PRESS RELEASE:
5th of march 1995

13 MILLION LIVES - A Happening about the silent death- I want to poke at the self-rightiousness and double standards of the Western world. We talk about Human Rights, but will not face the fact that we have the key of solution to the problems of the global inbalance. So says the sculptor Jens Galschiøt Christophersen, who is the man behind the Happening 13 million lives - a symbolic comment to the UN social-summit.

13 million children will die in 1995 due to starvation and lack of basic medical treatment. From tomorrow morning people in Copenhagen will be met by the sight of dead children lying or hanging in the streets and on squares all around the city. The dead children, ragdolls stuffed with red tiledust (all together 750 with a netweight of 14 ton.) will be tied up with chains in the open space of the city.

Millions of "certificates" will during the day be distributed at schools, institutions and public buildings. Each note symbolise a human life. 13 million notes will be distributed (which equals a van full of notes) during the week of the summit. Each certificate has a statement printed in Danish and English about the happening as well as a request to take good care of the note and not treat it with the same indifference as we treat lives of children. One statement has the following text: " In all cultures and religions, the human life is associated with words as "sacred" and "inviolability".

- With these certificates I want to connect death with money. Not untill we lower our standard of living in the Western world, can we prevent the death of another 13 million children next year,says Jens Galschiøt Christophersen.

He is by the way also the man behind the erection of 20 "Inner Beasts" in European cities.

Facts about the Happeningen:
Starting: Monday 6.3 at 8.30 am. from Brolæggerstræde 9. Sack-carts with dolls.

• - Gl. Torv at 9.30 am.
• - near Vor Frue Kirke at 9.45 am.
• - near Nikolaj Kirke/Fondsbørsen at 9.45am.
• - Rådhuspladsen at 3 pm.
• - The Little Mermaid at 4 pm.

For more information:

• Jens Galschiøt or Anne Lund   (aidoh@aidoh.dk)
• Kulturfabrikken Amager
• Ph. : 31549429 lok. 222
• Mobilph. at the routs: 40 27 20 74. Christian or Niels

Pressconference NGO Forum Thursday 9.3. 95, at 13.30. At the Presscenter The artist and some activist will be present.AIDOH

• At NGO-Forum, Holmen. Steelworks (yellow building).
• cellphone.: 30451964

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