WAR & CLIMATE CRISIS are two destructive and consumptive forces that radically reshape the environment and affect our relationship with our land. These forces have dominated the landscape of Syria and Ukraine in the past 10+ years. We are seeking to understand the intersection and similarities between war and the climate crisis.
GRIEF is brought on by the sense of loss that immigrants feel away from the homeland that’s trapped in conflict and vulnerable to destruction. We explore the experience of grief in Ukrainian and Syrian immigrant communities who observe the changes of their land from afar.
CULTURAL IDENTITY is the product of cultural practices and stories shaped by environment and landscapes. It’s how our ancestors learned to live. It’s how they pass on lessons of appreciation and survival. A strong sense of cultural identity is associated with positive mental health. We aim to document and study the cultural practices we carry with us that have been shaped by our homelands, and how the changes in the landscapes impact our cultural identity and sense of self.
