ALR designletter [3.5]
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Welcome to a new issue of the ALR designletter. We’re back to the regular bi-monthly schedule and we hope to keep it that way. As always we welcome your comments, suggestions, criticism and/or praise. Thanks for reading.
Noah Scalin, founder
ALR design
socially conscious graphic design
http://www.ALRdesign.com
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[01] ALR NEWS
ALR’s logo designs for ABC NO RIO and Metamorphosis Mind + Body were selected for inclusion in the new book “Letterhead and Logo Design 8” from Rockport Books.
[02] WAR & PEACE
Congress recently approved President Bush’s request for an additional $87 billion in funds for the ongoing actions in Iraq. Since most of us will never encounter this much money in our lives, it maybe difficult to truly understand what it amounts to. The people at CrunchWeb.net have provided a handy tool to remedy the situation. Their “perspective” on $87,000,000,000.00 has to be seen to be believed, check it out at: http://www.crunchweb.net/87billion/ (thanks for list member Brad Choma for this one!)
[03] ACTIVISM
If the issue of international arms control is important to you Oxfam, IANSA, and Amnesty International want you to lend them your face. Their Control Arms campaign features a new take on an activism standard: The Million Faces Petition. Send in your picture or use a stock one and show the world what a million caring people look like.
Read more and participate at: http://www.controlarms.org/million_index.htm
[04] CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
While the LP record may no longer be the music storage medium of choice, there’s no reason they need to be gone from our lives entirely. The folks at Vinylux have created a line of household goods all made from recycled records. Find out where you can buy your own LP clocks (with packaging designed by ALR), bowls, and more at: http://vinylux.net/
[05] DESIGN
In need of inspiration for designing your next activism poster? Check out the Australian based Resistance Revolutionary Image Archive (http://www.resistance.org.au/resrev/). From political cartoons to images of Che Guevara, this web gallery contains over a thousand images divided by category on a wide variety of social causes that will get your creative juices flowing or maybe your blood boiling.
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If you need to make printed t-shirts try to avoid traditional plastic inks. These PVC based toxic solvents are very dangerous for the environment. One solution is to request that the printer use water-based silkscreen inks. Another option is to go to Rehance. This company prints the image into the t-shirt using special dyes that give the shirt a look completely different from traditional printed tees. Learn more at: http://rehance.com/
[06] MONEY
As the year draws to a close many people will be making their annual donations to the organizations they support. But how can you be sure your favorite non-profit is making good use of your funds? Charity Navigator is one of several watchdogs whose sole function is to track non-profits’ use of donated funds. Their site contains extensive searchable data, but what makes them stand out from the crowd is that there’s no fee to use it. See how your money is being utilized at http://www.charitynavigator.org/
[07] CALENDAR
Fall forward? October 24th may become the new Labor Day if the Simplicity Forum has a say in the matter. Their proposed “Take Back Your Time Day” (http://www.timeday.org/) is designed as a catalyst for Americans to confront the increasing amount of time we spend working and the negative effects it has on our lives. The date, which is 9 weeks before the end of the year, marks the discrepancy between ours and Western Europeans’ time spent working.
[08] ELECTIONS
1.4 million adult Americans in 13 states are not allowed to vote because they have served time in jail. 13 percent of all African-American men were prevented from voting due to these restrictions (25% in Florida). 80 percent of America thinks ex-felons should have all of their rights returned once they have served their time. Learn more at http://www.sentencingproject.org/ (Source: Christian Science Monitor 9/30/02)
[09] FOOD
If you choose not to eat a turkey at Thanksgiving for political or ethical reasons, why not adopt one instead. No, you don’t have to keep your feathered friend in your house. The money you donate to Farm Sanctuary, creator of the Adopt-A-Turkey program, will go to the care and feeding of one of thousands of turkeys they’ve rescued from slaughter over the years. And if you really do want a turkey running around in your yard, they can help you out with that as well! Find out more at: http://www.adoptaturkey.com/
[10] ENVIRONMENT
Despite the President’s apparent lack of interest environmental protection in favor of business needs, the White House Office of Management and Budget recently stated that environmental regulations are good for the economy. They found that the monetary benefits derived from these rules outpaced the costs of implementing them by nearly 5 to 1. (source: Christian Science Monitor 10/3/03)
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If you care about the environment the League of Conservation Voters wants to help your voice get heard in the political arena. Their most powerful tool is the National Environmental Scorecard, a simple means to see how your politicians are representing your interests. Check out your state representatives at http://www.lcv.org/
[11] SPORTS
In an era of out of control player salaries and the corporatization of sports one team stands out: the Green Bay Packers. The team, which was created as a non-profit entity in1923 as a means to promote community welfare, is publicly owned by 110,901 fans. Their non-profit Green Bay Packers Foundation has donated a million dollars to the community to support a variety of causes and even their concessions are run by charitable organizations. Why aren’t there more teams doing the same thing? The NFL has made it illegal to do so. (source: Mother Jones Nov/Dec 2002)
[12] MEDIA
iTunes, the new music service from Apple, is being touted as a smart solution to the problem of illegally downloaded music. But the folks at Downhill Battle (http://www.downhillbattle.org/), a musicians activist group, think there are a few things you should know before you jump on the bandwagon. Their iTunes iSbogus site (http://www.downhillbattle.org/itunes/), which mimics Apple’s web interface, explains the nuts and bolts of how iTunes contributes to musicians’ problems rather than alleviating them.
[13] BOOKSHELF
Printed on Yupo, the sythetic paper alternative, William McDonough & Michael Braungart’s book Cradle to Cradle makes a case for thinking about resources in a new way. This architect/chemist team (http://www.mbdc.com/) proposes that designers discard the old mentality of reacting to the environmental effects of their work (i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) for a new eco-effective method of designing in which damage is not minimized but rather doesn’t exist. While what they propose is very exciting for the realms industrial design and architecture, it may be harder for people in other fields to put their plan to work. Still it is heartening to read a book whose predictions are less dire and more inspiring than the average environmental call to arms. Ask for it at your locally run independent bookseller.
[14] NOSH
Police cruisers in Springfield, Florida will soon not only sport flashing lights but also flashy advertisements. The cash strapped county has agreed to the high-tech ad-mobiles because the company behind this marketing ploy will only charge them $1 per car. (source Christian Science Monitor 10/3/02)
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The ALR Designletter is 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.
Sources are listed when information was found in one specific location. However, articles are not quoted verbatim in this newsletter. The addresses provided below are to encourage further reading and support of these fine publications and information services:
Christian Science Monitor: http://csmonitor.com/
Mother Jones: http://www.motherjones.com/
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