The focus of the latest issue of New Internationalist is Youth. The cover states: ‘Youth rising – why apathy is not an option’, and to quote from one article “young people are carrying the can for capitalism’s structural failings’. Those who do read the magazine will know that it presents a global snapshot (and fact-shot) of complex issues.
This month the cartoon does relate to the theme – as well as using a bit too popular metaphor.
The City of Melbourne is developing an International Students Strategy to ‘continue to develop the programs and initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of International Students… and acknowledge and promote the substantial contribution International Students make to Melbourne’s diverse social and cultural fabric…’
Here are two of the cartoons illustrating their fact sheet and discussion questions.
Cleanskin sheep are ideal easy-care meat sheep for new farmers. A new website provides basic information about keeping these wool-less breeds of sheep. To visit Cleanskin Sheep Information click here.
In a world where, although it appears economical to jet Canadian pork around the world to Australia, for example, there is a growing movement for promoting – and celebrating – local produce; the sharing of this sort of information is valuable.
And it is about all food, not only meat, of course.
The website also gives an opportunity for cartoons to help highlight some of the issues – and give sheep a voice.
The Australian Government plans to introduce an income management card – called the Basics Card – to a number of low-income areas. The intervention in the Northern Territory in 2007 included income management imposed on Aboriginal communities. Income management quarantines a proportion of welfare recipients’ benefits, through a card, which can only be spent on essentials.
This cartoon illustrates some of the concerns about the scheme, as presented in an article on the Pro Bono website news page. To read the article click here.
A poll of over 1700 clients by The Salvation Army showed that more than half have gone without meals to pay for other basic necessities. This is in Australia, a wealthy country…
This is my cartoon comment on the 2012 Federal Budget, published on the Pro Bono website. To go to the website page, click here.
The look of the cartoon is a bit different as it is my first serious attempt at drawing on an iPad, with finger and stylus. I was away from my office, computer, scanner etc this week – so it was a good test.
The Scratchy Lines cartoon from the April New Internationalist
Water on the Moon! Water on Mars! Earth-like planets out there!
As this planet fails to meet our expectations some of us seem to be comforted by the idea that we could ‘trade up’, move on to something a little better.
I don’t think they intend taking all of us with them of course.
The cheaper option is to find some alien life out there that in some way could rescue us … from ourselves.
Here is the current New Internationalist cartoon:
Simon Kneebone - cartoonist and illustrator 