In his cartoon, Leunig juxtaposes the graphic and the written elements to show how the obsession with technology prevents the younger generation from engaging with the natural world. In the foreground, Leunig depicts a father conversing with his son about the sounds of a seashell. The conversation concerns the “sounds” of the natural world. Leunig refers to both the literal and the metaphoric sounds: literally, the young boy repeats the phrase “I hear” to identify to his father the various natural sounds he hears such as the “sea level rising” and the “tuna being hunted”. Common to each sound is the theme of human destruction and grief and suffering. Leunig contends that the younger generation is oblivious to the problems in the natural world. This is evident in the boy’s desire to escape into the sounds that he can control via his i-Pod.
Drawing upon her extensive professional experience, Ms Achton encourages her students to make a difference by showing care and concern towards the community and the environment. By quoting well known community spokespeople such as John Lennon and Desmond Tutu, as well as simple picture books, Ms Achton impresses upon her students and the school cohort that their actions can make a significant difference. A common sense approach coupled with high-minded principles enable this author to show that the students are empowered to effectively make changes.