Oil International
February 26th, 2007
My good friend and designer Dave Baggeroer recently posted on his blog a project called Oil International. It’s a simple, yet powerful play on the American oval sticker fad that evolved from the UN’s Distinguishing Signs of Vehicles in International Traffic.
I’m particularly fond of this project because it’s a great example of double reappropriation – taking an idea that was transformed once (EU stickers >> American stickers) and then re-purposing it once again, reintroducing meaning and actual value. It reminds me of Sean Herman’s Save Louis Vuitton ribbons, a critical art piece that pokes fun of “cause ribbons” and begs the viewer to ask “what am I supporting anyway?”
You can buy Dave’s Oil International stickers here for $5. All proceeds from the sale of the stickers will be donated to Climate Counts, a new non-profit organization launched by the yogurt company Stonyfield Farm and Clean Air-Cool Planet.
Interestingly, Danone recently acquired 85% of Stonyfield shares, but the terms of the partnership enabled Stonyfield to keep their management team intact and remain true to its social and environmental goals while still benefiting from playing the big business game. As we move forward, we need to keep our eyes open to what works and what doesn’t work. While the folks at Greenpeace and EarthFirst! are extremely passionate, I think we have a lot to learn from the Stonyfield deal.
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March 1st, 2007 at 9:44 am
My friend and I used to stick another bumper sticker “I’m changing the environment: Ask me how!” to SUVs in my very conservative hometown. But then I turned 17 and I realized that messing up someone’s Lexus – while intially satisfying – won’t change their minds; in fact, it will just make them actively hostile to similar causes.
And as they say, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander: I don’t think many Prius-driving liberals would be very receptive if they found their cars adorned with, I don’t know, “Cheney/Rove ‘08” stickers.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:56 am
I completely agree Jeff. The stickers were not intended to be plastered on other people’s cars but rather our own. All of our cars, Prius’ and Hummers alike, are contributing to our OIL dependence and CO2 emissions. None of our current transportation options are a sustainable silver bullet. I own a ‘99 Subaru Outback with a CO2 sticker right above the tailpipe. I can’t afford a Prius but still need to drive. Every time I drive the sticker reminds me of the footprint I’m leaving behind.
I guess I couldn’t help myself with the Hummer picture. The sticker in that picture is actually a magnet. I would never damage someone else’s property…but I suppose the stickers could be used to do just that. Let’s hope people use these stickers to help change their own habits rather then as a cheap way to point fingers at others.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
What about vinyl stickers? Those are pretty safe.