Critical Mass

2

01/32 — Covers 02/03 — Editorial 04/05 — Art Activism & The Re-Appropriation of Space 06/07 — One Wild Year 08/09 — Graphic Design: Just another Profession?

Contents

10/11 — Ethical Shoplifting 12/13 — The Evolution of Needs 14/15 — Oilwashing 16/17 — Street Discourse 18/19 — Guerilla Gardening 20/21 — Travelling on Breadcrumbs 22/22 — Preaching 24/25 — The Meme is Not the Message 26/27 — Insideout 28/29 — You Always Get a Seat 30/31 — Eating on a Budget

3 galvanise its forces against these vitriolic

succumbing to weaknesses from years of

corruptions. Occupy, Liberate Tate, Anonymous,

warring and plundering. Mass unemployment,

Peoples’ Assemblies Against Austerity and UK

economic deflation and a growing disparity

Uncut are among many movements springing

between the rich and poor had crippled civil

from the wide gulf between the haves and

society, which, at the same time, created

have nots.

just the right conditions for the birth of a new phenomenon: Radicalism.

It seemed the elite class had failed the

ideology from which it sprang and sold back to

Establishment to its foundations. The new

culture, nothing but narcissism seems to stick.

loudly accused the government of high treason

consumer identities in society controlled by bankers and corporations, our generation of

meetings and demonstrations were held; new

creatives and thinkers are angry and reject

political organisations formed which galvanised

current notions of freedom as just another

the people who fought back duly against the

liberal myth. Our freedom is bound tightly

excesses of old corruption.

by the conditions of a free market enterprise: limits to our creativity. Nothing created inside

freedoms to pursue new ideas of morality

the system has so far shown an immunity to

and what it meant to be an individual in

the capitalist machine. We can no longer afford

a newly democratic society. Widespread

to keep feeding our freedom to this behemoth.

Contributors

Jack Sheppard Chris Ong Ho Ming Lam Damion Robinson Lena Nielsen Sarah Temple Tony Credland Tzortzis Rallis

Critical Mass is a compilation of radical

eventually led to a flourishing of new interests,

opinions and reflections which question current

such as vegetarianism, feminism, birth-control,

notions of change. Writers have delved into some of the dilemmas and complexities of issues such as environmentalism,

radicalism we have undergone another shift,

consumerism, the impact of street protest

from the citizen to the consumer. The liberal

and social media. Today we are are searching

idea of freedom in a free market society means

for new expressions of freedom, and to create

that these subcultural identities have since

new thinking paradigms which will guarantee

become marketable genres which are sold

us a future where the wellbeing of humanity

back to us in the forms of print, image and

comes before a profit-making minority.

culture. You could say that we simply swapped

Pip Burrows

dictating our thinking paradigms and setting

oppression and won their rights and

Since the birth of nineteenth century

Christina Tang

No longer satisfied with merely expressing

against the nation. In the coming years, mass

socialism, free love, LGBT and so on.

Bianca Pascall

frequently our efforts are absorbed back into the us in the form of another image. In a neoliberal

social participation in peoples’ movements

Aldo D’Angelo

cycle of production and consumption, yet

people when a new generation of radicals

The public had challenged government

Georgia Leontara

The pressure is on to break from this infernal

emerged from the fissures and shook the radicals turned the tables on the elites and

Ellen Li

Naturally, our generation is trying to

boom, Britain was on its knees after

one set of chains for another.

As with the industrial revolution, we are again experiencing a period of transition where

Once again, society is on its knees.

politics, economies and societies are becoming

In the twenty-first century we are witnessing

increasingly polarised and change is inevitable.

the snowballing effects of corporate excesses

Every revolution throughout history has left its

and the transfer of democratic power to

trail of creative destruction which determines

financial elites.

Governments today are telling youths

who are the winners and losers in the social arena. Today’s generation faces a historical

they will be lucky to afford a home while

struggle against the forces of neoliberalism

holding open the backdoors for greedy

and every individual has a significant part

landlords to increasingly exploit vulnerable

to play. Closing the gap of disparity and

tenants. Students are leaving university

removing imbalances requires nothing

saddled with a lifetime’s worth of debt while

less than a radical reconfiguration of the

being told their prospects of finding work

relationship between territoriality and financial

are slim. Further assaults from an Orwellian

power. In a nutshell, we must turn the tables

media, embattled in ideological warfare, are

on old corruptions and hold perpetrators

increasing public hostilities with daily splashes

to ransom. Critical Mass is just one

of trepidation, fear and blame. As a result,

representation of the united voice of millions

fascist forces are awakening and gaining in

of disenfranchised people around the world

strength across Europe.

carrying this stark message: our time is now.

Author: Bianca Pascall

Once upon a time, just before the industrial

4

Art Activism & The Re-Appropriation Of Space The spatial politics of social movements has

traditional marches and demonstrations.

for some time been an issue of discussion

While still being a politically driven action in

and interest for many activists, and a

which the dynamic of the street is disrupted,

focus of analysis for many scholars alike.

in the case of a protest street party the re-

For contemporary social movements, the

appropriation of public space allows not only

reclaiming, appropriation and reconfiguration

the communication of a political message,

of spaces can take place in many different

but also the emergence of something new:

instances, from temporary marches and

a creative use of space that suggests an

pickets, to long-term camps and occupations.

alternative relation to the urban environment.

Author: Paula Serafini

Protest camps like Occupy, for instance, are

The practice of psychogeography,

Parts Per Million, Liberate Tate, November 2013 Tate Britain Photo Martin LeSanto

examples of how public and private spaces that

adopted in the UK by groups such as Loiterers

have been reclaimed, can be transformed into

Resistance Movement (LRM) in Manchester, is

this include Shell Out Sounds providing musical

sites for politics and recreation, and even act as

another example of a creative reconfiguration

entertainment during a concert intermission,

nascent examples of new social configurations.

of space. Through collective derives, game-like

or Liberate Tate producing a performance that

But what happens when the appropriation and

walks, and walking protests, LRM challenges

implicitly references a sculpture exhibition at

transformation of spaces takes artistic forms?

the gentrification of the city, the dominant

Tate. As a result, their interaction with space

force of cars and public transport, and the

differs from other kinds of protest, and so does

several different ways of engaging with both

official narrative of control that limits people’s

their relationship with museum staff members

public and private spaces. Mass protest street

use of public space. Their walks are largely

and publics. In the context of an art institution,

parties and carnivals -such as those of Reclaim

influenced by the idea of play and chance, and

an already available art loving public becomes

the Streets in the 1990s, and the Fracked

aim at changing people’s perceptions of what

a sometimes perplexed, sometimes enraged,

Future Carnival in London last March-are

the city is for, and who has the right to certain

sometimes delighted audience to a surprise

examples of intervention in the public space,

spaces. A game of looking for elements of a

performance, even if this is not part of the

in which the street is transformed into a dance

lost civilisation or portals to another world in

institution’s programme (and surely not on the

floor and stage, and passers-by unexpectedly

the deserted canals of Manchester is therefore

institution’s wish list). As an added bonus, this

become audiences and even participants of a

not only a comment on state control and the

kind of uninvited non-commissioned artistic

subversive celebration. This kind of situation

politics of urban regeneration, but also a way

protest taking place within an institutional

finds itself far from the experience of more

of using the city as a playground.

context contributes to the questioning of what

Within art activist practices we can identify

Finally, the transformation of spaces through art need not be limited to open public

right to make it, challenging in this way the

spaces. Groups like Shell Out Sounds, Liberate

rules and expectations of a cultural space and

Tate and Reclaim Shakespeare Company, all

sphere, even if this is not the primary objective

part of the Art not Oil coalition, have notably

of these particular actions.

made artistic interventions in art institutions

Photo by Andrea Bacacks

art is, what it should be for, and who has the

What these examples serve to show is

in London as a form of protesting sponsoring

that art activist spatial interventions are

deals between these organisations and the oil

not only a way of putting forward political

companies BP and Shell. Their interventionist

messages, but can also suggest, and

tactics, be it singing, theatre, or performance

momentarily practice, a more playful,

art, take place in spaces that are open to the

democratic and creative use of public and

public, but which are specialised non-public

private space. In the urban context in

spaces. Contrary to a picket or a march, their

particular, this allows us to rethink what cities

use of space is determined by, and in occasions

and institutions are for, who has a right to the

a response to, the artistic nature of the

use of space, and finally, what democratic

institutions they are intervening. Examples of

artistic practice can and should look like.

5 Photo by Andrea Bacacks

6

7

One Wild Year However, it would be wrong to create

extracting starch from plants such as ‘lords

the Forager about his quest to live on

an illusion that during his year-long challenge,

and ladies’ and ‘reed mace’, and I intend to

a diet of one hundred percent wild food

Fergus will subsiding from the harsh reality

turn sweet chestnuts into milled-flour to make

for a year.

of consumer society in lush woodland retreat,

breads, pasta and cakes.’

filling his wicker basket with nature’s bounty

Fergus draws inspiration for new recipes

Fergus Drennan, known as Fergus the Forager,

and feasting on her abundance. Foraging in the

and ideas from the vast multicultural foods

is passionate about wild and foraged food. He

modern world comes with its perils and limits,

available today, and likes to mimic conventional

loves to pickle, bake, solar dry, and conjure up

and he is keen to dispel any romantic notion

recipes from around the world. He is also keen

new and innovative ways of incorporating wild

that this will be easy; it is a challenge, after

to find out if it is possible to create wild-sourced

food into the modern diet. Making fruit leather

all. Fergus anticipates this project will bring

equivalents of things he likes such as custard,

from the fruit of a strawberry tree, cheese cake

him to engage with unseen issues that

tofu, mayonnaise and salami.

from sea-buckthorn or nori sheets from winter

compromise our ability to eat self-sustainably

chanterelle fungi, are just some of his fun ideas.

in modern society; also discover just how

document his stories, recipes and experiences

Fergus is planning to embark on the ultimate

feasible it really is to source wild food.

on his blog to share his discoveries with

challenge: to live entirely on wild and foraged

Foragers today face dangers of eating

Throughout the year he intends to

followers. He will also invite different groups

foods for one year, when he will explore the

pesticides that contaminate plants in areas

and individuals to come and join him on

limits of forging for a self-sustaining lifestyle.

adjoining agricultural fields, as well as pollution

forages, make recipes and share ideas.

