Environmental group Green Peace has world-renowned artist of India to help bring awareness to the threat posed by climate change, specifically, rising sea-levels. By creating his intricate sand sculptures, Green Peace hopes Patnaik will highlight their call to action. Patnaik’s special piece for Green Peace is a collection of miniature versions of famous Indian monuments such as Jagannath and Konark Temples and the Gateway of India. The work of art took 2 days to finish and used 7 tons of material with the finishing product standing 7 feet high.

According to a new Green Peace report entitled, Blue Alert -- Climate Migrants in South Asia, 125 million people in South Asia are in danger of being displaced due to climate change. Rising sea levels caused by greenhouse gas emissions would affect those living along the coasts of Bangladesh and India, who would consequently have to mover further inland. This especially, worrisome for Bangladesh where there is already a shortage of land, which makes it the most densely populated country per square mile. But there are other disastrous effects as well, including a change in seasonal weather patterns affecting the monsoons. There is also a risk to of drought due to decreased water supply and livelihoods based on coastal industries. The UN and other international agencies already estimate that developing countries will be hit especially hard by climate change, due to their inability to come up with quick solutions. But the burden is primarily on richer nations because where most of the air pollution originates.

This is an innovative and inspiring (not to mention eco-friendly) way of getting the message out about climate change. It evokes the strong visual that sand castles do, of a delicate piece of art and creation being swept away by a fast wave or kicked in by a child. Much like sand castles and Patnaik’s beautiful creations, the Earth’s shore communities are in danger of being forever buried. Kudos to Greenpeace and especially, Sudarshan Patnaik for using his talent toward good. More of his artwork can be seen on his website .