Know heaven, know earth: Oxfam Hong Kong climate change photography exhibition

Lifestyle

2023.10.01 17:06

The journey of vulnerable communities adapting to a changing climate

A sudden and 'once-in-500-years' storm recently wreaked havoc on Hong Kong. This extreme climate event induced by climate change has crippled this city and severely affected our daily lives in an unprecedented way. In fact, the frequency and seriousness of extreme weather have been on the rise globally, posing significant challenges to both the generation and the next.

The Tibetan fox hanging ornament is one of the star products of a women’s handicraft cooperative, and is handmade from yak down and wool. It was available for purchase at the International Convention on Biological Diversity Conference in Montreal of Canada. And today, you can order yours too. Oxfam Hong Kong will launch a pre-sale very soon. For further details, please visit our website and social media accounts. (Oxfam Hong Kong)

Around the globe, many other areas are more vulnerable to climate change than Hong Kong. In collaboration with humanist photographer Qiu Bi, Oxfam Hong Kong has spent the past year visiting remote areas across Asia. Together, we witnessed how unpredictable weather had led to crop failures and how climate disasters devastated many people's homes. Just as the ancient Chinese military treatise 'Art of War' says: 'Know heaven, know earth, and the victory is complete'. It is important for people and communities in vulnerable regions to empower themselves and understand the climate and their land to adapt to climate change and thrive.

In recent years, Ba Ding Kan Zhuo’s nomadic life in the grasslands of Qinghai has been affected by climate change. Snowstorms have become more frequent, and the livestock mortality rate has continued to increase over the years, putting incredible pressure on the lives of people living there.
Through a women’s handicraft cooperative – which Oxfam Hong Kong and our partner is supporting, Ba Ding Kan Zhuo and other members have learned to design, produce and sell handicrafts. This has enabled them to create an additional source of income that is not affected by the weather. (Oxfam Hong Kong)

This photography exhibition will feature the livelihoods of communities in various regions, such as Liugou Village in Shaanxi Province, Wangjinzhuang Village in Hebei Province, Gyatang Grassland in Qinghai Province, and Baitadi District of Nepal. Additionally, it will shed light on the living and working conditions of Hong Kong's subdivided flat residents and street cleaners in the scorching heat. The exhibition will further showcase how Oxfam Hong Kong uses a holistic 'one-program' approach – which includes a humanitarian response, development programs and advocacy – to fight poverty and enhance vulnerable communities' ability to adapt to climate change.

Oxfam Hong Kong hopes that after visiting the exhibition, the public will gain a deeper understanding of the impact of climate change across the globe and, through their own actions, take steps to protect the environment. It also urges decision-makers to reduce emissions and provide assistance to climate-vulnerable groups, thus promoting climate justice.