Speak LOUDER!

2019

choir
s m a t bar b
texts: Cecilie Ore & Bibbi Moslet
duration: 14:00
commissioned by Ensemble 96
score available through www.musikkforlagene.no

Work category

(English)

‘If we don't halt population growth with justice and compassion, it will be done for us by nature, brutally and without pity- and will leave a ravaged world.’ Nobel Laureate Henry W. Kendall

Scientific research affirms that the world ́s human population has doubled during the last 40 years. During the same period more than half of the earth ́s entire population of animals, insects, fishes and birds has disappeared.

The increasing human overpopulation is one of the severest problems we are facing in the world today, but strangely enough one of the least talked about.
By citing Genesis 1:28, we point to old dogmas in our culture which have outlived their impact and should no longer be followed or obeyed. To counterpoint these we give voice to species that are extinct or threatened by extinction, but which the world’s ecosystem depends upon.

Why do we ignore and forget that all these species are necessary for our own survival?

’Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people onto the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears.It doesn't matter if someone dies.’ Isaac Asimov

Cecilie Ore and Bibbi Moslet

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(Norwegian)

‘If we don't halt population growth with justice and compassion, it will be done for us by nature, brutally and without pity- and will leave a ravaged world.’Nobel Laureate Henry W. Kendall

Forskning viser at i løpet av de siste 40 årene har jordens befolkning doblet seg. I det samme tidsrommet har mer enn halvparten av alle dyr, insekter, fisk og fugl forsvunnet.

Den økende overbefolkningen er et av de største problemene vi står overfor i verden i dag, men underlig nok et av de problemene vi snakker minst om. Med referanse til Første Mosebok 1:28 ønsker vi å peke på gamle dogmer som ikke lenger bør etterleves samtidig som vi ønsker å gi stemme til utrydningstruede og utryddede arter som jordens økosystem er avhengig av. Hvorfor har vi mennesker glemt at alle disse artene er nødvendige for vår overlevelse?

’Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people onto the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.’ Isaac Asimov

Cecilie Ore og Bibbi Moslet