Nov 1, 2020-2020
United Kingdom
Anti-HSBC Brandalism Campaign
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ACTIVISTS/ACT.GROUPS/DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP
Various graphical artists
TARGET
HSBC Bank
WIDELY HELD BELIEF
Banks shouldn’t lie about the ethics of their actions.
CASE NARRATIVE
Issue and Opponent: This project emerged in response to HSBC’s announcement that it would aim to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050, with activists claiming that this target was inadequate. Brandalism campaigners produced satirical advertisements accusing HSBC of “climate colonialism” and protesting against its investment in fossil fuels, links to deforestation, and alleged involvement in human rights abuses.
Dilemma Action: In response to HSBC attempting to present itself as an ethical bank committed to climate action, brandalism activists covered more than 250 billboards and bus stop advertising spaces across 10 cities in the United Kingdom with satirical advertisements targeting HSBC, a British multinational investment bank.
Outcomes: Affected efforts by HSBC to brand itself as an ethical bank.
PRIMARY STRUGGLE/GOAL
NONVIOLENT TACTICS USED
DA TACTICS USED
Banners/posters/displayed communications
Brandalism
CASE NARRATIVE WRITER
SUCCESS METRICS
7 / 12
(EREP) Dilemma action got replicated by other movements
(MC) Media Coverage
(OR) Opponent response
(PS) Dilemma action built sympathy with the public
(REFR) Dilemma action reframed the narrative of the opponent
Artivism
Laugtivism
PART OF A LARGER CAMPAIGN
0 / 3
RESOURCES
Project documentation
Dilemma Actions Coding Guidebook
Case study documentation
Dilemma_Actions_Analysis_Dataset
SOURCES
Trevena, Lowie. 2020. “HIJACKED BILLBOARDS TARGET HSBC OVER ‘CLIMATE COLONIALISM,’” Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/hijacked-billboards-target-hsbc-over-climate-colonialism/).
Westwater, Hannah. 2021. “Fake billboards target HSBC over ‘climate colonialism,” The Big Issue, Retrieved July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://www.bigissue.com/news/environment/fake-fossil-bank-billboards-target-hsbc-over-climate-colonialism/).
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