Travelling the world to learn about climate change is dangerous work: Captain Polo dodges bullets in East Africa, gets chased by furious, knife-wielding market sellers in the streets of Cairo, narrowly escapes getting arrested by Italian coastguards in the Mediterranean Sea, and gets captured in London Zoo!
Today's climate crisis may be the most serious environmental issue in human history.
Understanding the causes and effects of climate change can be complicated and confusing. This funny adventure comic packed with action and interesting climate change facts teaches what we can all do to fight global warming.
Based in biodiversity-rich Ecuador, Alan wears several hats: he is an author-illustrator, an educator and a conservation biologist. Alan’s work is inspired by the majesty and fragility of nature and the need to do everything we can to protect it.
Alan combines his artistic creativity with his technical experience and knowledge to create scientifically accurate, educational children’s books full of quirky, comic humour and fun action, and usually bearing a message about how everyone can help preserve Nature.
Alan draws the artwork in his comic or picture books by hand and then edits it all digitally.
He is the author of five educational comic books for middle grade children, among which his main ongoing focus is the Captain Polo series about climate change.
Alan is also the author of 3 climate change-themed picture books for children within the 6-8 age range.
Check it all out on Alan’s website, AJH Education Comics and Cartoons: https://alanhesse.com
It's all connected. Fighting climate change is not only about saving polar bears and planting trees. It is also about fighting for basic human rights.
Racial prejudice and social inequity, as recent events in the US have reminded us, are still part of our global society. These drive human conflict and suffering, and all of this falls into the mix of global ecosystem collapse, public health crises, and climate change.
When I created my first climate change comic, I knew I had to somehow also address these broader issues. This page shows an excerpt from my comic that touches upon the link between climate change and war refugees.
On his crossing from Egypt to Europe, Polo helps rescue a Syrian war refugee and an elderly man fleeing from politically oppressive, drought-ridden Eritrea. Both hope they will be accepted as legal migrants in Italy. Both are victims of war, oppression, and also climate change.
I hope that as an accessible comic book character, Polo will help bring the awareness of these broad issues to children and adults alike.
Book Excerpt
The Adventures of Captain Polo: Polo in East Africa
Comment on this Bubble
Your comment and a link to this bubble will also appear in your Facebook feed.