ARTISTS FOR OLD-GROWTH FORESTS

"Where nature is being destroyed, also national culture and identity, our common heritage and power source is being destroyed."

Group "Artists for the Old-Growth Forests" consisting of artists of different fields organized in Helsinki September 23, 1999 a happening for the Finnish old-growth forests.

An appeal to halt OG forest logging was published at the event. So far 152 appreciated experts in photography, theatre, music and literature have signed the appeal.

These include actors Esko Nikkari, Esko Salminen and Jonna Järnefelt, authors Pentti Holappa, musicians A.W. Yrjänä and Ismo Alanko, dancer Reijo Kela and director Mika Kaurismäki. The appeal was distributed to the biggest owner of the Finnish old-growth forests, state enterprise Forest and Park Service.

Photo: Finnish folk-music band Värttinä on stage in Old Student House, Helsinki on 23.9. in concert "artists for old-growth forests". Photo: MPe

 

Autumn 1999

Artists appeal for Finnish old-growth forests

The last Finnish old-growth forests and other natural state habitats are being destroyed and fragmented without a second thought. Their species composition becomes poorer and is partly near extinction.

In Finland, only at most 5 percent of the productive forest land is old-gowth, relatively natural state forests. Only minor part of them is protected, the rest is waiting for to be logged or are already being logged. The Finnish forest industry and forest authorities do not seem to care that the profit made out of the logging is temporary but the loss is eternal. When old-growth forests and other valuable sites have been destroyed, not any power, remorse, knowledge nor money can bring them back.

We, who as citizens and creators of art identify ourselves closely with forests, cannot anymore endure the waste of our forest nature. Where nature is being destroyed, also national culture and identity, our common heritage and source of power is being destroyed. Road construction, logging and logging plans in our country's last remaining old-growth forests have to be stopped immediately. Respecting the natural features of forests have to be taken as a primary guideline also in so-called commercial forests, and the forests surrounding homes and summer places have to be left untouched. Only thus can Finnish forest continuously be a source of culture and refreshment. Graphic artist, graphic designer

Undersigned artists:

LITERATURE

Pentti Holappa, author
Olli Jalonen, author
Riitta Jalonen, author
Eeva Joenpelto, author
Pekka Kejonen, author
Jyrki Kiiskinen, poet
Eeva Kilpi, author
Aura Koivisto, author
Tomi Kontio, author
Leena Krohn, author
Leena Laulajainen, author
Leena Lehtolainen, author
Pekka Lounela, author
Mari Mörö, author
Kai Nieminen, author
Lassi Nummi, author
Kirsti Simonsuuri, author
Eira Stenberg, author
Harri Tapper, author
Ilpo Tiihonen, poet
Eeva Tikka, author
Riitta Vartti, author

GRAPHIC ARTS

Vincent B., painter
Anna-Liisa Hakkarainen, painter
Marjatta Hanhijoki, graphic artist
Tommi Hänninen, comics graphic artist
Tapio Junno, sculptor
Kimmo Kaivanto, painter
Tiina Karimaa, sculptress
Jussi Kivi, graphic artist
Adam Korpak, artist
Pentti Otto Koskinen, graphic artist
Markku Kosonen, interior decorator
Inari Krohn, artist
Kivi Larmola, graphic designer
Seppo Leinonen, graphic artist
Marjo Levlin, graphic artist
Esa Maa, sculptress
Pekka Nevalainen, graphic artist
Pirkko Nukari, sculptress
Jouko Nuora, comics graphic artist
Pekka Pitkänen, sculptress
Ossi Puustinen, graphic artist
Ulla Rantanen, graphic artist
Johanna Rojola, comics graphic artist
Elina Sorainen, ceramist
Kain Tapper, sculptor
Saara Tikka, painter
Sirpa Tukiainen, graphic artist
Hanna Varis, graphic designer
Timo Vartiainen, graphic artist
Nalle Virolainen, graphic artist
Henry Wuorila-Stenberg, graphic artist

MUSIC

Ilkka Alanko, musician
Ismo Alanko, musician
Henrik Otto Donner, composer
Arthur Fuhrmann, composer
Pekka Gröhn, musician
Martti Heikkilä, songauthor
Kati Heinonen, musician
Kirsi Jakkula, musician
Marko Juntunen, musician
Matti Kontio, musician
Petri Kuljuntausta, composer
Maritta Kuula, songauthor
Mikko Kuustonen, musician
Pekko Käppi, musician
Juhani Leinonen, composer
Eero Lupari, composer
Mikko Mustonen, musician
Samuli Mäkisalo, musician, Pohjannaula
Alex Ojasti, musician, Aikakone
Henry Ojutkangas, musician
Miikka Paatelainen, musician
Heikki Pesonen, musician
Juha-Matti Pesonen, musician, Pohjannaula
Hannu Pohjannoro, composer
Kimmo Pohjonen, musician
Kari Reiman, musician
Sirpa Reiman, musician
Jukka Reinikainen, musician
Tomi Rikkola, musician
Jaakko Ruuttunen, musician
Kaija Saarikettu, violin player
Jyrki Sahla, musician
Juulia Salonen, musician
Risto Salmi, musician
Sani, musician, Aikakone
Ruska Schönberg, musician
Jarmo Sermilä, composer
Kirsi Snellman, songwriter
Micke Söderström, musician
Riitta Talasniemi, musician
Heikki Tikka, musician
Jaana Tikkala, musician
Tapio Tuomela, composer
Jukka Valkonen, musician
Harri Vuori, composer
Vera, musician, Aikakone
Harri Wessman, composer
Aki Yrjänä, musician, CMX
Mikko Kuustonen, musician

THEATRE AND FILM

Annikki Ellonen, dramaturgist
Kristiina Elstelä, actor
Petteri Granström, theatre director
Susanna Haavisto, actor
Kimmo Häkkinen, director
Pirkko Hämäläinen, actor
Tero Jartti, director, actor
Jussi Johnsson, actor
Jonna Järnefelt, actor
Mika Kaurismäki, film director
Tommi Korpela, actor
Katja Krohn, theatre director
Kirsti Kuosmanen, actor
Hannele Lauri, actor
Milko Lehto, theatre director
Mika Leskinen, theatre director
Rea Mauranen, actor
Anneli Mäkelä, dramaturgist
Esko Nikkari, actor
Kurt Nuotio, director
Kati Outinen, actor
Markku Pölönen, film director
Laura Ruohonen, author-director
Esko Salminen, actor
Aino Seppo, actor
Timo Tuominen, actor
Jouko Turkka, director 
Leena Uotila, actor
Eija Vilpas, actor

PHOTOGRAPHY

Petri Anttonen, photographic artist
Stefan Bremer, photographer, professor of arts
Hannu Hautala, photographer
Ritva Kovalainen, photographer
Lasse J. Laine, photographer
Esko Männikkö, photographer
Kalervo Ojutkangas, photographer
Pentti Sammallahti, photographer
Sanni Seppo, photographic artist
Pekka Turunen, photographer

OTHERS

Riikka Ala-Harja, dramaturgi, author
Kikke Heikkinen, musician, director
Pasi Heikura, Alivaltiosihteeri
Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, photographer
Heikki Laitinen, professor of arts
Jyrki Liikka, Alivaltiosihteeri
Juha Menna, sculptress, musician, Pohjannaula
J. Pekka Mäkelä, graphic designer, musician, author
Marikki Piirtola, graphic artist, author
Juha Taskinen, photographer-author
Pertti Virtanen
Heikki Willamo, photographer, author
Reijo Kela, dancer
Juha Leiviskä, architect
Rosa Liksom, author

 

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