On November 25 and 26, 2022, in Venice, IOC-UNESCO launches Blue Friday, the sea-friendly alternative
Blue is the new Black. Blue entrepreneurship, fashion, and finance, cultural activities and discovery of “local” Venice, a theatrical performance and meetings to promote the protection of the Mediterranean Sea and the entire Ocean: Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO launches Blue Friday, the sea-friendly alternative to Black Friday.
The initiative takes place in Venice at Palazzo Zorzi, headquarters of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, and at the Hotel Acquarius in Campo San Giacomo de l’Orio: it is an opportunity to present ideas, seek solutions, and raise awareness for critical and conscious consumption, within the context of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) of the United Nations.
“Blue Friday is a real call to action addressed to citizens, institutions, companies, and research centers to transform the blackest Friday of the year into a moment to safeguard and regenerate our Mediterranean Sea,” explains Francesca Santoro, Senior Programme Officer for IOC-UNESCO and global head of Ocean Literacy for the Ocean Decade. “We want to demonstrate that it is possible to change course, putting the environment at the center rather than consumption, promoting greater awareness regarding the importance of the ocean and a more responsible lifestyle in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda.”
Goals to be achieved also thanks to Ocean Literacy programs for everyone, and the request that UNESCO addressed to the 193 Member States to make Ocean Literacy part of the school curriculum by 2025.”
Blue Friday aims to encourage reflection on the effect that every choice we make as consumers can have on the environment and particularly on the ocean: it is estimated that purchases during Black Friday are often motivated by impulse, so much so that up to 80% of garments and items purchased are discarded after only one or no use.
The Blue Friday Agenda in Venice
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
5:30 PM Hotel Acquarius, Campo S. Giacomo da l’Orio 1624
From 6 PM to 8 PM
Blue Friday vs Black Friday Panel
Institutional greetings: UNESCO and Massimiliano De Martin, Councilor for the Environment of the City of Venice
Speakers: Norman Larocca (Acqua dell’Elba – Benefit Corporation), Raffaele Dessì (Architect, expert in the history of costume), Eva Geraldine Fontanelli (CEO and Founder of gOOOders), Giusy Bettoni (CEO and Founder of C.L.A.S.S.), Matteo Ward (Wråd, sustainability expert), Gioele Romanelli (Owner of Casa Flora and Co-founder of Inside Venice), Chiara Pavan (Chef of Ristorante Venissa – 2022 Michelin Green Star), Laura Scarpa and Lorenzo Cinotti (Co-Founders of Venezia da Vivere), Karin Friebel Marson (Pieces of Venice).
Moderator: Giacomo Talignani, journalist for La Repubblica.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Blue Friday continues at Palazzo Zorzi with a series of activities open to the public to bring people closer to environmental issues and tell the authentic soul of Venice.
It will be possible to visit the Ocean & Climate Village, an interactive and educational exhibition dedicated to the ocean and climate, visit the Atelier Aperti together with Venezia da Vivere discovering artisan workshops and Venetian talents, custodians of a 1600-year-old know-how, discover the Lagoon by boat with the Fie a Manetta who teach women how to navigate the canals, or Venetian typography with Venezia Stampa: “local” experiences proposed by Inside Venice.
From 10 AM to 12 PM, an AtelierAperti tour dedicated to Young Blue Minds participants will open the doors of laboratories and workshops. The theme of the Venetian stage is design and innovation and includes a round table to discuss the projects presented, ideas, and possible collaborations;
From 12 PM to 1 PM, the book presentation of Come balene in bottiglia. Viaggio nella crisi climatica tra animali smarriti, uomini intrappolati e messaggi inascoltati – Edizioni Radici Future by Giacomo Talignani (by reservation). The author will speak with Francesca Santoro of IOC-UNESCO and green journalist Diana de Marsanich.
From 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, an Atelier Aperti tour with Venezia da Vivere (by reservation).
The day will conclude (6 PM – 8 PM) at Palazzo Zorzi, UNESCO headquarters, with a performance by Alessandro Vanoli, historian and writer, who will present a monologue based on his latest book “Storia del Mare” (Edizioni Laterza).
Saturday, November 26, will also see the second appointment of Young Blue Minds, the traveling project created by IOC-UNESCO in collaboration with marine biologist Marta Musso, 2022 Woman of the Sea.
All events are free with mandatory reservation.
Info: oceanliteracy@unesco.org
To consult the full Blue Friday program: decenniodelmare.it
To register for all scheduled activities: eventbrite.com
Participate in the Young Blue Minds project
A network of young people between 18 and 35 is creating the Ocean Generation with a traveling project created by IOC-UNESCO in collaboration with marine biologist Marta Musso, 2022 Woman of the Sea.
Live meetings in Italy and Europe, activities at sea and with the local community to create a network of young “blue minds”. Participants test themselves by developing networking and team-building skills with activities in contact with nature – possibly at sea – and science. During each stage, two selected projects are presented and added to a “logbook” that will be presented in various initiatives in Italy and abroad.
The only requirements are to love the sea and have the will to act as agents of change for our Blue Planet. Young Blue Minds is open to biologists, chemists, physicists, engineers, artists, artisans, visual artists, entrepreneurs, start-uppers, photographers, creatives, and athletes.
Participate in the second stage in Venice on November 26, 2022:
The second stage will focus on design and innovation and will be divided into three different moments of free activities:
– morning: team building and networking activities to discover the territory;
– afternoon: round table to discuss your projects, ideas, and possible collaborations;
– evening: theatrical performance by historian and writer Alessandro Vanoli.
For the round table, 2 projects will be selected to be presented during the day; they will be the subjects of the debate and will be added to the virtual “logbook” of the Ocean Decade, to create a network of young minds dedicated to the sea, giving them visibility and new opportunities for collaboration.
To submit your project or participate in the activities on November 26, go to this page and fill out the forms.
The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
2021-2030: ten years to build the ocean we want, clean, healthy and resilient, productive, predictable, safe, and accessible. The Ocean Decade is a major global initiative to promote the role of ocean science in fostering sustainable development and implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Discovering IOC-UNESCO
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO is the only competent organization for ocean science within the United Nations system. Its commitment is to promote international cooperation and coordinate research programs, the creation of oceanographic services, and capacity building in order to better understand the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas.
Cover photo by Amanda Cotton / Ocean Image Bank. The other images are from the UNESCO Blue Friday initiative.
