Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Join John Muir Laws, Nature Journal South Africa (NJSA), and Dr. Katta Ludynia, Research Manager at SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) to learn about African Penguins and how to use our nature journals as tools for artivism for their conservation. Oh yes, there are penguins in Africa, now. But they are one step away from effective extinction in the wild – predicted by 2035 – if nothing is done to improve their situation!
We will learn ways to use our nature journals for artivism, as a tool to understand what needs to be done, to develop emotional and social connections with African penguins, their ecosystems, and guardians, to be motivated to do those things, and to encourage others, including those in authority, to take the necessary actions. This session will explore effective tools to communicate messages, including how to draw these charismatic beings. #SaveTheAfricanPenguin
Program date: 23 January 2025
RESOURCES:
Please sign the Petition supporting the Court Case: https://only.one/act/save-african-penguins
Nature Journaling South Africa’s definition of NJ Artivism (link to NJSA sanaturejournalerscommunity.com/copy-of-south-african-focus-1)
"Using your nature journal and nature journaling skills to creatively channel your observations, thoughts, experiences and feelings into positive actions for yourself, society and the planet.”
You just need a message and an action.
Actions Summary
1. Sign the petition supporting the Court Case. Anyone from anywhere in the world can sign. And encourage other people to sign the petition, even if you asked before. Link for the Petition supporting the Court Case https://only.one/act/save-african-penguins
2. Create share nature journaling artivism with messages and actions supporting efforts to improve the conservation status of the Critically Endangered African Penguin.
3. Sustainable Food
Places to Share Your Nature Journaling Artivism
The court case starts on the 18th March 2025. Please do as much as you can to create, raise awareness and motivate actions before this date! We all need to continue afterwards as well. But let’s do as much as we can, before to make the most difference for the African Penguins.
You can share on all of your social media platforms, even if you think people might already know about this issue.
Where to Share
We hope to make a large, public group share. For this purpose, please send your entry to Nature Journaling South Africa by email (info.naturejournalsa@gmail.com), as well as posting to your below. If there is a physical space like a library, then that is an option. Also share photos of your entry on all your communications and networking platforms: LinkedIn, Whatsapp or other messaging groups, and social media: Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, DeviantArt, Flickr, Discord, Substack, Mastadon, Bluesky, Reddit, Twitch, TikTok, etc.
Wonderland: wonderland.wildwonder.org
iNaturalist, Nature Drawing and Journaling Project: inaturalist.org/projects/nature-drawing-and-journaling
The Ark of South African Life: https://emancipatoryfutures.co.za/ark
When you share, please add the following hashtags: #NJArtivism #SaveTheAfricanPenguin #NJSA
More Resources
Nature Journaling South Africa (NJSA) has created resources to support your nature journaling artivism. This includes photos of African Penguins in the wild, infographics, information, actions and images. You can find these resources here: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GW0bI4kBzAs6icc4S0MOmAzeiWI5KZ5Y
Yvea’s top tip for getting people to fall in love with African Penguins is to watch or encourage others to watch "Penguin Town".
Organisations
SANCCOB: https://sanccob.co.za/get-involved/ and Dr. Katta Ludynia: youtube.com/watch?v=tjRgdl0JWqo
Biodiversity Law Centre: biodiversitylaw.org
Legal info on the court case: biodiversitylaw.org/breaking-landmark-litigation-launched-to-protect-the-african-penguin-from-extinction
Nature Journaling South Africa - about the community: sanaturejournalerscommunity.com/copy-of-south-african-focus-1
South African-focused nature journaling: sanaturejournalerscommunity.com
Blog posts on nature journaling artivism and the African Penguin here: sanaturejournalerscommunity.com/post/artivism-for-african-penguins and here: sanaturejournalerscommunity.com/post/a-journey-of-emotions-journaling-about-african-penguins-in-a-museum
More on Artivism:
Nikkolas Smith: nikkolas.com/about
Ask about the picture book "The Artivist" at your local library!
