If you have even a remote interest in freedom of speech, self-expression...

... Art, or dare I say it, Comics, then you need to be aware of a very serious and dangerous act that is being pushed through Parliament. More information here: http://www.comicshopvoice.co.uk/index%2002.htm

The Criminal Justice & Immigration Act 2008 came in to effect in January 2009, and Section 49 of the Coroners and Justice Bill is currently being reviewed. Both of these Acts could impact on the creation of comic books and how they are sold, both have the potential to land innocent people in court, on the sex offender register or in jail. We ask that the PM and the government as a whole respect the concerns of artists, writers, publishers, readers and retailers all over the UK and include a specific clarification in the law that ensures that no innocent comic creators or owners of comics can ever be prosecuted unfairly by a mis interpretation of the current laws.

These laws actually extend to ANY form of image making (paintings, sketches, doodles, etc) and not just the comics media, so EVERYBODY will be effected by it. Basically the government wants to legislate that any DRAWING they deem "inappropriate" is tantamount to the same laws as a photography, thus preventing you or I from DRAWING certain things. If ever there were "thought crime" laws, these are it!

Please sign the petition below.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Protect-Comics/

Please pass this on to as many people as possible. Any of you who are in the press and media please write articles about this and highlight the dangers. We need to educate the public! If we don't stop this now we will have thrown away a huge freedom of expression. This is the thin end of an enormous wedge. The consequences of which could ultimately be a government deciding what is "approved art" and what is banned. Hmmm... sounds a lot like 1930s' Germany to me.

Love and tanks...

Rufus (Thanks to Tim Pilcher)