January 2025
Performing Hope for the Glaciers
‘Performing Hope for the Glaciers’
23 January 2025, Davos Switzerland
World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma moved audience members to tears with a captivating performance of hope in Davos this morning.
He performed three pieces amid freezing conditions and heavy snow on the famous ‘magic mountain’ during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting.
The Grammy-winning musician was ‘Performing Hope for the Glaciers’, a campaign led by Project Basecamp.
The idea behind Performing Hope is to send a message that the world must avoid a requiem for the world’s glaciers due to escalating climate change, and instead use the window of hope which still exists and make rapid cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.
“Climate action is not happening fast enough, and at Davos this year the actual dialogue and political crosswinds have changed. In previous years, we had climate and nature all along the promenade, as well as in the Congress, but not this year,” said Professor Whiteman, Executive Director of Project Basecamp as well as Hoffmann Impact Professor for Accelerating Action on Climate and Nature at the University of Exeter.
“The reasons for that are vast and complicated, but the reality is still true. We’re going to need to boost action faster, but that’s simply not happening, and in such a world it’s easy to feel hopeless. But we can’t do that. What we need to do is actually find hope, and what better way to do that than with the performing arts.”
Yo-Yo Ma turned his back on the audience to face the sublime mountain backdrop as he opened the performance with Mi’kmaq Honor Song by George Paul, a piece taught to him by Jeremy Dutcher, a singer, anthropologist and First Nations Canadian.
“It’s a song of gratitude. Every time I play it, I thank the mountains, the sun, the moon, the trees, the water, and I feel better,” he said.
He followed up with JS Bach’s Suite No 1 for Solo Cello, Prelude, which he explained was about ‘rebuilding for nature’ and the first piece he ever learned, when he was just four.
During the finale, Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen, audience members were visibly moved and, as snow continued to fall, many rose to their feet in a standing ovation.
He explained that the piece “was written during one of the darkest times in history, in the midst of World War II, we had not at that time recovered from the Great Depression, in 1939, yet somehow people were able to conjure up hope”.
Ends
Latest News
Jun. 03, 2025
Rainn Wilson x Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conversation at the Austrian World Summit
At this year’s Austrian World Summit, Project Basecamp co-founder Rainn Wilson joined Arnold Schwarzenegger for a conversation that brought science, pop culture, and personal responsibility together on one stage. The goal: reach people who aren’t yet part of the climate conversation and invite them in.
FULL ARTICLE
Jun. 03, 2024
Rainn Wilson on Environmental Activism and Why He’s “Greatly Disappointed That So Few Celebrities Are Speaking Up About It
The actor, who co-founded climate change organization Project Basecamp, is taking part in the Environmental Media Association’s Impact Summit on June 4.
“I had literally been thinking to myself, Rainn, you need to get off your ass and do something about climate change. If this is really important to you, you need to do more than send out an occasional angry tweet, because, let’s face it, that’s what most people in Hollywood do.”
And so began Rainn Wilson‘s foray into environmental activism six years ago, when he met and teamed with Professor Gail Whiteman for their Project Basecamp initiative, which combines science and culture — approaching climate change via the lenses of food, entertainment, sports, fashion and music.
FULL ARTICLE
Feb. 13, 2024
“Not Just Another Day at the Office” a discussion on contemporary environmental challenges
“Magic happens when sustainability leaders across industries come together to intentionally exchange ideas, build action plans, and foster collaboration.”
When we collaborated with the Midwest Sustainability Network, we truly created something magical. On this webcast, some of the leading scientists and figures in sustainability exchanged their thoughts on the current climate crisis. Join Alainna Harkness, Executive Director of Current and CEO of Great Lakes ReNEW, Phile Clement, CEO of World Business Chicago and Founding Board Member of the Midwest Sustainability Network, in their conversation with Project Basecamp Co-Founders Professor Gail Whiteman and Rainn Wilson.