The wild food project aims to test the value

in hedgerows, parks and other outdoor public

Fergus is currently seeking funds of up

of foraging, and find out how important it is to

spaces. ‘It is a sad state of affairs when wild

to £12,000 to begin the project and make full-

have a knowledge of wild food in a culture of

and foraged nettles are potentially less safe

time foraging a possibility throughout the year.

consumerism. Culture, climate and economy

and nutritious than scientifically produced

are undergoing radical changes at an alarming

lettuces,’ said Fergus. He is looking into working

get involved with the project, you can visit

pace. Fergus claims that ‘local foraging is an

with a biochemist on the project who can record

the website below for details, or contact Fergus

opportunity to reconnect with the natural world

the levels of toxicity in the wild food he finds,

the Forager directly. The aim of the project is

and rethink nature’s value as a source of free,

as he hopes this data will produce some

to promote knowledge of wild food and ensure

good, food which can replenish our health.’

empirical evidence of the condition of the

foraging will occupy a more central role in food

environment for wild food and habitats.

production in future years.

The forager intends to use one hundred percent wild food during the challenge. From

Fergus has been foraging for twenty-five

If you would like to make a donation, or

For further information:

the oils, salt, herbs and vinegar used to

years and is something of an expert on wild

www.wildmanwildfood.co.uk

flavour a dish, he will strive to ensure that all

food diets. The most difficult aspect of the

www.wildmanwildfood.blogspot.co.uk

ingredients have not been firstly cultivated for

challenge, he anticipates, will be the careful

commercial retail. Fergus has devised specific

planning required to maintain a varied and

of Local Food: How to Make it Happen in

themes for each month; for example, exploring

balanced diet from entirely foraged produce.

Your Community, the first in a series of

methods used in the stone age in April, and new methods for eating a raw vegan diet in July.

Tamzin Pinkerton is a writer and author

‘To make sure I consume enough

Transition books. She lives in Brighton and is

carbohydrate, I will be experimenting with

a passionate supporter of local organic food.

Author: Tamzin Pinkerton

Tamzin Pinkerton speaks to Fergus

8

Graphic Design: Just another profession?

This article reflects on the social responsibilities of a graphic designer and the dilemmas of ethical practice in a consumer society.

Authors: Georgia Leontara & Aldo D’Angelo

Graphic design is something we constantly engage with.

Rarely do we consider that our everyday items, such as newspapers, leaflets, maps, billboards and street signs have firstly been conceived in the mind of a visual communicator. Graphic designers create visual messages for the purpose of communicating specific meanings.

It is not immediately noticeable to our audiences that messages are being conveyed by our images, or even that they reflect particular social values.

Graphic design aims to affect the quality of culture.

If the function of the image is to promote a product, service, or an idea, then that image needs to reach, and affect, as many people as possible. In some instances individuals will be pleased by the aesthetics of the graphic design elements: when we draw certain personal values from images such as Apple, Nike, or Louis Vuitton, we are more likely to support the product. On the flip-side, graphic designs will conflict with personal tastes, feelings and values.

The methods we use to communicate visually and how we interpret messages in imagery is remarkable and, therefore, graphic design studied at some depth. In Ethics: A graphic designer’s field guide, Eileen MacAvery Kane writes that visual communicators are ‘gatekeepers of information’ who ‘provide a mirror that reflects contemporary culture.’

This suggests that graphic designers harness a power to manipulate popular culture.

Design has a huge influence in society which extends to behaviour, politics and economics. Designers are required to think both objectively and creatively, and to consider our ethical responsibility in society. This means resisting the temptation to impose personal values on clients and commissions. Objectivity, as an ethic, raises questions as to how, and to what extent, our creations and ideas effect culture. Principles of right and wrong are rarely simple in practice; dilemmas often occur between what is good for industry and what is perceived as ethical by social groups.

9 Higher eduction is an integral part of a graphic designer’s personal development Award-winning graphic designer, Gunner Swanson, writes that ‘the tools of graphic design do not seem to serve much purpose beyond a graphic design career.’ Graphic design education in universities has tended to focus more on practical role of ‘the professional’ and place less emphasis on theory. The convergence between theory and practice, I feel, generally comes down to how we develop ideals for ethics and responsibilities which enable us to work reflectively and be more broad-minded. As new students we just want to produce fashionable, or striking images, which reflect our own tastes and attitudes, with out firstly considering what these images mean in for greater society. We are inclined to place more value on aesthetic, rather than the message. Academia helps us to understand and articulate the power of visual communication; the peculiar role of imagery in the creation of culture, identity and society.

How useful are notions of good and bad ethics in consumer society?

As graphic designers, we frequently question our ethical involvement with consumerism but, even if we were to all agree on principles of ethics, we are still up against many contradictions arising from the complexities inherent in commercial industry.

The work we are able to produce is effected by issues of professionalism, i.e. objectivity, and industry. For example, the limited availability of work for freelancers and employees, to just being able to form our own opinions so we can feel satisfied with the work we produce. We have limited creative control at the corporate level.

The more we think about ourselves as consumers and producers, the more we can feel trapped in the system of capitalism. It is impossible for a designer to entirely reject capitalism but we can support ideas for a more environmentally aware culture. I like to think there are many creative ideas we can contribute towards bringing about positive change.

Working in a consumer society means it is not possible to be one hundred per cent ethical in practice. However, there are alternatives to current methods of production, and we can improve our professional roles by promoting ethical responses to our work and production. We can choose what companies and products we support, and strengthen our own ideas of what messages to communicate to consumers.

Design ethics present many dilemmas which are not easy to resolve. To begin confronting these problems, since we all care about different things in our own ways, we need to emphasis what values we share and want to contribute in the creation of reality. Graphic design as a practice is both creative and technical. Being a designer means reflecting on the quality of images and culture; constantly being on the lookout for new opportunities where we can be satisfied that our messages are having a positive impact on society.

10

On July 5, 2002 in Barcelona a new brand was born: Yomango—a brand unlike any other.

Yomango translates as something like “I love lifting,” and that’s precisely what it offers: the appropriation of things sold by multinational corporations, without money or credit cards, without even stopping at the checkout.

That may seem confusing at first glance.

It may make us think we have to accumulate objects and just repeat the logic imposed by capitalism using other means. Nothing could be further from the truth. The only interest Yomango has in things is to make something new happen with them. To force them to become something different, something that has nothing to do with consumption, but with

Author: Leonidas Martin

the invention of new possibilities for living. In this way Yomango leaves behind the closed circle of production and consumption, and falls squarely within the scope of appropriation.

That is where its art is coming from.

Aside from this, Yomango behaves just like any other brand. It produces ads and catalogues, designs, fashions, and accessories—a whole life-style package ready to acquire in bulk. Although its imagery is

The impulse to steal as a force for good and theft as an act of liberation!

Who would have thought it?

drawn from and applied to everyday life, it also performs the most extraordinary and spectacular actions. Mass flash mobs in multinationals to make the brand visible. These actions are their advertising, their gleaming hoardings in the heart of the metropolis. They

11 give rise to the design of videos that go so

Barcelona. The banks and multinationals

the world: Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Germany,

far in creating the brand’s image, varying

had been pillaging Argentina for a year

Italy … For many people its logo began to

with the seasons and interests of each

and the social response was widespread:

represent a gateway to a shared world where

Yomango community.

demonstrations, cacerolazos with people taking

production became cooperation. That was

to the streets banging pots, pans, and barter

when we adopted the slogan “Yomango Is

in Barcelona, at a branch of Bershka. The city’s

markets. Three governments were forced to

You.” Ever since that day, Yomango has blazed

Centre of Contemporary Culture (CCCB) had

resign in less than a month. Our action was

the trail with a whole array of communicative

invited us to take part in one of its annual

intended as a tribute to all the people who

events, devices, and channels, from alternative

exhibitions, so we made the most of the

had taken part in that highly creative social

media to the official press, from supermarkets

opportunity to introduce the brand to society

revolt—a Yomango style tribute, of course.

or shopping malls to international activist

The first Yomango action was performed

at large. There were sales on everywhere

The first thing we did was to organize

meetings, from fashion catalogues to Internet

when Yomango wove its particular brand of

some tango classes. We learnt the basic steps,

blogs. In the process, it has won the hearts

magic. According to the media, a blue, size

then gave them the Yomango touch, and

of thousands and become a genuine

34 dress was removed in front of everybody’s

Yomango- Tango was born, a kind of tango

multinational brand. The only multinational

eyes and transformed into a wave of light and

that, with every step, lifts whatever happens

brand to stand outside the market.

color—a true explosion of life that was later

to be at hand. All ready to go, we set off for

exhibited in a museum as a work of art.

the Carrefour on the Rambla to hold a milonga.

activist style: another tool to change the

They say the strength of this intervention

The cashiers blinked in disbelief when they

world. A way of life designed to be adopted

was so powerful that the aftershock even

saw a crowd of Yomango dancers come in and

by anyone wherever and whenever they

reached the mayor’s office.

