Jun 1, 2012-2012
Brazil
Pimp My Carroça
Share
ACTIVISTS/ACT.GROUPS/DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP
Mundano, an Artivist; and Collector of Recyclables
TARGET
Officials, but mostly the Brazilian society
WIDELY HELD BELIEF
There was a waste disposal probelm in Brazil and the only people that fully understand are the “collectors”, but they are the ones most impacted should the officials take a different direction with the recyclying problem.
CASE NARRATIVE
Issue and Opponent: In Brazil, informal workers collect recyclables in ramshackle carriages and Carroças. They are often mocked and disparaged even though they perform a public service. Dilemma Action: A social parody of the popular MTV show “Pimp My Ride” turned into Pimp My Carroça. Artivist, Mundano, and others joined in “pimping” the carroças by fixing and improving the structure, adding rearview mirrors, and reflective stickers, decorated the carts with colorful/critical messages. The collectors, activists, and others marched to City Hall with their carts pimped out while reading the “Pimp My Carroça Manifesto.” The team also hosted the event days before RIO + 20 (The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio de Janeiro) took place and during the “Virada Sustentável” (Festival of Sustainability) in the city of São Paulo. Outcomes: The goal of the action was to make the collectors visible. This initiative was not only designed to make Brazilian society see collectors but to understand the difficulties brought on by their being “invisible.” The happening helped Brazilian society realize the importance of the collectors’ contribution to city life and, in turn, brought recognition to their struggle. The activists helped frame the media coverage by releasing a documentary about the action.
PRIMARY STRUGGLE/GOAL
NONVIOLENT TACTICS USED
DA TACTICS USED
Nonviolent occupation
Public art
CASE NARRATIVE WRITER
SUCCESS METRICS
10 / 12
(MC) Media Coverage
(MSYMP) Media coverage was sympathetic to the activists
(OR) Opponent response
(PS) Dilemma action built sympathy with the public
(PUN) Punishment favored the activists
(REFR) Dilemma action reframed the narrative of the opponent
(RF) Dilemma action reduced fear and/or apathy among the activists
(SA) Dilemma action appealed to a broad segment of the public
Artivism
Laugtivism
PART OF A LARGER CAMPAIGN
0 / 3
RESOURCES
Project documentation
Dilemma Actions Coding Guidebook
Case study documentation
Dilemma_Actions_Analysis_Dataset
SOURCES
Brazil Foundation. 2015. “Pimp My Carroça, a Movement to Respect Independent Waste Collectors,” BrazilFoundation. Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://www.brazilfoundation.org/pimp-my-carroca-a-movement-to-respect-independent-waste-collectors/).
https://www.instituteforpubliudies/pimp-my-carroca/. Accessed April 15, 2022.
Elefanteblanco. 2016. “Pimp My Carroça,” Actipedia. Retrieved July 23, 2023 (https://actipedia.org/project/pimp-my-carro%C3%A7a).
Pimp My Carroça. “Pimp My Carroça – São Paulo/ Ministério da Cultura e Ball apresentam o Pimp My Carroça São Paulo,” Flickr. Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/pimpmycarroca/albums/72157672043579990).
https://vimeo.com/46769. Accessed April 15, 2022.
Pimp My Carroça. 2020. “Pimp My Carroça,” Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://pimpmycarroca.com/).
Related cases
Dec 1, 1912-1920
United States of America
Issue and Opponnent: The origins of the National Woman’s Party (NWP) date from 1912, when Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, young Americans educated in the militant tac...
/
Jun 1, 2011-2011
Online
A new study proved the correlation between childhood asthma and coal.
Dilemma Action: While expecting that the new study would lead to no response from the coal ...
/
Oct 19, 2009-2009
United States of America
The Chamber of Commerce had long denied engaging with climate issues and encouraging its members to implement more sustainable practices. The foreclosure crisis exacer...
/
Subscribe to our newsletters to get full access to all materials on our website.