BPF KIDS’ ARTS DRAW ATTENTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Kids in Big Picture Foundation global partner groups use the arts for leadership endeavors. Many use their powers to focus the world’s attention on climate change.
NAIROBI, KENYA
Imani O., of the Kijani Gang, a kids’ environmental protection nonprofit in Nairobi, Kenya, launched Big Picture Foundation kids’ focus on using the arts to draw awareness to the earth: https://videos.files.wordpress.com/WHi0YpYT/kijani-gangimani-psa-1_hd.mp4
Imani not only challenged global kids to use the arts to address issues of environmental protection, but also submitted his own animation, “Nairobi’s Plastic Menace.”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9NeYgWEL-o&feature=youtu.be
After attending a United Nations Association of New York Worldview Institute meeting with Luis Alfonso de Alba, the Big Picture Foundation’s executive director offered a sub-challenge, by asking kids in global partner groups to focus their June, July, and August work on climate change awareness.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently announced the appointment of Luis Alfonso de Alba of Mexico as his Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Summit, to provide leadership, guidance and strategic direction. The Summit will be held with the objective of building momentum, and enhancing national ambition, as set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. In advance of the Summit, Mr. de Alba will engage key strategic climate change leaders, including governments, and coalitions, to galvanize climate action.
http://unanyc.org/worldview_institute/archives/2019/spring_2019.html
RYE, NEW YORK, USA
Rye, NY, USA – Kids embraced the challenge by sculpting endangered animals on the beach. The kids are working on a video, which will include their thoughts on climate change causes and effects, and their commitment to social responsibility. Please read an article about their work.
PEMUTERAN, BALI, INDONESIA
drone photo by Theo Allenou
Pemuteran, Bali, Indonesia – The Biosphere Stewardship Program engages local Balinese kids with global peers in collaborative work on coral restoration. The stewards learn from a team of the world’s most highly esteemed environmental scientists. They whose scientific research on the correlation between sea temperatures and healthy reefs has lead to transformative action and indisputable evidence. From studying micro and macro interconnected facets of our global and intergalactic biome, the scientists have been able to measure and record consequences resulting changing factors. Kids involved in the stewardship program help the Biosphere Foundation raise local and global awareness by sharing scientific findings and by continuing to work as environmental guardians. Recently, a partnership between the Biosphere Foundation and The Growing Seeds organization inspired kids’ efforts to develop a documentary. Big Picture Foundation eagerly awaits the results of a documentary, which we hope to share by link, along with this picture of the exciting results from the kids’ beach project, in our next online global gallery.
Biosphere Foundation, The Growing Seeds
ERBIL, IRAQ
Erbil, Iraq – Despite limited resources, our Big Picture Foundation independent kids’ group at the Harsham Refugee Camp in Erbil, Iraq have fun creating sprout gardens from seeded paper. They learn about sustainability, recycling, and the importance of green growth for containing CO2 emissions. These kids, who don’t have art supplies, use the earth beneath their feet to develop projects for our online art galleries. While their appreciation for ecology and conservation has developed under duress, it will carry-on with the kids, as they eventually leave the camp and reclaim their land.
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
photo credit: Jim Metzger
photo credit: Jim Metzger
photo credit: Jim Metzger
photo credit: Jim Metzger\
Kathmandu, Nepal – The Vajra Academy is the first eco-school of its kind. The curriculum and entire ethos of the school prioritizes the study of ecology and sustainable practices. Vice-principal, Udit Badra, developed “Tie-the-Trash,” an initiative combining community outreach, installation and performance art, and environmental studies. Children at Vajra Academy collect and tie the plastic waste they find in their environment, thereby creating a plastic rope. Eventually, when their rope extends 27.8 kilometers (17.3 miles), the children will pull the rope all the way around Ring Road, which encircles Kathmandu. By transforming common plastic debris into something unusual, by parading with the rope as a unified group, and by surrounding the entire city in their ties trash, these children raise awareness about protecting the earth.
Over several years, the US based Greenheart group, has partnered with the Vajrsa Academy, by traveling to Nepal to Tie-the-Trash with the kids. Greenheart has used music and presentations to promote Vajra Academy’s efforts. They are also working with the Vajra School on a project to turn plastic waste into filament for 3D printing.
While this project isn’t specifically