Stunts Further Diluting Messages in Dissenting G20 Noise
Quickly: I mentioned earlier that a significant battle in disseminating information during G20 is fought amid the din of dissenting noise. What it comes down to — either unfortunately or… choose your own adverb — is marketing. Mere protest marches don’t cut it. And so you have stunts like this — designed specifically to attract attention from news media, and to publicize concepts and opinions.
In the “Hanging off the West End Bridge” case, the goal is to publicize the following message:
“Danger — climate destruction ahead. Reduce CO2 emissions now.”
But again the message becomes diluted. Arguably because of the daredevil nature of the promotional idea, attention focuses not on “dramatic reductions needed to reduce global warming now,” but on the “bunch of fruit loops” who hung a large sign from a bridge in Pittsburgh.
Anyway. I’m headed out this evening to look a little deeper into accusations that G20 security doesn’t merely inhibit first amendment rights — it also inhibits right to shelter.
Related
- G-20: Shock-jock yells ‘fire’ in crowded tunnel (Examiner)
- What’s at stake (Public Citizen)
- The Pittsburgh G20 Photo Gallery: Starbucks, Bus Haters, Buddha, Jesus, Arctic Foxes, Children Ready To Die (The Awl)
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Troy Polamalu deserves a pat on the back for what he is doing. Pittsburgh is doing some pretty shady stuff. The lengths cities, and the people who run them, will go to to avoid looking bad are amazing to me sometimes.
The city is in fucking lock down, man. Downtown was a ghost town today. Except of course for the hordes of storm troopers and military copters above. Creepy. Tomorrow, I’m biking in. I don’t know if I should dress like a hippie to avoid a conflagration with protestors, or if I should dress like Sarah Palin to avoid being unduly detained by Homeland security. I’m more afraid of Homeland Security … Can I bike in a Laura Bush dress?
Please. Yes. Do.
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