Behind the scenes with Captain Polo: Doom and gloom is not cool
Whether its for COVID19 or the underlying climate crisis, naysaying, denial and despair are not the way to go. Coronavirus will pass, climate change will not. Some of the effects of global warming we will have to learn to live with. By rallying to the cause, by...
Behind the scenes with Captain Polo: the floating vegetable gardens of Bangladesh
We are living a period of critical, immediate crisis superimposed on a far longer period of escalating, gradual crisis. Coronavirus is paralyzing human activities across a world that is already critically ill from human-induced climate change. I believe humanity is...
Behind the scenes with Captain Polo: Polo in the land of contrasts
Polo learns about climate change in India - at the same time a powerhouse of both fossil fuels and renewable sources of clean energy. [iframe...
Behind the scenes with Captain Polo: the Chinese fishing vessel
This next Author Insight on The Adventures of Polo the Bear is all about the illegal and unregulated fishing that goes on in the Pacific Ocean, and many other parts of the world. The sequence I included in my book targets the Chinese tuna long liners, considered...
Sir Simon McDonald FCO meets Polo the Bear
The comic book 'The Adventures of Polo the Bear: a Story of Climate Change' is presented to Permanent Under Secretary Sir Simon McDonald FCO at Climate Change reception hosted by British Embassy in Ecuador (27 January 2020).
Behind the scenes with Captain Polo: how Polo got his cap
Polo the Bear wouldn't be Polo the Bear without his sailor's cap. In terms of story telling craft, this appendage is probably the main thing that makes Polo special. Along with his ability to pilot a boat, walk on two legs, talk to humans, use cash and a whole bunch...
Captain Polo visits the SKAS Foundation Montessori school in Quito, Ecuador
Alan J. Hesse and Polo the Bear taking questions about climate change from engaged Montessori students Today I had the honour of visiting the Montessori school in Quito, where Polo the Bear and I fielded questions and gave talks about climate change. The older kids...
Cartoon influences that shaped my work
Welcome to my blog! I'll kick it off with a brief summary of the key cartoon influences behind my work with Education Comics & Cartoons. My heritage Self portrait of my father, Dr Peter Hesse I've been drawing cartoons since early childhood. My father was an...