Oh my god, I'm so pleased about the fabulous entries for the acronym contest that Bunnista has received so far!!! People are so creative and funny! I love that.

For those coming in late, here's what it's about:

Bunnista, the one-eyed bunny in my comic strip "Minimum Security," is charged with organizing a fifth column of humans to save the planet. Victoria, the revolutionary leader and a guinea pig, is bad at making up catchy names. So Bunnista is holding a contest in the hope that someone can think of one with a less wretched acronym than EERF.

Here's his appeal: http://minimumsecurity.net/blog/2009/10/20/assistance-needed/

And here's the narrative lead-up to it (though it goes back way further if you want to read back):
http://minimumsecurity.net/blog/2009/10/

The person who makes up the best one wins a "Minimum Security" fun pack, which includes, among other things, a free copy of "As the World Burns."

The deadline is Nov. 8.

* * * * *

Here are a few examples of the many ideas people have sent in during the last couple of days:

RABBIT - Rebellion Against Brainless Bipeds Infecting Terra (the Earth)

W.T.F. - Wildlife Task Force

C.U.T.I.E. - Creatures United Together Invasion Effort

AARGH  (Animal Action Regaining Global Hegemony)

Eliminate All Rotten Trashy Humans = EARTH

BITER - Bipedal Interface Team for Environmental Rescue

GREEN - Global Response to Environmental Emergencies Now

AUToPC (pronounced as autopsy) Animals for the Unethical Treatment Of
People Coalition

FERAL - *F*reedom *E*arth *R*esistors *A*ct for *L*ife!

CRASH: Catastrophic Rework Against Societal Havoc

The Earth's Radical Revolutionary Army, or T.E.R.R.A.

I'll be on the radio 2:30 est today on "What Now", KOWS 107.3 fm, Occidental, CA.  Listen in at kows.fm. Topic? I have no idea! Politics, comics...??

I'll talk some political & art bla bla bla on the radio, 2:30 EST/11:30 PT Monday 10/5. Tune in on kows.fm.

If you attend the Small Press Expo this weekend in Bethesda, MD, please stop by the NBM Publications table and say hi! I'll be at the table part-time selling books, comic books and a few t-shirts. Plus I'll have some "Minimum Security" and "As the World Burns" originals available. The rest of the time I plan to wander around in awe of all the amazing work there.

Here are some more cartoons that I've been drawing for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. They run on Sundays, accompanying a column on social networking by Seth Liss. Each week he tells me the specific topic to illustrate.

I've finished drawing several pages for Derrick Jensen's children's book, "Mischief in the Forest." I'm re-posting the cover too, so they're in sequence.

I've been practicing my lettering. I'm not sure yet if this or a regular font would be best.

Here are the most recent "Code Green" comics. They are updated each Monday at stephaniemcmillan.org/codegreen.

[I just got this email. Written comments are accepted until 9/30. -- Stephanie]

Tuesday evening, September 22nd, first ever National Park Service Wilderness Hearing
for Broward County!  Read below...

Dear Friends,

About a month ago, we wrote on this list about public meetings in south Florida on
the 146,000 acre Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Lands.  Today we have great
news for those who live next door to these lands - or those who missed previous
meetings in Miami, Naples or Everglades City.  But please continue reading whether
you live in south Florida or not.  Big Cypress is a NATIONAL PRESERVE - a unit of
the National Park Service (NPS) managed for the benefit of all Americans.  It is
also quite likely the most biodiverse piece of land remaining in the continental
United States.  A very special part of that land is now under threat from the very
agency whose mission statement, written into law in the Organic Act of 1916, is to
protect it 'unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations'.  Comments can be
submitted until midnight, September 30th, at the following National Park Service
website:

http://m1e.net/c?79787653-WGkQIC0954iIg%404602690-wBkTtisShm98g

In response to a joint letter from these Broward County environmental organizations:

Broward Sierra
Broward Audubon
Broward Chapter of the Florida Trail Association (Happy Hoofers)
South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association
Green League of Broward County
Broward County Environmental Meetup Group
Broward County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
Mosaic Outdoor Club
South Florida Kayaking Meetup Group
Florida Biodiversity Project

the National Park Service has decided to hold a fourth and final public meeting in
Broward County.  A big hand is due the leadership of these ten community
organizations and the many thousands of members they represent.  It was a great
example of democracy in action.

..

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd, from 4 to 7:30 PM (or until the
last speaker has finished).   Location is the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference
Center, 250 Racquet Club Road, Weston, Florida 33326.  Phone number is 954-616-1234.

A map is here:

http://m1e.net/c?79787653-MSITlVQmx/6X2%404602691-rJYKAqh2JPP9o

Easy directions - take I-595 to 136th Ave.  You'll exit onto State Road 84.  Stay on
84 (westbound) until Bonaventure Blvd (go across 136th Ave. and Weston Rd). At
Bonaventure, take a left under the highway and then a right turn onto Racquet Club
Road.  The hotel is on the left - ample public parking is on the right.

