🎤 Messaging Guidelines for Paint the Streets

[ManicMax (Max)]

This topic is for discussing and refining the messaging guidelines for Paint the Streets.
The current messaging guidelines are contained in the “Messaging” section of the Paint the Streets Australia Guide.

Topline Messages

• This is what emergency mode looks like. When they are told the truth about a life-and-

death threat, communities can make very big changes fast, putting aside their differences to work for the greater good.

• The pandemic has shown that another world is possible. We refuse to go back to ‘normal’. Business-as-usual is killing us.
• We will act alongside others from around the world to ensure that no one is left behind in addressing the pandemic - and the climate and ecological emergency.
• We will ensure that we build back better, doing whatever is needed to save ourselves.

Cautions

• This is a time of great suffering and fear. We will not in any way downplay the pain and loss people are experiencing.
• We will remember to explain that emergency mode brings with it not only benefits, but also dangers including loss of civil liberties and unequal levels of protection.
• We will not be swayed by arguments that this is not a good time to talk about the climate and ecological emergency. Things are changing fast. We can, and must, address all the existential threats we face simultaneously.

Suggested Slogans

• LOVE IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE
• PROTECT RESTORE REGENERATE
• WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE
• WE TEACH OUR KIDS: SHARING IS CARING (BUSINESS AS USUAL DOES NEITHER!)
• WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
• KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS
• COURAGE IS CONTAGIOUS
• NO ONE LEFT BEHIND
• BUILD BACK BETTER
• TELL THE TRUTH
• ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE
• IMAGINE
• IMAGINE A BETTER WORLD
• A NEW WAY FORWARD
• WE REFUSE TO GO BACK TO NORMAL BECAUSE NORMAL IS THE PROBLEM

See also:

• UK Paint the Streets Action guidelines
• XR’s ten principles
• MessageBank - an open archiving project for XR messaging
• Connecting COVID-19 and the Climate Emergency - XR Sydney Media + Messaging / XR Sydney Politics

These messaging guidelines have been put together by @JaneM, with input from @Tee, @Dr.DML and other rebels.

There has been previous discussion on the Base on XR Messaging and Political Action during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

This includes a compilation by @janem of several messaging resources:

On another topic

Here is a link to a recent short XR UK messaging document I have adapted for the Australian context: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FD3nLZDaTO5B9-Joz2BbxDTQXWNLPg0r

And here is my draft two-page Victorian/ Australian version: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a9mwgM8dR60WaFYzzg8vFxA4SkvX_be1

My revised version is based on the visioning exercises conducted in XR Vic Media and Messaging, XR Outreach Materials Working Group and the Paint the Streets Project Group. It could be for XR Vic - or possibly for XR Australia if other states like it.

I have made a collection of lots of COVID messaging documents from XR and other groups: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1j2MA_nvCb20lxtC8uD5spOamXwiUkusj

The folder includes a long and rambling draft (18-page!) messaging ideas document I have been working on. It is not yet finished and will need a good edit when it is done. Any comments welcome. Does anyone have time and energy to help me finish it? This is it: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Fac4JMxRkVkKjHtAWihC-baq9U4rhqzM

[ManicMax (Max)]

Cross-posting this from the “Strategic Directions” topic - it seems the “Closed for Good” / “No Going Back” message has a lot of traction. XR Tasmania is taking it up in conjunction with XR UK’s “Closed for Good” campaign.

On another topic

XR Tasmania hasn’t had any people at the Paint the Streets meeting because their weekly catchup is at the same time. Nevertheless, they were already preparing something similar in conjunction with XR UK’s “No Going Back” campaign.

Here’s their action guide.

And their “Closed for Good” poster, which they plan to paste-up all over offending businesses:

Closed-for-good-poster (1).pdf (805.3 KB)

[karenj_briswest (Karen Jones)]

Fantastic support here - are there any stencil ‘cutouts’ for the suggested slogans available on line for tracing over - save soooo much time over having to create the stencils from scratch! thank you

[kate_s]

Hey Karen, there’s a folder of stencils here - look in Text Stencils and No Going Back folders for some words & slogans. Will keep adding to the folder so check back, or call out for any requests

[ageorge (andrew)]

What about larrikin messaging:

Beaches not Bunnings

Here’s more info

https://base.ausrebellion.earth/t/australia-specific-messaging-fair-go/4353/2?u=ageorge

[JaneM (Jane Morton)]

Sounding the alarm: talking about existential threat … and rebellion
Friday 26 June 5pm – 6pm AEST. Zoom presentations and discussion

Fear does work! This event will cover the research that backs strong climate emergency messaging and Roger Hallam’s approach to Extinction Rebellion talks and media events.

Jane Morton, clinical psychologist and author of Don’t mention the emergency? will summarise the research that backs the power of emotionally congruent messages that include a personally relevant threat plus proportionate action.

Roger Hallam, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, and author of Common Sense for the 21st Century: Only non-violent rebellion can stop climate breakdown and social collapse, will explore XR’s use of simple and clear, but intensely emotional communication.

You will need to RSVP via this link to receive the Zoom call details. There will be a limit of 100 people on the call.