ABOUT THE ANTHOLOGY
The Water Damaged Paper Anthology (WDPA) is a print and web-based publication that provides a platform for young people across the world to share their justice-centred writing & artwork and engage in creativity as a powerful tool for changemaking. This project was created in direct response to the lack of magazines and literary / art journals that accepted submissions from young people, particularly those under the age of 18, free of cost.
The name Water Damaged Paper speaks to how the voices of youth are often watered down, overlooked, and dismissed. We are often told that we are not old enough to enact meaningful change, denied a seat at the table, and not taken seriously by adults and institutions alike. While they may dilute our words, passions, stories, and demands for change, we will not be silenced. The naming of the anthology was inspired by this sentiment.
Each volume of the WDPA centres a different justice-centred issue. Volume 1 surrounds climate justice and is titled, “With the Tides, We Rise” and Volume 2, “Through Love, We Unite”, touches on the LGBTQ2S+ community and intersectional feminism.
The Water Damaged Paper Anthology’s work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and stolen homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, colonially known as Vancouver, BC.
STOLEN YOUTH
by Scotty Landodemeter and i walk hand and hand through the fresh spring fields the earth opens and it is she who is swallowed, dragged to the pits of hell still grasping me yet this time, it is not hades or even his servants who bring her, but the greedy arms of all mankind the residents of the underworld decades dead, and now claiming her for their own the winter falls again. we stand as atlas heads bowed, backs breaking too young to bear the burden of the centuries this gift we have been given, the very ground beneath our feet, is crumbling we cannot pass this on to future generations like those before did unto us to look away is to be complicit. to enjoy the blissful promises of youth is to be ignorant. we have no choice but to march on to walk until we can no longer to shout and scream and beg until our voices are gone, and we are gone sinking, sinking into the below as Gaea bids us farewell, and prepares to start anew.
THE ENVIRONMENT INTERTWINES WITH US
by Charm Batilo
LET YOUTH BE HEARD
by Iris ZhangIf you are 35 years old or younger, you have never experienced normal climate. I am a 14year-old freshman and climate change is something that my fellow Generation Z teens and I have grown up with. It has always been looming out there, occasionally making an appearance in some conversations but never really mentioned because we think of it as a faraway problem that is too political and taboo. We think of climate change as just another depressing headline, always happen to someone else, but for the first time in our history, we have seen the clear evidence that our burning of fossil fuels has caught up to us. Climate change is affecting us all in the near future if not already.
The Juliana vs. U.S. case has been ignored for three years, constantly delayed just like the action on climate in this country. We cannot normalize this new kind of world. For the first time we've seen a summer full of breaking records, from heat and droughts, to the destructive wildfires that never seem to stop and flash flooding in our area threatening every Marylander. We have seen more catastrophic hurricanes like Harvey, Maria Florence, and Michael and we thought we could postpone acting on climate change until later? My generation and those younger will have to live in a very different world than the one we have grown up in, but it does not have to be this way.
The Fall 2018 IPCC report says that we have no choice but to stay under 1.5°C. This is a serious wake-up call that shows we need to be taking ambitious action that should
have already happened years ago. We have less than 11 years to avert irreversible crisis. This does not mean we procrastinate for a few years then take action; this means we need to create an aggressive sciencebased climate recovery plan to make up for the decades of inaction. We can no longer think now or never, it's now and now!
The U.S. federal government has violated our constitutional rights to life, liberty and property by knowingly allowing fossil fuel corporations to continue to be subsidized. 70% of global emissions come from just 11 companies and the U.S. accounts for a fourth of all global emissions. The corporations responsible for this mess have known about this the whole time. The government has the responsibility to protect us from polluters and make them pay.
We have known about climate change for way too long and yet. Despite this, politicians on both sides continue to allow fossil fuel companies to fund their campaigns instead of putting us first. 25 years ago, we could be excused for not knowing or doing much about climate change, but today we have no more excuses. The U.S is the richest, most technologically advanced country in the world, which should mean that we are also investing in a green economy.
We cannot let billionaire corporations get away with their damage. The world is moving ahead with new actions every day, showing us that it is indeed possible to sustain our environment. Why does access to clean air and water have to be controversial or partisan? But before you feel angry and apathetic, let us remember that we create political will. I believe, no I know, that
we will reach a sustainable economy that boosts our country’s GDP, creates jobs, and saves lives.
Citizens must elect leaders who will make climate a priority, initiate 100% renewable policies, and make polluters pay! We know what we need but our elected officials need to know that we care, that these solutions must come fast. Imagine if all of us voted and the change we could create. That is what democracy looks like! Climate change is no longer something we can think about and occasionally forget. We must break the cycle!
