Yann Arthus Bertrand (FR) described our plight in no uncertain terms: there’s no time left for pessimism. And indeed, dire warnings about impending climate change, financial crisis and the erosion of civil society are yesterday’s news. All these calamities have already come to pass. What we have to do now is proceed as quickly and consistently as possible in the direction we have known all too long that we have to move in.

“REPAIR – Ready to pull the lifeline” is the theme of this year’s Ars Electronica Festival, a conclave of pioneers who have a ready gotten to work on such alternative scenarios for the future. The 2010 Festival features an extremely extensive program including more than 200 conferences, talks and lectures, exhibitions, performances and concerts. This year’s venue is an absolutely extraordinary location: Tabakfabrik Linz.

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