Draw The Line Comics

[drawthelinecomics]

HACK THE GOVERNMENT

In Taiwan, the government wasn’t being as transparent or making as much use of online technologies as certain hackers would have liked — so they created their own version of the government websites, just changing one letter of the URL (from gov to g0v).

With a single stroke of the keyboard, the public could access public assets and information as they ought to be, sharing open data and inviting collaboration.

Several years on, one of the primary instigators of this movement has become the country’s Minister for Digital.

Art by James Harvey

[drawthelinecomics]

PUT IT LIVE

We live in modern times — so whether you’re taking part in a protest, witnessing police brutality, or viewing conditions in a refugee camp: get it on film and show an unbiased, unedited picture to the world.

Putting a video on Twitter, Facebook, Periscope, YouTube or Instagram can be the quickest way to get news to spread — and to show the reality of a situation.

Art by David Baillie

This action may contravene the law in some jurisdictions: proceed with caution.

[drawthelinecomics]

EXPOSE YOUR KIDS

Make sure your children are reading books and watching movies that present a diverse range of characters and expose them to worlds outside their own.

Choose entertainment that will help shape them into true citizens of the world

Art by sally KIndberg

[drawthelinecomics]

CHECK YOUR VOCABULARY

Daisy Hernández, author of A Cup of Water Under My Bed, says: “What are you noticing about headlines when the police kill another black teenager? Is the teen described as a kid on his way to college or as a “black male”? I try to raise awareness that we’re trafficking in racial ideology 24-7 online — and that we can change the direction of these conversations every time we hit “comment.”

Same applies across all sectors of society — from gender non-binary to disabled people, and everything in between. Pick your words with care.

Art by Victor Szepessy

[drawthelinecomics]

START A COLLECTION

Consult the websites of migrant aid charities and food banks to see what kind of food is needed — usually dried or tinned goods.

Then ask your neighbours to help you collect them. Allocating one type of food to each street in your neighbourhood can be good — and then the competitive instinct kicks in as you see which street can come up with the most.

Art by Fumio Obata

[drawthelinecomics]

SHARE YOUR SKILLS

Run a workshop to share your practical knowledge, whether that’s about cooking, gardening, bike repair, plumbing…or anything else that will help people save money. 

Art by Jenny Drew

[drawthelinecomics]

RESIST IMMIGRATION RAIDS

The Anti-Raids Network list this as one of their recommended actions. We reckon there might be a hundred ‘fun’ or ‘accidental’ ways to do this.

This action may contravene the law in some jurisdictions: proceed with caution.

Art by Nic Vas

[drawthelinecomics]

DONATE YOUR WASTE GOODS

If your car is only good for scrap or your phone is due for an upgrade, there are services which will take them off your hands and donate any proceeds to the charity of your choice. @drawthelinecomics

Art by Paul Shinn

[drawthelinecomics]

HOLD AN AUCTION

Ask your artist friends to donate a piece of work, then sell it in a live auction or online, to raise money for a cause that needs it. @drawthelinecomics

Art by Lily Rose Beards

[drawthelinecomics]

SKIM YOUR PROFITS

Comic makers can donate some of their proceeds to organisations that need the support (and include information about them in the publication, to help spread the word).

In fact, of course, anyone who sells anything can advertise that they’ll donate a percentage of the takings to a worthy cause. @drawthelinecomics

Art by Pete Renshaw

[drawthelinecomics]

QUESTION THE NARRATIVE

It’s a really good, if somewhat cynical, habit to get into: ask yourself what forces or agendas are behind the news.

Every story can be presented in a variety of ways. If you believe that output is being swayed by forces that aren’t entirely neutral, call it out.

Teach your children to do the same (that part’s easy — just shout at your TV or radio every night). @drawthelinecomics

Art by Landis Blair

[drawthelinecomics]

RESEARCH YOUR GOOD INTENTIONS

Read up on how people prefer to be supported. Your assumptions may not be quite right. @drawthelinecomics

Art by Richy K Chandler

[drawthelinecomics]

MEME IT UP

If something strikes you as politically outrageous, world-changing or important to know, ain’t nothing like a meme to get it out there.

Visit a site like memegenerator.net, stick it on Twitter or Facebook and bob’s your uncle. @drawthelinecomics

Art by Henri Tervapuro

[drawthelinecomics]

HANG UP A WELCOME SIGN

If you own a business or work somewhere public, display a sign to make it clear that everyone is welcome.

In Portland, Oregon, USA, the Independent Publishing Resource Center made signs that read: We welcome ALL races,ALL religions, ALL countries of origin, ALL sexual orientations, ALL genders. We stand with you. You are safe here.

If you’re a maker, you can produce something similar — and make them available to others. Offer them via social media, using your local hashtag, Facebook page or message board. @drawthelinecomics

Art by Sally Anne Hickman

[drawthelinecomics]

MAKE A NOISE

Campaign, march, demonstrate, use non-violent direct action. Take heart from those who have taken this route before, and who have made change — through history, like Martin Luther King, and in recent times, like the Feminist Library campaign in London. @drawthelinecomics

Art by Una

[drawthelinecomics]

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

Trying to make a better world?

Write a blog as you go about it. Sharing your experiences with the world sets a precedent, and normalises them for the next person thinking of doing the same. @drawthelinecomics

Art by Richy K. Chandler

[drawthelinecomics]

SEEK OUT A NEMESIS

Speak to someone you disagree with.

Have a full discussion as though both your perspectives are valid and worthy of discussion. Because here’s the thing… you might just find out that they are. @drawthelinecomics

Art by John Diordan