Culture Meets Climate Action at Baghdad Book Festival

The ‘I Am Iraqi, I Read’ festival opened its 12th annual event in Baghdad’s Abu Nuwas Gardens, bringing together more than 100 volunteers, united by their shared love of literature and community spirit. 

This year’s edition not only celebrated Iraq’s rich history and cultural ties to literature, but also shed light on a pressing challenge facing modern-day Iraq – droughts due to climate change. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Sumerian hero Gilgamesh, the festival adopted the theme “Eternity Bearer in the Face of Drought.”

A key part of the event was the painting on display by Iraqi artist Mohammed Kata, who captured Gilgamesh’s strength and his transformation from mythic seeker of immortality into a modern symbol of environmental guardianship. Titled “The Last Salvation”, the art piece depicts animals at risk from environmental factors in Iraq; the otter and the flamingo.

The festival blended literature, art and activism, to call on Iraqis to view water and environmental conservation as a shared responsibility. 
The ‘I Am Iraqi, I Read’ initiative continues to demonstrate Iraqi’s commitment to creativity, education and resilience in the face of challenges.

Source: I Am Iraqi, I Read