There is not only communication professionals who are creative. And the creativity does not necessarily require spending a lot of money.
It is this double observation I thought when looking at the information published
on the website of the television channel France 24.
"The Moscow movement against self-declared VIPs - or bureaucrats who use flashing lights illegally to evade traffic queues - is growing in strength. On Sunday, two hundred Muscovites took to the streets with blue buckets secured, upside-down, on top of their car roofs. Did the police stop them? But of course!
The outcry was sparked in March after two drivers were killed by an official who was driving on the other side of the road: something he had no authority to do. Two weeks ago we posted footage of the first grassroots act against the abuse, when a driver filmed himself stopping and questioning an official who was driving in the wrong direction."
I love that ! Another episode of the never ending David against Goliath's fight. It is simple, evident and does not cost any money. The impact could be huge and this is typically the kind of idea I would have dreamt to have.
It makes me think about another story that I discovered last year while participating to the IPRA GWA jury. This was an outstanding initiative also managed by citizens with no money.
This happened in St. Petersburg in 2008. Residents of a neighbourhood have learned one day that a building would be built in place of a vacant lot. In a city where buildings are built everywhere, they were moved to see this green space disappear. Their children where used to be playing on it, even if it was not really designed for that purpose. Anyway, it was seen as a saved space.
In searching about who was behind this construction project, they realized that the project leader was a investor whose building permit was not even valid.
They grouped together and had
an outstanding idea. With all the volunteers in the area, they cut the grass of the vacant lot and they completely cleaned it to make it look as a park instead of a vacant lot. Then, they placed a large sign at the entrance with these words:
Vladimir Putin Park.
In doing so, they finally got rid of the investor who immediately realized it could not build a building in a park dedicated to the powerful president of Russia.
Brilliant, isn't it?
Media frenzy around the couple Sarkozy - Bruni