We students are the next generation. We need to learn not only about how to be good students but also how to be unafraid to raise our voices. We are not only the future but the now, the ones who will be most affected by climate change, so we must use our voices and our vote to carve the path to real justice.
Young people need to learn how to fight for climate rights just as they learn how to read and write. We will show the older generations there is no choice but to act. We will all win this fight for a livable future. We have got everything to lose if we do not act but absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain if we do act. Youth might be 25% of our world population but we are 100% of our future!
GENERATION THEFT by Hannah Regan
MESSAGE FROM THE ARTIST
This piece depicts the effects of climate change on central villages in the Middle East and South Asia. The intentional use of watercolour acts as an ironic commentary to the fact that water levels are scarce. Water levels are scarce to the extent where women have to carry the weight of not only their thirsty children, but pots of water, back and forth from far distances.
CLEAN POTS, DIRTY CHILDREN
By Malaika Sahukhan
REVERSING THE DROUGHT
by Zainab Sayedaini hope it’s worth it to pour life and energy into a river that has always run dry, and to hope it understands that this is its cue to flow. move and interact with the shards of glass and the completeness that envelopes it, collaborate with the air that has been tainted and still tries to be so sweet.
scratches will turn into wounds that run deep. ripples will turn into waves that slap back.
i sometimes wonder how much to pour, as to grasp how much i have left. but i will continue to muster my strength and pour, even when the bounty of “we can do more” turns into the dregs of “well, this is my life now.” even when i settle for how it is, and i forget to wonder how it could be.
i need to put the cauldron down sometimes, because it weighs more than it seems and one may mistake me for a witch if i hold it proudly enough, or even just stand by it, really.
dear river and mountains, dear tiring and tireless, do not allow this strength to have been gained in vain
by Emma Lim
THE EFFECTS OF MELTING ICE SHEETS by
Soraya DuttoThe Arctic has long been characterized by glistening icefields, a thick layer of permafrost, and thriving wildlife who have adapted to polar temperatures. Spanning from Greenland, Siberia, and Svalbard, to Alaska, and northern Canada, it also serves as a home for many.
Additionally, Arctic Canada is comprised of the traditional territories of the Inuit, who rely on frigid conditions to preserve their rich cultural traditions. Not only do the people and wildlife who call the Arctic home depend on cold temperatures and ice, but the region also serves to keep the entire planet at a livable temperature.
Because ice sheets are an optic shade of white, the majority of sunlight that hits the ice is reflected from its surface back into the atmosphere. Conversely, when the sun hits open ocean, only 7% of light is reflected, resulting in more warmth being stored in our planet.
Despite being a harsh biome to survive in, the Arctic is extremely important for survival and preservation of traditions, wildlife, and the world itself. The Arctic has been more affected than most biomes, as it has been warming at twice the global average. The impacts of this drastic warming trend are widespread. Wildlife populations
are in rapid decline; sea levels are rising significantly, and food security is being jeopardized.
Wildlife inhabiting the Arctic have long been adapted to the biome’s harsh conditions. Many animals rely on sea ice, as well as the snow cover, for food sources and habitat protection. The Arctic is a fragile biomethere are not a lot of food sources and a minor change could crumble the ecosystem. The melting sea ice is creating a plethora of problems for animals living far north such as walruses, who have historically rested on the sea ice. As it melts further, animals are required to take refuge on land, where they are disturbed by human activity and other predators who did not access the ice previously.
As sea ice decreases, it opens up more areas for shipping, fishing, and industry further north. This can disturb the natural habitat of whales and disrupt their communication system. Lesser-known species are indeed feeling the effects of climate change as well. The Saimaa ringed seal resides only in Finland’s Lake Saimaa, where only about 370 remain. The situation is no better for animals who reside upon the land in Arctic territory. Muskoxen and reindeer, for example, rely on snow cover to find food. When it rains and the rain freezes on the ground, it makes it more difficult to graze upon lichen, for the animals are used to
grazing through snow. Other animals, like the Arctic fox, are at risk of being hunted by other breeds of foxes who previously could not survive in the Arctic.
Likely the most recognizable Arctic animal is the polar bear. The emaciated polar bear perched upon a measly piece of ice has become a metaphor of sorts for the melting ice and the climate crisis in general. The lack of sea ice is making hunting difficult for polar bears, which has resulted in the trademark stick-thin polar bear.
The issue with the decline of these species is the common denominator that they all share - climate change. The melting ice caps, the lack of snow cover, and the increase of human activity and industry in the Arctic are all effects, be it direct or indirect, of global warming. When this many species are declining in such a delicate region, the entire ecosystem is put at risk. Climate change is not only threatening to decimate individual species, but also putting an entire ecosystem in jeopardy.
