Reflection

Reflection

During the summer of 2023 the sky was covered with a densely suffocating yellow smog from wildfires. I have always loved animals and nature and it pained me to see the clearly visible consequences of our actions to the point where going outside could be harmful from the intoxicating fumes. This was Mother Earth’s call for help and I realized the true importance of spreading awareness to people of all ages of what needs to be done to protect the Earth and the life source that we inhabit. I got to work researching the four consequences of climate change on our environment: wildfires, desertification, water pollution, and air pollution. My research inspired me to create a graphic novel accessible to all ages that would raise awareness of environmental issues and their solutions in a fun and interactive way. The story follows the perspective of the protagonist, Zac, who hopes to be the voice for Mother Earth through his writings. However, he sees that no change is being done no matter how much he writes. To his amazement, the four elements of life read his letters, and Zac goes on an adventure with the elements learning about the different environmental problems and their solutions. His journey inspires him to initiate change in his own community. The novel shines a light on the actions individuals can take in their communities. At the end of the graphic novel, I provide diagrams for young readers to learn how to take collective action. The ultimate message of the graphic novel is that individual efforts have limits and true meaningful change can only be achieved through the power of community collaboration.