22nd to 25th March is the time to #SubvertTheCity

#SubvertTheCity is an international call for people all around the world to take part in creative action against advertising and consumerism in public spaces, as together we collectively re-imagine what our cities and societies could be in the age of consumerism.

Commercial advertising invades our spaces and all forms of media in order to influence our behaviours and serve corporate interests. We believe that commercial advertising dominates the culture and gives power to the wealthy, endangering democratic processes.

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#SubvertTheCity will challenge corporate advertising all over the world, in order to imagine and re-build the cities and societies we want to live in that meet our shared human needs and those of the planet.

By challenging corporate advertising & media messages, people around the world will be taking creativity into the streets to support the struggle for social, economic and climate justice, as well as for human rights and dignity for all.

We are asking that you support this global protest by taking action against advertising in any and all ways that you can!

Do your best to imagine a better city, imagine a more democratic public space, and act on your dreams of a more equitable society. Get together with friends to create public art, hold an event, host a workshop, remove ads, or give/attend a talk that addresses some of the concerns you have with how corporate media is influencing our minds, bodies and planet.

With each individual or groups participation in #SubvertTheCity, we show the world that treating our shared public spaces as commercial media venues is unacceptable. We demand that our cities serve a greater function by removing and challenging advertising's counterproductive messaging. And more than just demanding, we are exemplifying what a post-advertising world might look like through our participatory tactics and diversity of voice.

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About

The Subvertisers’ International is a international movement of individuals and organisations concerned with how advertising affects society. We are local and national groups of activists, artists and collectives, NGOs and not-for-profits, teachers and parents, scientists and doctors, public and private citizens. We are all concerned with how advertising and the commercial media system is shaping our lives and democracies. We are determined that the time to act is now!

We are a young network that is committed to creating change through hard work and persistence. We want to connect with citizens and groups from all over the world that support our shared values. We need your help to develop an international movement based around our mutual interest in seeing the public take control of the commercial media in pursuit of a more just, verdant and equitable world. We think our time has come and hope you do to.

Our tactics are diverse but our network is focused on one thing: addressing the role of commercial media in social, economic, and environmental justice by interrogating how it affects our shared public media spaces. Our members create consciousness-raising opportunities that address the issues of advertising’s influence on society through non-violent civil disobedience, advocacy and campaigning, workshops and training, academic writing and lectures, politics, protest and direct action.

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Why 22nd to 25th March?

On 25th March 2013, a group of French activists from ‘Les Deboulonneurs’ (The Debunkers) collective were acquitted of defacing advertising billboards in a symbolic act of civil disobedience. They argued that their fundamental “right of reception” had been violated by being forced to engage with toxic commercial advertising in public space. The judge agreed and deemed that their actions were protected under a ‘freedom of speech’ and ‘reason of necessity’ defence.

One year later, the Human rights Council of the United Nations acknowledged citizens’ right to consent when developing advertising messaging strategies and governance. See the United Nations Human Rights Council report on advertising, 2014 (https://www.un.org/press/en/2014/gashc4112.doc.htm).

Taking place for the first time at the World Social Forum in Tunis in 2015, the 25th March celebrates an important victory for the recognition of the right of citizens to with regards to the reception of advertising messages.

This year we go international.

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Wondering what you can do?

• Take a photo of an offensive ad, tell us why & tweet your picture with the hashtag: #SubvertTheCity followed by your location--e.g. #Melbourne.

• Create street art with a message that supports this call to action.

• Deface some ads with a marker or well-placed sticker, or remove them entirely! Get creative.

• Reclaim public spaces by giving a lecture/talk: Talking about how public space is used and what other options might exist can be a powerful tool that changes how people see cities.

• You can hold a workshop: group gatherings to make art, teach tactics, and engage others in great ways to promote consciousness raising, involvement, friendship and networking.

• Stage a public happening: sometimes a good flashmob is the best way to draw attention to consumerism and the issues it creates. Flash mobs can also get a lot of work done quickly!

• Give a webinar: some learning happens online. ;)

• Write to councils, and your local government representatives. Elected officials often need a little push to start discussing important issues.

• Start critical conversations with professionals in the advertising industry.

• Write a short article or pen an open letter to your local newspaper.

• Dream big and act...

Inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIHeRh3vxMk

Remember BUGA-UP?

It was a campaign from Australia in the 1980s that successfully banned advertising for smoking!

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Share your work

Sharing information on your action is an important part of your participation. As a movement voicing our concerns to the public, we need evidence of our collective and growing demands. Posting your project to the Subvertisers International website (http://subvertisers-international.net) helps us show the world that there is a global community of like-minded individuals interested in how advertising is affecting our society and influencing social, economic and environmental justice in the process.

Please provide the following in an email to: info@subvertisers-international.net

• A name for your action along with a brief description. At least 50 words is recommended but more is welcome. We want to know what you did and why you did it.

• A date for the action (must have taken place between March 22nd and March 25th 2017), plus the location (e.g. #melbourne) where the action happened.

• 3. A picture(s) or video of your action to accompany your post on the website.

• Please be aware that if your actions and picture are amazing, you might see them shared, tweeted, or published in your favourite national newspaper.

Get in touch if you want to know more:

Email: info@subvertisers-international.net
Web: http://www.subvertisers-international.net