Earth Art Sends Powerful Global Message on Climate Change

In less than a week, government leaders, civil society participants, and media will be gathering in Cancun for COP16 to once again try to hammer out a climate treaty. And with it's usual impeccable timing, 350.org has once again mobilized it's worldwide supporters to send a powerful message to world leaders.

350.org is holding an art show called eARTh, a planetary-scale endeavor for a planetary problem, with many of its earth art visible from space.

For instance, this Santa Fe, New Mexico, eARTh event shows how the Santa Fe River could look if there was water running through it. Lead by the Santa Fe Art Institute, "flash flood" for a Living River project on Saturday was just one of more than a dozen global art events, photographed from space, and demanding meaningful climate solutions. The Santa Fe River is one of the ten most endangered rivers in North America. Over a 1,000 people came out and held up blue painted pieces of cardboard or tarps as a satellite passed over.

Says Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org:

"The earth's arid areas are growing steadily dryer; without concerted international action their future is in doubt. Santa Fe's FLASH FLOOD event is one of the first great examples of vulnerable people demanding to be heard – acting with creativity and beauty, but also with great hope."

Other examples from around the world include a large elephant by schoolchildren in Delhi, India, a human hurricane in Mexico City's Venustiano Carranza plaza, and a submerged house in Santo Domingo, Domincan Republic, to remind leaders about the impacts of climate change already being felt by small island nations.

More information

• View more images of EARTH events by 350.org
• Learn more about the threat of climate change to the world's major rivers