Monks, Field and Biddulph support #OurOtherMother campaign

Children’s book illustrators and authors including Jim Field, Konnie Huq and Lydia Monks joined with parents’ groups on Mother’s Day (14th March) to highlight the strength of support amongst parents for climate action as part of the #OurOtherMother campaign.

The alliance uses artwork, poems and stories from well-known illustrators and authors, as well as children and parents across the UK, to show support amongst parents for urgent action on climate change. It launched on Mother’s Day and will culminate in an exhibition in November at the UN Climate Summit (COP26) in Glasgow.

Other children’s authors and illustrators involved include Rob Biddulph (whose illustration is pictured), Lydia Monks, Polly Dunbar, Emily Gravett, Steven Lenton, Julia Golding, Benji Davies, Nicola Davies, Zoe Persico and Emma Reynolds. The campaign was conceived by parent groups Our Kids Climate, Mothers Rise Up and Parents for Future UK and illustrator networks, KidLit4Climate and EditArtz. People can get involved by following the #OurOtherMother hashtag on social media.

Field said: “I was really struck by David Attenborough’s documentary which revealed the devastating impact which humans have had on the earth over the last 100 years. Humanity hasn’t given a second thought to the chaos we leave in our wake but now our children are paying the price.

“I have a young daughter of nearly five years and I feel sickened by what lies ahead for her and her generation. It’s our responsibility as parents to try and change the path we’re on. To demand and make a better, safer future for our children and for #OurOtherMother.”

Huq, who has written a poem in support of the campaign, said: “It’s easy to get lost in the science and politics of the climate crisis but this campaign shows it’s actually very simple. We need to start caring for planet Earth, our ultimate mother, so she can continue to care for us and our children.

“Anyone and everyone can get involved by sharing sketches, paintings, poems, animations, songs, or messages celebrating Mother Earth with the #OurOtherMother hashtag.”

Cobb said: “Whoever we are and whatever we believe in, we all share a home on our planet Earth. If we can join together to celebrate, talk about, care for and protect it, then we stand a much better chance of changing the devastating course of climate change. Please join in and share your artwork for #OurOtherMother to help us spread the word.”

Maya Mailer, a mother and organiser from Mothers Rise Up, one of the parent groups that developed the campaign, said: “Both mothers and the planet are exhausted. This year, mums have been juggling home-schooling, with work, parenting and worrying about older relatives. We wanted to launch a campaign that celebrates both mums, who so often have been holding the fort, and #OurOtherMother—Planet Earth. We know that mums all around the country are worried about climate change and want our leaders to take practical action to protect the planet and our kids' futures.”

Irene Silvino, a mother and founder of Editartz, a community of illustrators that supports the campaign by spreading awareness through art, said: “Art is an incredible tool to spread awareness and hope—it is immediate, it doesn't need translations, it speaks for itself and everyone can visually tell important messages through lines, shapes and colours."