Santeri Lehtonen

Nothing changes if WE don’t. @ecosia | ad Ecosia is a search engine that uses 100% of its profits to plant trees and fund climate projects. They’ve already planted and protected trees in 35 countries — over 240 million and counting! No billionaires, no private jets — just a greener planet. They also made a legal commitment to never sell or take out profits from the company. Created with @santhur

THE MAKING OF THE WRESTLING SHOW: behind the scenes, before and after…”a night to remember” Santo and I acted like this show was our full time job for a month…truly high-level nonsense and my favorite thing 😂 wearing a fake mustache and working out plot holes with intense earnestness and so many pals coming along for the ride, a dream come true 🌠 thank you @90mil___ and everyone involved Pics by @tuannhd @karamintheworld and me i think

COP30 in Belém feels different. More honest, people-led and shaped by the communities who have protected the Amazon long before global attention arrived. Indigenous leadership is visible like never before, civil society is back in full force, and the spirit of mutirão – working in common – carries through the entire city.  To help bring this moment closer, we’re sharing COP30 together with @karamintheworld & @santhur . They crossed the Atlantic by sailing ship to reach Belém and are now traveling up the Amazon River toward Peru, meeting communities on their own lands.  Their mission: to listen. To gather the wisdom of artists, scientists, Indigenous leaders, activists and everyday humans.  Their goal: to crowdsource the solutions that could help humanity become a planet-positive species.  We’re grateful to share their lens and to amplify the voices shaping the future far beyond the Blue Zone.

TEAMWORK So very proud of this year's youth climate reporters at COP30. From left, Kasha Sequoia Slavan (1.5 Degrees of Peace), Julia Korten (YCR Director, Europe), Karam Nwilati and Santeri Lehtonen (Antidote to Despair). Feature docs from this talented team are expected to premiere at COP31 in Australia next year. @the_explorers_club @explorers_club_canada @rcgs_sgrc @cifalyork @yorkueuc @wilfridlaurieruni

Jeff Bezos has made over 230 billion US dollars* by evading taxes and crushing the common man — but can he evade the flails of one warehouse worker gone rogue? In the ring, under the watchful eyes of a rowdy crowd, will his dirty tactics and sucker punches finally be seen for what they are? We decided to put billionaire morality (and mortality) to a theatrical test through an athletic rendering — hosted by the “The Wrestling Show” at @90mil___ . Despite an impressively gymnastic performance by Bezos, the crowd ultimately got what they paid good ticket money for: a cathartic and palpable “Eat The Rich“ moment. All strictly vegan of course…

@doc.henry_etc ; you are so so unhinged in the best way- and inspired the whole thing to go to a much gnarlier level than necessary 🤠 Thank you. I had the best time being a kid and a good anticapitalist all in one. And Jakob! For saying yes and becoming the best ring being and crowd instigator. It means a lot. 

Thank you all the amazing friends and family who supported us on the way and came to see the show. Too many to mention, but it was very special to have out of town visitors: @amiraadeebb and @staffantaylor to witness some true Berlin. Thank you 90mil 🤍 See you next year 🤘🏼

Photo credits go to: @tamu.fotos @tuannhd Didn’t end up including any here, but some awesome pictures were also taken by: @jojo.caitlin @az_u_l 🤼 *) ending hunger is estimated to cost 40 billion annually

Last December I tried to find events in Berlin in the intersection of the 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 and the 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒚. All I can say is: 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 🤷‍♂️ We are fully aware of the 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 & the 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: how the current economic system is driving the crises of climate, inequality and beyond. Yet, there are very very few spaces where alternatives to capitalism are seriously discussed across political ideologies and disciplines. This is in part because “capitalism” and “the economy” are conflated together - and therefore seeing the end to capitalism feels like the end of the world 🌏🔥 To this effect, with some brilliant people, we started: 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 💀🍸 Our first event was last week Tuesday at @workish.berlin (a huge thank you!): a support group for citizens to discuss late-stage capitalism. The costs, the alternatives, and the antidote: community. Three brilliant speakers joined the stage: * Becky Fullerton - Degrowth researcher and advocate @becky.fullerton * Jo Vávra - artivist and special agent @lios_labs * Maximilian Mauracher - founder @newstandardstudio and @kreisler.berlin we had quite a lot of fun I would say 😁 Thank you to everyone in the audience- great questions. We all learned so much. I look into the future of 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 and into the future in general with this: “𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘳𝘢”. Links and tags for thank yous in the comments <3

