Action takes place simultaneously across dozens of social media profiles and will occupy large murals in cities; art is used to raise awareness about the climate crisis and possible solutions
You may have come across one of the super colorful illustrations, filled with nature elements, iconic activists, and messages starting with “It’s the climate of…” on your timeline. These posts are part of the campaign Brazil’s Adaptation Manual: Building the Future Now. Dozens of social media profiles have been sharing the illustrations simultaneously, in a fully collaborative way.
The illustrations are by multimedia artist Militão and are being released weekly until November, when the long-awaited Climate Convention, COP 30, takes place in Belém. At least 38 organizations and collectives have already joined the campaign, including Megafone, Condô Cultural, LAB Experimental, Pimp My Carroça, A vida no Cerrado, Youth Climate Leaders, Movimento Tapajós Vivo, Coletivo Ekoa, Engajamundo, among many others. We at Lupa do Bem are also in!
For now, the campaign is gaining strength on social media and will soon hit the streets, occupying public spaces with large wheatpaste murals. The campaign remains open for anyone who wants to join via this link.
COP 30
The Climate Convention is an international event that brings together world leaders, scientists, NGOs, and civil society representatives to discuss actions to combat climate change.
The event is a major milestone. Terms like mitigation and climate adaptation have been popularized through the annual Conferences of the Parties, which spark strong public engagement wherever they are held. After all, climate change has been clearly driving an increase in environmental disasters worldwide.
This year, there is hope that countries will finally sign some key agreements for climate justice. Controlling the rise in global temperatures remains one of the main priorities, and several action plans are expected to be proposed.
Brazil’s Adaptation Manual
As part of the preparations for COP 30, the Brazil’s Adaptation Manual campaign shows that it is possible to build a shared future. The campaign focuses on themes like the value of biodiversity, biome preservation, the demarcation of Indigenous, quilombola, and extractive lands, agrarian reform, among others.
“We in the artistic, cultural, and activist fields are always reacting. The idea behind this campaign is to show that solutions exist. There is another way. We can support the bioeconomy and carry out land demarcations, for instance. The only path forward isn’t toward tragedy,” says cultural manager and activist from Lab Experimental, Jonaya de Castro.
For Jonaya, strengthening democracy is essential in this process. “Every vote matters, because it’s through voting that we can influence macro-politics.”
But beyond politics, art can also be a powerful tool for raising public awareness, she emphasizes. “Art bypasses the rational and goes straight to your heart. That’s why it’s so powerful. That’s also why authoritarian and fascist governments often censor artistic movements.”
Chief Raoni and Baile da Terra
The campaign is a joint initiative by the collectives Lab Experimental, Megafone Ativismo, and Condô Cultural — all born in São Paulo in the early 2010s during a surge in cultural and democratic movements.
From this collaboration came, in 2022, the large wheatpaste mural featuring Chief Raoni Metuktire’s face, spread across walls in 50 Brazilian cities. “Raoni was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and Bolsonaro — who was president at the time — didn’t even mention it. Raoni didn’t win, and we felt the need to honor him,” recalls Jonaya.
Lab Experimental also organizes Baile na Terra (Earth Dance), a cultural event in São Paulo whose visual identity is designed by artist Denilson Baniwa. Now in its third edition, the Baile will include distribution of jaguar masks made by Denilson, supporting Indigenous land demarcation and rights.
We must resist the climate emergency
Supported by the Climate and Society Institute and Hivos, through the Voices for Just Climate Action program, the Brazil’s Adaptation Manual campaign spans all five regions of Brazil through a networked approach. The hope is that the artworks will create “an internal and emotional reference point for what is right and wrong,” says Jonaya.
In addition to the online campaign, various artistic interventions are planned across territories. “We work like an online rhizome, but we are always inviting and promoting offline actions as well,” she says.
The campaign will also be present at the pre-COP meetings in Brasília and later at COP 30 in Belém. Participation is open to everyone.
“Our campaign is aimed at Generation T — that is, everyone alive today, the generation of transition. In Brazil, we have many opportunities to resist the climate emergency. For example, we can move forward with the demarcation of all Indigenous, quilombola, and extractive lands to protect biomes and, through the bioeconomy, stimulate scientific research to produce food, cosmetics, medicine, etc. This campaign shows what’s possible in this transition,” concludes Jonaya.
Support this cause!
Learn more about Lab Experimental on Instagram and join the campaign Brazil’s Adaptation Manual: Building the Future Now.
