NAME
|
FUNDS
|
US$
|
NEED
|
DESCRIPTION (click here for help)
|
|
magx
quick
|
US$180
|
workers funds
|
to "alter ordinary supermarket greeting card displays to reflect concerns that are never reflected in such displays, e.g. the virtues of eating free-range pork meat, the marriage of one's non-native boyfriend (for a man), or the execution of one's soulmate. Amount offered will depend upon specific project. Cards may also simply be added to displays rather than altered in manufacturing." Here are several examples received so far, including thumbnails and higher-resolution images ready for printing.
|
|
bio
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Add honest labels to food products in supermarkets across the country, stating 'Genetically altered to be tastier,' 'Genetically modified to be redder,' etc."
|
|
comm
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Glass etching cream may be screenprinted onto glass, leaving behind an image that cannot be removed. Design a small device that contains a screen, a squeegee, and glass etching cream, then print intricate and beautiful anti-corporate messages on expensive plate glass windows. Owner will have to decide whether to spend huge to replace glass, or leave message up." (Sample design here.)
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Use the Tagamatic developed in project ETCH to permanently etch the words 'void where prohibited by law' on that glass case that holds the United States' most sacred document."
|
|
labor
quick
|
0
|
workers
|
"On Buy Nothing Day, the day after Thanksgiving, well dressed people across the nation go into Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic. Plaster dressing rooms with info sheets on Gap's sweatshop practices, then bring $100's, even $1000's worth of merchandise to counter. Participants may choose to purchase all items, returning an hour later yelling 'Oh my god, I just found out these things were made in SWEATSHOPS!! I want my money back NOW!' Those who cannot purchase items can simply bring items to counter and slap their heads, yelling loudly 'Oops, I forgot all this stuff was made in SWEATSHOPS! I can't POSSIBLY buy this crap!' Theater types especially encouraged to participate!"
|
|
quick
|
US$200
|
workers funds
|
to "take the book of any major pulp writer and, keeping the jacket the same, replace the entire inside text with the Koran or the Zohar. This might be accomplished by some skilled bookbinders and a cadre of volunteers in different cities."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
|
"Go into a store or fast-food chain, and attempt to barter for goods/services. Offer to trade livestock--best if you actually bring something like a live chicken into the store."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers
|
"Study the dress code at your workplace and dress outrageously, but within the dress code limits. If you are reprimanded, politely explain that you are within the dress code. If you are fired or encounter other difficulties, most states will allow you to sue; there are examples of large settlements in California."
|
|
enviro
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Put 'high water markers' up in exclusive seaside resort communities to show where effects of global warming will increase sea level in 10/15/20 years time." (Note: The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates sea-level rises of between 6 and 37.5 inches in the next 20 years.)
|
|
quick
|
US$200
|
workers funds
|
"It is possible to disable security cameras by affixing in front of them photographs that are indiscernable from their normal scene. Invent an easy way to affix such photographs in a very short time (five seconds) as you pass by the camera, and widely distribute the idea."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers
|
"These labels will be pasted in great numbers in various inappropriate places (toilets, etc.). Donors are being sought to print many copies, or to fund such printing. If you wish to help by printing, simply download the labels and begin. Do post them as well."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers
|
"In museums and wherever 'audiotours' are available, borrow cassettes, record new text with interesting social messages, and return the cassettes to their players. Do this all over the world; eventually, it will be noticed."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Copy and switch bar codes of products. Choose targets appropriate to your desired social commentary. At the checkstand, hamburger shows up as dog food, condoms as eggs... whatever you think will be the most enlightening for the end-user."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
|
"Visit the Rudolph Giuliani campaign site (or other campaign sites of aggressive gentrifiers/privatizers) and sign up promising to volunteer and make contributions--using assumed names and e-mails, of course. Alternately, create and distribute a software robot that will do this."
|
|
net
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Create hilarious or stupid/offensive ad-banners for corporate websites. Try to place them in link-exchange or likewise. ('I've never gotten fucked like in the new Audi TT!') One strategy might be to first create some nice average homepage banner and after a while change the motif and the destination."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers
|
"Write and distribute an e-mail message containing real recent quotes about the global economic crisis from major financial publications, selected to horrify individual investors. Examples: 'I have never seen anything like this in my entire life!' (Alan Greenspan) 'Today, there are 60 trillion dollars of borrowed funds invested in world markets. Even in 1929, markets were not this leveraged.' (Financial Times) The message must be shocking, convincing, and easy to understand, and it must reach at least 100,000 people and be noticed by mainstream financial media."
|
|
front
quick
|
US$50
|
workers funds
|
"Export strong encryption software to as many non-NATO countries as possible, concentrating especially on the Middle East, China, and the former USSR. Strong encryption (especially above 128-bit) is classified by the United States military as a munition; therefore, this act constitutes treason under US law."
|
|
intel
media
quick
|
0
|
workers
|
"Blockbuster edits the content of many of the videos they rent. Rent edited tapes and record the original versions onto them--the object being to get caught, so that Blockbuster presses charges (perhaps for vandalism)."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Host and publicize a competition for the largest number of price tags collected from certain clothing labels engaged in heinous practices (tentative list: Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Calvin Klein, GAP). The goal is to generate large number of non-buying visitors to these retail outlets, who would then try to tear off the price tag from merchandise without being caught. (Note that it is not necessary to cut the hard-to-break plastic tie to achieve the goal; price tags are made of cardstock and could be easily torn off, with no effort or noise. In addition, they are extremely easy to hide by folding them in one's palm.) Some suggested venues for publicizing such competition: tagger magazines, indie punk rock magazines, college radios, skate shops."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers
|
"Subvert the whole meaning and concept of money whilst using it in its true sense. In UK, bank notes carry a promise that who ever owns that note will be paid that amount in sterling at the head bank. Get as many people as possible to demand this sterling and then send them out to high street shops to try and purchase items with the sterling. Would need high press coverage (perhaps a comedy show) and if you got an exceptional amount of people could pose financial problems for banks to lose so much sterling. May have interesting outcomes in that selling back £5 of sterling may only get you £1.70 in return cash."
|
|
magx
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Distribute a large number of 'Out of Order' signs signed by something like the 'Aesthetics maintenance division,' for posting on ridiculously ugly objects, including clothing, cars, people, buildings.... Seeking suggestions for the text, and volunteers to print and distribute the signs widely."
|
|
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"Enter a large corporate organization such as a department store or bank, and require management of this organization to fill out a form. Refuse to leave until the form is properly filled out."
|
|
magx
quick
|
0
|
workers funds
|
"It is possible to switch airline intro tapes with tapes of your choice. Simply find the machine, and when no one's looking, switch the cassette."
|