Started the year at my weakest ever. Even then I felt something was ready to shift in me however. So - I am closing the year at my strongest ever. No joke. It took until April before I started to feel normal and only in August I wrote: “I think it’s over. I think I have changed. I don’t think I am the same.” Two quotes I read this year really resonated with me and sum up my lessons better than my own words ever could: “Too much joy, I swear, is lost in our desperation to keep it.” - Ocean Vuong “Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.” – Rumi As every spiritual teacher (or a great friend) will tell you: the fire, crisis and chaos that burns you down will also temper your spirit. What I did not need burned away, showing what was not necessary to hold on to. Mostly pride. You have to do it yourself, but you don’t have to do it alone. As I began to fall, my close ones did not falter for a second. However, some of the more painful memories from this year are images of my own pain mirrored on the faces of loved ones. But this also served as a powerful anchor into reality, and a reminder that I needed to take loving myself as seriously as I take loving others. “How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.” – Rupi Kaur Through the year I wrote a lot. Three and a half notebooks. One of which (called ‘baby’) I lost in September. First time I took poetry seriously. I will polish, rescribe and publish some in 2025. Photos from along the year: 1. 2024: good eggs in my basket 2. Jan: my folks at our home in Berlin 3. Feb: elephant seal stole my heart in Hermanus, SA 4. Mar: my people, my dog & me on a sauna boat in Potsdam 5. Apr: my sisters, my pillars, Plötzensee 6. May: started improv theatre workshops on our rooftop 7. Jun: last party with my plan a folks, somewhere near Leipzig 8. Jul: prep for puppet show with niece & nephew, summerhouse 9. Aug: loafing around w arno at fanfary @wooboodoo__ near Morzeszczyn, Poland 10. Sep: lost ‘baby’ on the Maybachufer 11. Oct: making camp, lake Opeongo, Canada 12. Nov: croc next to kayak, Everglades 13. Dec: the bunch, Parainen

North American hitchhiking, couchsurfing and other tales
👍🏼 I traveled >4,000 kilometres down the North American East Coast. I decided to surrender myself to the humanity of others and only travel by hitching rides, and sleeping at strangers' houses. Here, a selection out of 218 film photos taken on the road with an Olympus ∞Stylus (thank you @karamintheworld ☺️). Photo captions: 1. Cold Dip, Algonquin, ON 2. Defrosting tooties, Algonquin, ON 3. The Rides, East Coast, US 4. Sousaphone, Washington D.C 5. Leaving Virginia, Richmond, VA 6. The Hosts, across North America 7. Embrace chaos, Franklin, VA 8. Going South, Savannah, GA 9. Arrived South, Everglades, FL 10. Home, Berlin I wanted to prove to myself that I could manage this big trip after a very tough year.. Secondly I set out to prove that despite how bleak and divided everything seems it's not too late. We’ve lost some faith in ourselves and each other (bc of social atomisation via hyper-individualisation under capitalism?). But, if we surrender ourselves more to others, we start to nurture softness again: mutual aid, care and informal economies over separation and the monetisation of everything ✊🏼 I wrote at length about this in a little trip blog (20,500 words oops), but main point simple: universal love even towards your perceived enemy. This doesn't mean giving up your rights or compromising your borders, but being the first to open up to invite connection through authentic shared humanness. This is the philosophy and spirituality of the road. Hitchhiking and couchsurfing are amazing ways of traveling, best enjoyed together. Five points why: 1. Reciprocity vs personal gain 2. [re]gain trust in humans 3. Experience places via its people 4. Mad adventure 5. Authentic connections Disclaimer: I’m a 30-something able-bodied happy-go-lucky white cis-male with little experience of discrimination. There are people out there who are racist, sexist, ableist.. & what’s worse: not afraid to show it. They too might be redeemable, but it is easier for me to say and I am a rare victim. So, I can't say much that is truly universal, only report on my story. More about the blog in the comments ✨

