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Barack Obama: (Climate) Change We Can Believe In
Friday, April 24
Greenpeace activists have been making sure US President Barack Obama is well aware of the climate change affecting the world.
As Obama was making a speech in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic on 5th April 2009, six Greenpeace activists jumped from a bridge nearby, rolling a banner with the message “Bail out the climate”. Another Greenpeace activist standing on a lampost even nearer to where Obama was unveiled a banner urging him to “lead change on the climate”, a challenge Obama accepted in his speech.
“To protect our planet, now is the time to change the way that we use energy. Together, we must confront climate change (...) and I pledge to you that in this global effort, the United States is now ready to lead.” Change. This word has appeared four times already in the paragraphs above. Obama spoke of change during his presidential campaign. We want and hope for change too, but a different kind of change.
The word ‘change’ can be interpreted in two ways here.
The first is a direct reference to climate change, indicated by a sweaty red-faced Obama. Temperatures are increasing globally and as a result, both geographical poles are melting.
The second is a message to Obama: change how the world views the climate change. After accepting the challenge to lead the world on climate change, now is the time to make good on that promise.
Playing on Shepard Fairey’s iconic poster for Obama’s presidential campaign, it retains that massive visibility and recognition in people. Obama is also an important figure in the world, and by utilizing his portrait we provide a figure everybody can relate to.
The red and blues Fairey used to represent America have been replaced by the greens of Greenpeace. Using green here clearly indicates that we are sending a message on the environment. On climate change.
Barack Obama: (Climate) Change We Can Believe In.
Poster is a submission for a Greenpeace competition and has not been endorsed by Greenpeace. Based on Shepard Fairey's iconic work for Barack Obama's presidential campaign; original photo from AP.Labels: Barack Obama, Greenpeace, Ng Kok Kai
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