Reflection

Reflection

Global warming is causing snow and glaciers around the world to melt at an alarming rate, thus causing the sea levels to rise increasingly. I chose to create a piece that represents Hawaii’s current and potential problems due to climate change by illustrating a portrait of myself becoming submerged in water. The water in the drawing shows how rising sea levels are becoming a serious problem to many residents not just in Hawaii, but worldwide. Personally, I live close to a coastline and there have been many warnings recently of possible flooding, leaving my community vulnerable. When doing research, I found that the effects of climate change on Hawaii could force people to relocate due to relentless flooding and that our aquifers are very likely to become contaminated. I hope that viewers understand that this drawing symbolizes urgency and how whatever hope we have left will soon over washed by an inevitable destiny: rising sea levels. While creating this piece, I felt happiness for being able to artistically represent my story and I felt hopeful that there still is a chance to fight back against climate change. As a community, it is definitely possible to fight climate change together by organizing tree plantings, repurposing waste streams on the island and encouraging each other to make the right choices.