4.4 Graphs versus illustrations in catalysing action on climate change Cartwright Weapons
describes of
Reason
(WoR) as engaging with activist
ideas
tackling
and global
challenges,
presenting
them
on
‘head
in
a
visually interesting way’. ‘Visually interesting’ and climate change data do
Figure 5: Google Image search results for ‘climate change graph’ (Google, 2016)
not typically go hand in hand: type ‘climate change graphs’ into Google and one is overwhelmed with infinite graphs of terrifyingly sharply rising lines (Figure 5). WoR translates scientific data into accessible illustrations to critique and raise awareness of global issues from environmentalism to ageing (Weapons of Reason, 2016). The melting Arctic was not left untouched here either, but Figure 6 illustrates more extensive data, such as territories of indigenous
Figure 6: Welcome to The Arctic (Weapons of Reason, 2015)
people, wildlife and natural resources. This breakdown of information informs the reader of facts far beyond the distant and un-relatable ‘the ice is melting’ 33