Stopping the Traffic in Melbourne
Over the weekend I joined up with a freeze flash mob raising awareness of the sex trafficking trade and calling for an end to the practice.
The protest was organised by Adrian Greenwood from the More Praxis network, an expression of the Uniting Church in Australia, Victoria/Tasmania Synod. Many of the participants were attending the Forge Grassroots Festival. The idea was for a group to freeze on cue for five minutes, while pedestrians walked past, stopped and stared, or took brochures. It’s designed to be a non violent, viral kind of exercise that invites others to engage in their own way.
Interestingly enough the photograph here shows a freeze flash mob outside The Body Shop. Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, was a strong advocate for the introduction of a new European convention against the trafficking of human beings.
This YouTube clip was prepared by Darren Wright, who while freezing in Bourke St had his camera on rapid photography mode.
Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)
For more information on the Stop The Traffic Campaign see www.stopthetraffik.org.
I’ve written up a few advertising campaigns at Duncan’s TV, each of them rather disturbing.
Human Trafficking is Torture by Any Other Name (Helen Bamber Foundation -- Emma Thompson)
Lost in Translation (Helen Bamber Foundation)
Let’s End Violence Against Women (UNIFEM)
Football Streaker (MTV End Exploitation and Trafficking)
2 Trackback(s)
- Apr 16, 2008: Read these posts. « Salvokat
- Apr 26, 2008: Grassroots roundup update… «
Postkiwi Duncan Macleod posts on life, faith and culture in Australia, drawing from his involvement in the creative industry, the Uniting Church, the blogosphere, generational research, the emerging church and life on the Gold Coast.
Duncan is the editor of The Inspiration Room, a site showcasing advertising, design and other work produced by the global creative community.
6 Responses to “Stopping the Traffic in Melbourne”
By Adam on Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
hello!
Nice work! One of our core values is defending human rights… none of products we make involve child labour. over half of our ingredients are ‘fair trade’.
Anita was a great activist!
We’re trying to continue her legacy here.
http://blog.thebodyshop.com.au/
Good luck with your campaign! Stay Outraged!
By Isaac on Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
Hi duncan, photos from the Grassroots Festival are online on the Life Expedition Website
By Duncan on Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for posting those photos Isaac. And all the best as you develop your blog.
By Duncan on Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
Hi Adam. Thanks for dropping by. Good to hear from the team behind the scenes at the Body Shop.