The four stories by Aruban writer Rosabelle Illes merge imagination with reality to show the effects of a changing climate. Through immersive storytelling, readers explore exaggerated scenarios that feel distant—until the stories snap back to reality, revealing how close we already are. Rooted in scientific and local knowledge, each story is designed to spark curiosity, raise awareness, and offer steps we all can take to support a more resilient Aruba.
Stories
The reef reset
In a quest to heal Aruba’s ocean, Michelle restores reefs and plants mangroves. But as the tide rises, her uncle helps her see that saving paradise takes more than points and perfect timing.
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The turn of the Tradewind
Eager to train with windsurfing legend Sarah-Quita Offringa, Jonathan wakes to a strange Aruba where winds shift wildly and the ocean is covered in thick, brown seaweed. A surreal lesson on the water leaves him wondering if it’s just a dream… or a glimpse of the future.
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The silence after the storm
After her home floods during an extreme rainstorm, Kimberly presents a ‘what if’ tale imagining Aruba’s future under climate change. But as her classmates listen, they begin to realize her story isn’t so fictional after all.
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The last scan
On a futuristic mission, Captain Figaroa explores a scorched, uninhabitable Aruba, where invasive species spread unchecked, beaches lie empty, and towns crumble in the heat. When the film ends, two teens leave the theater wondering: how close are we to this reality?
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