Creative Activism - The Art of the Prank

October 19, 2009December 15, 2023

Yes Men Feel the Heat

Pranksters stage Chamber of Commerce climate change event
by David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post
October 19, 2009

Will the real U.S. Chamber of Commerce please stand up?

Environmental activists held a hoax press conference Monday morning, pretending to be the business group — and pretending to announce that the chamber was dropping its opposition to climate-change legislation now in Congress.

The event, complete with fake handouts on chamber letterhead, at least a couple of fake reporters, and a podium adorned with the chamber logo, broke up when a spokesman from the real chamber burst in…

YouTube Video:

What followed was a spectacle not usually seen in the John Peter Zenger Room at the National Press Club: two men in business suits shouting at one another, each calling the other an impostor and demanding to see business cards. Continue reading “Yes Men Feel the Heat”

September 26, 2009December 15, 2023

Billionaires Crash Reform Rallies Nationwide

From Andrew Boyd:

Billionaires for Wealthcare is making a splash!

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The campaign for wealthcare is going nationwide! Billionaires across the country – from New York to California and dozens of places in between – stood up for their rights as profiteers and confronted a coalition of pro-reform groups in the streets.

Billionaires in New York and San Fransisco blockaded delegations from the reformers, putting their well-dressed bodies on the line in “UnitedWealth” and “BlueBlood/BlueSheilds” actions. (See pictures from the NY action here, and pictures from SF here – San Fransisco billionaires also got some attention from Jezebel)

Blue Bloods from Middle America got in on the action too – Continue reading “Billionaires Crash Reform Rallies Nationwide”

September 24, 2009December 15, 2023

Yes Men Honcho Sprung from Clink

From The Yes Men, September 24, 2009:

NYPD abuse of authority big factor in arrest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2009

“Balls Across America” direct-action campaign launched

Andy Bichlbaum, co-founder of activist group the Yes Men, emerged after 26 hours in New York City’s central lockup with all charges against him dismissed.[1]

“The judge just laughed,” said Bichlbaum. “The police had a less well-developed sense of humor – and, it turned out, much less regard for the law. But all in all, I’m ecstatic that they arrested me.”

Jeannie Moos coverage on CNN
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/offbeat/2009/09/23/moos.survivaball.cnnEmbedded video from CNN Video
Continue reading “Yes Men Honcho Sprung from Clink”

September 21, 2009December 15, 2023

Yes Men: “We’re Screwed”

From The Yes Men:

“We’re Screwed”: Media Heist Blankets City with
“Special Edition” New York Post

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6676567&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

PRESS RELEASE: September 21, 2009
Tabloid Tells Truth About Climate Change and How It Will Affect City, World

Early this morning, nearly a million New Yorkers were stunned by the appearance of a “special edition” New York Post blaring headlines that their city could face deadly heat waves, extreme flooding, and other lethal effects of global warming within the next few decades. The most alarming thing about it: the news came from an official City report. Continue reading “Yes Men: “We’re Screwed””

September 17, 2009December 15, 2023

Rainforest Action Network Protests Against Tar Sands Oil

Submitted by W.J. Elvin III, as seen on Huffington Post by Michael Brune, author, executive director, Rainforest Action Network:

Daring Protest at Niagra Falls

3923050930_fc0a4473ea-200 Before dawn yesterday morning, a small team of climate activists rappelled from the US observation deck at Niagara Falls. Dangling hundreds of feet above the ground, they sent a special welcome message to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper ahead of his first official visit to the White House to push dirty Tar Sands oil.

Not that he’s feeling so welcome anyway. Obama limited the meeting to just one hour. While some have called it a slap in the face, aides say Harper will turn the other cheek. “The economy, and the clean-energy dialogue,” one aide told the Globe and Mail, “will dominate the discussions.” Obama needed to dodge controversy over oil imports from Canada’s tar sands in the midst of the Climate Legislation debate…

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Continue reading “Rainforest Action Network Protests Against Tar Sands Oil”