The Other Globalization: 
by Katherina Mouratidi

For the first time in 2001 during the G8-summit in Genoa I came into contact with the so called Global Justice Movement. I witnessed the press and media throughout Europe employ drastic images, publish dramatic reports and broadcast about the demonstrators apparent excesive use of violent protest tactics during which a 23 year-old student, Carlo Giuliani, was shot by an Italian policemen. These reports awakened my interest: I wanted to know who this people really were, where did they come from, what did they stand for and how could any of the solutions they put forward possibably affect the overwhelming global problems?

From 2002 until 2005 I visited many international worldwide, demonstrations and meetings of the International Civil Society at World Social Forums in Brazil and India and the European Social Forums in France, Italy and the UK. This is where the portraits and interviews for this project were produced.

The portrayed come from 43 different countries from around the world, These activists of social and political movements are farmers and workers, students, reindeer- breeders, native and indigenous people, scientists, christians, atheists, citizens and revolutionaries. Among them there are internationally recognised personalities like Peace Nobel Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchú and Nobel Prize Laureate for Economics Joseph Stiglitz.

I hope, people will take home the message that anyone, every human being, has the power and the ability to make a difference. The beginning of every social and political change is an individual or a group, with a strong vision and a strong commitment and together, joining forces, real social changes can be achieved.

My current project; Ecuador - Oil drilling and the Kichwa people's struggle for their rights, deals with environmental justice for indiginous peoples and the health risks they live with due to corporate greed.
 
www.mouratidi.de
www.humanisticphotography.org

Katharina Mouratidi’s photographs have been extensively published and exhibited in Europe, the United States and China. Solo and group shows include: Discovery Of The Meeting Place 2008, FotoFest Houston (USA); What We're Collecting Now, George Eastman House (USA); Lianzhou Photography Festival, Lianzhou (China); The Other Globalization, Melkweg Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Potsdamer Platz, Berlin (Germany); Post.doc, Museum of Photography, Thessaloniki (Greece).

Recent publications of her work are included in such magazines as British Marie Claire (Great Britain), Ojo de Pez (Spain), Colors Magazine and Marie Claire (Italy), Frankfurter Rundschau Magazine (Germany), VimaDonna Magazine (Greece). Her photographs are in numerous collections, including the George Eastman House (USA), Musée de la Photographie Charleroi (Belgium), Museum of Photography (Greece), Museum for Arts and Crafts (Germany), and Collection Joaquim Paiva (Brazil).