The meeting “Anthropocene and the end of biodiversity”

According to statistics, 60% of animals in the world are domestic animals. Each year about 20 thousand species become extinct. We can already talk about the sixth extinction, although none of the previous five was so rapid or caused by human activity and influence.

The participants reflected on how to take in these information without falling into climate depression. How could we prevent this unprecedented catastrophe? How the end of biodiversity influences our thinking about animals?

The meeting accompanid the “Homing. Włodzimierz Puchalski” exhibition. Puchalski as a photographer immortalised a lot of animal species that are already considered endangered or extinct.

The meeting was registered and broadcast, as well as interpreted into Polish Sign Language.

Guests: Małgorzata Lebda, Andrzej Marzec, Adam Robiński

Chairing: Paulina Małochleb

Małgorzata Lebda, PhD – academic, feuilletonist, organiser of cultural events. She wrote six poetic books, among others “Sny uckermärkerów” (Gdynia Literary Prize 2019) and “Mer de Glace” (Wisława Szymborska Award 2022). She is also an ultramarathon runner. In September 2021 she ran 1113 km – from the head of the Vistula river to its influx in the Baltic sea. This was a poetic and activist gesture.

Andrzej Marzec, PhD – philosopher, film critic, and assistant professor at the Institute of Philosophy at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Editor of “Czas Kultury”, interested in  the phenomena of deconstruction and spectra, contemporary aesthetics and Greek cinema. Author of books, among others “Widmontologia. Teoria filozoficzna i praktyka artystyczna ponowoczesności” (Warsaw 2015) and “Antropocień. Filozofia i estetyka po końcu świata” (Warsaw 2021). For the latter book he received the Identitas Special Prize (2021).

Adam Robiński – book author and journalist, he publishes among others in “Życie Warszawy”, “Rzeczpospolita”, “National Geographic Polska”, “Tygodnik Powszechny” and “Pismo”. For his debut book – “Hajstry” and for his second book – „Kiczery” – he received a few prizes and nominations for literary and travel writing awards. He writes about nature and everything that happens on the border between nature and art. He is a certified Kampinos National Park.

dr Paulina Małochleb – critic, academic and lecturer. She publishes in “Polityka”, “Krytyka Polityczna”, “Przekrój”. The winner of the Prime Minister Prize, she also received a scholarship from the “Młoda Polska” programme run by the National Cultural Centre. The author of “Przepisywanie historii” book and ksiazkinaostro.pl blog.