Reflection

Reflection

Being strangled in this worldwide pandemic, forcibly confined at home, I have opened my eyes to the ongoing climate crisis that cannot be further ignored. As part of the young and able generation of teens, I have utilized the temptation of social media and the internet to research the topic in hopes of educating those denied the ability to. The dire pandemic has shut down smog-producing factories and carbon-emitting transportation overnight, casting clear skies on once severely polluted cities; however, human induced effects of global warming proceed. Though fully reversing the crisis would be impossible in hindsight, for it may take centuries before experiencing the onset of greenhouse gases lingering in our atmosphere, hope remains towards reducing the most detrimental effects. Mitigation, the reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is a vital start. While the complexity of the situation must be acknowledged through globally coordinated responses, simple actions like utilizing the luxury of public transportation, switching to more ecosystem friendly products, minimizing the use of electricity, installing solar panels, and taking shorter showers can make a difference. My artwork conveys the upside potential of the younger generation to be the face of change; moving forward, I will do my best to fulfill my role as an activist by doing more with less, being a more mindful consumer, and raising awareness in my community and among my peers. We are the future, we are capable of change, and we must act now.