Over time Yomango has become an

tango their way around the shelves with music

like— transforming it, plagiarizing it, expanding

From that moment on the Yomango

specially composed for the occasion at full

it. Yomango is a way to make your life better,

brand grew like wildfire. A key piece in this

volume. Bottles of champagne disappeared

because happiness isn’t for sale.

expansion was its open access webpage,

with every step the dancers took. According

whose chatrooms gave birth to the first

to the press, over twenty vanished as if by

activist, founding member of Yomango

Yomango communities. Workshops on the

magic—Yomango magic. Next day we uncorked

(2002), and cofounder of the cultural

brand were organized in many cities, both in

them in a branch of the Banco Santander,

collective Enmedio (2007).

art institutions and social spaces. Cities like

one of the banks responsible for the crisis

Martín uses humor and creativity to

Madrid or Bilbao signed up for the party, and

in Argentina, and joyfully toasted the free

develop collective projects like “Prêt à

began to develop the brand and to tailor it to

movement of things, people and desires. This

Révolter” or “Las Agencias” that lie in

their needs, tastes, and desires.

action marked the explosion of the brand.

the space between art and activism.

Our second intervention we called “Yomango- Tango”, also performed in

Before its first anniversary Yomango had several franchises in different countries around

Leónidas Martín (ES) is an artist,

Originally published in the ‘Truth is concrete’ handbook.

12

THE In 1943, the American psychologist Abraham Maslow published a paper entitled “A Theory of Human Motivation” which featured in the scientific journal, Psychological Review. Maslow was interested in human potential and what it was that drove humans to reach that potential. In his paper he proposed a theory for the ‘Hierarchy of Needs’, which he believed explained what motivated people throughout life. Instead of being motivated by rewards of unconscious desires, Maslow stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. Once a certain need is fulfilled, a person will then seek to fulfill the next one, which leads to the next one and so on.

The earliest and most widespread version of Maslow’s (1943, 1954) ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ includes five motivational needs (Self-Actualisation, Esteem, Social, Safety, Physiological), which are often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.

Maslow believed that the more basic needs to do with physical and emotional well being (these are levels of deprivation at the bottom of the pyramid) motivate people the most and the necessity to complete these basic needs becomes stronger the longer they are denied. For example, the longer that someone goes without food, the hungrier they’ll become.

Satisfaction of the lower needs must be met before progression on to the higher levels. These are the levels of growth and are concerned with the higher order of needs, which influence and contribute to our personal development.

You may move up to the next level once each need has

Authors: JCHD

been reasonably satisfied, until the final level which is known as self-actualization, this is when a person has grown, developed and reached their individual potential.

Maslow described self actualization as:“What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization... It refers to the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming.”

Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy towards a level of self-actualisation. Unfortunately though, Maslow stated that, roughly only one in 100 people become fully ‘self-actualised’ because our society rewards motivation based on esteem, love and social needs rather than more complex ones.

Progression is often disrupted by the thought of failure and an inability to meet the lower levelled needs. An experience within one’s life tends to hold us back from this progression; this could include things such as separating from a loved one or the loss of a job or home. Maslow believed that these needs play a major role in motivating our behaviour.

EVOLUTION 1954

NEEDS 2014

Maslow’s theories and ‘The Hierarchy of Needs’ are still widely used in the business world in order to understand human motivation, management training, and personal development, but his findings can be seen as being rather biased. Maslow studied what he called exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, rather than those that he saw as ‘mentally ill or neurotic people’, writing that “the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy.” As well as this Maslow only studied the healthiest 1 percent of the college student population, meaning that the vast majority of people in society never had their needs truly represented at all. Despite his lack of evidence to support his hierarchy, his theories have been widely accepted.

Since ‘The Hierarchy of Needs’ was first conceived over 70 years ago, some of the described needs may have become outdated by political changes, shifts in wealth, migration, changes of social attitudes and influences of the media.

Despite political efforts to end poverty in our contemporary society, some of us still do not fulfill some of the basic needs of the pyramid. We are caught in social and political unjust issues, which holds us back. If the things that satisfy our lower order needs are swept away, we are no longer concerned about the maintenance of our higher order of needs. In this case the basics of the ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ still holds true. A family facing benefit cuts or unemployment may be forced to visit a food bank and they will be less concerned about the higher order of needs.

However modern researchers have investigated other areas of life that concern us which may not have been apparent when Maslow first described his pyramid. (Gallagher, 2001), (Grogan, Routledge, 2007.) (Grabe, 2008) researched body image and the negative impact it can have on a person’s self esteem.

There is much evidence that it plays a dominant role in people’s lives, so much so that people spend a lot of money on their appearance and looks, hairstyle, make up and plastic surgery.

Both men and women are concerned by their appearance but it has been proven that women are more concerned about their bodily imperfections than men. (Fox, 1997) (Chrisler, 1995.)

(Ross, 2012) (Campbell, 2012) So the ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ may be different for men than women.

To investigate further where the 2014 ‘The Hierarchy of Needs’ has evolved to, a survey was carried out to see what the general population considered was their most basic needs are in each level of hierarchy. While there was a range of different opinions for each section, in general, this newer hierarchy is truer to the actual needs (of the people we surveyed) of the 99 percent of the population in 2014 rather than the ‘most gifted and exemplary’ of 1943.

13

OF

14

OILWASHING In an age of so called austerity, many

to perform the corresponding rise in

governments have been making savage cuts

celebrate twenty years of BP “support” for

in public spending to essential public services,

British art with a summer party. We disrupted

including the arts. Many arts institutions are

proceedings by pouring hundreds of liters

continue to burn fossil fuels subtly seeps into

being pushed toward corporate sponsorship as

of “oil” (what was actually molasses) in the

our imaginations, fixing the image of a certain

a means of replacing this reduction in public

gallery and its entrance in a work called

kind of culture, a certain kind of destructive

funding. Many controversial companies with

License to Spill. As the cultural and corporate

behavior. Breaking the sponsorship link between

appalling environmental and human rights

elite made their way into the party, Liberate

Tate and BP will not by itself prevent climate

records, like BP, are very keen to involve

Tate spilled black liquid from large barrels

change. But by creating and informing a public

themselves with arts institutions as a means of

branded with the BP logo into their path.

debate that questions the legitimacy of these

“art washing” their sullied reputations without

Meanwhile, two Liberate Tate members

companies being associated with respectable

actually having to modify, reduce, or halt their

infiltrated the party wearing large floral

and cherished cultural institutions, we can

destructive practices. In promoting BP as an

bouffant dresses underneath which were

strengthen attempts to hold them accountable

acceptable brand, Tate forces gallery-goers

concealed large sacks filled with the oily

in other political and financial spheres.

into positions of complicity with the destruction

molasses. Soon the sacks under their dresses

This is an essential step in ending the

of a safe climate and the exploitation of

burst releasing tens of liters of “oil” across the

stranglehold that the companies have on the

communities the world over.

shiny gallery floor. The spectacle went viral and

corridors of power—a major obstacle that we

Tate’s judgment on BP was found wanting.

face in the transition to a low carbon society.

Whilst there had been protest by activists about oil companies sponsoring cultural

Author: Liberate Tate

On June 28, 2010, Tate decided to

On July 7, 2012, Liberate Tate installed

carbon emissions.

The idea that it is therefore normal to

The shift away from oil takes place in many

events in the UK going back to at least 2003,

a massive 16.5 meter (fifty-four foot), 1.5

municipal sites as well as in our personal

Liberate Tate pursues a different strategy:

tonne wind turbine blade in Tate Modern’s

daily experience. From the infrastructure of

as artists we set out to create art, to do so

Turbine Hall, submitting the artwork to be part

transport, to the shareholdings of pension

inside the art museum and in ways that the art

of Tate’s permanent collection. The artwork,

funds, from where the food we eat is grown,

world could not ignore and that might inspire

called The Gift, was installed in a performance

to divorcing fossil fuel industry interests apart

others including other artists. The best way to

involving over 100 members of the group.

from the seats of governmental power.

look at this sorry situation is not that the oil

In November 2013, at the reopening of Tate

companies are supporting the arts, but that

Britain after an extensive refurbishment, fifty

era, we see the creativity and collaborative

the arts are supporting their lie—that they care

veiled figures dressed in black performed

practices of artists as essential to the process,

about anything other than pumping as much

Parts per Million using the decade by decade

and cultural institutions as a key space to

oil out of the ground as quickly as possible.

chronology of the “BP Walk through British Art”

nurture that evolution.

For a fair and just transition to a post-oil

Liberate Tate was founded during a Tate workshop on art and activism in January 2010, which ended with the words ART NOT OIL being placed in the windows of Tate Modern overlooking the river Thames, as hundreds of Londoners and tourists walked by.

Originally published in the ‘Truth is concrete’ handbook.

Human Cost, Liberate Tate, April 2011.

