New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Who says serious issues must always be dealt with in a serious tone? The British Council is organising a cartoon contest on climate change and is looking out for someone who can pull off a serious message laced with humour to spread awareness on the subject.
Sudhanshu Sinha, head of the Regional Climate Security project of the British Council in India and Sri Lanka said: “Climate change is one of the most important issues today and the contest has been timed in such a way that the 2009 United Nations conference in Copenhagen is just around the corner.”

“Through this contest, we are trying to involve young people in the process of spreading awareness about climate change. However this is not our only initiative,” Sinha told IANS.

“Draw a smile, save the planet” as the contest is called is open to any Indian citizen between 18 and 35 years of age. As per the guidelines, the cartoons have to be hand made and must be black and white.

There are six themes on which the cartoon can be made - droughts and water shortage, deforestation and rain forest destruction, melting of ice caps, role of industry in polluting the atmosphere, devastation of seas and disappearance of marine life and climate change in the urban environment.

The deadline for submission of the cartoon entries is Nov 30.

According to Sinha, the three winning entries will be awarded a laptop, a smart phone and an i-pod, respectively.

“After we receive all the entries, we will hold exhibitions and workshops, showcasing all the cartoons and discussing them, in our various regional centres across the country, along with local cartoonists. This will further help spread awareness,” Sinha said.

“Besides the contest, we are also giving UK-environment fellowship to four Indian film makers for a 12 minute documentary on climate change and are going to a launch a one-two minute short film contest for amateurs,” he added.