As the World Burns

As the World Burns is a wickedly funny satire on environmental policy and environmental activism, served up as a graphic novel. Three story-lines are interwoven with vignettes skewering hippies, activist groups, the media and Al Gore, culminating in a great bloody battle to save the world. Two little girls debate whether personal action is useful or a distraction from fighting institutional environmental vandalism. A one-eyed 'terrorist' rabbit saves his friends from an animal testing lab, and blows it up. And aliens that shit gold invade the planet and proceed to eat it, aided by the President of the United States.

Some of my favourite moments from this book were:

• the little girl rocking back and forth and chanting "oh God, we will go quietly to our doom if only you allow us to believe that changing our lightbulbs will save us"
• a hippy who refuses to join the battle to save the world, because "that would be violent" and instead stays home to plant his peace garden
• the same hippy trying to convince a fox to become a vegan
• a TV panel debate about terrorist rabbits, which is a perfect mirror for every TV panel debate you've ever seen about terrorism, except the word 'rabbit' is substituted for 'terrorist'
• an activist group wildly celebrating the number of celebrities who have signed their petition while aliens devour the world around them

I really liked the way the story had a go at everyone, not just one group. Ultimately, I think the book asks you to consider why you do what you do. Do you take personal action to save the world or to save your conscience? Are you fighting the right battles? Should institutions be part of the solution or are they only part of the problem?

Anyone who's ever run an awareness campaign, worked in policy, slung a banner over a bridge, had an interest in politics and society, or thrown a copy of G Magazine across the room will find something to laugh at, and think about, in this book. Even environmental sceptics should enjoy having their prejudices confirmed with a touch of humour. I'd be interested in opinions from seagreen, fergus and amberino?

As the World Burns
Derrick Jensen (author) and Stephanie McMillan (Illustrator)
Seven Stories Press
I got my copy at Kinokuniya

Crossposted at reading|reading|reading