This cartoon was inspired by a CBC Quirks and Quarks interview with conservationist Terry Glavin about his book, Waiting for the Macaws. In it, Glavin travels around the globe visiting cultures living sustainably on their local environment. He argues that in the relationship between humans and the rest of nature, nature doesn't always get the short end of the stick. In fact, we can find answers to our environmental predicament by looking at cultures that do live sustainably. The problem is, these cultures -- encapsulated by their languages -- are disappearing at the rate of one every two weeks.

He mentioned that in the face of this cultural and biological annihilation, it's not worthwhile to criticize the seal hunt. I agree. Looking at the globe as a whole -- and, indeed the future of the harp seal as a whole -- there are more important issues to grapple with than the fact that poor Newfoundlanders are making a living as they always have, sustainably, on the sea. (The fish were wiped out by big companies and government idiocy, not the fishers themselves.) Plus, it's a little nauseating to see rich celebs club poor fishermen.

The interview is worth listening to. Go to the April 8 Quirks and Quarks site and scroll to the bottom of the page.

April 18 I'm having a continuing interview with fellow comic artist Scott Mooney at his Moon-Man blog. This week, he asks if I ever get paranoid about how people will react to my work because of the politics. Scott will be at the Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon , April 28-30 selling his excellent new graphic novel, Parting Ways , drawn and written with Andrew Foley and Nick Craine.

Attack of the Same-Sex Sleeper Cells Reviews:

Exclaim! says: "Slyly meshing Doonesbury politics, slacker culture and relationship dramas, Lind accomplishes a remarkable balancing act: current without being dated; serialized without being alienating; and smartly political without being preachy."

Eye Weekly says: Think of it as the serial-comic-strip equivalent of a DVD. The 48-page volume includes extras such as creator Gareth Lind's commentary and background summaries of the main characters. Weltschmerz successfully straddles the line between humorous and depressing, taking well-deserved punches at some of the most infuriating political events and trends of 2005.

Echo says: "Mating excellence in design and print quality and Lind’s thoughtful and incisive social commentary, the inaugural collection from the Weltschmerz series sets a high standard."

Retailers:

Toronto:
Pages, 256 Queen Street West (at John). On the graphic novels table.
The Beguiling, 601 Markham Street (near Bloor and Bathurst)
Book City, three locations - 501 Bloor St. West, 348 Danforth Ave., 663 Yonge St.
Hairy Tarantula, 354 Yonge Street (near Dundas).
David Mirvish Books, 596 Markham St.

Guelph:
The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec Street. Generous hosts of the book launch.
Macondo Books, 18 Wilson Street

Waterloo: Words Worth Books, 100 King Street South

Kitchener: KW Bookstore, 308 King Street West

Hamilton: Bryan Prince Bookseller, 1060 King Street West

Ottawa: Collected Works, 1242 Wellington Street West (at Holland)