Fossil Fools swap coal for consumer products

A group of people from Rising Tide Newcastle went to a large indoor shopping mall armed with a fist full of leaflets, two bags full of coal, and a large colourful banner which asked the question “How does buying stuff fuel climate change?” and directing the reader to a website for the answer. While a few of the people headed up to the roof of the building with the banner, the rest of the group walked towards the K-mart in order to swap their bags of coal for some cheap consumer products (thereby cutting out the middle man).

The small group of pranksters was met by a stiff line of about 20 humourless police officers in crowd control mode, and a similar number of security guards. No, they were informed, they would not be entering K-mart today. The pranksters explained what they were doing, and how rampant consumerism was one of the root causes of climate change, and would it be okay please if we just did our little prank of trying to buy products with coal, and then we could all go home? No, replied the humourless authorities, you may not. Not only that, but trying to buy products with coal was one step away from theft, offered one of the police officers.

So some of the pranksters began talking to the shopping public about the climate change impact of cheap imported consumer items, and handing out flyers with more information. A couple of others snuck off into the nearby Toys 'R' Us and tried once again to spend their coal. Alas, just as our pranksters approached the checkout they were rumbled by security. Finally, a few minutes later, the pranksters were finally offer to make an offer to a nearby fashion shop. Unfortunately, the deal was knocked back.

Meanwhile, on the roof of the building, things were going better. The big banner was successfully hung off the building, facing two main roads and covering the massive shopping centre logo on the corner of the building. A newspaper photographer caught the action from down on the street below.

Eventually, all those involved were rounded up and kicked out of the building, at threat of arrest. While some of the shoppers they had spoken to were just cranky, some were supportive, and some of were interested to know more. Unfortunately it seemed none of security guards or police officers were interested in consumerism fuelling climate change, and they certainly weren't interested in a bit of light-hearted pranktivism.