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CALL TO ALL COMIC WRITERS/ARTISTS, ILLUSTRATORS & MUSICIANS!

"WAR: THE HUMAN COST" IS TO BE A PERFECT BOUND COMIX/ART ANTHOLOGY WITH AN 75 MINUTE MUSIC COMPILATION. £2 OF EVERY BOOK SOLD WILL GO TO CAAT(CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ARMS TRADE),THE REST OF THE PROCEEDS WILL HELP FUND COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECT'S FUTURE FREE ACTIVITIES, EVENTS & COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

'WAR:THE HUMAN COST' is a not-for-profit humanitarian/ pro-peace, anti-war project which is being put together by Community Arts Projects (CAP - A brighton based voluntary group), and Paper Tiger Comix. We are looking for strips that talk about war, conflict, peace, refugees and asylum and surrounding issues. The book already includes artists from Europe, North & South America, The Middle East, The Balkans, Asia and elsewhere, coming together for the first time. We are also working with local refugees and asylum seekers to tell their stories in comic form and express themselves through art and writing; An important part of the book is enabling direct participation from those involved in war, conflict and persecution.

There are also some very respected comic veterans involved in the project such as Spain Rodriquez, Peter Kuper, Mack White and Aleksandar Zograf for example.

The CD will include anti-war tracks from MICHEAL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, THE LEVELLERS, DJ SPOOKY, SLY & ROBBIE, BIG YOUTH & TWILIGHT CIRCUS, ZION TRAIN, BLUE KING BROWN, THE BLACK SEEDS as well as other great music (scroll down for more info on CD and comic contributers)

WAR:THE HUMAN COST will be published by PAPER TIGER COMIX

Rather than finger pointing, ranting and resorting to clichés, WAR:THE HUMAN COST is looking at conflict from lots of different perspectives and has the aim of promoting peace and understanding, showing how war is futile and causes devastation and dehumanisation to those directly involved, and only benefits the very few; those who profit and gain from it but do not experience the pain and suffering from it directly.

The strips go beyond what you see on the news or read in the papers & get across a wide variety of stories, opinions and expressions in the way only comics can. Working in conjunction with refugees, asylum seekers, soldiers who have experienced conflict, victims of torture and human rights abuse, aswell as artists who have experienced war themselves, the international selection allows for diverse content & subject matter, which benefits those seeking piece and community rather than seperation and ongoing conflict.

WAR: THE HUMAN COST will also feature fictional strips, journalistic and well researched pieces as well as more expressive and personal views.

The strips are avoiding sensationalism, preaching and finger-pointing, focussing on the individual stories, interpretations, reasons/ causes and media misinformation surrounding War, arguments against War, the effects of war, and the personal responsiblity of the individual. The book will also touch on the agendas of many political and commercial entities (such as arms companies) who profit from conflict.

Strips that highlight the folly, futility and absurdity of war are also welcome. Artists are encouraged to think outside the box.

Some other strips take a more surreal, unusual or everyday angle of what war can mean.

It might sound quite heavy, but it’s balanced with positive stories, satire and humour and isn’t all doom and gloom.

Themes include; the global arms trade & illegal arms deals, the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in soldiers and life after conflict, media representation, child soldiers in Uganda, Torture Victims in Guantanamo Bay, Occupation, Genocide and Human Rights abuses in Tibet, negative propaganda and blame, satire, companies who profit from bloodshed, global and covert wars, asylum seekers/ refugees, community conflict, anti-war, peace and alternatives to conflict and much more

Please consider contributing something new to the anthology.

Artwork needs to be 400 - 600 dpi resolution The size/format is A5 ie: 21cm x 14.85cm. The book will be high quality printed, so greyscale and more detailed art is acceptable.

Previously published material is considered (but only if in relatively small print runs) but original strips are preferred.

The deadline for publication is August 1st 2009.

All the artists are donating their strips and artwork for free, but retain full copyright and control of their work.

You would, of course, have any contact/biographical info about you printed in the books. You would also receive cost copies.

The book will be perfect bound and estimated around 256 pages

Contributers are allowed up to 8 pages for the anthology

There will also be a free music compilation CD with the comic on the War theme, including diverse anti-war music. Artists so far include:

Michael Franti & Spearhead, DJ Spooky, Sly & Robbie, Zion Train, The Levellers, Blue King Brown, Big Youth, Twilight Circus, Angre Afram Asmar, Witchdokta Wise, Like The Animal You Are, Cat Catalyst, Kal, Caroline Kendall, Chino, Bela Emerson & many more.

Please get in touch with your contributions and spread the word!

"BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD" - GANDHI

"THE OPINION THAT ART SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS IS IN ITSELF A POLITICAL ATTITUDE" - GEORGE ORWELL

"WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE OVERCOMES THE LOVE OF POWER, THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE" - JIMI HENDRIX