Hope, Compassion, and Change: A Conversation on Migration, Climate, and Humanity

In this thought-provoking dialogue, theater director Amir Nizar Zuabi and conservationist Kristine McDivitt Tompkins reflect on the deep interconnection between human compassion, climate change, and societal collapse. Zuabi shares stories of symbolic art projects like Amal, a puppet refugee, and “The Herds,” life-sized animal puppets migrating to highlight environmental collapse. Tompkins draws parallels between human suffering and environmental degradation, stressing the urgency of addressing both crises. Both speakers emphasize the need for humanity to awaken to its responsibilities and act, while remaining hopeful in the resilience of life and the possibility of collective transformation in the face of crisis.