A caribou in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge displays antlers spelling out thanks to Joe. The image addresses the Biden administration decision to limit oil exploration in the refuge area. The refuge has long been the focus of debate between energy development interests and conservation priorities. The visual ties the policy shift directly to the habitat protection outcome for the herd.
The cartoon shows Donald Trump as an orange-faced infant clinging to a chain and riding a large wrecking ball marked NEW E.P.A. RULES. The ball swings toward a Christmas ornament shaped like Earth hanging from a tree branch. The title WRECKING BALL appears at the bottom. Published January 14 2020 the image responds to Trump administration actions rolling back environmental regulations through the EPA. The visual ties those policy changes to broader concerns over climate impacts including events like Australian wildfires linked to fossil fuel emissions.
The image depicts a worker in safety gear using a brush to create a canvas showing oil derricks and a large dollar sign. This replaces the surrounding mountain, river and forest scene. The work responds to ongoing debates in August 2019 over expanded drilling and logging on federal lands. Such expansions raised questions about impacts to water quality, fish populations and species including the bald eagle. The visual argument centers on differing perspectives of value in natural areas.
