ALR designletter # 1.6

Welcome the ALR designletter, A semi-regular update on the activities at Another Limited Rebellion design, the world of socially conscious design, and beyond. You are on this list because you have worked with, contacted, or have a personal connection to ALR design. The names on this mailing list will never be sold or given away. If you no longer wish to be on this list, just respond with "REMOVE" in the subject section and there will be no hard feelings. Back issues can be found on our web site in the ISSUES section.

ALR news
ALR was recently honored by being included in two books from respected design publishers.
Five of ALR's postcard designs are featured in Japanese publisher PIE Books' new volume "Event Postcard Design", part of their New Postcard Graphics series. For more information on this and their other design resource books go to http://www.piebooks.com
ALR's brochure design for the Target Margin Theater 2000-2001 season will be appearing in the book "Brochures 4" from Graphis, to be published in July. This book and others can be ordered from their site: http://www.graphis.com.

activism
One more reason to oppose drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is the plight of the Gwich'in Nation, a confederation of 8,000 indigenous people from 15 villages along the US-Canadian border. Their lives are dependant on the wild caribou that inhabit the region. A source of food, clothing and tools, the caribou may be driven away by the noise, pollution and road construction of the Bush administration's plans for oil drilling say biologists. The Gwich'in have been sending emissaries to lobby politicians in Ottawa and Washington, D.C. since 1988 when Congress first considered opening the ANWR for drilling, and their fight still continues. To learn how you can help go to http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin/ (source: Mother Jones)

Fed up with corporate elite and politicians who are able to keep a clean public image despite dirty actions, one group has dedicated itself to giving notorious public figures their just deserts. Operation Dessert Storm (http://www.dessertstorm.org/) encourage friendly fire in the form of pies in the face. Their site includes photos of recent pie incidents and of course...recipes. Recent "honorees" include World Bank president James D. Wolfsohn and Swedish Minister of Finance Bosse Ringholm. (as mentioned in http://www.victoryiscertain.com)

human rights
Created in response to the 1999 Hague Appeal for Peace the Global Non-Violent Peace Force (GNPF), is currently recruiting for it's first planned mission in 2003. With the knowledge that the mere presence of witnesses (with cameras) at political hotspots is the best guarantee against violence, the GNPF's goal is to help create a safe space for activists to work. The GNPF, which will only deploy when invited by local peace activists, has a web site with information on how interested individuals can get involved: http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org. (source: Utne Reader)

anticapitalism
How can one avoid the perils of capitalism? The folks at iStockphoto.com (http://www.istockphoto.com) have an interesting solution. They offer high quality royalty free stock photography that is absolutely free. They also allow photographers to upload their own work for inclusion. How do they stay open if they don't make any money? They aren't saying, but links from their site seem to indicate they do well with their other web based design services.

media
The 1992 Canadian documentary Manufacturing Consent is an amazing look at the life and work of linguist/political activist Noam Chomsky. Director's Mark Achbar and Peter Wintonick seamlessly integrate dozens of interviews and speeches along with historical documents and visual metaphors to create a fascinating look at Chomsky's amazing career, from his introduction to the world of activism to his controversial support of free speech. Running at 167minutes the documentary is well worth the time spent viewing. Ask about it at your locally run video store.

environment
According to a 1994 EPA report, medical waste incinerators are the biggest source of dioxin air pollution in the United States. One group working to lessen the impact that the modern pharmaceutical industry has on our environment is Health Care Without Harm (http://www.noharm.org). While striving to halt the use of mercury thermometers and the burning of medical waste the group has already had an impact by confirming which companies are contributing to the problem. (source: Utne Reader)

A recent report from researchers at The University of Stockholm says that cutting grass for one hour using a gasoline powered lawnmower is about the same as taking a 100 mile drive in your car. Their suggested solution is the addition of catalytic converters to mowers which would reduce emissions as much as 80 percent. (source: The Christian Science Monitor) Our suggestion is to use a good old fashioned push mower. Not only are there zero emissions but there is also no noise pollution. Modern versions are designed to reduce the backbreaking work associated with the old models. Sunlawn sells a popular European model at http://www.sunlawn.com.

volunteerism
Still haven't made plans for the summer? Why not consider a volunteer vacation. Many organizations provide low cost trips worldwide for socially conscious individuals who want to help others while learning about their cultures. From environmentalism to peace activism there's something for just about every interest. Links to a few of the myriad organizations are provided here:
Council on International Educational Exchange: http://www.councilexchanges.org
Volunteers for Peace Inc. - International Work Camps: http://www.vfp.org
Earthwatch: http://www.earthwatch.org
Peacework Development Fund: http://www.peacework.org
(source: Christian Science Monitor)

nosh
And you thought be you couldn't be Goofy and be a workers rights activist. A recent contract agreement between the Teamsters union and Disney means that actors who dress in the character costumes at the studios parks are now allowed to wear their own underwear. That's right, up until now they had to return the company provided jockstraps, tights and bike shorts at the end of each day and were given different ones the next day with they assurance that they were properly washed. Many performers had complained of unpleasant side effects from wearing improperly cleaned undergarments. (source: The Christian Science Monitor)

in closing
Thanks for your time and feel free to contact us with suggestions for future issues, web sites to check out, or just to say "Howdy".

Noah Scalin, founder
ALR design

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