Finland: Ministers support world première of Ecocide Law choral suite

On 15th April, the world premiere of the Ecocide Law Choir Suite took place at the Jyväskylä University in Finland to an audience of over 300 people.  The event was the result of the work by Merzi Rajala, Adjunct Professor of the Global Music Department of the Sibelius Academy of Finland, Peder Karlsson, Honorary Professor of the Stockholm Royal Academy and one of the founders of world renowned a capella group The Real Group, and Kirsi Kaunismäki-Suhonen, choir leader, trainer and rector, Finland.

The concert comprised a suite of twelve songs by composers from USA, Great Britain, Scotland, Sweden, Sápmi (Sameland), Finland, Canada, Brazil and Denmark, all of whom have donated their contributions to the Choirs for Ecocide Law project.

Before the concert, Pekka Haavisto, Caretaker Foreign Minister of Finland, delivered a video message emphasising the growing importance of ecocide in international environmental policies, and highlighting the recent declaration by the European Parliament of support for the inclusion of ecocide in the revised EU Crime Directive.  “Music” he said “is not only beautiful, but also an effective way to appeal for prevention of ecocide. Music arouses in us feelings which help us act as a transformative power.”

The concert was followed by a panel discussion about the necessity for a new international crime of ecocide, to which Caretaker Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen contributed.

Peder Karlsson, one of the creators behind the project says: “Song has an extraordinary power to express the inexpressible, to access our emotions and to change the world.  The destruction of nature is such a huge and complex issue that it can be difficult for us to process.  By joining with others to explore these issues with our voices, through song, we can begin to engage with and work through the complexity to a resolution – a possible solution and a way forward.”

The public launch of the Choirs for Ecocide Law project will take place on 27 April at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Istanbul.  The full range of songs is available to download for free from the Stop Ecocide website for choirs across the world to perform.  The songs are available in mixed voice, treble and unison arrangements, along with suggested rehearsal programmes.