHNG — BUY NOTHING, we also invite people to enjoy themselves as makers, together with others.
MAKE SMTHNG is supporting the global maker movement
We want to amplify the movement of makers that has already rediscovered the art, craft and joy of making: cooking, mending clothes, fixing electronics, upcycling used goods, growing our own food, making our own cosmetics; cleaning with vinegar and baking soda, ditching plastic and sharing your clothes, bikes and homes with each other — and combining these skills with modern sharing technologies to exchange skills and learn from each others experience and knowledge. There are many practicing these actions already — it’s time to connect and unite to become more visible and stronger.
MAKE SMTHNG is about changing mindsets
We want to trigger a cultural change where people will change their everyday behaviour. Being resourceful and creative with what we have should become the new normal, a shift away from the consumption of ready made products towards a more active, skillful and creative way of living. In return we will benefit with greater happiness and satisfaction — it’s been proven that doing stuff with our hands, being mindful about our daily life and connecting with others heightens our wellbeing, as opposed to the short-lived buzz off buying something new.
MAKE SMTHNG X Fab City
Fab City Global Initiative & FabLabs around the world are aiding this maker event, by providing the context and tools for events across the globe. A Fab Lab is a technical prototyping platform for innovation and invention, it creates a space in which people can gather to engage in making. The more than 1300 Fab Labs located in almost every major city in the world, as well as thousands of Maker Spaces and Hackerspaces, connect ina global community of learners, educators, technologists, researchers, makers and innovators. At Fab City, we look to how these people can connect to government to bring the making out of the Fab Lab and into changing the world.
Join the MAKE SMTHNG movement!
We invite everyone to join the Fab City Global Initiative in hosting an event in your local Fab Lab from 23 November — 2 December and connect to the global network of Greenpeace and all Collaborators! FCGI is joining Greenpeace x Fashion Revolution x #breakfreefromplastic x Shareable x Fab Labs x Arts Thread to #makechangenow and bring the power of making to the people!
