Campaigner installs seesaws across the Mexican border wall so kids can play together

Seesaws which allow children from the US and Mexico to play together have been installed on the Mexican border.

Anti-border wall campaigner and architect Ronald Rael installed three pink seesaws on the US-Mexico border to allow families on each side to ‘meaningfully connect’

The seesaws straddle a fence that separates the United States and Mexico and allow children and adults from both sides of the border to take turns, laughing and playing together.

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The joy that was shared this day on both sides is something that will stay with me forever. #borderwallasarchitecture #raelsanfratello #teetertotterwall #seesaw #reunitefamilies @colectivo.chopeke

A post shared by Ronald Rael (@rrael) on Jul 29, 2019 at 11:47pm PDT

Two California professors dreamt up the idea of the Teetertotter Wall which links the cities of Sunland Park in New Mexico, with Ciudad Juárez in Mexico.

The installation, comes as US President Trump continues his crackdown on migrants crossing into the US.

 

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One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf’s career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the borderwall. The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S. – Mexico relations and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side. Amazing thanks to everyone who made this event possible like Omar Rios @colectivo.chopeke for collaborating with us, the guys at Taller Herrería in #CiudadJuarez for their fine craftsmanship, @anateresafernandez for encouragement and support, and everyone who showed up on both sides including the beautiful families from Colonia Anapra, and @kerrydoyle2010, @kateggreen , @ersela_kripa , @stphn_mllr , @wakawaffles, @chris_inabox and many others (you know who you are). #raelsanfratello #borderwallasarchitecture

A post shared by Ronald Rael (@rrael) on Jul 28, 2019 at 11:22pm PDT

One of the creators Architecture professor Ronald Rael posted on Instagram that the creation of the seesaws was “one of the most incredible experiences” of his life.

 

 

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⁣@rrael & @vasfsf designed this “Teeter-Totter Wall” for the book “Borderwall as Architecture,” which uses “humor and inventiveness to address the futility of building barriers.⁣” ⁣ This week the wall “became a literal fulcrum for U.S -Mexico relations and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side.”⁣⁣ ⁣ (via @cnn) #noborders #nowalls #weareallimmigrants

A post shared by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi) on Jul 30, 2019 at 2:04pm PDT

He added that he hoped his work would allow users to connect “in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side”.

Ronald Rael is also author of ‘Borderwall As Architecture’ an examination of what the 650 miles of physical barrier that divides the United States of America from the United Mexican States is, and could be. It is both a protest against the wall and a projection about its future.

h/t: The Guardian

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