Tate Britain. Photo: Amy Scaife

15

16 Author: Ganzeer

Before the revolution there was little

before, and I knew it would not be mentioned

or no street art in Egypt. When the uprisings

in the papers or the news, and that the police

got under way, street art appeared just

would do their utmost to suppress the protest.

as spontaneously and unexpectedly as

I decided it would be a good idea to leave

the revolution.

some kind of mark in the area which would

As for me, that very same day—January

show that something had happened, to

25, 2011—I happened to be downtown with

document it if you like, which turned out

some friends. Suddenly we were in the middle

to be an act of counter-propaganda.

of something we did not expect: a huge march

As an artist, it is difficult for me to be

through Cairo, heading straight for the Ministry

spontaneous; I plan things very carefully. But

of the Interior, with many people joining along

that day I had no plan. People were chanting

the way. Nothing like this had ever happened

‘down with Mubarak,’ and I began to write

17 these words. As I sprayed this slogan on

had obviously been annoyed at its presence,

a billboard in the middle of Tahrir Square,

although they didn’t removed the graffiti.

onlookers applauded and cheered. For me this

They watched Ammar painting and asked

was a revelation, because it affirmed the power

him to paint over my work, which he refused.

of the visual dimension. Even if people already

They wouldn’t do it themselves for fear of

know, already hear, already chanting the

being accused of censorship by protestors.

words, just seeing the slogans in writing also

It is easier for authorities to incite civilians

had a significant emotional impact. It was there

to do their dirty work instead.

and then I decided this was what I needed to do, a lot more graffiti.

The state has many instruments of

The most fascinating development was with another graffiti I painted in 2011 which depicted a tank moving in the direction of

propaganda which is the most powerful

a lone biker. Protesters were attacked by

influence on public opinion. Taking our slogans

the military in front of the television centre,

to the streets and walls of the city is our means

just months after I had finished the piece.

of countering state propaganda, and creating

Another artist subsequently updated my piece

a different discourse in the public space.

with paintings of demonstrators in front of the

Today Cairo is so covered in graffiti and other

tank, with some of them being run over.

images that you need to constantly change

Again, people came and painted over

your strategy if you want to get noticed. After

everything except the tank, which then stood

all, graffiti is battle for attention. Firstly it

on its own. Next to the tank someone had

was just slogans; then I prepared neat, well

written, ’the people and the army hand in

designed stencils I could use in many locations

hand,’ thus turned it into a pro-military piece.

around the city. Eventually I moved on to

Other artists had arrived shortly after and

larger murals, about four metres tall, that used

painted a huge military monster eating people

striking colours and designs to make people

right next to my tank; and once again the

stop and look.

message became anti-military.

This discourse also met with conflict.

In my view, when creating street

As the first anti-military paintings appeared

art, the best strategy is to design it in such

across the city, so did censorship by military

a way that the message isn’t obviously

supporters. It was not usually officials, but

anti-military. That way, in a piece like Tank

rather people who were offended by the

versus Bread Biker, until you add the bread-

images certain ways. The whole wall was

bike, you can easily argue you have created

never re-painted, instead certain parts of the

a pro-government painting. And watch the

painting where covered over; which helped

message as it changes.

me decide what messages I should push even

Ganzeer (EG) is a designer,

further. The different ways things are received

videomaker, and contemporary artist.

and censored tells us something about what it

Since 2011, however, he has come to

happening in the society.

prominence for his art activism in the

A friend of mine, Ammar Abo Bakr, was

Egyptian revolution, which uses murals,

painting a portrait of a protestor close to

stickers, graffiti, posters, and other forms

Tahrir Square. Tanks were parked next to him

of street art across Cairo’s public spaces.

near a piece I had previously painted, which was highly critical of the military. The military

Originally published in the ‘Truth is concrete’ handbook.

18

19

Guerrilla Gardening What motivates the guerrilla gardener to turn a shabby patch of urban land into a slice of the province?

Guerrilla gardening is the illicit cultivation of someone else’s land: gardening without asking first. Typically the land is neglected and accessible. Guerrilla gardeners are a diverse bunch. Their motivations for gardening in a way that risks trouble are enough to fill a book. To bring this diversity into sharp relief I will describe two different actions of guerrilla gardening created in two locations in central London. Both locations were grassy islands in a sea of traffic and both are public spaces maintained by city authorities. One is outside the Houses of Parliament, ringed with buildings of the establishment. It is called Parliament Square. The other guerrilla garden is ten minutes away, just south of the River Thames near Lambeth North tube station, neighbor to have ever been given an official name.

the denouncement of capitalism and war.

as a garden was immense: a space for more

Parliament Square has been guerrilla

Thriving in between the tents were lettuces,

plantlife, wildlife, and social exchange. This is

gardened twice. The first was on May 1, 2000,

strawberries, chilies, an oak tree, and even a

the motivation of the garden loving guerrilla

and the second exactly ten years later. Both

posh box hedge. The guerrilla garden was a

gardener. For the sake of simplicity and to

actions were part of a mass political protest, in

statement of intended permanence, putting

remove the risk of being denied permission,

which a crowd seized the space by day as an

down roots; it suggested self-sufficiency and in

the action is done without asking. We hoped

arena in which to communicate their message.

time, as summer bleached the square’s grass

the landowner wouldn’t notice, or at least

In 2000, it was led by Reclaim the Streets, a

pale yellow, the contrastingly lush greenery

not until the garden was clearly a thriving

pro-environment, anti-car, anti-privatisation of

showed the care of the guerrilla gardeners. But

success. It’s been seven years since we dug

space, fun-loving protest group. The creation

despite its prolonged existence the gardens

up the grass and planted it mostly with

of a small orchard of apple trees where

were lost in the visual assault of the Village and

hundreds of small lavender plants. We have

previously there was just a trimmed lawn—a

had a reputation which the media cultivated

returned regularly to tend it, weed it, and

gas guzzling, machine dependant landscape—

that portrayed it as dirty and dangerous. The

harvest it. Raspberries, strawberries, an apple

made their objectives tangible. They were

purpose of the protest was lost in an image

tree, hundreds of tulips, roses, sunflowers,

also humorous. An eye catching turf Mohican

of discordance. The guerrilla gardens should

and much more grow there too. With no

was planted across the head of a statue of

have contradicted this and helped symbolize

permission and no contract, we have adopted

our WWII-winning prime minister, Winston

positivity, even respectability, but there was

this public space and turned it into what

Churchill. This guerrilla gardening sought to

no headline-grabbing image to portray the

passersby have told me is an urban cottage

hit the headlines and grow within the media.

protestors in a positive light. The bailiffs came

garden, or a slice of Provence. It has been

The garden itself lasted less than a day but the

and cleared everyone and everything away.

noticed, and it has been appreciated and

news spread around the world and the image

The grassy square remained cordoned off for

tolerated. While our purpose was not political,

of Churchill with a green Mohican has since

nearly two years while the authorities sought

by making the benefits of the garden itself

been immortalized in a painting by Banksy—to

to change the law preventing anything like

our purpose, we have inadvertently been

some in the UK this action still defines what

that ever happening again. The protesters

political, challenging the official rule of who

guerrilla gardening is. In the same place, ten

dissipated and the square is once again grass.

years later, the guerrilla garden was also

The other location is not in a place

plants what and where, and demonstrating a successful alternative.

Richard Reynolds (UK) is the founder

planted as a political point. It lasted not for

of political potency, but offered greater

one day, but for months, though its impact

horticultural potential: instead of a manicured

of GuerillaGardening.org. In his book

was less significant. The protestors arrived

and maintained lawn, an island in the middle

On Guerrilla Gardening, he charts

with tents, and this time they stayed put,

of the road that contained just shabby grass

the 350-year history and modern-day

naming their encampment “The Democracy

and a few tired shrubs. It was a bleak blank

flowering of guerrilla gardening.

Village.” Placards called for a wide range of

canvas ripe for the picking, like the allure of an

change in society: the demise of supermarkets,

empty wall for a graffiti artist. Yet its potential

Originally published in the ‘Truth is concrete’ handbook.

Author: Richard Reynolds

mostly homes at a junction too insignificant to

Travelling On Breadcrumbs

20 Authors: Georgia Leontara & Aldo D’Angelo

GPS navigation could be changing our behaviour, Georgia Leontara & Aldo D’Angelo argue why the journey is more important than the destination

GPS (Global Positioning System) is changing the way we see the world and interact in society.

Digital maps are efficient. They are also a great alternative to getting lost, and make path-finding effortless. However, research shows just how our intellectual and practical skills for navigation are being seriously compromised. Like breadcrumbs on a trail, being eaten away by birds, our navigation skills are beginning to disappear.

If our navigation skills are in decline, our natural ability to make visual references, and memorise landmarks are steadily eroding too.

To the same extent we risk losing a useful cognitive function of the brain.

Psychologist Eleanor A. Maguire explains how our ‘spatial experiences change the structure of our brain,’ and if our memory for spaces and places is not constantly trained then it becomes ‘impaired.’ Our reliance on virtual representations of areas means we are less likely to develop ‘mental maps’ as we travel. Therefore, less will we need to memorise the routes we use to travel.

Even though digital maps are geographical, the way we look at them, as a set of instructions, is different from the way we need to perceive our surroundings and develop spacial coordination. This means the brain does not convert abstract information in the GPS format in the way which activates this cognitive processes. Our perception of distance, direction, spacial orientation and rotation angles remains inefficient.

