(Ilya Katz, Israel,Photograph: Ilya Katz)
What does cartoonists & cartoons have to do with issues like global warming, climate change, floods, deforestation, carbon emissions, air pollution, salting of lakes etc.? (The list is quite long actually!). Most of us might dismiss the idea of laughing over grave issues mentioned above which are rapidly taking human lives around the globe. But the fact is cartoons can do something which huge texts and sermons (read lectures) on global warming or climate change can’t do! That’s “Awareness” in a bitter-sweet manner, a sarcasm which will force you to smile but think upon the situation as well. The work of around 150 artists from more than 50 countries makes it all clear and concrete at the competition organized by The Ken Sprague Fund.

(First prize: Coat Star, by Mikhail Zlatovsky, Russia,Photograph: Mikhail Zlatovsky)

Here’s what John Green, secretary of the fund has to say over cartoons on climate change: “Cartoons can reach parts that other arguments can’t. We have been inundated with doom-laden predictions and scientific facts on the inevitability of global warming, but here we can exorcise our fears. Powerful, uncompromising and uncomfortable images bring home to us what it will really mean - not a Costa del Sol on the Welsh coast and palm trees in the garden, but desertification, hunger and poverty.”

(Second place: Butterflies, by Constantin Ciosu, Romania,Photograph: Constantin Ciosu)

(Third place: The Hand, by Tawan Chuntraskawvong,Thailand,Photograph: Tawan Chuntraskawvong)

In other words, the cartoons that won accolades at the fund’s competition are tour de force if you have the eye for art and creativity laced with concern!

(Blind date, Stefano Gamboni,Italy,Photograph: Stefano Gamboni)

The first, second and third prizes were given to entries from Russia, Romania and
Thailand respectively. Those of you who think that cartooning is as easy is ordering a pizza over phone must realize these winners have been in this field for years which reflects in their posters as bitingly satirical, preposterously funny, acrid or even fatalistic take on grave eco-concerns of 21st century.

(Cartumagua, by Aluir Amancia, Brazil,Photograph: Aluir Amancia)

via: guardian