Environmental Justice Postcard Comix

Hi folks, I spoke with you at Caption about a project I’m very excited to have made. It’s the next evolutionary step in political cartooning – direct action. Several of you asked me to get in contact with what I wanted from you. The answer to that is, what do you want from them ? With lobbying nowadays, the current trends suggest many folk are “single issue” campaigners. I’m inviting you to bring these concerns to masses. (I) The plan with these comix is for the cartoonist to research or employ currently understood knowledge and put them in comic form. Communicating an education to the reader in a direct one-to-one manner, using fact, opinion, humour, horror, fantasy, whatever tools. The strips need to be between half a page to three pages in length. This is per strip of course. I’m happy to receive multiple submissions on different issues. (II) Flexibility and the Postcard We’re not done yet. Part Two is a postcard. This will follow on directly from the strip, or in formatting problems at the back of the book. An option exists for two postcards to be included. The card makes up a double-sided A6 in the booklet which the reader will (hopefully) cut out and post off. This can take a number of forms, Side One (a) Visuals being the concentrate visual message of your agenda. Alternatively, (b) Courier readable lettering spelling out the name and address of the recipient. Room left for postage stamps, and air mail stamps if applicable. Side Two (a) Postcard structure – room for stamp and address on the left hand side. The right should be blank for the reader to fill in their message or (i) the author can pre-write a message which the reader will then sign and post. (b) Pre-written message for reader to sign, or blank space left for reader to fill in text. There are many permutations of the card device. Neither of these examples take in the option chosen by John Robbins in his submission. John has so far opted for a single image, and a blank side two. A few more words on subject matter. Subject matter chosen should meet two criteria. 1. Addressing longer term concerns. A p[lea for support of a bill which occurs two or three months down the line – not help. Enlisted support in trend problems – good. I hope this child of ours gets a large print run, mass circulation. When it has won, it may no longer be of any use.

2. Addressing universal concerns Quite frankly, I’d like to see NY stock players made to stand trial for giving financial benefit from prior knowledge of 911 before being shoved into the recesses of Darfur and lifelong community service. That may never happen. However there are plenty of environmental justice the masses agree on. If you’re low on optimism for the democratic process ? You could start on a more visibly accessible scale. If you’re not sure you and your readers can shut down a few brutal detention centre, perhaps a national arts council, newspaper or minister could be persuaded to pump more money into the commix community. Need Inspiration ? Get along to a demo or an event like Climate Camp and pick up a few of those ‘Take Action’ with postcard cards. Also, these are available thru local activists. Partly, we want to adapt this format to a different media. I use Amnesty International a lot. Their ‘Act Now’ and ‘Urgent Action’ sections provide many clues and addresses. http://www.amnesty.org/actnow/ http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=770 I also recommend you look at their letter writing guide. http://www.amnesty.org/campaign/letter-guide.html The brief guidelines in this make up part of the guidelines for submission for this anthology. A fuller book length version may also be purchased or downloaded free from the website. Theres also a great links section which acts as a kind of hub for a range of concerns. If you’ve never cartooned political before iots worth clearing your art throat. Comics nowadays are just teeming with all manner of current affairs spokespeople. Tired old hands are welcome to re-use images from old strips in a new form. While you’re at it why not donate some images to chosen activism centres. Schnews, way I hear it, is quite open to including cartoon illustrations in their bumper collections. Deadline As with CAAT/Paper Tiger Comix’s “WAR”, several deadlines have already passed. I’m not going to lay down a deadline as this concept has potential to be more than just a one-off. Also, I need time to arrange funding, advertising through journalism, printers, distribution etc The next big event I’m attending is People and Planet’s Shared Planet Conference in December. It’d be nice to have something released by then, but I’m not holding my breath. Theres an open-door submissions policy on this, I’d like to bring non-cartoonists into the fold. Theres also an open-assistance policy, for co-ordinators, media attention… - Andrew, 13 August 2007, [email protected], 07783129431