On Sept 26th a group of local Toronto activists adopted the Loblaws grocery store on St. Clair and Bathurst. This was not an ordinary store adoption; we arrived with the plan to release a 4-foot by 4-foot banner inside the grocery store. Out of the 11 activists that helped out with the store adoption 3 groups were formed. One group held a large banner outside the store and leafleted passersby and spoke to customers, a second group was in charge of taking video footage and photos and finally the last group had the role of speaking to the manager of the store and releasing the floating banner. A floating banner you ask???
Well I will let you know what this exciting idea is all about. The banner was made out of light weight tracing paper with the wording outlined Kleenex=Forest Destruction. Attached were 10 medium sized helium balloons, which sent the banner skyrocketing up towards the ceiling of the store for all shoppers to see.
It was a great way to let consumers know that Boreal forest destruction is a serious threat to Canada’s forests, Kimberly-Clark continues to keep their destructive ways and now activists are coming up with more clever ways to spread the word. Eventually the 11 activists were asked by not so happy security guards to leave the property of Loblaws and if we didn’t leave they were going to call the police. We decided that our objectives were met, the banner was released and we spoke to many consumers, so we wrapped up and went for a pizza.
Everyone that was part of this activity was hyped; we discussed what could be done to make the next banner release bigger and better and how this would be a fun activity for the Boreal Day of Action. The day of action is quickly approaching, Is your local group organized? What are you doing? A grocery store adoption, a banner hang, maybe some street theatre, now is the time to be creative and have heaps of fun. Lets take back our forests and save the Boreal and most of all STOP KLEENEX!
Check out some video from today's event
-Earl
Earl is a Kleercut activist who moonlights as an inventor.
Comments and articles posted as blogs on the Kleercut.net website represent the views of the blogger, and do not necessarily represent the views of Greenpeace.
