Nairobi, May 24- An innovative way to raise global awareness on air pollution and climate action was launched at UNEA 2 today. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) teamed up with Art of Change 21 to create a free smartphone app called Maskbook which people can use to create digital masks. By doing so they will contribute to a global collective artwork and a project to mobilize the world to defend their health and the climate from air pollution.
The Maskbook project also works in the physical world with exhibitions and workshops in communities and cities like Beijing and Nairobi to raise awareness. In partnership with CCAC it provides information on how to best protect communities from dangerous air pollutants by doing things like using improved cookstoves and discouraging the burning of domestic and agricultural waste. In the lead up to UNEA 2 Maskbook partnered with UP Nairobi and inhabitants of Nairobi's Kangemi neighborhood to run a workshop and create spectacular masks.
"Using art to raise awareness is a unique and engaging way for us to reach communities to inform them of the solutions available to reduce air pollution and how these actions can also reduce global warming," Helena Molin Valdes, Head of the UNEP hosted CCAC, said. "The masks created are wonderful works of art but we must remember that masks can't protect people from air pollution, we can only protect people by getting rid of these dangerous air pollutants, and to do that we will need efforts at the local, national and global level."
Maskbook is an international and creative action lead by the association Art of Change 21, on the link between health, pollution and climate.www.maskbook.org.
Download the Maskbook app and use your creativity to promote action on health, climate change and air pollution. Create your virtual mask and wear it with pride, take a picture and circulate it on social media.
The Maskbook app for iOS devices can be downloaded here.
The Maskbook app for Android devices can be downloaded here. .
