The yes men

    Maybe some of you guys (especially the americans) already know these guys.

    Basically Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno are two guys who do pranks on big publicly owned companies like Dow or Exxon mobil destined to bring the cynicism of the capitalist ideology into the light.

    They use the medias as their weapon by creating false websites and communication plans from big compagnies and let journalists invite them to conferences or on interviews to do their pranks.

    Their most famous prank is this one

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    They created a false website of a DOW communication branch and have been invited by BBC news to be interviewed about DOW responsibilities in the accident of the chemistry plant of union carbide which exploded 20 years ago and killed 3000 people, polluting the ground waters and get 150 000 people sick at Bophal in India. People of India were never compensated for the accident and the factory site has never been depolluted in 20 years

    They accepted the interviewed and told at the surprise of BBC news that DOW is accepting the responsibilities in the accident and was ready to compensate the victims of the accident in India.

    Andy Bichlbaum went to a BBC news studio disguised as a DOW spokesman and announced that in live on the television. Everyone cheered that DOW finally accepts its responsibilities, but of course it was a lie which constrained DOW to decline publicly "the fact that they accept their responsibilities in the Union carbide incident".

    I just discovered their actions by seeing their movie : "the yes men fix the world" on a french television channel. And their use of sarcastic humor as a mean to create polemic and denounce the activities of the free market and the neo liberalism really struck a chord with me.

    I really encourage everyone and especially the americans to watch this movie, at least to see.

    Here the complete movie (1:24 hour long) ********** http://plus7.arte.tv/fr/1697660,CmC=2848364.html]Les Yes Men refont le monde - ARTE+7 **********

    (unfortunately i didn't found the original movie in english in streaming, i'm not sure it's even out in america, but most of the dialogues are in english, it's only the off voice that is in french so it should possible for you to understand most of it)

    Why has nobody posted anything in this thread yet? Are you all fond of egomaniac neoliberalism? :wink: I for one find that kind of stuff interesting. I'm a little confused though, the Wikipedia page of the Yes Men group says the film was released in 2009, IMDB and the movie's page shows 2003.

    Also, "Désolé, cette vidéo n’est plus disponible." "Sorry, this video is not available anymore" hmm

    Sindwiller, the movie is from 2009, can't find it in streaming anymore, but you could easily download it as a torrent or the like, i'm sure

    Quote from Sentura

    i can't be bothered with my own country's politics, let alone those of other countries.

    Yeah btw those politicians are just all a bunch of comedians, liars and thieves who just want power; i don't see why i should care and inform myself, let them just do whatever they want with the economy of the world and of my country.

    Quote from KoKo5oVaR

    Yeah btw those politicians are just all a bunch of comedians, liars and thieves who just want power; i don't see why i should care, let them just do whatever they want with the economy of the world and of my country.

    i didn't say that, but my blood starts boiling whenever i watch anything that has to do with politics. at least they can't make a nuclear armageddon happen at this point, so ill be content with the situation until further notice.

    Quote from Sentura

    Yeah btw those politicians are just all a bunch of comedians, liars and thieves who just want power; i don't see why i should care, let them just do whatever they want with the economy of the world and of my country.

    i didn't say that, but my blood starts boiling whenever i watch anything that has to do with politics. at least they can't make a nuclear armageddon happen at this point, so ill be content with the situation until further notice.

    You are content with the situation because you can live your life more or less peacefully and not in poverty

    Quote from Sindwiller

    Yeah btw those politicians are just all a bunch of comedians, liars and thieves who just want power; i don't see why i should care, let them just do whatever they want with the economy of the world and of my country.

    i didn't say that, but my blood starts boiling whenever i watch anything that has to do with politics. at least they can't make a nuclear armageddon happen at this point, so ill be content with the situation until further notice.

    You are content with the situation because you can live your life more or less peacefully and not in poverty

    and you know what the best part about it is? i'm not ashamed.

    all things aside, the world has been needing better politics and politicians for a long while. i'm just not going to fool myself into thinking that joining demonstrations or other political activities may provide respite from what's going on in the world. it's based on guilt towards those less fortunate, and i don't do it for the same reason i can't stand moral vegetarians: just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean that animals aren't going to be brutally slaughtered or kept in inhumane conditions.

    it's the difference between seeing the vision and having the mission; if you really want to help the world become a better place, feel free to become a politician or other influential person. if you want animals treated better, sign up for animal protection services. boycotting something on a small scale or joining up a social movement will have little effect as those in charge will only think of you as an angry mob or crackpot. it just doesn't work.

    I think the whole point here, Sentura, is that it doesnt work if everyone thinks like you.

    If everyone suddenly turned vegan, we'd probably solve alot of the worlds problems, but like you said, it just aint gonna happen. But the point is that someones gotta start doing it, and the sheep can follow later.

    Quote from Skjalg

    I think the whole point here, Sentura, is that it doesnt work if everyone thinks like you.If everyone suddenly turned vegan, we'd probably solve alot of the worlds problems, but like you said, it just aint gonna happen. But the point is that someones gotta start doing it, and the sheep can follow later.

    that is a pretty big if, however. it's true that if everyone turned something, then the world's problems would be solved. but look at how many times throughout history that has happened. being the change you want the world to see is all fine and dandy, yet it doesn't help if you're a small minority of people. i wish that people would instead bide their time and wait for the time when they have a genuine chance of influence. myself, i'll wait until i can become a someone within the industry before i choose to spread whatever agenda or change i want.

    Quote

    hen the world's problems would be solved. but look at how many times throughout history that has happened. being the change you want the world to see is all fine and dandy, yet it doesn't help if you're a small minority of people.

    Well, I personally have a somehow different view on that problem anyway, namely the situation when the great majority dearly wants a change but is too tired and unhopeful, maybe to some degree even oppressed and scared, which is the case in Bulgaria and other Balkan countries for example. And it will not change until, from the bases of the Mafia, an easily externally manipulable upper class crystallizes in 40-50 years. Of course, that's an issue a lot more far-reaching than moral vegeterianism for example.

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