Having attended the unveiling of the first of two creations commissioned by Remember Saro-Wiwa (see www.remembersarowiwa.com), London Rising Tiders headed across town to the Natural History Museum, to keep Saro-Wiwa's memory alive in a slightly more confrontational fashion inside the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
Shell's Wild Lie at the Museum gates, 10.11.06
Having slippd inside and announced the significance of the date to the visitors, and having implored them to make their opposition to Shell be known, since the climate-trashing company had absolutely no right to have its brand connected to such beautiful photographs, I was escorted around, ranting all the way, by neutral security and oily, patronising staff.
Reaction from punters was initially depressing, as one hissed an insult as he passed me, but then a few came up and said they agreed with me, which was a massive relief since Museum employees kept whispering in my ear that the people had no interest in my views. There was even a brief round of applause as I reached the exhibition exit.
Others leafletted and chatted to Museum visitors before also being led out.
Outside, we set up the Shell's Wild Lie counter-exhibition (
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk/gallery/v/Shell/) and gave out leaflets. An artist and her partner made a point of coming over and thanking us for making them aware of these issues, leaving us with a heartwarming 'Thank you for caring.'
This was a day of action called partly by the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, and partly by activists in Rossport. With any luck shortly there will be a report of a Rossport-based Shell action also in London.
See also www.shelloiledwildife.org.uk
Reaction from punters was initially depressing, as one hissed an insult as he passed me, but then a few came up and said they agreed with me, which was a massive relief since Museum employees kept whispering in my ear that the people had no interest in my views. There was even a brief round of applause as I reached the exhibition exit.
Others leafletted and chatted to Museum visitors before also being led out.
Outside, we set up the Shell's Wild Lie counter-exhibition (
http://www.artnotoil.org.uk/gallery/v/Shell/) and gave out leaflets. An artist and her partner made a point of coming over and thanking us for making them aware of these issues, leaving us with a heartwarming 'Thank you for caring.' This was a day of action called partly by the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, and partly by activists in Rossport. With any luck shortly there will be a report of a Rossport-based Shell action also in London.
See also www.shelloiledwildife.org.uk
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