These (toxic) relations are forever – PFAS Pollution as a threat to water resilience in the EU | Event

In relation to the EU Green Week, Pro(to)topia and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) will organise an event - titled These (toxic) relations are forever – PFAS Pollution as a threat to water resilience in the EU.

Taking place at the interface of arts, science and policy and aiming to create awareness about the critical links between water pollution and the exacerbation of water scarcity

Through its link with the NaturArchy exhibition at iMAL in collaboration with JRC SciArt and in the framework of the public programme around the exhibition, case studies for this event are artworks which deal with water quality management and chemical pollution in water - Haunted Waters & These Relations are Forever.A guided visit of these two installations will kick off the event. 

Following the tour, an interactive panel will take place at La Vallee that will gather artists, scientists, civil society, EU policy makers and local authorities, to discuss EU’s capacity to mitigate PFAS pollution and new approaches to enhance citizen engagement, and provide tools to address ecoanxiety and promote environmental artivism.

To attend please register using this link (deadline 24 June) 

AGENDA 

• 17h30-18h guided visit of PFAS-related interactive art installations of the Naturarchy exhibition at iMAL and PFAS infused cocktails
• 18:30h-20h Interactive panel discussion at la Vallee
  • Presentation and discussion with panelists 
  • Sharing of a toolkit for citizens to act on PFAS 
  • Q&A
• 20h  Closing of the event 

SPEAKERS
Carmen Preising, Head of Cabinet of Virginijus Sinkevičius (European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries) TBD 

Zakia Khattabi, (former) Minister for Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and Green Deal of Belgium TBD 

Artist: Penelope Cain 

Scientist: Representative from JRC (Caterina Cacciatori) or Jakob de Boer Rep of PFAS affected community: Hedwig Rooman and Katrin Van den Troost

What: These (toxic) relations are forever – PFAS Pollution as a threat to water resilience in the EU - Please register using this link (deadline 24 June) 

Where: iMAL/La Vallee  Rue Adolphe Lavallée 39, 1080 Bruxelles

When: 27/06/2024, 17h30-20h

The event will uncover the issue of water pollution, including pollution by ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS), which render our water unusable. It will start with the guided visit of two interactive installations related with PFAS - Haunted Waters & These Relations are Forever - at iMAL.