21 It is commonly said that ‘the journey is

Our growing dependence on GPS

more important than the destination.’ GPS

is having a notable affect on us as

users lose a significant amount of experience

individuals, and altering social behaviour

when it comes to exploring the great outdoors;

Imagine a society in the future where

particularly in new or unfamiliar places. Our

people amble through the streets like lost

increasing use of GPS services means we are

zombies; spinning around frequently as they

more likely to travel through areas without

try to align their smartphones to pavement

paying attention to landmarks and develop an

angles. What if networks crash or are shut

innate sense of familiarity. Instead of observing

down and people are unable to self-navigate?

our surroundings and buildings we are watching

The repercussions would be severe. The

the screen on our devices; occasionally checking

negative psychological effects of GPS

we’re not about to bump into a lamppost, or

dependence will, to say the least, result in

crash into a wall. By the time we arrive at our

a general increase of anxiety in society.

destination, our main experiences perhaps

There are important social skills are

will have been taking in the instructions of our

involved in self-navigation. A GPS service

smartphones, or the GPS voice telling us which

means we have less opportunity to interact

way to turn.

with each other as strangers, i.e, asking for

On the other hand, non-digital geographical maps induce an understanding of symbols,

directions and information.

Imagine you are a tourist in a new city

coordinates and scale which supports

and you’re looking to visit a famous cafe for

mental-mapping, strengthens intuition and

the first time. Instead of using GPS, you speak

navigation skills. Overall, paper maps support

to a local who gives you directions, and, as

cognitive development as we engage with our

well they share valuable information about

surroundings. This is in contrast to GPS, where

other great places to visit. This is an example

simply knowing the name of your location and

of when the journey becomes more important

target destination is about the most hard-work

than the destination. Meeting people can

needed when it comes to route-planning - the

transform a conventional activity into a unique

device will figure out the rest. Traveling with

cultural experience that enriches

GPS barely supports intuitive knowledge.

your knowledge and perspective.

By investing our mental faculties into

GPS devices undoubtably have great

virtual reality, our individual autonomy for

advantages, and do save a lot of time.

finding our own way is under threat. If self-

Sometimes, as travellers, we lose our way and

navigation and path-finding become obsolete as

the experience of getting from A to B can be a

a core skills, future generations could altogether

nightmare. So is arguing with your smartphone

lose the ability to guide themselves without

as if it’s a human when it keeps suggesting you

relying on technology. The GPS service behaves

walk through walls, across canals, and it leads

as an artificial thinking system which operates

you into a muddle. Path-finding can be

using maths and data, which are objective. This

a great human experience, and very satisfying.

is instead of individual needs and awareness,

Designing your way step by step, following

unique, sense of orientation; pay attention to

which are subjective experiences.

landmarks and street signs is part of the

landmarks and memorise directions to ensure

GPS service is changing the cognitive

freedom to explore and discover new places.

next time you stand a chance of remembering.

functions we have been developing since the

Self-navigation is an alternative to growing a

Welcome opportunities to interact with others

emergence of our primitive ancestors. The

dependence on a GPS for instructions

and ask for directions. You could also choose a

peculiar convenience of smartphones, GPS and

So, next time, no breadcrumbs in the

new way home just to explore the unfamiliar.

technologies might save us a lot of trouble, but

pocket, leave your GPS device aside. Try

When we are adventurous and explore, we are

what are the consequences of losing our ability

testing your own skills for navigation, which

less likely to feel so anxious when we do get

to self-navigate? Could we become more lost

are probably sharper that you expect. Use

lost. Forget about GPS and buy a paper map

than ever before?

your surroundings to develop your own

instead: at least it will never run out of battery!

22 Author: Reverend Billy & The Church of Stop Shopping

Preaching

To preach in the United States—that is,

tellers, renta-cops, and the bank manager.

to inhabit the character of the Christian

I’m told that, as the singing and preaching

apocalyptic right-wing preacher as I do—is

about the bank’s behavior gets under way,

to adopt the iconic persona of American

that people have trouble focusing on what’s

fascism. The late night televangelists,

happening. The whole thing is too jarring, with

threatening their congregations with hell

the gospel concert and radical lyrics and the

and damnation, echo the larger pressure

Elvis impersonator out front … and we find that

of American patriotism, the religion of

the inability to place us easily in a category

consumerism, celebrity worship, and all the

requires that each witness figures out—in a

disasters of the expansionist promised land.

community of interlocking families, facing

more original way than they might otherwise—

life—and arrest—together, we became earth

what we are, and who they are, and just what

is much older than the blues. And I am in love

radicals, with big banks replacing or adding

this bank is doing …

with preaching. Laurie Anderson has called

to big retail as our “dark one.” So in our

it the “crack between talking and singing.”

performances in UBS, Bank of America, Chase,

I often use a small battery operated bullhorn.

I would call it the landscape between the

HSBC Deutsche Bank—we were one community

But the police have taken them from me so

dreamland beyond. The vowels can howl full

standing in for another one, a natural

often that I went to an opera teacher to learn

of breath, the consonants stop suddenly to

community, an ecosystem. When we don our

how to increase my volume physically; to

deliver a hostage- taking silence. I love to

big golden toad heads, the performance by the

create a bullhorn within, you might say. I’m

preach. I’m a student of the form.

extinct frog, with the little trees and singing,

told that there is a bullhorn shelf in the police

Preaching as a purely vocal art, though,

Our goal is survival. Since our singing

And then, of course, there’s the volume.

and frog floating dances, we are evoking the

warehouse, where my bullhorns are arranged

activists, the Church of Stop Shopping, have

community of the cloud forest in which this

neatly in a row, one after the other. My own

become a community, with births and loves

beautiful amphibian lived before it was forced

little museum.

and deaths—we are mindful of life. That the

into extinction by drought and disease. So our

creators of consumerism are a principal devil

ultimate goal is survival, and community is

Reverend Billy & The Church of Stop

in the earth’s crisis, we feel only that our goal

the drama, the script of our nonviolent direct

Shopping (US) is a New York City based

has deepened and clarified over the years.

action. Earthalujah!

radical performance community. They

To engage in nonviolent direct action as a

In an activist event, say the takeover of

are wild earth-loving activists who have

community, with birth, love, and death within

a bank lobby, we believe that the collision of

defended land, life, and imagination

the bodies of the action participants, is a

my right-wing threads and left-wing voice—

from evil corporations and corrupt

completely different feeling than proceeding

and the intimidating presence of the Stop

governments.

as we often used to, from research, from

Shopping Choir in their fervent harmonies—

policy, from values. And as we became a

release powerfully upon the customers,

Originally published in the ‘Truth is concrete’ handbook.

23 Author: Name Surname Photo by Erik Rivas McGregor

24

THE MEME IS NOT THE MESSAGE Joss Hands gives a critical analysis of the meme as digital propaganda

Author: Joss Hands

and argues that a paradigm

the 1930s. In discussing fascist propaganda

reconstructed propaganda model. This

he argues: “It does not employ discursive logic

is not a model that is so direct and procedural

but is rather…an organized flight of ideas. The

as Chomsky and Herman’s classic version,

relation between premisses and inferences is

but operates more as an echo chamber, a

replaced by a linking-up of ideas resting on

model of seeding and self-reproduction on

mere similarity” (Adorno, 1994, p. 223). We can

a quotidian micro-scale.

shift in our thinking

see this as a kind of psychic trickery in which

must

an audience is lulled into a sense of having

play a key role here. Memes are singular digital

knowledge, but which is based on nothing but

objects that circulate freely and voluntarily, but

orthodoxies are to be

drilled association. This provokes what Adorno

which consist of multiple elements, blended

effectively challenged

describes as “The loosening of self-control, the

together to be iterable, variable and simple.

merging of one’s impulses with a ritual scheme

(Shifman, 2014). The combinations do not

is closely related to the universal psychological

necessarily form propositions or logical claims;

In order to try and find some purchase on

weakening of the self-contained individual”

indeed this is characteristic of them – the

the place of digital propaganda first we need

(Adorno, 1994, p. 226). This fragmenting of

more jarring and unexpected the juxtaposition

to ask what counts as propaganda, an often

the mind, the implementation of irrational

the better – but they are designed to produce

contested term. A good general definition is

belief and weakening of cognitive capacity is

impact. Indeed psychologists have long since

“highly organized doctrinal texts communicated

a common claim – this is often paired with the

identified that strange often anomalous

throughout the sound and visual media in

accusation of overly emotional communication

combinations of elements lodge themselves

the service of state and corporate interest”

that bypasses the critical faculties of an

more firmly into our memories, which is

(Sussman, 2011, p. 1). That such a view seems

audience. Noam Chomsky, drawing on

why we often see grating apparently surreal

hard to dispute suggests a broadly singular

the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr talks of

combinations of images and concepts, even

perspective of propaganda as ideological

‘emotionally potent over-simplification’.

in traditional advertising, and even more so

occur if neoliberal

indoctrination and manipulation. This is

In digital culture we can see a turn in the

Memes (as a form of viral communication)

in a meme, which needs to communicate a

reflective of the age of broadcast, the era

mode of communication from one rooted in

message in a flash and lend itself to adaptation

of ‘one to many’ mass media. The classic

‘mass’ media, to one more closely related to the

and voluntary redistribution. In short memes

formulation is perhaps Noam Chomsky and Ed

multiple communication channels of networked,

resemble somewhat the form of propaganda

Herman’s well known ‘propaganda model’ with

computer-mediated-communication. This is not

defined by Adorno. This is a form of message

its five ‘filters’ (Herman & Chomsky, 1988).

a centre to periphery model but a decentred, or

and process of circulation that well suits our

These are large-scale systemic blocks that

even distributed one. Here, we simply no longer

neoliberal condition, in which we become the

prevent any significant dissent from entering

have the same models of communication that

authors of our own containment; the meme

the ‘democratic’ arena. While this model is

grounded earlier forms of propaganda. As such

becomes the mode of thought, but one that

helpful, and highly influential, it has gaps.

there needs to be a conception of propaganda

presents itself as a cool in-joke, a quandary,

It has a somewhat direct and limited sense

more akin to the mode of digital circulation,

a piece of cultural capital, and even a gesture

of how ideas are transmitted, in fact says little

from may-to-many. One powerful such model

of defiance.

about how propaganda actually ‘influences’

is that of the transmission of ‘memes’, or

or affects its audience.

