Yesterday on the news I saw a story about the swedish corporation Vatenfall and their involvement in the german coal-industry. How they where demolishing whole villages and huge areas of land to install large scale coal-mining facilities; facilities that keeps the global warming going on a gigantic scale. In the same sequence of news there was a presentation of a huge air-ballon installed on the City Square in Copenhagen as a symbol for the new global spirit of changing our attitude. On the balloon will be projected pictures of activists from all over the world, agitating for change. This balloon is the main symbol for ’Hopenhagen’ as they call this campaign that is really dominating the streets Copenhagen these days.
As I passed The City Square today and saw the balloon-globe, I also saw the signs of the two main sponsors: Siemens and Vatenfall. The idea that this whole climate-conference is only a cover-up from the global corporations to continue their devastating activities imidiately came to mind. To have Vatenfall as a main sponsor certainly puts the agenda of Hopenhagen into doubt.
A quick glance at the website of Hopenhagen - www.hopenhagen.org - reveals that ”Hopenhagen is a movement generated by the International Advertising Association representing the global advertising industry in support of the United Nations.” Its is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Siemens and a whole range of other multinational companies. Its main goal is “to connect every person, every city, and every nation to Copenhagen. To give everyone hope, and a platform from which to act. To create a grassroots movement that’s powerful enough to influence change.”
How bizarre is that? A fake grassroots movement created by the global advertising industry to engage consumers worldwide? This is appropriation-art taken to the streets.
It also shows how complex the range of activism surrounding COP15 is; from the violent radicalism of NeverTrustACop thru the creative civil disobedience of i.e. OperationBikeBloc to the coca-cola drugged, fake optimism of Hopenhagen.
Who is acting on the behalf of whom? Who is representing who?
Check out pledgepyramid.org. I'm writing from a mobile phone now so you won't get the long story now but I'll be happy to explain more. You can also find more at darc.imv.au.dk. Will be St Rådhuspladsen wednesday 16th all afternoon.
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