Some of Britain’s best-loved illustrators, including Quentin Blake, Lauren Child, Diane Ewen, Jim Field, and Nick Sharratt have added their voices and talents to a call for the UK government to take the lead on tackling the biggest crises facing our planet: Covid, injustice, climate change and nature crisis.
With the UK hosting the G7 conference in June, the Crack The Crises campaign says now is the time for Boris Johnson’s government to take decisive action to secure a fair future for everyone on the planet.
Supporting the call from some of Britain’s leading charities, including the Fairtrade Foundation, the renowned artists have created illustrations featuring their most recognisable characters including Clarice Bean, Oi Frog, and Tracy Beaker for people to collect, decorate, and place in their windows.
The characters will form part of the Wave of Hope campaign, signalling to the leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest countries that the people of the UK demand a better, fairer world that works for everyone.
Crack the Crises is a coalition of over 75 charities and organisations, ranging from the Fairtrade Foundation to Save the Children, Christian Aid and the Women’s Institute. In total, the coalition represents 12 million people from across the UK.
Stefan Donnelly, Campaigns Supporter Engagement Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation said: ‘Every day all over the world our Fairtrade community is fighting the inseparable crises of climate, COVID-19, and unacceptable global injustice. The farmers and workers who produce so much of our foods and goods need politicians at the G7 to commit to radical action that helps build a fairer, more sustainable future for all of us.
‘We’ve been really excited to see Fairtrade campaigners from across the UK sharing their own Waves of Hope, online, in their windows and at local events. Now it’s time for the decision makers at G7 to play their part by committing to real change that delivers for farmers and workers facing the worst effects of these crises.’
The Wave Of Hope illustrations, which feature the famous characters all raising their hands for the campaign, will be available to pick up for free in every Waterstones book shop in the country from today, as well as in selected charity shops associated with the coalition across the four nations of the UK.
Nick Sharratt, the illustrator who brought Tracy Beaker to life said: ‘I’m very glad to contribute to the Wave of Hope campaign. World leaders have got to take proper measures to deal with the crises facing the planet, and we all need to galvanize them into action.’
Clarice Bean and Charlie and Lola creator Lauren Child said: ‘I am very glad to be taking part in the Wave of Hope. These issues touch everyone, but above all our children, as what we do now will shape the world we leave to them. Their voices urgently need to be heard. It is therefore a great privilege to add Clarice Bean’s support to this campaign.’
Diane Ewen, illustrator of Baroness Floella Benjamin’s Coming to England said: ‘I was so pleased to be asked to take part in the campaign. I am a great believer in our ability to bring about change when we all come together and I look forward to seeing the impact of the Wave of Hope.’
Illustrator of Oi Frog! Jim Field said: ‘I’m delighted to stand alongside such renowned illustrators for the Wave of Hope campaign. We need to unite together and tell our world leaders that change must happen.’
Crack the Crises is encouraging everyone to scan the QR code attached to every illustration, or visit crackthecrises.org and support the Wave of Hope.
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Notes to Editors
About Crack the Crises
Crack the Crises is a coalition of over 75 charities representing 12 million citizens from across the UK, launched in the run up to the UK hosting the G7 and COP26 in 2021. The coalition is on a mission to bring people together to tackle the Covid, injustice, climate change, and nature crisis, through taking individual action, supporting others, and asking decision-makers to act.
About the Wave of Hope
The Wave of Hope is a campaign launched by Crack the Crises. People across the UK are joining the movement, becoming part of the Wave of Hope that is linking communities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Showing the politicians gathered at the G7 that they must Crack the Crises: the Covid pandemic, injustice, climate change and the nature crisis