‘viral’ communication, in which ‘propaganda’

focus on the power of memes to disrupt and

Another classic model that offers some

In that regard there has been much

does not land from above, but is passed on

mobilize as a form of counter-propaganda.

embellishment of the mode of impact of

from your own associates. In fact a viral or

We see this in examples such as Adbusters,

propaganda comes from Theodor Adorno in

mimetic approach lends itself very well to a

Occupy Wall St, in the work of Banksy or

25 groups like UK Uncut. They have the power of humour at their disposal. They are playful and irrelevant, which provides a radical tinge. In a tradition of political satire 4Chan, Lulzsec and Anonymous all draw on its convention of biting and merciless humour. However, there is good reason to question the use of the counter-meme alone as an effective strategy. Slavoj Žižek has developed the notion of cynical reason, a concept aligned with interpassivity and the evolution of communicative capitalism, in which communication, whatever its character, is always already simply a commodity in circulation. Such a view suggests that while a counter-meme may create the idea that something is being done, that orthodoxies are being challenged, in an attention economy they do nothing to build concerted links and coherent programmes of action – we cannot plan with memes. In the end the message of the meme is no message at all. A supplement is needed.

One of the great propagandists, Edward Bernays, offers a prolonged rationalization for propaganda. While his rationale is deeply problematic his methods have something to tell us still in the production of digital counter propaganda. Bernays tells us, “The engineering of consent is the very essence of the democratic process, the freedom to persuade and suggest” (Bernays, 1947, p. 114). Above all else Bernays makes the importance of planning paramount, the success of which “depends on interlocking all phases and elements of the proposed strategy” (Bernays, 1947, p. 119).

As such the imperative for digital age counterpropaganda is to take a leaf from Bernays’ book. The need is to triangulate countermemetic action, with a strategic seeding of concepts throughout the mainstream media, the building of complete pictures of concerted positions that can then meaningfully interlock, plus the generation of counter-flak. This is what one might call an ‘Owen Jones’ model, but more than this is the need to build alternative movements that can undertake a long-term counter offensive to shift the public mind. This is not to engineer the consent of the masses from above, but to manage the managers from below, and in so doing manage

Joss Hands is Reader in Media and Critical Theory and Director of ARCMedia (Anglia Research Centre in Media and Culture) at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. His research focuses on politics,

References

them out of existence.

Adorno, T (1994). The Stars Down to Earth and Other

Shifman, L (2014) Memes in Digital Culture

Essays on the Irrational in Culture. Ed. Stephen Crook.

Cambridge: MIT Press

London: Routledge Bernays, E (1947) “The Engineering of Consent” The Annals of the American Academy. 250:113-120

activism and digital media. He has recently

Herman, E & Chomsky, N (1988). Manufacturing

co-edited a special issue of Culture Machine

Consent, The Political Economy of the Mass Media.

on ‘Platform Politics’ and is author of

New York Pantheon Books

‘@ is For Activism: Dissent Resistance and Rebellion in a Digital Culture’

Jones, O (2011). Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class. London: Verso

Sussman, G (ed) (2011). Propaganda Society. New York: Peter Lang Žižek, S (1989). The Sublime Object of Ideology London: Verso

26

INSIDEOUT Grass roots activists from London College of Communication and London College of Fashion strike a campaign against the High Street and demand justice for Rana Plaza 24 April 2014 was the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster, where 1,129 people died and 2,515 were injured when a garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh.

Astonishingly, some major High Street and luxury brands are still getting away with creating false paper trails to avoid any links to sweatshops and ensure they are not held responsible

Author: Katie Baggs

or have to pay compensation.

The reality is that working conditions in factories and labour laws have changed little, and even where they have, enforcement is poor. Workers' lives have yet to noticeably improve, with the workforce, eighty per cent of which is female, subjected to the same conditions as before. Probably the biggest shock is the sheer lack of transparency about the production process of the garments we all wear and are so familiar with.

Where are our clothes made? How are they made?

Who makes them?

In January 2014, I was part of a team at LCC briefed to create a CRITICAL MASS around an issue which we all felt passionate about. Our team were struck by how much we know about the food we eat and how little we know about the clothes we wear. We can choose not to eat food produced in any way we find objectionable. But we don’t have the same choice when it comes to what we wear, because we don’t have the information we need to make that choice.

Our research on the fashion industry was the inspiration for this project. Our most important finding was how surprised people are that there is no transparency as to how clothes are made, or advice on ethical production for clothing.

We visited various high street shops whose names we found were most connected to sweatshop labour. We attempted to interview staff and managers at various shops and both times we were refused interviews; at one point we were escorted away from a London Westfield premise.

27 We then spoke to members of the public

the students of LCC, I teamed up with London

their clothes, and turned them inside out

outside the outlets and, unsurprisingly,

College of Fashion student Alice Bodgener,

to declare ‘we care’ about who made our

all were outraged at the conditions at Rana

and member of Evolving Fashion Society to

clothes. We want to create awareness and

Plaza and other factories; but also concerned

take the protest to the streets and join the

open a discussion to put pressure on all

at the lack of information available about

global celebration of Fashion Revolution Day.

brands to sign the Bangladesh Accord and

where and how their clothes were made.

Transparency in the fashion industry

Following a lot of preparation; pamphleting, social networking, giant label

lead to positive change.

Other organisations were also marking

would ensure better and safer working

and banner making, we gathered around

the day. Two activists locked themselves

conditions, fairer pay and improve

sixty students from both colleges on the day,

with bike locks to the doors of Benetton and

sustainability. Higher levels of transparency

to create a ‘fashmob’, asking high street

prevented the flagship store from opening.

would allow the consumer to easily obtain

shoppers ‘who made your clothes?’ and

We targeted Benetton because they are yet

information when they are making decisions

encouraging people to check their clothes

to pay compensation to the victims.

about what clothes to purchase.

labels. We talked to shoppers and invited them

At LCC we decided to do something

War on Want and Labour Behind the

to participate in the Fashion Revolution Day

Label created a human chain around Gap,

to make this happen. Using giant washing

quiz and discuss who made their clothes, and

who were being targeted for not having signed

label instructions, we created the INSIDEOUT

distributed facts about the fashion industry.

the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building

project to carry our message. By subverting

We asked people to follow the three-step

Safety. We directly exposed the brands’

the meaning of the symbols we aimed to

process: 1) Turn Your Clothes Inside Out,

customers to our message, as well as other

encourage people to think beyond just the

Check Your Label 2) Take a Photo 3) Upload

shoppers and passers-by.

size and washing instructions on a garment,

the photo to #INSIDEOUT and tell brands

and instead think about where it comes

you want to know ‘WHO MADE YOUR

participation of so many activist groups

from, and hopefully about who and how

CLOTHES’. The idea is that, if we all join

on this emotive anniversary, we attracted

it was made.

together, this will put pressure on brands to

significant press and media coverage. The

We staged two separate protests outside

Due to the co-ordination and joint

be more transparent. Only the thought of

event was covered by The Guardian, Aljazeera

shops and on the underground wearing our

bad publicity or loss of sales will convince a

and was on Bangladeshi television. We will

clothes inside-out bearing giant alternative

brand to change. This strategy is similar to

continue to push our message around the

washing instruction labels. We handed out

how outrage over Apple products' working

world. We want people to know that workers

flyers and interviewed members of the public.

conditions led to changes in worker health

conditions in the Bangladeshi factory and

This was key research in preparation for an

and production transparency.

other sweatshops are OK, or fair. Everyone

even bigger protest. This way, we were able to test out what worked and what didn’t.

The public response was overwhelming.

Our student-led INSIDEOUT protest for Fashion Revolution Day took place at Oxford

deserves basic human rights.

Founded by Orsola De Castro and

Street - the biggest concentration of High

Carry Somers, Fashion Revolution Day has

People were curious and were asking

Street brands in the UK. We marched down

become a worldwide event with protests

questions. Our tutors, other student groups

Oxford Street, gathering more people, and

and interventions in Paris, Brussels, Sydney

and sustainable fashion labels asked us to be

into Carnaby Street. There we staged a

and New York. This day is becoming an annual

part of the Fashion Revolution Day campaign

fashion parade, Pants to Poverty, featuring

event on the world calendar: turn your clothes

marking the first anniversary of the Rana

students and models in sustainable pants. The

inside out and ask the questions that need

Plaza disaster in April this year. Representing

‘fashmob’ protest where everyone took off

to be asked.

28

You Always Get a Seat In Inconversation conversationwith withLonders Londersover overthe the pros prosand andcons consof ofcycling cyclingas asaamode modeof of transport transportin inLondon.

London.

“bike “bikefriendly” friendly”junctions junctionsthat thatforce forceyou you to tostop stopand andwait waitin inoncoming oncomingtraffic. traffic.