A road map showing the location of the Addition Lands (northeast section of the Big
Cypress National Preserve) is here:

http://m1e.net/c?79787653-5fDU71/U6AlvU%404602692-8wgUi5Ji80jP2

We realize it's a work night - come when you can.  As long as comments are being
given, you will be allowed to sign up to speak.  Please be respectful of all points
of view whether speaking or listening - this is not a meeting on health care or the
floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The meeting will be divided in two parts with a break in between.  The first portion
will deal with the National Park Service's draft plan for the Addition Lands (the
Sierra Club supports Alternative F - no motorized recreation in the Addition Lands),
while the second half will be a formal wilderness hearing on the possible entry of
over 100,000 acres of south Florida habitat into the National Wilderness
Preservation System (the Sierra Club supports the designation of wilderness for all
109,000 acres that NPS has judged to be 'wilderness eligible').  According to the
Wilderness Act of 1964:

"A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the
landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life
are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."

Lands receiving this level of protection have the highest safeguards against
ecological impairment.  While allowing for many human activities and public
enjoyment, uses such as motorized recreation, commercial concessions, and
development of any kind are strictly off-limits.  Wilderness designation would not
prevent the NPS from providing normal maintenance activities.

THE ARGUMENT SUMMARIZED

The bulk of the Addition Lands were acquired by the public in 1996 through an
exchange of federal land in Arizona.  The Collier Center in downtown Phoenix now
sits on that property while the American people received an incredible tapestry of
marl prairie, marshes, hardwood hammocks, pinelands, mangroves and cypress forest.
Among the thousands of species of native Florida plants and animals found here, at
least 30 animals and 72 plants are listed as endangered, threatened or species of
special concern.  Among these is Florida's own state animal - the critically
endangered Florida panther.  As a result of hunting and habitat loss throughout its
original range, scientists estimate only about 80 to 100 panthers now remain.  The
Addition Lands represents one of the most important undisturbed habitats the panther
has left - quite possibly the most important due to its relatively large size,
vegetative cover and food supply.  It literally lights up on panther telemetry maps.

This past July, the National Park Service produced a draft plan for the Addition
Lands which will direct its management for decades.  They have proposed opening up
these lands to 140 miles of off-road vehicle (ORV) trails for motorized hunting on
swamp buggies and ATVs - plus an unspecified number of 'secondary ORV trails'.  The
photo below shows the effects of motorized recreation on a trail re-opened in 2007
in Bear Island - just west of the Addition Lands:

http://m1e.net/c?79787653-5Gp60PhdjFNbU%404602693-s7RAL3jaX8Hag

For more information on the Bear Island trails and the lawsuit brought by the Sierra
Club and six other environmental organizations' see the following website:

http://m1e.net/c?79787653-5Fk2FnMLdtmcY%404602694-7lV9gtulTy2Lg

In addition to damage to soils and plants, the spread of invasive species throughout
the preserve and changes in hydrology due to tire ruts that can dig several feet
into the fragile wetland soils, the NPS plan couldn't be worse for the Florida
panther.  As we have noted previously, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
virtually all other government agencies are pessimistic about the future of the only
big cat left in the eastern United States.  If implemented, the NPS plan is
guaranteed to reduce the main prey species (white tailed deer and feral hogs) which
currently sustain a healthy panther population.

At least three scientific studies have shown that panthers reduce their use of areas
within the preserve during periods of motorized hunting.  The last study by M.W.
Janis and J.D. Clark (organized and paid for by the NPS and later published by the
Journal of Wildlife Management) utilized years of panther data and was conducted in
Bear Island right next door to the Addition.  This study found that during times of
motorized hunting, panthers decreased their use of the area by up to 40 percent.

With no new habitat to move to, with the planned construction of new towns such as
one ironically named 'Big Cypress' just outside the preserve on existing panther
habitat, and with panther roadkill now in the double digits annually, this NPS plan
is a serious threat to the panther's future.  For those who drive a vehicle in
Florida with the popular 'Protect the Panther' license plate on it, now would be an
excellent time to weigh in!

It should also be noted that the Big Cypress Addition Lands is only a short drive
from the most densely populated sections of Florida.         The land is already completely
accessible on foot by anyone willing to get their shoes a bit wet.  Rather than
opening up this land to the damaging effects of motorized recreation, we believe the
National Park Service should be concentrating on protecting one of Florida's  most
important and unique natural habitats - as well as providing a legacy for its
children.  The once vast Big Cypress Swamp once rivaled the Everglades in size and
extent.  Much of the original swamp has been lost to agriculture and development and
most of the preserve is already open to off-road vehicle use.  The preservation of
this one sizeable remnant where Florida's children can experience and learn about
the incredible natural and cultural history of our region - in addition to learning
self-reliance in a wilderness setting - is an opportunity that will not come
again.

Let's take advantage of this last chance to speak out for south Florida wilderness
before the NPS' final decision in 2010.

If you cannot attend the Weston meeting - and we realize many of you receiving this
message may not be able to - please try to get some comments in to the NPS website
here.  Again, deadline for written comments is September 30th.

http://m1e.net/c?79787653-VsroCBtOI0Abg%404602690-L5wfh3URHeW3%2e

As always, thanks for all your help,

Matthew Schwartz
Everglades Chair and Outings Leader
Broward Group of the Sierra Club
Chair
Sierra Club Sub-Committee on National Parks and Wilderness

The Turkish edition of "As the World Burns" will be available 9/15! For readers in the US, it can be ordered from tulumba.com.

I've started drawing a weekly cartoon for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, illustrating a column about social networking. Here's a sample (I'll post them each week to archive at the AAEC website):

New Code Green comic: