Lost Homes: Climate Refugees in the Near Future
Hillsborough, California
2019, Senior, Art
Reflection
Reflection
I was inspired to design and produce this print because I believe that there has not been enough advocacy for climate refugees. Climate refugees are displaced people whose communities have been impacted by climate change. NASA accredits the climate warming trend and resulting weather as due to human activity, therefore emphasizing the responsibilities people have towards impacting climate change. I think that people tend to focus on how climate change may impact themselves and do not consider who else may be affected. The majority of climate refugees originate from West Africa and Central Asia and are forced to relocate either in a new country or more inland. Climate refugees also exist in large numbers near the United States. For example, because of Hurricane Maria, 2,300 families in Puerto Rico are still displaced. Unfortunately, anti-immigration trends have helped to generate negative reactions towards refugees. Additionally, many people still contest the reality of climate change, despite scientific studies indicating otherwise. Researchers have hypothesized housing solutions for refugees, such as building island communities, but no explicit steps have been made. I created this piece by first sketching my planned design onto a piece of paper, transferring it to two separate linoleum blocks, carving the blocks and then printing onto the final pieces of paper. There were many intermediate steps that caused me to replan my prints multiple times. My exploration of climate change has emphasized to me that the issue of climate change transcends individual experiences and that various communities will be impacted differently, which is heavily due to class and wealth. I would like to continue to learn more about economic plans for relocating communities that have lost their homes, as well as continue to raise awareness because I believe that this aspect of climate change is not talked about enough.