This blog was written by our Civic Engagement and Education Placement Student Leon; this is an expression of his thoughts inspired by the Traces of Displacement Exhibition. Leon gained insight from Cecily Brown’s Untitled (Shipwreck) 2016 of three watercolour paintings depicting refugees in boats crossing the sea in the hopes of reaching safer land. 

We have had many diverse achievements in the modern age of the 21st Century. For example, many revolutions have been made by people from different backgrounds and cultures, which have led to cultural breakthroughs in the media industry, sports politics, and businesses. As usual there are still lots of obstacles to be overcome and some can be dangerous to a degree. Across the world societies can experience negative events in their lives, especially when war or disaster strikes. 

When a certain dial gets turned from a 1 to a 10 the risks become that apparent that evacuation is required to avoid the danger; doing so might result in the possibility of having to leave everything about your daily life behind wherever that may be. This can be difficult if a country that is experiencing distress is struggling to cope with a certain situation, or it’s government cannot hold onto stability for much longer. 

In addition, travel can become challenging as the crisis unfolds, with the last option civilians have during war is leave their home country to find safety elsewhere. However, being able to travel via plane can be impossible for many people, especially with few planes entering and leaving the country during times of war. Therefore, the other option is getting out of a war-torn country by travelling across the sea to reach safety. 

However, many governments across the world sometimes struggle to find empathy and the appropriate support for civilians travelling across the sea into their countries to find safety. Innocent civilians just want to be seen as human beings, especially after having experienced hard and harsh times. 

Shouldn’t all human beings feel safe and sound, shouldn’t they be treated just like the rest of our family and friends, and get the chance to make a big difference for us all. The skills and experiences that refugees and asylum seekers bring are unique to them and can help educate the people around them. 

This is the New Age and in some ways many countries have well moved on from their past where there was separation amongst communities. However, now the lines are starting to get blurred for good reasons, with the hope that things can positively change for those who did not have a choice at first. There is now hope for civilians to be treated with more respect, and to be accurately represented in the news. We can see the next generation help create positive change for all and create a future where there is a peaceful understanding amongst all of humanity.