The PR Blog

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and nowhere is that truer than in the world of political cartoons.

With a few strokes of ink, cartoonists have toppled reputations, challenged authority, and sparked revolutions...all while eliciting a chuckle,  a gasp or a laugh or two.

These satirical sketches called cartoons turn complex issues into powerful, often humourous images, proving that sometimes a well-drawn caricature can wound more deeply than any blade.

No wonder they are seen as enemies of the establishment these days.  But then again,  they always have.  

In a world where the news often feels stranger than fiction, we need the sharp, exaggerated truths of political cartoons. As Mark Twain apparently said, “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.”

On December 9, 2019, New Zealand's White Island erupted in a sudden and devastating display of nature's fury, claiming 22 lives and leaving survivors with life-altering injuries.

What began as a routine tourist adventure to the country's most active volcano quickly turned into a harrowing race for survival, as visitors and guides were engulfed by searing ash and toxic gases.

The disaster shocked the world, prompting urgent questions about the balance between natural wonders and human safety.

Tragedy struck New Zealand as White Island, an active stratovolcano located in the Bay of Plenty, erupted. 

White Island, also known as Whakaari in Maori, is an active volcano situated about 48 kilometres off the eastern coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its otherworldly landscapes and unique geological features. 

In the heart of Ballarat in 1854, a ragtag coalition of gold miners took a defiant stand against colonial authority, sparking an uprising that would forever shape Australia’s democratic identity.......until recently. 

The Eureka Stockade was more than a clash over mining licenses and unfair taxes ....it was a fiery assertion of rights, equality, and the power of collective resistance.

Though brief and bloody, the rebellion became a touchstone for the values of justice and representation, igniting debates that still resonate in the fabric of Australian society. This is the story of how a goldfield rebellion became a cornerstone of a once great national identity.

‘We swear by the Southern Cross, to stand truly by each other, and fight to defend our rights and liberties’

The memory of Pearl Harbor lives on as a powerful reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of a nation tested by tragedy. On December 7, 1941, a surprise attack by Japanese forces thrust the United States into World War II. 

More than 2,400 American lives were lost, countless others were wounded, and the mighty Pacific Fleet lay crippled. Yet from the ashes of devastation emerged a profound resolve to defend freedom and ensure such aggression would not prevail.

Remembering Pearl Harbor is not just about honouring the fallen or the bravery of those who stood their ground that day; it is a solemn reflection on the cost of complacency, the value of vigilance, and the unyielding spirit of those who rose to meet the challenge of war.

The attack at Pearl Harbor was a blessing and and curse, depending upon which side of the pond you lived. For the Americans, it marked the beginning of a bloody war that resulted in so very many dead and wounded; so much misery and pain. For the British, Australians, New Zealanders and other allies, it was an injection of much needed support  - both moral and material. 

During PP's excursions into croc country many years ago, there came a day, when I was asked to take the new IT officer with me as an introduction to the Cape communities, the IT bloke was fresh out of James Cook University, and a nervous type, not often away from home.

Now, to those of you not familiar with the Cape, I am talking about Cape York, up the pointy end of  Australia where the only thing bigger than the sharks are the crocodiles. And maybe the mosquitoes. And the snakes. And the spiders. You get the picture.  

Anyway, prior to the trip, which was to Lockhart River, I was "officially" invited by locals to go fishing for a day there.

All well and good, got the necessary approvals done, and off we two went, flying with Skytrans to Lockhart River, the young IT bloke wasn't all that fussed flying there,as it was monsoon time, so the flight was rough. Monsoon time up there is wet, humid and tough and rain comes down like the Niagra Falls.

The young IT bloke had never been in a boat or been fishing before. And so began today's yarn about a day fishing and how Jaws met the Titanic.........

Back in 1904, HG Wells wrote a short story about a man who stumbled into a forgotten kingdom where everyone was blind. He thought that would give him incredible power because he possessed something that they did not. The ability to see.

He soon learned that his gift of sight was seen by the villagers as an affliction of the brain that must be caused by two things on his head that he called eyes. They pitied him and, instead of being a gift, the eyes were perceived as a curse, an illness and a disturbance of his brain.

It did not take long before the man realised that, when surrounded by the blindness of ignorance, knowledge itself was an enemy to be ousted and eradicated.

How many of us today feel as though we have stumbled into a land of the blind and our ability to see is regarded as an evil affliction to be stamped and cut out?