Furthermore, global warming is threatening traditions of the Inuit people, many of which rely on ice and snow. The Inuit have historically used the snow and icy landscape for many basic needs. Due to the climate crisis, their land is being compromised. Now that ice is melting, places like Nunavut, where the Inuit people traditionally used snow and ice as a highway of sorts, are becoming more isolated.
As well, food security is being threatened. Traditional hunting techniques are becoming obsolete with the disappearance of ice, snow, and wildlife. It is more difficult to access ice that is safe to travel over and wildlife is becoming scarcer.
While virtually everyone is affected by warming temperatures in some way or another, the Inuit are facing an additional problem - their culture is being decimated along with the ice. This issue is being severely overlooked by society, which serves to emphasize the disregard society has for intersectionality regarding the climate crisis. While everyone will feel the effects of global warming sooner or later, people who live further north are facing more problems than most of society realizes.
Recall that the Arctic serves as the world’s “air conditioner,” keeping temperatures at bay. As the Arctic warms at twice the global average, the ice is melting fast. As water warms along with the air, ice caps continue to melt from both sides. This creates an infinite loop – as the ice melts, the water warms, which melts the ice further. Melting from glaciers and ice sheets could also affect ocean currents. Between June 11 and 20 of 2019, the Greenland ice sheet lost the equivalent of 80 billion tonnes of ice. This not only impacts Greenland but also the rest of the world.
While a majority of people are familiar with the fact that sea levels are rising, the
catastrophic impact certain communities are facing is often overlooked. It is estimated that if the entire Greenland ice sheet melted, sea levels would rise by 23ft, which would flood many communities worldwide. Though we have not yet reached that tipping point, many are already fighting to survive the rising sea.
For instance, Kiribati, a cluster of small islands in the south Pacific, is at high risk. Situated right at the equator, the island country’s highest point is only a couple meters above sea level. It is not a wealthy country and thus, the threat of rising tides has a greater risk of permanently damaging the island. Damage from storms could become more severe. As well, crops growing on the island are being threatened by the approaching sea - the tides are approaching land only a few metres away from the island’s crops, such as taro.
A 2017 study by Nature Journal studied 150 threatened species living in 85km2 of the South Pacific. Of the 2000 islands studied, over 40% of them had a maximum elevation of less than 10m. Over one-third of the animals researched had lost the ability to move. This combination does not bode well for the survival of animals such as the giant bandicoot or Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo. The scarce and slowly disappearing habitats of these animals could mean the extinction of many species due to climate change.
Everyone will be affected by the climate crisis sooner or later, but in different ways, to different degrees, and varying timeframes. Not only are animals, people and cultural traditions being threatened in the Arctic, but also islands across the globe, as well as the people and animals who inhabit them.
Melting ice and rising tides are just one facet of the climate crisis as a whole. Action must be taken, for it is only a matter of time before the entire world is at stake.
MONTREAL CLIMATE STRIKE
by Lucy Everett
My name is Nova, I’m 18 years old and my pronouns are she and her. I moved to the city of Vancouver four years ago with my dads and little brother. One of my dads is an innovator; he essentially gets hired on different contracts to find sustainable solutions to problems for various companies. The other is a cosmological chemist who’s currently comparing planets and other space structures in the Milky Way. Guess which one suggested the names Supernova and Alkali for their own kids? Pardon my disdain, but I’m never going to live that one down.
Last Thursday didn’t start going downhill until I dropped my holo-watch into the depths of the Skytrain tracks. But Nova, you’re probably thinking, how can you drop your watch when it’s literally attached to your wrist? Well, I was having an exciting conversation with my friends Tal and Zephyr at the station and you’ll just have to trust that there was some violent gesticulation involved. When we arrived at the school garden, the other students were already at work. Indigo ran up to greet us.
“Quick, go get some equipment from the shed, we have an hour to plant all the produce seeds for next month’s lunch program!” She exclaimed. I went in to find a shovel. Except, I never did find one, because the whole pile fell right on top of my head. I
remember hearing Tal yell “Nova, you good in there?” before everything went black.
I woke up in a pile of plastic the size of a Skytrain car. I immediately knew that something strange was happening, because mass production and distribution of plastic products were banned decades before I was born. I’ve never seen more than a handful of plastic in one place, let alone this mountain. I spread my limbs like a floppy starfish and rolled my way off the edge. Signs indicated that I was still on Ontario St., but this was not the Vancouver I knew. The street was wide enough for actual cars to drive down. Where the garden would have been, there was just a gloomy set of buildings. I started to panic when I found a marina that looked out on a much larger version of False Creek. It was as if someone had hooked up a hose to the sea and let it flow for 10 years. I tried taking some deep breaths to calm down and instantly regretted it. The air in this strange place was so hard to breathe. Before my shock could escalate, I heard two voices calling my name.
