RYSZARD KULIK

University of Silesia,
Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, Institute of Psychology,
Department of Social and Environmental Psychology;
Grażyńskiego 53, 40-126 Katowice
e-mail: ryszard.kulik@us.edu.pl

Description popularizing the research project

Citymania means addiction to travelling over smooth, hard surfaces, listening to engines, bells, sirens and horns; and observing shiny shop windows and signboards. Citymania means the need to have a light switch, a hot water tap and flush at hand. A citymaniac requires sources of noise and cannot stand neither wetting his shoes in a pool nor a moth in his room. In extreme cases citymania ends up with signing a pact with civilization. Obeying the terms of the pact the man does not leave without a mobile phone, a watch and a GPS, the other party, the overwhelming civilization itself, gains another zone of influence. It is unbearable when we realize that we get addicted to consumption of goods and services, involuntarily becoming another link in the chain. Yet when we realize that we do need order and harmony - we really do not know whether we want to look for it. And it is so simple. Just sit on the river bank and feel how the time slows down. Rustling trees and blowing wind ease the growing tension. But it is so hard to let go the railing offered by the civilization and go into the green and quiet. Is it the result of the pact? Has it put us at the crossroads, torn between television and our own personality, imagination and Internet, unity with nature and public means of transportation? Civilization is a hard negotiator, but citymania can be cured. Sometimes a weekend in the forest is enough, sometimes a kayak ride will do. The scale of problems and the right perspective are back. Then you are ready to sign another pact, a pact of non-aggression with the nature and the rest of the Universe.

Abstract

The aims of the project:

• preparation and edition of publication (an album) promoting ecological attitudes as well as sustainable approach to own life,
• inspiring recipients to pose deep questions and reflection over life style as well as its environmental consequences,
• to show using the photo the beauty of wild nature, natural processes, environmental threats and a man's place in the world,
• to indicate by the photo and texts deep relations between a man and the natural environment.

The most important results:
Publication “Uncovering nature. The deep ecology practice" was published in 2007 in 3 thousand copies. Publisher is Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich Istot from Bystra near Bielsko Biała which distributes the publication as educational materials to promote the idea of sustainable development, healthy life style as well as ecological attitudes. The book is sent to libraries, schools, institutions concerned with environmental issues, ecological education centres, and to people who are interested in environmental science.