US duo-activists bring their new satirical documentary on climate change to Jutland
by Anna FerrariImagine a press conference where the representative of the United States Chamber of Commerce (which, despite the name, is not a government agency, but one of the largest lobbies in the USA) announces they are going to change their opposition to climate change legislation. The audience is speechless while he promises it with a serious tone. It is big news, a total U-turn in their policy. Suddenly another man, extremely annoyed, breaks into the room and claims that it is a fraud and the believed representative is an impostor. Very true: he is actually an activist. The hilarious situation ends up with the two men insisting upon each other to show their own business cards, in front of the puzzled journalists. The news is broadcast by national stations, before the denial of the Chamber of Commerce can reach them, thus enlarging the case.
This is only one of the absurd scenes of the movie "The Yes Men are revolting", shown at Godsbanen, in Aarhus, on Sunday 8 th November. And that is what "The Yes Men" do: disruptive and satirical actions to denounce and mock multinational companies crimes and corporate profit-oriented interests, as well as calling the media's attention or, as they say on their website, to give "journalists excuses to cover important issues". "The Yes Men" are an US activist-duo of world-wide fame, composed of Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno (their real names are, respectively, Jacques Servin and Igor Vamos). They were present, together with the movie director Laura Nix, at the sold-out event at Godsbanen, co-presented by CPH:DOX.
" The Yes Men are revolting " (2014) is their third documentary movie, following the previous "The Yes Men" (2003) and "The Yes Men fix the world" (2009). This time they focus on climate change, as one of the major current global challenges. The starting point is, that rich countries have a bigger impact on climate change than the poor ones. Nevertheless, these last ones have to pay the effects of it, even if they pollute far less. In addressing their actions for environment protection, Andy and Mike show their real life, both public and private, with victories and defeats. These last ones lead to moments of intimate reflection. Why do activism at all? Eventually, they find a personal reconceptualization of their goals. In their case, part of the solution is to join movements like "Occupy Wall Street" (the scene where they march surveilled by the police, pretending that the policemen are also protesting is a must watch). They realize that "to keep going, we need to be part of something bigger than ourselves" and that is how changes happen. In general, the movie is a lot of fun, as confirmed by the frequent bursts of laughter in the audience.
At Godsbanen, Bichlbaum and Bonanno introduced their work, engaged discussion as well as questions and answers with activists from Aarhus and the public. "How we deal with legal issues? We just ignore the law", laughed Bichlbaum. Bonanno also stressed that activism is not dangerous and, in the extreme case of being arrested, the important thing is to have people outside that know what to do. They have been sued only once, and it was from the US Chamber of Commerce. According to movie director Laura Nix, activism is difficult to do over a long period of time and it is very subjective. The key, for all three of them, is collaboration rather than work alone because - as Bichlbaum concluded - "actions almost always fail, but movements almost always succeed".