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Action Call: resist big oil, J15-J21

London Rising Tide | 02.05.2004 13:25 | Ecology | Globalisation

An Exhibition of Resistance to BP and Big Oil
June 15th-21st 2004
To celebrate the beginning of the end of BP's sponsorship of the
National Portrait Award, come and help us put together An Exhibition
of Resistance to BP and Big Oil, from June 15th-21st 2004.

We are asking you to rub your eyes, wipe away the mirage of
'sustainable development' and 'beyond petroleum' to create a true
portrait of an oil company. It's time to strip away the greenwash. In
fact it's time to reclaim the whole planet from these neoliberal
robber barons and their bloody oil wars, climate chaos and massive
pay hikes. We know there are better worlds out there, worlds that
have nothing to do with profit or fossil fuels...or corrupt art
markets for that matter.

It's our desire to see London ablaze with powerful, passionate,
positive, independent art with attitude during the week - on our
streets, on our airwaves, in galleries, in social centres and squats,
cinemas, cafes...you name it.

We've got a few plans we'd love help with, but it would also be great
to see you (and your partners in artistic crime) execute your own
events and actions.

Events simmering in the pot for the week include:
* an 'art not oil' happening in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG*)
on June 16th.
* greeting visitors to the BP sponsored relay of 'Faust' - an opera
about a man selling his soul to the devil? Hmm, how appropriate -
from the Royal Opera House to Covent Garden Piazza, Canary Wharf,
Belfast and, er, Eden Project, 19.6.04
* an art-on-the-move parade of true portraits of an oil company on
June 21st**, travelling from BP HQ*** to the NPG. At the NPG we'll
celebrate our creations and demand that the gallery severs its links
with BP and Big Oil. From there we'll head to our own space to
discuss and party.
* your event here - it's ALL of us who have to make these and some
even more amazing acts of resistance to the oil madness happen during
the week and beyond. No one's in charge, so if you have a fiendish
plan that just might work, get out and make it happen...

Sat May 8th, 6-7pm: Eagle Wharf, behind Peckham Library: Public
meeting at European Creative Forum to meet, plot and create.
May 13th: London Rising Tide benefit gig with films, food etc.,
Tufnell Park occupied social centre, 156-158 Fortess Road, London NW5

* National Portrait Gallery is on St. Martin's Lane, W1.
** June 21st: summer solstice and the day the National Portrait Award
winner will be announced)
*** BP's HQ is 1 St. James' Square, SW1.

Contacts and further information: LRT, part of the Rising Tide UK and
international networks, takes creative action to combat the root
causes of climate chaos and to help build movements for social &
ecological justice.
Tel: 07969 786770;
Email:  london@risingtide.org.uk
Post: c/o 62 Fieldgate Street, London E1 1ES.
www.londonrisingtide.org.uk (under construction)
See also www.burningplanet.net
Rising Tide UK: www.risingtide.org.uk &
Peoples' Global Action: www.agp.org
No New Oil: www.nonewoil.org

Let's kick the corporations out of the galleries, museums, opera,
Planet Earth etc.

London Rising Tide