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Imagine Otherwise - 20 year Lustrum celebration

Published on
January 10, 2020

“I was taught as a child on my homeworld that Truth is a matter of the imagination. The soundest fact may fail or prevail in the style of its telling...Facts are no more solid, coherent, round, and real than pearls are. But both are sensitive” - Ursula Le Guin ‘The Left Hand of Darkness'

When we think about moving towards an inclusive, sustainable world, to imagine that world is the first step in realising it. Over the past 20 years, OtherWise has given a stage to grassroot organisations, movements and other changemakers to showcase alternatives to dominant ways of thinking, doing and being in this world. Therefore we proudly present to you the theme of our 20 years lustrum: Imagine Otherwise!

To imagine is to be able to play with wisdom/the truth. It is being able to envision a different reality in ours mind that can eventually manifest through our actions in the world.Playing with the boundaries of rationality and facts by offering a place for imagination, OtherWise has been central in critical thinking at Wageningen University over the last 20 years.

In a world where racism, sexism, intolerance and violent practices towards people and planet exist, it is crucial to re-imagine our world. Imagination is a means we can all access and cannot be controlled, and is a powerful kernel for change. Therefore to imagine otherwise is a tool for addressing the many challenges we are facing on the planet.

With Imagine OtherWise we hope to praise OtherWise’s existence over the last 20 years in Wageningen. We would like to commemorate the people, activities, and thoughts that we played with these years Moreover, we want to celebrate our past and current imaginations as a daily reality of Wageningen students.

In this lustrum that takes place from 15th until 20th March 2020 OtherWise organizes several events that centralize imagination. We will start the lustrum week with a reunion, and actively remembering the roots and history of OtherWise. Also we will deepen our other wisdoms on these OtherWise topics: diversity & gender, alternative economics, science & knowledge, activism & resistance, and inner sustainability. Moreover, to emphasize play we will end this imaginative week with a celebrational party.