Protest Artwork Highlights Fossil Fuel Industry’s Impact on LA Wildfires
# Community Activism and Art in the Fight Against Climate Change
## Art as a Tool for Climate Advocacy
The intersection of art and activism has long been a powerful means of raising awareness about pressing social issues. Recently, artist **Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio** used his own personal tragedy—the loss of his Altadena home to the Eaton Fire—to drive home the urgency of climate action. His new painting, unveiled at a **Pasadena rally on March 11**, serves as both a memorial to destruction and a call to action against fossil fuel dependency.
At the heart of his artwork is a haunting image: a **chimney standing alone in a burned-down home, belching black smoke**, a symbol of both resilience and trauma. Surrounding this image are bilingual inscriptions reading **”Invest in Communities, Not Fossil Fuels”**—a sentiment echoed by community and labor organizations demanding systemic change.
## A Unified Stand Against Fossil Fuels
The rally, held at the **Pasadena Community Job Center**, was organized by **California Common Good**, a coalition of labor, environmental, and community organizations. Their primary demand? That **CalPERS—the country’s largest public pension fund—fully divest from fossil fuels**.
Among the speakers were religious leaders, union representatives, and residents who had experienced the direct consequences of wildfires. Their speeches made it clear: the environmental and economic costs of climate change are borne by working-class communities, while **big polluters profit at their expense**.
## Art from Ashes: Painting with Fire’s Remnants
One of the most striking elements of the protest was the method used to create **Aparicio’s painting**. The black-and-white artwork was made using **pigments derived from ashes and charcoal** collected from **burned-down sites in Altadena**. This technique was pioneered by Bay Area artist and activist **David Solnit**, who has previously utilized wildfire ash to craft protest paintings. **By transforming the physical remnants of destruction into art, the movement creates a visceral reminder of the real-world effects of climate change**.
In addition to the Pasadena event, a **twin protest took place in Northern California**—positioned directly in front of the **Chevron oil refinery in Richmond**. Both actions reinforced a growing movement demanding corporate accountability for climate devastation.
## Making Polluters Pay: Legal and Legislative Efforts
California is taking steps to hold fossil fuel corporations accountable. In 2023, the state government filed a landmark **lawsuit against major oil giants** such as **Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Shell**. The lawsuit alleges that these companies knowingly deceived the public about fossil fuels’ role in climate change and seeks financial compensation for environmental damage.
Meanwhile, activists at the Pasadena rally urged lawmakers to pass the **”Make Polluters Pay Superfund Bill.”** If enacted, the bill would **impose a $50 billion annual tax on fossil fuel companies**—forcing them to contribute toward the cost of wildfire recovery and disaster relief.
## The Economic Impact of Climate Disasters
Besides the ecological consequences, speakers at the rally emphasized the **financial risk that climate inaction poses—especially for pension funds**. Wildfires and extreme weather events have caused **over a quarter-trillion dollars in damage**. Organizations like **California Common Good** argue that investments in fossil fuels are not just morally irresponsible but also financially unsustainable.
### Jono Shaffer, a longtime labor organizer, summed it up:
*”This is workers’ money. How do we get our money to work for us, and not just the billionaires?”*
## Bringing the Fight to Sacramento
The movement isn’t stopping at Pasadena. On **March 17**, organizers will bring **Aparicio’s protest painting** to **Sacramento** during a key **CalPERS board meeting**, where they hope to sway decision-makers toward full divestment from fossil fuels. Activists view this as a **critical step in leveraging financial power to drive systemic environmental change**.
## Conclusion
Climate change is no longer an abstract threat—it is a lived reality for millions, especially in **communities like Altadena and Pasadena, where wildfires have left lasting scars**. The Pasadena rally showcased how **art, activism, and community organizing can unite people in the struggle for climate justice**. Through symbolic actions like **painting with fire’s ashes** and **targeting financial institutions**, activists are demanding a future where investments are made in **sustainability and resilience, not destruction**.
As Aparicio’s artwork so powerfully conveys, the scars left by disaster can transform into powerful symbols of change—and, with enough collective action, **a better future is within reach**.