MATE ACT NOW: design for social good
For the last five months, our neighbours across the ditch have faced incredible hardship with their worst ever bushfire season. Earlier this month New Zealand’s skies glowed golden as smoke haze travelled 2700km across the Tasman. In the scale of such a devastating disaster, it is easy to feel helpless.
— At least 28 people have died
— More than a billion animals dead
— Over 15% of Australia (more than 10 million hectares) have burned since September.
Resources and energy to fight these flames are running low but the fire season doesn’t end until April. It is frightening and sad but rather than be overwhelmed or feel powerless many Australian designers have been using their talents to draw attention, voice their concerns and raise money for this cause. One of the most moving exemplars is Darcy Pendergast’s new animated film Tomorrow is on Fire. This side of the ditch our kiwi designers are standing shoulder to shoulder in support of this rallying cry for hope & importantly action:
Chris Flack (Director of Strategy Creative) designed (with the help of his two-year-old who oversaw the crayon scribbles) a poster series with a powerful message to the decision-makers’ MATE ACT NOW’. Chris has generously shared these with our community to free to download and use — bit.ly/2QF4iP7
Betty McCready of @hipsteranimals is taking orders for Koala, and Kangaroo tote bags for $25NZD + postage, all proceeds for the Kangaroo design go directly to @wireswildliferescue to help relocate and care for injured wildlife in affected areas. The Koala design proceeds go to @wwf_australia to help care for injured wildlife and restore their homes when the fires finally cease.
#GameDevsforFireys and #AuthorsforFireys Twitter fundraising auctions united their respective communities together to successfully lend support to firefighters still tirelessly working to put out the fires and wildlife impacted. Chromacon’s Allan Xia has taken up the mantle for the design and visual art communities with the blessing of the two organisers mentioned above, launched #ArtistsForFireRelief today. For one week (24th Jan – 1st Feb), artists and designers around the globe can work under a shared hashtag #ArtistsForFireRelief to help raise funds with their work. For more information, please visit: https://artistsforfirerelief.com/
Get involved, download a MATE ACT NOW poster, buy a hipster animals tote, auction your work or bid on artwork you admire with #ArtistsForFireRelief or if you are in a position to donate, please check out the following organisations curated by Melbourne-based creative Maria Montes:
Fire Relief Fund for First Nation Communities
Wildlife Victoria
RSPCA Victoria
WIRES Wildlife Rescue
CFS Foundation
Australian Red Cross
CFA (Country Fire Authority)
NSW Rural Fire Service
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#climatechange #australianfires #australianbushfires #mateactnow