Join John Muir Laws, Nature Journal South Africa (NJSA), and Dr. Katta Ludynia, Research Manager at SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) to learn about African Penguins and how to use our nature journals as tools for artivism for their conservation. Oh yes, there are penguins in Africa, now. But they are one step away from effective extinction in the wild – predicted by 2035 – if nothing is done to improve their situation!
We will learn ways to use our nature journals for artivism, as a tool to understand what needs to be done, to develop emotional and social connections with African penguins, their ecosystems, and guardians, to be motivated to do those things, and to encourage others, including those in authority, to take the necessary actions. This session will explore effective tools to communicate messages, including how to draw these charismatic beings. #SaveTheAfricanPenguin
Program date: 23 January 2025
RESOURCES:
Please sign the Petition supporting the Court Case: https://only.one/act/save-african-penguins
Nature Journaling South Africa’s definition of NJ Artivism (link to NJSA sanaturejournalerscommunity.com/copy-of-south-african-focus-1)
"Using your nature journal and nature journaling skills to creatively channel your observations, thoughts, experiences and feelings into positive actions for yourself, society and the planet.”
You just need a message and an action.
Actions Summary
1. Sign the petition supporting the Court Case. Anyone from anywhere in the world can sign. And encourage other people to sign the petition, even if you asked before. Link for the Petition supporting the Court Case https://only.one/act/save-african-penguins
2. Create share nature journaling artivism with messages and actions supporting efforts to improve the conservation status of the Critically Endangered African Penguin.
3. Sustainable Food
Places to Share Your Nature Journaling Artivism
The court case starts on the 18th March 2025. Please do as much as you can to create, raise awareness and motivate actions before this date! We all need to continue afterwards as well. But let’s do as much as we can, before to make the most difference for the African Penguins.
You can share on all of your social media platforms, even if you think people might already know about this issue.
Where to Share
We hope to make a large, public group share. For this purpose, please send your entry to Nature Journaling South Africa by email (info.naturejournalsa@gmail.com), as well as posting to your below. If there is a physical space like a library, then that is an option. Also share photos of your entry on all your communications and networking platforms: LinkedIn, Whatsapp or other messaging groups, and social media: Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, DeviantArt, Flickr, Discord, Substack, Mastadon, Bluesky, Reddit, Twitch, TikTok, etc.
Wonderland: wonderland.wildwonder.org
iNaturalist, Nature Drawing and Journaling Project: inaturalist.org/projects/nature-drawing-and-journaling
The Ark of South African Life: https://emancipatoryfutures.co.za/ark
When you share, please add the following hashtags: #NJArtivism #SaveTheAfricanPenguin #NJSA
More Resources
Nature Journaling South Africa (NJSA) has created resources to support your nature journaling artivism. This includes photos of African Penguins in the wild, infographics, information, actions and images. You can find these resources here: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GW0bI4kBzAs6icc4S0MOmAzeiWI5KZ5Y
Yvea’s top tip for getting people to fall in love with African Penguins is to watch or encourage others to watch "Penguin Town".
Organisations
SANCCOB: https://sanccob.co.za/get-involved/ and Dr. Katta Ludynia: youtube.com/watch?v=tjRgdl0JWqo
Biodiversity Law Centre: biodiversitylaw.org
Legal info on the court case: biodiversitylaw.org/breaking-landmark-litigation-launched-to-protect-the-african-penguin-from-extinction
Nature Journaling South Africa - about the community: sanaturejournalerscommunity.com/copy-of-south-african-focus-1
South African-focused nature journaling: sanaturejournalerscommunity.com
Blog posts on nature journaling artivism and the African Penguin here: sanaturejournalerscommunity.com/post/artivism-for-african-penguins and here: sanaturejournalerscommunity.com/post/a-journey-of-emotions-journaling-about-african-penguins-in-a-museum
More on Artivism:
Nikkolas Smith: nikkolas.com/about
Ask about the picture book "The Artivist" at your local library!
