The starfish, the river and the churchyard
GLOBAL GENERATION'S YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS CELEBRATING LIFE IN A PLACE OF DEATH
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” “Son,” the man said, “don’t you realise there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the water. Then, smiling at the man, he said…“I made a difference for that one.”
As a contribution to the Somerstown Day of the Dead Festival, and as part of Global Generation’s Voices of the Water Project, on the 23rd of October 2023, some of our young people went to St Pancras Old Churchyard, taking photos, where once ran free and sacred, the subterranean River Fleet. The story of this hidden river of London has been foundational for sessions and community projects at Global Generation; a narrative for exploration of cultural, personal, mythical and environmental stories of water.
Inspired by the starfish story and how small actions can make a difference, young people photographed the life of a churchyard, above the course of the Fleet, remembering the loss of biodiversity that happened with its disappearance underground but celebrating, at the same time, the life that still continues on the surface.
Noticing moss growing on gravestones, and different colours and patterns, the young people made a difference simply by slowing down and capturing the beauty of what we have and must protect: an activism that is possible for each of us, each day.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND REFLECTIONS from GLOBAL GENERATION’S YOUNG PEOPLE. EMBRACE.
Does life look different when we are still vs in motion?
If yes, how? What can we notice?
Can there be life in the place of death?
Can we imagine and explore what life may look like from the perspectives of different creatures, from up above, on the ground, and in between?
ZESHAN, SENIOR GENERATOR
“If there was no death there would be too much life which would in turn cause death to occur whether it is natural or not. A reflection I can make is that life thrives/can thrive through death, as on many of the gravestones and paths there was lots of moss growing.”
The small moss trail may look small to us, but for an ant, it may be a mountain.
TYLER, SENIOR GENERATOR
“The project gave me a different perspective of death and how life came into it.”
CHARLIE, SENIOR GENERATOR
AIDA, PROJECT PARTICIPANT
“Through the camera, I was able to express curiosity.”
FRIDA, PROJECT PARTICIPANT
LEONARDO, JUNIOR GENERATOR
NATHAN, FELLOW
VALENTINA, JUNIOR GENERATOR
AYOUB, PROJECT PARTiCIPANT
“Taking pictures today was making an impact because I have stopped to look at something very close.”
Notes from the Garden
A puncture is not how I envisioned starting the day, no one ever does. They always seem to happen when you’re in a rush, people are expecting you, and the weather is particularly…challenging.