Today my son (almost 14) and I are at The Best of the Independent Games Festival at ACMI Federation Square, Melbourne which showcases (supposedly) some of the best of indie electronic game design. My son likes some of the games, and I'm particularly interested in 3 (for obvious reasons): Fez, Botanicula, and Lume.   These three are particularly interesting for their eco-digitilization inspiration and content.

My son is playing on a game entitled Fez (2012) which has a little white critter sporting a red fez climbing up walls strewn with rambling vines and a digital snail pixillating across a vegetated roof (none other than an intensive roof garden). 
The game is gently introducing eco-screen dreaming to the digitalized context. There is also Botanicula which as it sounds comprises botanic features, and Lume, the game (2011). This one describes itself as 'an illuminating puzzle adventure. Power to your Granddad's has failed.... Immerse yourself in Lume's photoreal world, solve perplexing paper puzzles to help restore the power ...'  On one level you see a roof entirely covered with photovoltaic cells. Hmm, it isn't long and the place being full, we are being encouraged to let someone else have a turn, so I don't get to explore these games' horizons as much as I could. 

It is inspirational being here, to see that game designers are factoring the eco-movement in to their visuals so that within the game you are encouraged heart and soul to remember there is a natural world in a parallel 'universe' to the electronic one, which is worthy of attention (oops my Doctor Who interest is obvious). 

This is one example of what I call an eco-screen dream where creators of TV and film drama, and advertisers instil subliminal eco-signals whether it be a greener backdrop, a green product like a recycling bin, or someone taking part in a green activity like riding a scooter to the shops.  Readers can scroll down to see other relevant topics such as visual imagery for screening up and eco screen dream topics on this Blog. Happy reading!

Went to hear him speak last night, and what a sensation he was. 

These are the 7 elements we need in our lives, so basic that we literally forget:
non stagnant air, sun, water (one glass an hour). walking, passion, non-toxic relationships, whole foods. Again, if we all opened up our windows more and spent time in the garden (go to my blog www.bloomingandbold.blogspot.com) how much better a place the earth would be. 

(As to the whole foods - I have to say nothing will make me give up my green chicken curry dish which only has a few vegies in it, but I do note the interesting comparisons he draws between the shapes of vegetables and the parts of the body they nourish. I had never noticed how like a womb the avocado is!) I'm not sure that I can agree with everything Don says about the health system, but am willing to listen in and keep an open mind.  There is no question recently I was at the dentist and said I had started taking odourless garlic, and the dentist was very surprised to hear the benefits in terms of my oral hygiene this was bringing about.  

Anyway, am mainly writing this post as it's almost my birthday, 13th June, and I like to repeat the 'spin' he puts on the number thirteen, about the healers who were excommunicated and went to the United States, and there dubbed them the 13 colonies to compensate for the poor treatment of the number 13 which Don says arises out of this thing called  Triskaidekaphobia. So all hail to the number 13. 

http://www.ecc-kruishoutem.be/wedstrijden_ENG.html 


Here is a link to some Cartoon Competitions running all year out of Europe. 


Scroll down to competition with the 30 June 2012 deadline and there is a competition with an 'eco-story' as a possible eco-cartoon.  

'New cities' could also fit within the eco-theme framework. 

We environmentalists are learning to be a lot more visual in the way we communicate our messages, which is a glorious thing, really. This is great as we are learning to use our RIGHT BRAINS more in the way we express our messages. 

 

LOHAS is an important environmental campaign theme message which links us back to sustainability, without making sustainability the primary focus, which is a great idea, as the S word and the E word (environmental) have been used far too much. 

A number of local groups, including Horticultural Therapy Assoc, Sustainable Gardening Australia and Bulleen Art and Garden are promoting well-ness and psychic healing as a part of having gardens, growing vegies, getting outdoors, and this is great for selling the notion that a lifestyle can be both enjoyable and good for the planet. Nothing like incorporating companion planting, pollination, lure planting, vegies up walls, in pouches, or fruit over trellises, espaliered or over pergolas, is there?   Lack of space? Your balconies or patios can look fantastic.    I say: we can trade the hedge for some vege, in the creation of produce walls.  (Patrick Blanc is famous for the large scale living walls, where the garden is literally attached to the building, but these are beyond most people's budgets.)

I am very excited about an edible wall gardening class I am doing with Karen Sutherland the productive planting guru who is making a lot of noise in the media.  I volunteered at Karen's Open Garden Day and she had pumpkins sprawling in every direction over the back shed.  Her garden is one of the most inspirational productive gardens I have ever had the joy to witness.  Her website for Edible Eden is worth a visit.  Karen has a Moomba float with 3000 edible plants which would be sensational to see on this coming Monday, if you can fight your way through the throngs! (For those from outside Melbourne, Moomba is one of Melbbourne's largest outdoor festivals) 3000 plants on a float - now that is totally crazy, but what an achievement. 

There is no question that gardening and growing produce instils a sense of emotional well-being and healthfulness in those who have the time to participate. 

Here is a link relating to the Melbourne and International Flower and Garden Show held each year which is a blogpost on my gardening blog (added to this post after the event).  Designer gardens, like art in general are awe inspiring, and the photos on this blog are proof of this. 
http://bloomingandbold.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Melbourne%20International%20Garden%20Show