𝖎𝖒𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖋
-improvisational goof workshops on the roof. One of the better things coming out of this year. 𝖎𝖒𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖋 as an idea had been brewing for awhile; finally pushed into existence at the Pyramid Retreat this March on the prescription of @boto0010110 . It found its final form as a rooftop event, simply because our insane rooftop (and love) just needs to be shared more 😈 A lot of people have a song in their heart and a scream in their belly that just doesn’t get an outlet. We just don’t have the places and structures for this. The flame then gets extinguished by ridiculous standards, fear of rejection, needless shame.. who knows? also who cares? *the potion* is always the same: fan the embers and the flame always always erupts. I’ve seen it so many times. Everyone is so creative, loud, funny and explosive inside! It doesn’t even take so much to get out: a few safe people, a safe space, some games. I often start the sessions with an inner child meditation; to reattach ourselves to the flame that burns bright as kids when we’re just about spring into play. Adults easily forget it, though we get glimpses of it: at clubs, sports, nature… pottery. But to hold it, trust it, and alchemise it into expression and then release it into the world… Goosebumps. Comedy heals. I’ve been dramatic all my life: did theatre and film, but never studied it. So I was shy to start, but ultimately not discouraged to start offering workshops (+no one’s told me that I should stop since so I’ll keep doing it). I love getting people to break through the ice, scream and let things out they didn’t know were gona come out <3 Don’t wait for permission or better timing, just go for it! Ended up hosting 6 𝖎𝖒𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖋s + 1 at @buchtdertraeumerfestival in 2024. There is definitely more to come, maybe special inside editions this winter. Join the Telegram via the linktree if you want to join the upcoming sessions. scream, let it out together howl! raise the woof lower the bar go full goof improof on the roof Special mention to @lena.hartog who I conspire such ideas with & @alexandra_bruns for the encouragement and the book “the Source”, which convinced me to be more dramatic.

Cairo survivors I never post so here I’m posting again I can’t say anything about this trip because it will fall short of the experience. It was the perfect combination of intentional, pointless and absurd. @amiraadeebb -ya setti- you were the best host (along with so many of your amazing friend group @doniawaelll @galaleo__ etc) — AND your song-that still plays in my head- is so frekin fresh. @eckstein.jakob @tuannhd you’re such dang babes and the most chill and goofy travel company that really made this just feel so eezy and breezy 🧚🏻💛 Some firsts: - reversing on a highway - touching the pyramids - 27€ vodka-red bull - wearing a galabya - eating (& falling in love with) gebnaa adeemma Pictures are mix of mine and actual professionals: @eckstein.jakob and @tuannhd 📷

“Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is within you” ✨ My 2023 was a theme park ride, there were thrills and chills, spooks and goofs, and a lot of feeling and healing. But most of all 2023 was filled with an universe of beautiful people. That’s why I’ve chosen one group photo and one self photo to go with my new year photo selection. In all honesty, the last months of 2023 were some of the most difficult times I’ve ever gone through. Suddenly the ground turned to mud under my careless step, and the air heavy between my carefree breaths. As I find new ways to pull forward and inhale; I’m hearing other peoples stories, becoming closer with loved ones, appreciating good mental health, diving into kundalini and dance therapy, and most of all: dropping expectations and learning how to accept help. Someone asked me recently “what if everything just went ok in the end?”. Radical. I’ve been held and supported more than I can put into words. If you have it in you to reach out to someone you see struggling, give them a call or a message. If you have a favourite aphorism or just a silly story to share - do it - it all does really help. Naturally, my heart goes out to all people living in the middle of not only mental, but very extremely physical conflict - like Gaza - where simple words mean little anymore. I encourage protest (loud words) and monetary assistance. I love you all - thank you for the support, joy, and mighty feels, friendship, sadness, and tasty meals, heart-to-hearts and ups and downs face-to-face and bum-to-bums 🤍

“Don’t ask: ‘why do rosebushes have thorns?’, rather ask: ‘why do thorn-bushes have roses?’” someone recently told me and my first reaction was to cringe, naturally. But on second thought; I also didn’t like it. Then, much later and quite unconsciously, my mind came to this aphorism again. This time at a moment of quite intense anxiety. Not because of the quote, but due to whatever shapeless reason the human spirit occasionally stalls and gives you trouble. Unexpectedly, I found these sappy words quite consoling. I suddenly found many other such words appearing on the screen of my meditation app ring in radiant meaning. Maybe this is what it is to really grow up? Embroidered wisdoms hanging on the wall or shared on Pinterest - suddenly start to make sense. Maybe there’s no need for the post-ironic levels for the “Hang in there” cat poster. Just the genuine, real-world, face-value fact of the simple truth of the down-to-earth idioms crafted by a life lived. Gosh darn it folks! Did you ever consider: what if you did just actually: Live, Love, Laugh ? Anyway, here’s some roses (moments and people) in my beautiful thorn-bush (life) from this year.