A STRIKING art installation has been created by a street artist and musician to promote the work of a Rugby-based international development organisation.
London artist Natasha Awuku is showcasing her work at Practical Action’s headquarters in Albert Street, to support a public appeal to help people in Nepal take back control of their lives and adapt to climate change.
The spray paintings include the top half of the earth, used as a symbol of unity to represent the home that we live in.
Natasha created the pieces in four days to help support and promote Practical Action’s work with farmers in the Himalayas to become more resilient to extreme weather and coronavirus.
Natasha with the finished paintings.
She said: “As a supporter of Practical Action, I wanted to create these pieces of art to help bring more awareness to their projects across the world and also highlight the climate issues we are currently facing.”
The appeal, in which all donations will be matched by the UK government until March 9, will help fund a new project using proven approaches from two previous successful campaigns to turn the tables on climate change in Zimbabwe and Sudan.
Practical Action will work with farmers to help them access the tools, training and technology they need to be able to grow a successful harvest, store water, irrigate crops, access finance and get their produce to market.
This will enable families to secure their income, and will also help reduce the impact of climate change through sustainable farming practices, which reduces the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and reintroduce traditional seed varieties.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “The impacts of climate change are already being felt across the world, and communities like those in rural Nepal are especially vulnerable. The global pandemic has demonstrated the need to build resilience to future shocks, including extreme weather and climate change.
“That’s why we will double public donations to Practical Action’s new appeal, together we can unlock the skills, knowledge and innovation needed to help thousands of farmers build back better and take control of their future.”
Practical Action CEO Paul Smith-Lomas said: “Every day my colleagues around the world tell me stories of how, for many of the people they work with, climate change is already happening.
“The simple truth is that people in the poorest places suffer most and their reality is that they now have to deal with it. Practical Action is on the front line, working with some of the world’s most vulnerable people to help them adapt and take back control of their lives.
“You can help empower communities to turn the tables on climate change. Donate before March 9 and your gift will be doubled by the UK government, so your gift will go twice as far.”
Visit www.practicalaction.org/turn-the-tables for more information or to make a donation.
