ALTERNATIVES JOURNAL – CALL FOR QUERIES
*BIODIVERSITY*
Submissions due March 22, 2010
Whereas many Canadians follow the international climate change
negotiating process, few track parallel efforts to protect biological
diversity. Not many are familiar with the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) or realize that 2010 is the year when Canada and other
countries that ratified the CBD were to have realized their modest
target of achieving a “significant reduction of the current rate of
biodiversity loss.” Even fewer know that 2010 is the International Year
of Biological Diversity and that a Copenhagen-like meeting of world
leaders is set for October in Nagoya, Japan.
To raise awareness about progress – or lack of it – on biodiversity,
Alternatives Journal is dedicating an issue to the topic. We are looking
for articles of both a political and a scientific nature. We invite you
to submit proposals that deal with issues such as the following:
* How is Canada, or other parts of the world, doing with regard to their
efforts to reduce loss of biological diversity?
* What is the state of Canada’s and/or the world’s biodiversity?
* Is the Convention on Biological Diversity succeeding?
* What are the latest (or suggested) tools and strategies for protecting
biological diversity?
* What role do business/government/NGOs play in protecting biological
diversity?
* Why has the CBD taken a back seat to the Kyoto Protocol?
* What are you doing to recognize the International Year of Biological
Diversity?
Alternatives combines the learned rigour of an academic journal with the
breezy style of a magazine. We publish the best environmental writing in
the country – writing that is engaging, thought-provoking and insightful.
Before responding to this call for submissions, please read several back
issues of the magazine so that you understand the nature of our
publication. We also suggest you go through the detailed submission
procedures on our website to understand the types and lengths of
articles we accept.
Queries should explain, in LESS THAN 300 words, the content and scope of
your article, and should convey your intended approach, tone and style.
Please include a list of people you will interview, potential images or
sources for images and the number of words you propose to write. We
would also like to receive a very short bio. And if you have not written
for Alternatives before, please include other examples of your writing.
Articles range from about 500 to 2000 words in length.
Keep in mind that our lead time is several months. Articles should not
be so time-bound that they will seem dated once published.
Alternatives has a limited budget of about 10 cents per word for several
articles. This stipend is available to professional and amateur writers
and students only. Please indicate your interest in this funding in your
submission.
Send submissions electronically to Nicola Ross, Executive Editor (editor
@ alternativesjournal.ca) by March 22, 2010
*QUERY CHECK LIST*
Please ensure that you include:
1. Your name
2. Your phone, address and email
3. One paragraph bio
4. Query (300 words max)
5. Proposed length of article
6. Do you request a stipend?
7. List of people you will interview
8. Ideas for images to accompany your article
9. Sample of your writing if you have not written for Alternatives before
