The action is part of a UK-wide week of action, as ‘Brandalism’ activists in 10 UK cities have taken over billboards and bus stops with radical spoof HSBC ‘ads’.
‘Brandalism’, an anonymous group of ‘subvertisers’, installed the spoof HSBC ‘adverts’ around Swansea to draw the public’s attention to the bank’s dirty investments. HSBC itself has installed adverts that suggest they are supporting people in a globally distressed time. HSBC on the evidence is not a supportive, kind and caring bank towards the people of Swansea or anywhere else.The bank for instance is actively supporting repression in Hong Kong and China.
HSBC’s usual adverts seek to position it as “the world’s local bank”, and their latest “Local Heroes” advertising campaign is in sharp contrast to the reality of their investment portfolio. This action uses subvertising to counteract HSBC’s attempt to portray itself as an ethical local bank.
Headquartered in London, HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services institutions in the world and has been targeted by activists for its damaging investment portfolio, as revealed on a recent BBC Panorama programme. HSBC is bankrolling significant human rights abuses through their fossil fuel investments in many parts of the world. HSBC has invested over £67 billion in fossil fuel exploration and extraction since the Paris Climate accords in 2015.
This UK widecampaign will continue over the Autumn, with a series of public information nights examining HSBC’s role in climate colonialism. More information on the campaign can be found by following #FossilBanks.
BrandalismPublication and Twitter ;
http://brandalism.ch/projects/hsbc/
https://twitter.com/BrandalismUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Adfree Cities conference with talks about this project;https://adfreecities.org.uk/2020/11/campaigners-reject-hsbcs-net-zero-ambition-targeting-billboards-over-climate-colonialism/
Sat 7th November Big Bank Bulls*** Confrence ;
https://adfreecities.org.uk/conference2020/
Local Press ;https://theecologist.org/2020/nov/02/activists-hijack-hsbc-climate-advertising
http://thebirminghampress.com/2020/10/brandalism-group-take-action-against-city-advertisers/