City
Attack! on Pollution: Parte Douze
On Friday, myself and about 40 others joined Montreal artist group Action Terroriste Socialment Acceptable for a unique project to combat oil dependency and air pollution.
The campaign: Attack #12.
The mission: Tag as many "guilty" gas guzzling SUVs and vans along Queen West from Dovercourt to YYZ Gallery at Richmond and Spadina with fake air pollution tickets. Turn said ticket stubs into an art mural displayed on the gallery's window.
This is a smaller-scale version of the Attack! in Montreal last year where over 10,000 vehicles were tickered by 350 patrollers over a period of six weeks. But for one night's work in Toronto, almost all of the 1,200 tickets available were filled out and left on windshields.
Our group of four handed out nearly 50 tickets. Most of the drivers we confronted were either pretty understanding or relieved that they didn't really have to pay a fine. Even a cop we passed on the street said to keep up the good work.
Not sure if the message came through loud and clear to motorists, but I tell you though, parking enforcement officers sure have a pretty boring job.
Discussion
13 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
there is are <em>pratical reasons</em> to own a large vehicle. do these thoughts even pass through that space between your ears? who the hell are you to pass summary judgement like that?
SUVs are a waste of gas, anyone who says 'they NEED' an SUV to carry THINGS, need to enhance their problem solving abilities. Did we not shit, before toilets?
You goomba.
and my example could have easily have been delivering fish in my big ass white van. you're walking down the street, feeling all high and mighty slapping your little paper "reminders" all over peoples vans, and you're not taking into consideration how any of these vehicles fit together to make life go around.
"there's a parked van! there's a parked truck! they must have no idea that it uses more gas! we better tell them!"
you make more enemies than friends and destroy your ability to effect a change with dumb ass campaigns like this. post-purchase harrassment isn't going to make a difference. you need post-purchase education. see http://irc.typepad.com/sns/2006/02/activism_gone_a.html for the right way to do things. you want to make a difference? think before you act.
When I say "stop being a fucking baby", it's the same as punching you in the face. You should learn either way. But you'll likely ignore the message, as you've done here, and keep saying the same things in a different way.
Whether you're being a fisherman or a lazy guitar tech, you still have options. And if people wanna leave messages on other people's cars, for better or worse, they've got a right to. It's hopeful more than anything else. Just like you've got a right to put your head in your ass and report to us on your perspective.
And my character is totally fucking amazing, thanks so much.
I wish you were there while we were oot and aboot. We could've used a good yelling at and a splash of hot coffee in our faces.
have you got any follow up to show that your time, paper and effort made any difference at all? or do you take the "if we changed one persons habit" approach to validating your crusade?
like i said: you'll be vastly more effective if you target buyers not owners. no one is going to toss a $50k investment in a vehicle because you left a piece of paper on their window.
2. The group I was with were simply asking them to think about choices for the next time they want to buy a vehicle. The majority of people were friendly who we approached and the girlfriend at the wheel of an SUV, actually smacked the shoulder of her boyfriend in the passenger's seat. "See! This is what I'm talking about," she said. So yeah, people are aware of the issue. There weren't a lot of people who were angry. Most were nonchalant or laughed it off once they found out they didn't have to pay anything. If this issue has really pissed you off, I recommend you write organizers Pierre Allard or Annie Roy at info@atsa.qc.ca or call (514) 844-9830.
3. My dad drives a 1985 Ford Club Wagon, the kind that would classify as a Military Assault Unit. The muffler pipe fell off driving back to the house one day. He's aware that it's an air polluter, but so are cars in general. I would agree with him.
4. People do bring up a good point. The littering. I asked some groups about that and they said littering was the lesser of two evils -- kind of like smoking outdoors, they said. But the stubs of those tickets were put into a mural at YYZ Gallery, which is a unique concept. Turning a political task into a work of art.
That's all.
" i attack your campaign, calling it ineffective, even offer a suggestion for improving your crusade and it's nothing but personal attacks from you lot. so what?"
Now, go back and read your first post you stupid cunt. And then tell me how you can wonder why anyone would attack you?
If you were trying to spark some kind of intelligent point-counterpoint, you should probably not start with 'fuck you'.
You'll either get a response of "rah rah, nice one", or "fuck you back", which is what you got.