“Nova, what are you doing?” Tal half-yelled at me, “I know plastic sorting class is lame, but you can’t just ditch us like that!”
“Hold up, what happened to gardening class? Where did all this plastic come from in the first place? Last time I checked, plastic was a by-product of fossil fuel extraction.”
“Yeah,” confirmed Tal, “that’s why we stopped producing it a while ago when we exhausted all the planet’s crude oil-“
“YOU WHAT?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. When did all the oil get used up? I didn’t know what these two had learned in activism class, but oil was completely phased out of commercial use by 2032. “Sorry,” I continued, “I think I passed out. Will you help me get back to the garden?”
“You fainted? Oh my gosh, are you okay?” Indigo exclaimed. Her glove slid down, revealing her watch, the display reassured me that it was indeed May 29, 2126. I could rule time travel out of the possible explanations for my situation. “Also, what’s a garden?” Indigo added. It took every ounce of my self-control to not explode at her. How could she have suddenly forgotten what a garden is? Was this some sort of elaborate prank?
“A garden is where we plant and grow food. That way we don’t have to ship it in from other regions.” I explained, my sarcasm being met with genuinely confused faces. I didn’t dare speak my mind. Suddenly, Indigo emerged from the doors of the school.
“The office just got word of a hurricane watch! All classes are dismissed and school is postponed until further notice! Let’s go,” said Indigo.
The four of us took the Skytrain home together. I looked down upon the city as we rode east. Tall buildings separated by wide roads were the norm in this alternate reality and I spotted many cars on the move. I had only ever ridden in a shared solarpowered car on the highway. I wondered if this world would ever catch up to the advancement of the one I somehow left this morning. I headed in the direction of what was hopefully still be my co-op, but Papa stopped me in front of what I suppose was our house in this universe.
“Nova! I’m so glad you were dismissed. I’ve been trying to reach you for the past hour. A category five hurricane is set to hit the SW coast in 4hrs. We think we’ll have a better chance of avoiding its centre if we evacuate to Whistler. I’ll grab your emergency clothes; we’ll meet in the car.”
As we began our journey, the clouds rolled in and rain started to fall. By the time we crossed the Lions Gate bridge, it was a complete downpour. I gazed sadly down at what was left of Stanley Park. The sea had completely swallowed the seawall, and the area that I knew to be forested was covered in what looked like office buildings. I missed the world that I used to inhabit. I missed climbing trees and biking through the streets. I missed the taste of the carrots, radishes and lettuce that I grew myself. The next hour went by relatively uneventfully.
It wasn’t until we were about 30 minutes from Whistler that things took a turn for the worse. The rain intensified and soon enough, the car stopped. Papa suggested that we take our bags and leave the car to find higher ground. That way, we wouldn’t get swept away in the event of a flash flood.
We were taking a quick break to catch our breath when the wind began. Raindrops became icy daggers that pelted my face at a supersonic speed. The hurricane was getting closer by the second. I could feel our collective fear, but I knew the only option was to keep climbing.
As we continued our trek, the wind grew stronger. I was about to suggest that we stop again when I noticed a large, loose branch hanging from a nearby tree. I yelled a warning to my dads, but I didn’t think they heard me over the intense rustling of the wind and violent splatting of the rain. They dragged Kal closer and closer to the tree, and I watched with dread as the branch headed straight for Kal’s head. With a burst of adrenaline, I leaped up the hill, pushed my brother forward and blocked his body from the falling branch. My vision was obscured and then I was falling, falling, falling, falling...
I woke up in a soft bed to the sounds of beeping machines and rushed voices. My eyes opened and I saw an ocean of white. I sighed
in relief; I had to be in a hospital room. Then I remembered the brutal storm and started desperately looking around for Kal and my dads. A tall figure in a light blue hospital uniform walked up to my bed and talked softly to me.
“Hi Nova, I’m doctor Kato and I’ve been monitoring your state for the past few hours. I’m so glad to see that you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“I’m tired, and a bit sore,” I said, giving my limbs a stretch.
“You had quite an accident. We detected a rare strain of bacteria in your left foot, and we’ve given you some antibiotics to counteract it.”
“What about my family? Are they here too?” I asked her anxiously. Can I see them now?”