Did DidIImention mentionthe thepolice policehate hateyou youas as

Quicker?

Quicker?

well? well?IfIfyou youtry tryto toavoid avoiddeath deathtrap traproads roads

Safe?

Safe?

full fullof oftraffic traffictrying tryingto tosqueeze squeezeyou you

Mostly, Mostly,yes. yes.It’s It’sabout about66miles milesto toLondon London

against againstthe theubiquitous ubiquitousand anddeadly deadlymetal metal

Bridge Bridgefrom frommy myhouse houseand andtakes takesme me20 20

fences, fences,you youwill willget getfined finedfor forriding ridingon onan an

minutes minutesby bybike. bike.The Thetrain traintakes takes14 14on on

empty emptypavement. pavement.

aagood goodday, day,plus plusyou youhave haveto toaccount account for forgetting gettingto tothe thestation stationand andwaiting waiting

IIfeel feelpretty prettycomfortable, comfortable,but butitit is isintense. intense.IIam amconstantly constantlypaying paying attention, attention,watching watchingfor forcars carsand and pedestrians. pedestrians.It’s It’scertainly certainlymuch muchsafer safer

Healthy?

Healthy?

Author: Pip Burrows

than thanititwas wasin inthe theearly early80s 80swhen whenIIlast last

for forthe thetrain trainwhich whichfor forme meis isabout about25 25 mins. mins.IIreckon reckonmost mostplaces placeswithin withinthe the M25, M25,certainly certainlywithin withinthe theN/S N/Scircular, circular,it’s it’s quicker quickerto togo goby bybike bikethan thancar caror ortrain train and andcertainly certainlybus. bus.You’ll You’llaverage averageabout about

rode rodehere. here.Despite Despiteall allthe theheadlines headlinesand and

Cycling Cyclingin ingeneral generalis isvery veryhealthy, healthy,the the

14 14mph mphonce onceyou youget getfit. fit.Compare Comparethat that

the thecluster clusterof ofdeaths deathslast lastyear yearititwasn’t wasn’t

beer beergut gutminimalisation minimalisationis isaabonus bonusthat thatII

to tothe theaverage averagevehicle vehiclespeeds speedsfor forcars cars

actually actuallyaabad badyear yearfor forfatalities. fatalities.OK OKone one

am amdelighted delightedto tohave havereceived. received.IfIfyou’re you’re

at atabout about10mph.

10mph.The Thegreat greatequalisers equalisers

death deathis istoo toomany manybut butin inrelation relationto toother other

worried worriedabout aboutsmog, smog,there therehas hasbeen beenaa

are arethe thetraffic trafficlights. lights.So Soit’s it’smuch muchof ofaa

years years2013 2013was wasnot notaabad badyear. year.In In1989 1989

spate spateof ofnews newsarticles articlesclaiming claimingcyclists cyclists

muchness muchnessreally, really,unless unlessthe thetraffic trafficis is

well wellover overtwice twiceas asmany manycyclists cyclistswere were

actually actuallybreathe breatheless lesssmog smogthan thanpeople people

really reallyclogged clogged(then (thenyou youcan canfilter filteryour your

killed killedand andthere therewere wereaahell hellof ofaalot lotless less

in incars carsand andbuses. buses.Possibly Possiblybecause because

way waythrough throughit). it).Versus Versusthe thetube: tube:you you

cyclists cyclistsaround aroundthen. then.

cyclists cyclistsare areout outwhere wherethe theair aircirculates, circulates,

win winsome someyou youlose losesome, some,but butIIthink thinkthe the

while whilethose thosein invehicles vehiclesare arekind kindof of

numbers numbersare arefairly fairlyclose closeeither eitherway. way.

London Londonis isthe theworst worstcity cityI’ve I’veever evertried tried

trapped trappedwith withtheir theirair. air.

to tocycle cyclein, in,and andI’ve I’velived livedin inthe theUSA USAand and

Only Onlyififyou youare areSir SirBradley BradleyWiggins.

Wiggins.

Asia, Asia,in incities citieswhere wherehardly hardlyanyone anyonerides. rides.

Otherwise, Otherwise,the thebenefits benefitsof ofthe theexercise exercise

Cycling Cyclingalmost almostdoubles doublesmy mycommute commutetime time

The Thestreets streetsare arean anextremely extremelydangerous dangerous

outweigh outweighthe therisk riskof ofinjury. injury.

and andthat’s that’snot notincluding includingthe thetime timeI’d I’dhave have

and andhostile hostileenvironment, environment,and anddrivers drivers

to totake takeonce onceIIgot gotto towork workto toshower showerand and

have havezero zerorespect respectfor foryour yourlife. life.The Thefact fact

Sure Surecycling cyclingis isaagood goodcardio cardioworkout workout

cyclists cyclistscover coverthemselves themselvesin influorescent fluorescent

and andyou’ll you’llburn burnmore morecalories caloriesthan thanyou you

vests, vests,helmets helmetsand andmasks masksshows showsnobody nobody

will willsitting sittingon onthe thetube, tube,however, however,getting getting

feels feelssafe safeon onthe theroads. roads.

crushed crushedby byaaHGV HGVis isextremely extremelyunhealthy. unhealthy.

Give Giveme methe thetube tubeany anyday. day.

Calling CallingLondon Londonbike bikefriendly friendlyis issome somekind kind of ofsick sickjoke. joke.Our Our“superhighways”, “superhighways”,are are just justFUCKING FUCKINGBLUE BLUEPAINT PAINTON ONTHE THEROAD. ROAD. Indeed, Indeed,the thedeath deathrate rateamong amongcyclists cyclists has hasgone goneup upquite quitesubstantially substantiallyin inthe the last lastcouple coupleof ofyears. years.Then Thenthere thereare arethe the

change. change.

29

Happy?

Happy?

Given Giventhe thefact factthat thateverybody everybodyhates hates you youwhen whenyou’re you’reon onaabicycle, bicycle,I’d I’dsay say

Should Should Shouldn’t Shouldn’t

Artour Artour Ride Ride

no. no.Cycling Cyclingin inLondon Londonseems seemsfar fartoo too stressful, stressful,would wouldmuch muchrather rathersit siton on the thetube. tube.

Don’t Don’tneed needto togo goto toaagym gymand andlisten listen

Artouride Artourideis isaaunique uniquebicycle bicycletour tour

to toshite shitemusic. music.Can Canrun runquick quickerrands errands

company companyspecialising specialisingin inart artand anddesigndesign-

around aroundthe thecity citywithout withouthaving havingto togo go

related relatedrides ridesand andpractice practicebased based

Yes, Yes,to tobe bethe themaster masterof ofyour yourdestiny destinyis is

through throughthe theTFL TFLrat ratrace. race.Bicycles Bicyclesare are

workshops. workshops.Whether Whetheryour yourinterest interest

aagreat greatfeeling. feeling.Even Evenwhen whenit’s it’sraining, raining,

fun, fun,even evenfunner funnerin inthe thesummer. summer.The Thetube tube

is isarchitecture, architecture,design, design,printmaking, printmaking,

you’ll you’llfind finditithard hardto towipe wipethe thesmile smileoff off

isn’t isn’tfun, fun,even evenworse worsein inthe thesummer. summer.It’s It’s

photography photographyor orstreet streetart art––or orwhether whether

your yourface faceas asyou youride ridepast pastqueues queuesof of

cheap cheap(the (theactual actualdaily dailytransportation transportation

you yousimply simplywant wantto toexplore exploreaadifferent different

stationary stationarycars carsand andbuses. buses.The Theidea idea

not notthe theobsession), obsession),it’s it’sfun, fun,it’s it’srelaxing, relaxing,

side sideof ofLondon London--you youcan canrely relyon on

of ofaacar carin inLondon Londonseems seemsridiculous ridiculousto to

it’s it’shealthy, healthy,itithelps helpsyou youwake wakeup, up,itit

artouride artourideto todeliver deliveraaunique uniquecycling cycling

start startwith with(I(Ican’t can’tkeep keepititunder underthe the

helps helpsyou youwind winddown, down,it’s it’snot nothard hardwork work

experience experienceoff offthe themainstream mainstreamtrack. track.

stairs stairslike likeIIdo domy mybike), bike),plus pluson ontop topof of

(unless (unlessyou youwant wantititto tobe), be),it’s it’snot notaa

that thatIIdon’t don’tlike likedriving drivinganyway anyway(I(Ikind kind

dangerous dangerousactivity, activity,it’s it’squick. quick.Plus Plusyou you

of ofsuck). suck).Buses, Buses,to tome, me,mean meanwaiting, waiting,

always alwaysget getaaseat. seat.

then thenbeing beingrattled rattledaround aroundin intraffic, traffic,and and stopping stoppingevery everyten tenseconds secondsfor forbus busstops stops

IIdon’t don’tcycle cyclein inLondon Londonbecause becauseII

or ortraffic trafficjams. jams.When Whenyou’re you’recycling cycling

want wantto tostay stayalive. alive.IIcould couldprobably probably

around, around,buses busesare arethose thoseslow slowthings things

survive survivecommuting, commuting,but butthe thestress stressof of

that thattake takeup upaalot lotof ofroom, room,get getin inthe the

constantly constantlymonitoring monitoringevery everyinch inchof ofmy my

way, way,and andkeep keepdamn damnstopping stoppingin infront front

surroundings surroundingsand andnot notgetting gettingrun runover over

of ofyou. you.The Thetube tubeis isok, ok,but butsometimes sometimesitit

by byaafucking fuckingtruck truckwouldn’t wouldn’tbe beworth worthit. it.

seems seemslike likeI’m I’mpaying paying£2 £2for forthe theprivilege privilege

IIused usedto toride rideeverywhere, everywhere,but butmoving moving

of ofwalking walkingto toand andaround aroundaatube tubestation station

to toLondon Londonhas hasmade mademe megive giveup upon onever ever

rather ratherthan thanbeing beingtransported transportedanywhere. anywhere.

cycling cyclingagain againififIIstay stayhere. here.London Londonis is

Cycling, Cycling,I’m I’mawake, awake,I’m I’mactive, active,I’m I’mselfself-

simply simplythe theunfriendliest unfriendliestcity citywhen whenitit

reliant, reliant,economical economicaland andinteracting interactingwith with

comes comesto tobikes bikesin inwestern westernEurope.

