Resources: stunts

Independent Article: New media gives popular protest a fresh voice

An article about the poster campaign launched by campaigner group 28 degrees, aimed to tackle tax avoidance in the UK. The article examines how campaign tactics are changing radically with the use of new media and how the nature of political protesting itself is evolving.
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BBC Magazine article: How social media changed protest

This article parallels protests from the past with modern day examples in order to track the changes to protest and examine the effect social media has had on our ability to protest.
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Guardian article: Safe sex with the stars of retro gaming

A clever campaign that recognises its target audience and creates an advert with a clear, consise message. Also an interesting use of the internet and viral branding.
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Observer Article:The 10 Best Protests

Looking back on the 10 best protests in history, their different tactical approaches, and what impact they made on society in order to become so iconic.
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Made in Dagenham

A dramatization of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination. The ultimately upbeat film is a good example of how to build a successful movement and stick to your guns in the face of adversity.
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Hassle Me website

A website that sends emails to the addresses you provide, hassling them on a random basis with the message of your choice. This could be a fun way to motivate your team, but be careful not to aggravate any potential supporters with spam.
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Film: Gandhi

The real life story of Ghandi, the ultimate iconic campaigner, who used non-violent methods of protest to campaign for the rights of Indians, generating international attention and contributing to the eventual independence of the country.
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Film: Der Baader Meinhof Komplex

West German militant group, The Red Army Faction (RAF), employed methods of terrorism in the late 60’s and 70’s. The film examines the debate around extremist campaigning – how far is too far and when do radical tactics cross the line from influencing change to damaging the cause?
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Film: Bowling for Columbine

Renowned campaigner Michael Moore and the film that cemented his reputation as a campaigning film maker. Moore uses a signature style of persuasive, some might say manipulative, film making in order to draw attention to a cause - in this case the prolific amount of gun crime in the USA.
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Book: Let Them Call Me Rebel: Saul Alinsky: His Life and Legacy

This biography of Saul Alinsky details his activities as an activist and his passion for campaigning. According to Library Journal it is 'an important account of a ‘complex and idiosyncratic’ urban populist who insisted that power was the keystone of social change'.
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Blog against sexism

The global campaign ‘blog against...’ encourages discussion of a set topic (in this case sexism) within the blogging sphere. A good example of how the internet can be used not only to raise the profile of an issue, but also to encourage communication, debate and discussion.
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BBC blog: Mobile phones are the focus of HIV and AIDS campaign

Creative use of technology to communicate a message - mobile phone ringtones have been used to promote the use of condoms and raise awareness of AIDS in India, as part of a successful international campaign.
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Daily Mail article: Campaigner protests from beyond the grave

A pensioner has re-written his will so that his funeral procession can stop traffic. He is campaigning against lorries over 7.5 tonne driving through his local village.
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Iraqi shoe-thrower Muntazer al-Zaidi freed from jail

The Iraqi TV reporter who threw his shoes at George W Bush was finally released from jail today and insisted that he had acted to defend his country's honour.
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Marlon Brando's Oscar win for " The Godfather"

Iconic moment in which Native American Sacheen Littlefeather accepts the Best Actor Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, as part of a campaign for equal rights for the Native American people - using the platform to address the issue, and bring attention to the cause.
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Guardian article: The drugs do work – for a lot of people

The drug's charity Release uses a bus ad campaign, featuring the slogan 'Nice people take drugs' as part of a campaign to generate public debate about UK drugs policy.
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Guardian article: Tamil student calls off Parliament Square hunger strike

In spring 2009, a Tamil student in London went on hunger strike in Parliament Square in London to draw attention to the plight of the Tamil civilians caught in the fighting between government troops and Tamil Tigers.
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Book: Change the World for a Fiver

This book gives a list of 50 hints and tips about how to change the world for under five pounds.
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Guardian article: One picture does not a charity campaign make

Julian Henry ponders the use of stunts as one of the ways of raising a campaign profile, arguing that they have become less innovative in recent years and more gimmicky.
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Bullying UK launches Twitter campaign using hash tags

Bullying UK has used Twitter to ask people what they think of bullying, with the responses featuring on the Bullying UK website. The campaign reflects an understanding of the charity's target audience and the effectiveness of social networking sites to communicate with young people.
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