“Sure,” replied Doctor Kato kindly. Before she left, I asked about the hurricane.
“There was no hurricane, Nova,” she said, “that sounds like a scary nightmare, but you don’t have to worry. You’re safe here.” I was immediately thrown into another bought of confusion. Had I escaped the chaotic alternate reality that had almost killed my family? How was this possible? A few minutes later, my dads burst into my room, followed by Kal. We hugged and talked, and I quickly
realized that the three of them were also oblivious to the natural disaster.
“Nova, honey,” said Dad, “there hasn’t been a hurricane that strong for years.”
“Seems like those gardening shovels knocked you out cold,” added Papa.
“Thanks for saving me in your dream!” said a wide-eyed Kal.
“It wasn’t a dream.” I pleaded, desperately pointing at my left foot. “It couldn’t have been. You think a shovel cut my ankle like this? Where did my rare infection even come from? Plastic, I tell you, plastic!” But it was no use. They told Doctor Kato that I was experiencing delusions.
Luckily, I got access to a holo-screen starting the next day. I used it to learn about the history of climate change. I discovered that if the past had played out differently, I would live in a dystopia like the one that I’d just visited. Never had I been so glad that the world leaders of the early 2000s had committed to and took the necessary actions to reach zero emissions. But that was nothing compared to the immense gratitude I felt for the millions of activists who pushed governments to choose sustainability. Those unsung heroes saved my life.
GROWING UP
Marea MammanoIt's hard to breathe, to write and feel.
My hopes are burning like a rainforest on fire for they think money is worth more than oxygen and giving up our lives is easier than giving up some dumb habits.
It's hard to breathe, to write and feel because I thought growing up was like blossoming.
It hurt already underground. Growing up is spreading yourself through the concrete, but there are no roots to rely on.
Just a desperate longing for air and sunlight and freedom.
The soil never fed me and I keep on dreaming about growing flowers, and giving fruits.
THE SEA LEVELS ARE RISING & SO ARE
WE by Georgia Kwaitkowski
EIGHTEEN
by Raeanne TieuAs an eighteen-year-old girl, some people may think it is a little early for me to be thinking about having children. However, with the devastating crisis that is climate change, I have begun to question time and time again whether or not it is ethical to bear children in this day and age. As Britt Wray said, “any child born today will have to live in a world where hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, what we used to call natural disasters, have become commonplace.”
I don’t pretend to understand all the problems that will arise in the coming years as a cause of climate change, and I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of impact it will have on our world, but I have seen and heard enough for it to alter my mindset completely.
I want children. I want to be able to freely have a family of my own without feeling guilty for doing so. But when we have already destroyed so many beautiful parts of our home, I must consider the environment my children would grow up in. My aim here is not to discourage anyone from having a child; it is not my place to do so, and the decision to have a child is a deeply personal one. My goal in this reflection and art piece is to emphasize the severity of climate change and its consequences. It is heartbreaking for me to see that we are currently living in a world where there are
people who want to have children but are genuinely afraid to do so - movements such as BirthStrike are a testament to this fact.
So as a response to the people who wonder why I care so intensely about climate change and why I am so adamant about reducing my footprint, it is because this problem is not one that is far off into the future - it is one that is affecting every single person on the entire planet right now, whether they realize it or not.
WATER IS LIFE
BACK IN MY DAY
by Bonita ShaoBack in my day the sky was clear Blue heavens arced over, Layering this sphere Fluffy clouds above, floating around Now all this, are nowhere to be found
A darkened world, a fuzzy haze The fiery wrought of a factory blaze The pollution has damaged our up above Torn apart, covered, all and of
Back in my day the air was fresh Thin and light, a relaxing breath Now thick, now dense and full of fuel Each gasp; sharp, piercing, And harshly cruel
Sites pumping out coal, With thick dark fumes
All of which our lungs consume Damaging an organ we need to survive Killing it slowly, as we are alive
Back in my day, wildlife was across And now slowly disappearing, a tragic loss So many species, so much variety All taken away by the demands of society
Back in my day the waters shined Full of fish, we now can’t find It shimmered, gleamed in the sun We have done too much that can’t be undone Crystal clear streams,
Now littered and brown Luscious green forests all torn down Blue skies colored with streaks of smog But there is more behind this poem, This dialogue
The “back in my days” will be coming soon If we keep pushing this planet to its ending doom It seems far in the future, but yet so close Everything worked for, will become disposed
The flowing winds, the soaring trees The growing plants, the roaring seas Now a lifeless creature, a hollow core A rock in space and nothing more
Soon we will lose the chance to save The home of us, falling in a grave All will be lost, and we’ll have to pay But that was all back in my day