Europe.Now Now

the theworld worldin inaaway wayyou youdon’t don’tdo dowhile while

IItake takethe thetrain trainand andhave haveaasad sadlittle little

cocooned cocoonedin inaametal metalbox. box.IIget getwhere whereI’m I’m

exercise exercisebike bikein inthe thegym. gym.

going goingand andIIfeel feelgood. good.

What’s What’sespecially especiallytragic tragicis isthat thatififLondon London weren’t weren’tso sohostile hostileto tobikes, bikes,they theywould would be bethe theideal idealway wayto toget getaround. around.The The distances distancesare areperfect perfectfor forcycling. cycling.

3 leeks • 2 tsp. curry • ½ can of coconut milk • 17-19% (200 ml) •

6 eggs •

2 dl fromage frais •

40 g grated cheese •

Salt and Pepper to taste •

2 spoon full lemon juice • ½ tsp. salt •

Sliced wholegrain rye bread (ca. 300g) •

butter and chives •

1 tsp. salt for boiling •

200 g wholegrain spaghetti •

Additional:

1 batch of fresh coriander •

40 g cashew nuts •

1 big apple •

Additional:

2 dl vegetable bouillon •

Vegetable sauce:

1 spoon of cornstarch •

Egg mixture:

sprinkle with the roasted cashew nuts and freshly chopped coriander.

Serve the spaghetti with the vegetable sauce and

Salt and pepper to taste •

on the package.

the wholegrain spaghetti according to instructions

lemon zest, ½ a teaspoon of salt and pepper. Boil

½ tsp. paprika •

½ tsp. curry •

1 spoon full olive oil •

1 bell pepper •

beans. Leave to simmer for 3 minutes. Season with

Additional: 75 g grated cheese • 200 g wholegrain rye bread •

1 litre vegetable bouillon • ½ litre semi skimmed milk • Salt and pepper to taste • 1 batch of parsley •

3 big leeks (ca. 650g) • 2 tbp spoons of olive oil • 500 g peeled potatoes •

Vegetable: 2 big onions •

Serve with rye bread, cheese and chopped parsley.

Dice the onions and slice the leeks. Fry in a pan for 6-8 minutes, until golden. Dice the potatoes and add to the pan. Add the bouillon and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Pour some bouillon from the mixture and mash together. Heat the soup until boiling and add milk. Season with salt and pepper.

Potato soup

for each day of

1 squash •

the coconut milk, pour in 1-2 dl of stock and add the

leeks and fry for another 2 minutes. Add the rest of

the coconut milk, and fry gently until soft. Add the

Wed

A delicious recipe

5 spring onions •

200 g spinach •

600 g potatoes •

Vegetables:

the pan with oil, add the diced apple, pour over half

pan and put them aside. Fry the curry powder in

and dice the apple. Roast the cashew nuts on a dry

on a student budget.

serving. Best served with rye bread and butter.

and healthy meals

minutes the next day. Slice the leeks into thin rings

you can cook fresh

30 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped chives before

before boiling them in lightly salted water for 50

Rinse the beans and leave them to soak overnight,

Wholegrain Spaghetti with Beans and Leeks in Coconut Milk

Tu e

the week shows how

the vegetables. Bake the omelet at 175 degrees for

egg and cheese to the mixture before pouring it on

cornstarch in a bowl with the fromage frais and add

spread the mix in a small oven dish. Mix the

minutes. Season with salt and pepper and then

squash and peppers, and sauté for another 5

sauté until soft and golden. Next, add spinach,

adding curry and paprika. Add the potatoes and

and bell peppers. Gently heat the oil in a pan before

Rinse and dice the potatoes, spring onions, squash

Vegetable Omelet

Mon

Author: Lena Nielsen

EATING ON A BUDGET WEEKLY FOOD PLANNER

30

2 spoons of sesame seeds •

½ tsp. pepper •

8 wholegrain tortilla pancakes •

Additional:

2 tsp. salt •

300 g Soy beans •

1 bunch of chopped parsley •

Salt and Pepper •

½ dl water •

2 spoon of oil •

2 tsp. curry •

1 small bell pepper •

300 g cabbage •

300 g potatoes •

4 large carrots •

1 tsp salt for the boiling water •

200 g haricot vert beans •

200 g pineapple

5 cm fresh ginger •

200 g broccoli •

2 big leeks •

3 big carrots •

1½ spoon full oil •

Vegetables:

2 spoon of water to mix the starch •

1 can of chickpeas •

Chickpea/vegetable stuffing:

zest of 1 lemon •

1 tsp. Dijon mustard •

1 batch of dill •

½ onion •

2 spoons of single cream •

1 tsp. chopped fresh chili •

1 tsp. balsamic •

1 spoons of olive oil •

2 lemons •

½ batch of thyme •

6 garlic cloves •

salt and pepper •

2 spoons of olive oil •

2 spoons of sesame oil •

3 eggplants •

1 spoon of corn starch •

2 dl vegetable bouillon •

Ingredients:

sprinkle with dill and lemon zest.

Serve straight after with the eggplant mash and

skin. Leave the salmon to cool for 5 minutes.

season. Grill the salmon with and crisp the

Pour olive oil over the salmon steaks and

season with salt, pepper and chopped dill.

the zest of one lemon. Bring it to the boil and

4 salmon steaks with skin •

parsley and fold into tortillas.

mix on one half of the pancake, sprinkle with

the instructions on the box. Place the vegetable

wholegrain tortillas in the oven according to

leave the dish to cool for 1 minute. Heat the

heat; before adding the chickpeas and then

temperature for 10-15 minutes. Turn off the

and pepper, and leave to simmer on a low

to fry for another 4 minutes. Add water, salt

1 dl pineapple juice •

½ dl sugar •

½ dl white wine vinegar •

1½ dl tomato ketchup •

Sweet and sour-sauce:

roasted sesame seeds.

with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the dish with the

with the sweet and sour sauce and season

and fry for another minute. Mix the vegetables

sauté for another 2 minutes. Add the pineapple

for 10 minutes. Add 1 tsp of dijon mustard and

mixture to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer

Add half of a chopped onion and bring the

balsamic, chopped chillies and single cream.

a spoon, put it into a pot and mix with olive oil,

cool. Scrape out the meat of the eggplant with

eggplants out of the oven and leave them to

180 degrees celsius for 30 minutes. Take the

Put the eggplants in a pre-heated oven at

into each eggplant and sprinkle with thyme.

Season with salt and pepper. Poke a garlic clove

pour sesame oil and olive oil over both halves.

Cut the eggplant into halves, slice gently, and

1 tsp. salt for boiling •

200 g wholegrain rice •

Wholegrain rice:

Salt and Pepper to taste •

1 spoon full red wine vinegar •

1 dl soy sauce •

2 dl bouillon •

400g of minced lean beef •

2 spoons of oil •

100g sliced bell pepper •

500g cauliflower •

500g broccoli •

2 big peeled onions •

Stir-fry:

wholegrain rice.

and sauté for another 5 minutes. Serve with

sauce, red wine vinegar and pepper in the wok,

for another 5 minutes. Stir the bouillon, soy

broccoli, cauliflower and bell pepper and sauté

Add minced beef and fry until brown. Add the

oil in a wok and sauté the onions until golden.

cauliflower. Thinly slice the bell pepper. Heat the

the package. Chop the onions, broccoli and

Boil the rice according to the instructions on

Stir-fried Cabbage with Beef

Sun

Marisa Gama

Add the cabbage and bell pepper and leave

and potatoes, and let it simmer for 1 minute.

and curry powder in a pan. Add the carrots

Thinly slice all the vegetables. Heat the oil

carrots and potatoes, and rinse the bell pepper.

cold water and pour them in a bowl. Peel the

Pour the chickpeas in a sieve and rinse under

Wholegrain Tortilla with Chickpeas & Vegetables

Fri

Grilled Salmon with Eggplant Mash

Sat • Illustration by

leeks, broccoli and both types of beans, and

for 2 minutes at high temperature. Add the

oil to the wok and sauté the carrots and ginger

Remove them from the pan and put aside. Add

the sesame seeds in a wok until lightly brown.

dice the the ginger. Dice the pineapple. Roast

and chop it into small portions. Peel and finely

and slice into chunky rings. Rinse the broccoli

Peel the carrots and thinly slice. Rinse the leeks

for 2 minutes.

mixture to the pot while stirring. Boil the sauce

in a pot. Stir cornstarch with water and add the

pineapple juice and vegetable bouillon together

Mix the tomato ketchup, vinegar, sugar,

Vegetables in a Sweet and Sour Sauce

Thu

31