I’m Asmaa Hanafi, Egyptian nuclear engineer lives in Alexandria which is a fantastic Mediterranean port city. I’m enjoying my time walking along Alexandria’s corniche but in the last years, it was hard to do that especially with heat waves in summer, snowy weather, heavy rains in winter and the most Catastrophes of rising sea level. It was easy to notice, see and listen to waves crashing on the wave breakers built alongside the corniche.
As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Alexandria, Egypt goes under risk, unexpected flooding, climate change crisis and environmental dangers.
I’m caring about our environment and committed to do something to save my beloved city and to take action speaking out loud telling our leaders and local community to integrate with each other and face climate change crisis. It’s time to raise Environmental and sustainability awareness submitting a high quality of Environmental/climate education.
I started by my family members, friends and colleagues to grassroots enhancing climate action. My two little sisters supported me to give birth to green society initiative on 20th November, 2016.
Esraa Hanafy as amazing graphic designer, she designed our logo and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GreenSDG
and the other professional visual artist sister Hossna Hanafy drew adorable artworks illustrated climate change consequences and solutions.
These artworks were informative and unique to influence youth, schools’ students and children whatever their age or educational backgrounds.
We set up regular meetings brainstorming to restore our earth and back to our magical Alexandria planning to organize movements on the ground. We organized “Marathon” named “clean energy = life “as a part of global divestment mobilization on 5th May, 2017.
It was incredible time moving on the corniche speaking to the public and participants shooting photos, selfies and videos sharing information on the importance of changing our daily life style and be wisely consumed , divest fossil fuels selecting clean energy to save Alexandria achieving sustainable development goals.
We got back home happy and energetic to do more actions with vision of building green society but Lack of funding and financial support put a stop to move forward. Unfortunately, here in Egypt they didn’t familiar with or support crowd fund or fundraising campaigns but we still have our skills, experience and online access so, we worked digitally using “Art “That can express the past and affect our future decision that attract more participants to join our team .On Africa day 25th May, 2018 we organized another “Marathon” holding artworks that had fabulous feedback like “Ohm, sad for what's happening to our earth “
“I love polar bears, I will do my best to save them “
"Let's plant more trees"
“Eating banana so delicious, I can’t believe, they disappear one day “
Our movements have no end. But there were some governmental restrictions and approvals on holding professional camera in the street, raising signs and group discussion that forced us to have some changes in our upcoming actions. Amazing Hossna suggested to design interactive Art workshops inspired from our rich Pharaonic heritage to unleash creativity and be the pioneer of climate / environmental artistic movements which fascinate the public allowing art to bridge between science and facts about climate change and adapt our daily life style to go green. "Art” played an essential role to deliver our messages and to support our mission. It’s easy, smart and the most powerful, interesting and enjoyable educational tool you can use it. I’m lucky to have Hossna Hanafy as a professional artist and cofounder; she is talented to visualize your thoughts and facilitate impressive environmental and climate art workshops motivate the local community to build green society and inspire kids to lead the change and be the green heroes.
Moreover, in times of crisis “Covid-19 and current political issues” art had the concept open to express problem-solving in the context of expression science, technology, climate change and sustainability interaction and connection which people seeking to as a human being. It was changing life experience having green society in international forums and conferences to inspire all of you to save our earth and take action to back to nature. We have only one earth.
