A transdisciplinary project with Utrecht University
More information here and on are.na
Co-organized by Utrecht University’s Pathways to Sustainability, NIOZ, Embassy of the North Sea, and Casco Art Institute: Working for the Commons
The transdisciplinary Whose Ocean? project explores the concept of ocean justice by organizing an assembly to examine how the ocean can be meaningfully represented on international and national platforms, including in courts of law and diplomatic discussions. The project’s primary objective is to propose a communal relationship doctrine for the stewardship of the ocean.
The project culminates in a charter that outlines how the ocean can be approached within the frameworks of international law and diplomacy. This charter integrates both human-centric and non-anthropocentric narratives. To bridge the gap between these more-than-human perspectives and human understanding, the project invites and supports writers, artists, and groups deeply connected to the ocean to contribute to the assembly and its preparatory work. The outcomes of these discussions are reviewed by relevant academics and key ocean stakeholders from Dutch ministries.
The specific form of this charter is discussed during the kick-off meeting in February 2024, where stakeholders share their expectations and aspirations. Over the course of the year, a series of gatherings and Reading Groups take place, culminating in the Assembly in January 2025, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
You can access harvests and other project information through the Whose Ocean? are.na page.