Should 'tipping point’ become a collective noun for climate buzzwords, we reached it on Oct 22nd in the Hen & Chicken: greenwashing, hushing, shifting, rinsing, crowding and lighting have increasingly come into our lives as consumer and community attention focuses ever more on what we can all do at home and in the workplace to effect influence on the overarching issue of the 21st century: the climate crisis.
Not before time, our 7th talk comprised our first all-female host and panel; Jessica Ferrow of the Twelve environmental consultancy, author Natalie Fee of City to Sea and Veronica Wignall of Adblock Bristol and Adfree Cities joined host Eliz Mizon of the Bristol Cable. Together they voiced a talk that was at turns informative and empowering. As has become a feature of our events, the Altered State audience worked the the panel hard with thoughtful questions at the end.
Bristol has a history of pushing back on corporate intrusions into the public space but there are still plentiful examples of advertising overreach into our lives as we go about our day. We heard about cities round the world who have gone much further, Edinburgh has ratified a ban on ‘high carbon services’ ads, so you won’t get airlines and SUVs shoved down your throat if you’re up there for the Festival or fringe. Sao Paolo banned all billboards in 2007, Lyon stripped all digital screens out of their subway and perhaps most inspirational was the Swiss model of removing 75% of all public space advertising, with the remaining 25% only allowed to carry small business messaging.
We heard specifics on how to lobby the Advertising Standards Authority, the requisite standards for companies to attain B Corps status, which evaluates workplace environmental standards, governance, customer engagement, community reach and treatment of workers , and Natalie’s book Do Good, Get Paid: How to Make a Difference in Your Day Job expands on how individuals can push their employer in these areas and for the most passionate, this can turn into a new role within their company, a type of sustainability Czar.
We were told about degrowth, advertising industry cynicism and there were passionate calls for oneness with nature. Some terrible advertisers were named and shamed whilst those trying hard to do the right thing were eulogised - the good eggs in a bad frying pan. The Bristol Cable had set up a stall at the back of the room and their mantra to ‘give Murdoch the finger, give The Cable a fiver’ received loud applause.
The toolbox was then stuffed with handy implements: environmentally aware local companies with sound practice in a multitude of sectors were named, and now that we can’t be fobbed off with “we’re not in power” we were urged to lobby our MPs to restrict harmful advertising. Misinformation must be flagged with the ASA, we should get involved with Adblock Bristol to try and shut down intrusive billboards, subscribe to the Cable of course and perhaps best of all, if you’re self employed like Jessica: take all of August off and feel the personal benefits rack up.
More links:
Our podcast the Altered State with highlights of a cohesive talk will follow shortly. As usual, we spun a themed playlist on the night, featuring:
Nature Boy - Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Who Loves The Sun - The Velvet Underground
Monkey Gone To Heaven - Pixies
The Garden - PJ Harvey
Feels Like Summer - Childish Gambino
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell
Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil
Mercy Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye
Buy Nothing Day - The Go! Team
Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) - Pet Shop Boys
Natural Beauty - Neil Young
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