2025

Goodenough College, Mecklenburgh Square, London, 3 May 2025

Forget the apocalypse, witness humanity's improvisation! In 'Revolution Earth,' renowned choreographer Charlotte Jarvis and acclaimed poet Sir Ben Okri wove a tapestry of movement and verse, a poignant response to the ecological crisis we face.

This was no ordinary dance-drama; it was a raw exploration of resilience, hope, and the indomitable human spirit.

This performance also featured Mirabella Okri, Sura Susso - the renowned Kora player - and the voice of Sir Willard White. It was part of the 21st Century Trust's project 'The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Brains, Minds and Narratives and How We Change Them to Change the World'.

This project aims to bring together storytellers, communicators, artists, producers, neuroscientists, psychologists, systems design thinkers, policymakers, philosophers and others to explore how telling better stories can help us to navigate the challenges currently facing the planet. 

Following this performance, there was a discussion session with Ben and Charlotte in plenary and smaller groups, who reflected on their work and the power of stories and the arts generally to open up our thinking about the future.

Anna Soderblom and Maria Farrell, who initiated 'The Stories We Tell Ourselves' project, helped to lead discussions, along with others such as 21st Century Trust trustee Fiammetta Rocco and Goodenough College members Katerina Zacharopoulou and Nick Patterson.

21st Century Trust greatly appreciated Goodenough College acting as a partner and host for this event.

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, London, 28 April 2025

Natalie Boucly, UNRWA Deputy Commissioner General (Programmes and Partnership), explored this theme in conversation with Quentin Peel, former foreign editor of the Financial Times. 

In conflicts around the world – such as Israel, Gaza and Lebanon; Russia and Ukraine; the civil war in Sudan – international humanitarian organisations are ever more needed and at the same time increasingly enmeshed in political tensions.

At the same time, the UN, its agencies and international NGOs are also being challenged as the fault lines in geopolitics shift and the system of global governance as established in 1945 and ensuing decades looks increasingly fragile.

In these circumstances, what scenarios are there for the future of international humanitarian organisations and the people they serve? Given the fallout from present events and structural changes, what impact might international humanitarian law continue to have in the world?

21st Century Trust would like to offer its warmest thanks to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for hosting this event.