DOW, EXXONMOBIL SLAM NEW YES MEN FILM FOR "INACCURACIES", "MISREPRESENTATION";
CONCEDE PIC "ENTERTAINING"
by The Yes Men,
http://www.theyesmenfixtheworld.com/screenings.htm
August 4th, 2009
August 5, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DOW, EXXONMOBIL SLAM NEW YES MEN
FILM FOR "INACCURACIES", "MISREPRESENTATION";
CONCEDE PIC
"ENTERTAINING"
U.K. theatrical premiere of "The Yes Men Fix the World" August
7, opens in U.S.
theaters in October
Article: http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsnews/idAFN2448454320090726?rpc=33
Tickets,
trailer: http://www.theyesmenfixtheworld.com/
Yes
Men "Challenge" network: http://challenge.theyesmen.org/
Frequently
asked questions: http://www.theyesmen.org/faq
Beyond
Talk: http://www.beyondtalk.net/
Contact:
mailto:press@theyesmen.org
ExxonMobil
and Dow Chemical spokespersons have lashed out out at award-winning
new
documentary "The Yes Men Fix the World" in an interview with the Reuters
press
agency, shortly before the film's U.K. theatrical opening.
"We
think it is a serious matter when people willingly misrepresent
themselves,"
said a spokesperson for the world's largest oil company,
responding to the film's
airing on HBO last week. The film will be in
theaters in the U.K. beginning this
Friday, August 7, and in U.S. theaters in
October.
Exxon stopped short of calling the Yes Men outright liars,
despite a scene in the
film where the Yes Men, impersonating Exxon at a big
oil conference in Canada,
present the company's supposed solution to climate
change: a new biofuel called
Vivoleum, made from the human victims of climate
change.
"Exxon can't actually deny that their actions are threatening to
kill off millions
or billions," said Andy Bichlbaum of the Yes Men. "What
else would they do with
the victims?" (Also featured in "The Yes Men Fix the
World" are interviews with
members of free-market think tanks, until recently
funded by Exxon, who promote
inaction on climate change before Congress and
through multi-million dollar
advertising campaigns.)
The film is no
kinder to Dow Chemical, the world's second-largest chemical
company. The film
shows the Yes Men impersonating Dow live on the BBC before 300
million
viewers, announcing that Dow will finally compensate survivors of the
Bhopal
catastrophe and clean up the tainted groundwater left in its wake. The
film
contrasts this stark reality with Dow's "Dow Hu" advertising
campaign.
Dow has reacted in kind. "While some may find the Yes Men
entertaining," said a
Dow spokesperson, "it is important to realize that
these pranksters continue to
communicate inaccuracies."
"Dow lets
people die from tainted water in Bhopal, yet communicates itself as a
sort of
corporate Mother Theresa," said Mike Bonanno of the Yes Men. "Nobody but
a
psychopath would find THAT entertaining."
For those who do want
entertainment, The Yes Men Fix the World begins previews
August 7 at the
Odeon Panton Street in London, and launches officially on August
11 in 20
cinemas across the U.K., before moving on to a theatrical release in the
U.S.
beginning October 7. For full screening dates and times, and to buy
advance
tickets, please visit http://www.theyesmenfixtheworld.com/screenings.htm
COME
SEE THE YES MEN GET SERVED?
If you happen to live in the U.K., the Yes
Men will be attending the London
preview screenings August 7-10 and will
appear live at the nationwide simulcast on
August 11. These are great
opportunities to serve the Yes Men legal papers should
you or anyone you know
wish to sue them. Please get tickets early to reserve a
seat for these
potentially lively events! Note as well that the Yes Men will give
a free
"Special Edition" New York Times to anyone who comes to any
daytime
screening, or to one of the Monday-Wednesday evening screenings at
the Odeon
Panton Street London between August 7-13.
DOWN UNDER? GO SEE
"THE AGE OF STUPID"
On the evening of Wednesday August 19, A-list celebs
will arrive at the Sydney
Theatre and at a zero-waste tent in central
Auckland, travelling by bicycle,
rickshaw, foot, solar car, electric car, or
horse. 40 cinemas throughout Australia
and New Zealand will show the events
as well as a Q&A with the Oscar-nominated
star of the film, Pete
Postlethwaite (In The Name of the Father, Brassed Off), and
the director,
Franny Armstrong (McLibel, Drowned Out). Visit
http://www.ageofstupid.net/news/oz_nz_premiere
for tickets. This is a great movie
with a great message!
ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD? TAKE THE YES MEN CHALLENGE
Lots of people have cool ideas for
hot new Yes Men type actions. Sign up at
http://challenge.theyesmen.org/ and
browse others' ideas, or make yours come true.
READY FOR REAL
ACTION?
Non-violent civil disobedience has been a core tactic of
movements for justice
throughout history - from Indian Independence, to U.S.
Civil Rights, to the
anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa. It has already
played an important role
in blocking or shutting down dirty energy
facilities. One way to move beyond talk
is to visit http://www.beyondtalk.net/ and sign
up.