The planet is in peril, and the time to act is now. Meet 8 TED Fellows who are spreading the message through their art.

To get a panoramic perspective of the pandemic, TED turned to its TED Fellows. From Afghanistan to the US, Brazil to Uganda, India to Russia — and 17 other countries — here are their stories.

Will the societal shocks of 2016 lead to a bumper crop of art in 2017 and beyond? These TED Fellows aim to channel the energy of activism into creative work that can change hearts and minds.