Jaś Kapela in the Weather Stations project

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his spring, Jaś Kapela, poet, novelist, blogger and Political Critique columnist, is travelling to Australia as part of the eighteen-month international Weather Stations project. Kapela, author of such works as Stosunek seksualny nie istnieje and Janusz Hrystus, has been chosen along with four other writers hailing from Britain, Germany, Ireland and Australia, to collectively develop new narrative modes in response to discussions on the burning issue that is climate change.

The writers will first meet during their three-week journey to Australia, where they will be able to experience the immediate effects of climate change first hand. As they reflect on the environmental changes and possible sustainable alternatives, Xiaolu Guo, Mirko Bonné, Oisín McGann, Tony Birch and Kapela will publish their work on the project’s website (globalweatherstations.com). The literary work is accompanied by an educational program for teachers and students aimed at raising awareness and seeking solutions to the climate problem.

On May 5th, Kapela will appear on The Wheeler Centre stage in Melbourne to display another one of his skills: performance poetry. Also participating in the Weather Stations: Power Slam will be Maxine Beneba Clarke, Geoff Lemon and Abe Nouk.

The project is conducted in partnership with Free Word in London, internationales literaturfestival berlin, Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw, Tallaght Community Arts in Dublin and The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne.

Photo by Jakub Szafrański.