The Cartoonists Rights Network International is asking friends of global cartoonists to dig deep, as this holiday season they have set their sights on raising at least £16,000 on on behalf of cartoonists abused, criminalised, displaced, and threatened because of what they draw.
The swiftly approaching tenth anniversary of the attack Charlie Hebdo magazine, in Paris on 7th January 2015 offers an opportunity to reflect on what has changed since that moment when the world’s attention seemed to rest on cartoonists, and world-leaders walked arm-in-arm, declaring their commitment to free expression.
Free speech has become a political football, and a favoured hobby horse of authoritarians and populists. When asked, cartoonists no longer cite the violence of rogue fundamentalists as their chief concern. Indeed, it’s now those chummy world leaders who made a conspicuous showing of solidarity on Parisian streets whom they’re most worried about.
Increasingly, editorial and political cartoonists are abused and threatened online by party-politically motivated trolls, often en masse. They are criminalised under vaguely worded cyber security or anti-misinformation laws, jailed for “insulting” the government, judiciary, or army, and in the worst cases labelled seditionists and terrorists. For many, their only choice is to go into exile.
Cartoonists Rights Network International (or Cartoonists Rights for short), currently raising funds in support of cartoonists the world over under attack, was incorporated in 1999, the world’s first human rights non-profit with such cartoonists in mind, and campaigns to defend and support those abused, criminalised, displaced, or threatened because if what they draw.
• To support Cartoonists Rights, please consider contributing during their Pledge Drive
• Visit cartoonistsrights.org/donate and keep an eye on their social media for further announcements seeking support on Bluesky – @cartoonistsrights.org • Facebook/Instagram – @cartoonistsrights • Mastodon – @cartooniststrights@newsie.social
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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