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Breathe! (Act now to save our future)
On 16 March 2019, an estimated 1.4 million young people across 123 countries skipped school, demanding stronger climate policies in one of the largest environmental protests in history. Greta Thunberg’s powerful words at
Davos still resonate:
“I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.”
Reading about critical air pollution levels in London, I was horrified to discover an entire industry producing “fun” gas masks for children – complete with bright colours and cute designs. Demand is global.
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The World Health Organisation estimates air pollution kills 7 million people annually. A Hello Kitty print won’t fix this.
Children bear the brunt of a crisis we created. They are our future, and it’s on us to protect it.
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In the “Breathe!” series, Nikko, Artiguane, Hector, and Cassian are shrouded in smog, wearing gas masks adorned with hand-drawn symbols of hope: the sun for solar energy, a cloud for wind, waves for hydro, and leaves for biomass. Diffused light and fog evoke the impressionist aesthetic – painting the air itself.
The images are haunting. The smog, thick and oppressive, feels alive, suffocating the children. Artiguane raises a hand, as if questioning the adults who failed him. Nikko’s flashlight cuts through the haze like a sword, but his stance is one of defeat.
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Our children are sombre warriors, fighting battles they didn’t choose. They can’t win unless we act like grown-ups.
Photographer: Elina Pasok
Producer: Laurence David
Kids: Nikko, Artiguane, Hector and Cassian
2019, London