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This month, Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island (re)launched a photo-based social media campaign under the theme “Don’t Look Away.” This is a simple action, just taking photos with blindfolded statues. It is usually quite safe and legal (but do check your local jurisdiction, and don’t damage the statue). Also, it’s a great way for Rebels to get engaged!

The goal of “Don’t Look Away” actions is to direct global attention to the ecological emergency, by blindfolding iconic statues. This creates powerful images and a clear message: those in power are ignoring the crisis.

Why are we blindfolding statues?

Statues are iconic. We have them in cities and towns everywhere. The blindfold and sign is a demand to those in power: “Don’t look away” if you hope to deserve a statue one day. These pictures with statues have a distinctive visual appeal that is easily replicated and never boring. They make people think and smile.

Week One: End Fossil Fuels Now

For the week of Friday Nov 22^nd through Thursday Nov 28^th, we are doing a campaign to support signing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and condemn the failure of COP29.

Hashtags:
#DontLookAway
#TheScienceIsClear
#SignFossilFuelTreaty
#FossilFuelTreaty

Starting on “Black Friday” Nov 29^th, our campaign supports a global treaty to end plastic pollution during the INC-5 convention. This week’s theme also ties in to Black Friday, where many of the products sold will be made from or encased in plastic.

Hashtags:
#DontLookAway
#TheScienceIsClear
#EndPlasticPollution
#PlasticProblem

Our theme for the fourth and fifth week of our campaign is an encouragement to keep up our struggle for change, a reminder of the power of sustained resistance, and a declaration of our intention to keep protesting the climate crisis (Friday December 13 – December 27th or so).

• Advance work: Map the statues in your area. Decide which one(s) are the best options for your photoshoot.
• Divide tasks: If you have enough people, you’ll want a blindfold team, photographers, and even a media team. If not, don’t worry: you can even do this solo (either with tripod and timer to get yourself in the frame, or just photographing the staged statue if that’s the best you can manage).
• Gather materials: lab coats, equipment needed to access statue, blindfold material, signs (we’ve got ready-to-print PDFs in 11x17inch and 8.5x11inch versions), string, painters or masking tape
  • Use agreed messaging and hashtags (above)
  • we recommend using cardboard or posterboard backing for your signs
• Optional: Prepare a press release for media coverage.

• Get out and take pictures: the ideal is to have images of the statues, with a scientist in a labcoat facing toward the statue but away from the camera (so that “Scientist Rebellion” and/or our logo are visible). Short video clips can also be useful.
• Share photos and video of action:
  • post on your social media and share with Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island accounts, using #DontLookAway and #TheScienceIsClear
  • upload to our “SR TI Media sharing” Signal channel or our Mega drive (contact one of us if you don’t have access).