Universal Species Suffrage
Jaione Cerrato & Jon Halls explore notions of contemporary value systems
‘Universal Species Suffrage’ is an idea that we have been developing over the last two years. Working together for several years on projects that explored contemporary value systems that are at odds with a sustainable future, we developed this scenario:
“What would the world look like if all species had the same rights and liberties as citizens in Western Europe? A scenario in which all species have not only the right to vote, but the subsequent self determinism, value and agency through a fair and free electoral system. Will the ocean species rule over the continental areas? What would be the hierarchy in the global food supply chain when humans and farmed animals have the same right to vote? How do we utilise resources when no species can be exploited?”
Through this lens we interrogate not only the human species, but what structures are needed for a sustainable future where all species can thrive.
'Universal Species Suffrage' begins with the declaration that not only are all species able to vote, but that they receive the dignity and protections that a free being receives in a Western democratic state. This puts into question not only the human species’ political hegemony on the world, but our ability to exploit, pollute and ignore the majority of the living planet. While these issues reflect contemporary environmental justice debates, it is also a lens for introspection.
Through this workshop we hope to illuminate the participants to not only the lives of other species but also to reflect on our own actions. Answering questions as another species, you are pulled out of your personal perspective.
Suddenly climate change is not just a peripheral issue among many other concerns, but one of deathly, immediate concern. Resource extraction is no longer a process that happens in another part of the world which you purchase locally, but an activity that puts your home at immediate risk.
For those humans living beyond the Western world, these decisions are also their reality and therefore it is not only a tool to reflect on the needs of species, but also how far our political will goes toward helping others.
By reflecting on these issues within this workshop, we open up a space to consider our political voice, our economic actions and the need for empathy within politics.
We are a collaborative duo, Jaione Cerrato and Jon Halls, who focus on exploring notions of contemporary value systems. Our practice aims to create conversations by critically engaging with contemporary values through art, writing and workshops.
