F@#k your Billboards
by Rui Esteves on 12/08/08 at 7:34 pm
24 comments
The South Americans are onto something. FIrst São Paulo banned them and now Buenos Aires has decided to take down 60% of them. Outdoor advertising. Billboards. Visual Pollution.
Bans on billboards even happen in America! Vermont, Maine, Hawaii and Alaska, as well as 1,500 towns throughout the US. Across the pond, the Norwegian city of Bergen does the same and many others, including Moscow, are imposing severe restrictions.
Pollution normally conjures up images of dirty air and industrial waste, stuff that’s harmful to your health. What about the community’s health? The appeal of the uniqueness and sense of place? Do we really want to see big corporates whore their wares all over our towns without our permission? Do we want every suburb in our country to look the same? When you are driving around JoBurg, with all the strip malls, parking lots, Tuscan developments and signage… does it look pretty?
I’ve seen massive billboards with their electricity sucking lights stuck on HERITAGE buildings in Cape Town. See if you can spot the culprit on Kloof Street. It’s a fucking disgrace.
I don’t know about you, but I never gave anyone permission to pollute my community with their ads. And to those chirping from the peanut gallery, let me know what you have to say when your neighbour in your security estate sticks a big OMO lightbox on his roof to pay for his new jetski.
Start your own community-based anti-advertising campaign!
Rui Esteves was the co-founder of Vida e Caffé, one of the fastest growing quick service food businesses in South Africa. After selling Vida, Rui created Collective São Gabriel, a luxury beer range with a strong emphasis on traditional and natural brewing. Rui is out to change the world as we know it. View more articles by Rui Esteves.
gmk
Aug 13th, 2008
Agreed, it pisses on my battery , no end. Its not like they even try to make them vaugely appealing. You should be given a tax rebate for tearing them down. And why oh why do they have to light them up all night?
red
Aug 13th, 2008
I hear they’re developing billboards with infrared sensors that can tell if you’re looking at them. It’s like “Brave New World” without the cool state-sanctioned drugs.
esvl
Aug 13th, 2008
I hope they ban it in SA as well. Its annoying.
Adriano
Aug 13th, 2008
there is one of these MOTHER boards in ballito, for peroni beer… right opp the LIFESTYLE. it is so #$#% ugly….
Since it is made from some type of plastic printed fabric, it should be reasonably easy to fix with a STANLEY knife, along the whole length. or even better, a STANLEY knife on a broomstick or Poolpole.
in fact, next time you in Ballito, have a look, coz I am going to pop over to the MICA and get a shiny, new Stanley knife
Andrew
Aug 13th, 2008
I watched the movie Wall-E yesterday and it was scary how they portrayed the destination of the journey we’re heading down if we don’t change something. Billboards were everywhere, and the people seemed more robotic than the robots themselves.
I can definitely recommend getting hold of the DVD.
Vincent
Aug 13th, 2008
I 100% agree with your sentiments, billboards are intrusive, invading my skyline and my freedom to shift my focus onto the world and away from corporate branding and marketering.
I wrote something similar a while back about utilizing billboards to enact positive change; I’d love your opinions on the idea – its an idea and not a solution..
http://www.moralfibre.co.za/2008/05/30/billboards-clinging-to-buildings-should-be-replaced-with-educational-content/
Rui Esteves
Aug 13th, 2008
Here’s a link for you Vincent: http://www.haringey.org.uk/campaigns/antad.htm
Fred
Aug 13th, 2008
Rui – that link is classic. I think Esteves’ Subvertising Committee needs to be formed…!
In awe
Aug 13th, 2008
cool blog dude…oh, and ya – billboard’s suck!
fellla
Aug 14th, 2008
I can’t believe Rui’s hypocrisy! Vida advertises EVERYWHERE they can in their stores: the coffee handle has a mini advert dangling, the take away coffee lid has an advertising sticker, the little cardboard wraparound thing for the takeaway coffee is branded, the barristas clothing is branded, the umbrellas are branded. Talk about advertising pollution. Clean up your own backyard first, Rui. You know what they say about people in glass houses…
Rui Esteves
Aug 14th, 2008
..
Fella – I sold Vida e Caffé 2 and a half years ago… I have nothing to do with the ads and dangly bits that find themselves in the stores today. I also have no authority or influence over the brand since its sale. That being said, exactly what “backyard” do you propose I clean up?
Besides, my post was referring to public spaces NOT places you CHOOSE to visit.
PS If you feel strongly about the subject, you should send Vida e Caffé an email. I’m sure they will welcome any constructive feedback.
..
Rowan
Aug 14th, 2008
Hey guys, check this out. NO Billboards.
http://www.funkykaraoke.com/2008/02/imagine-world-without-billboards.html
red
Aug 14th, 2008
I’m sure you guys have seen this. I think it’s Banksy. http://www.core77.com/blog/images/nosale.jpg
Johann
Aug 14th, 2008
Rui, I share your frustration and therefore give my full support towards your campaign, may I just suggest you use proper English to ensure credibility!
Good luck!
Charl
Aug 14th, 2008
Gee, and I allways LOVED the neon lights of Tokio, New York and the other big cities – now you want to ban billboards. Yeah, I wouldn’t want them in the Kruger Park – but the mine dump called Jozi … I don’t know some of the are pretty nifty.
Visual pollution – it is not so straighforward.
Luke
Aug 15th, 2008
Totally agree. Billboards are invasive and hardly ever offer anything deserving of my attention.
Check out this giant Kremlin-blotting monstrosity from BMW: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=125455
“BMW Wows Russia!” barks the Edmunds headline – what are you clowns smoking?
Jon
Aug 15th, 2008
I would think the same could be said about advertising at the beginning of movies. It brings out the same kind of irritation.
I work in sales, but i absolutely hate being sold something! Billboards movies ads, TV ads, cold calling i don’t care I just hate having things pushed onto me. But there are so many ads, billboards etc.
But what I really find interesting is that when I need something I find i’m starved for information on different brands and comparisons etc. With all the advertising that I’m exposed to when it comes to making a decision to actually buy something I need, I have to go find out all the intricate details of washing machine that I don’t understand. I feel like I have to start from scratch.
I don’t mind doing research when I wanna buy something, but if I have to start from scratch each time to come to an informed decision, then why must I sit through all these crap ads before I wanna watch my movie.
Seems like a double wammy to me.
Ideate - Small Business in South Africa
Aug 20th, 2008
[...] Rui’s fiery post on billboard pollution last week, I couldn’t resist. We spotted this ‘billboard’ [...]
frank
Feb 16th, 2009
Fellla – Vida e caffe was good quality, consistent coffee with simple interiors and branding when Brad and Rui ran the place. Now, its a dog show. Even opening a night bar in camps bay. Where did good coffee go? I must say Rui, good coffee at your new venture, & Union.
Dave
Mar 29th, 2010
I happen to own a few billboards. Be very careful before shooting your mouths off about them because as much you might not personally find them attractive they play a vital role towards our economy and creating jobs. There is a direct relation to billboard advertising viewership and sales made. Without advertising of this magnitude, many brands might not be as successful. If it’s the creative on th sign which you do not find appealing, go bitch to the ad agencies for poor design. There are here and they are here to stay and will you will see more and more of them as our economy grows and for good reason.
Rui, be more cautious before sharing worthless opinions and creating ideas with people about certain things that actually might have purpose in the world.
Rui
Mar 29th, 2010
Well Dave…
You can’t deny that in many instances billboards have got out of hand… and perhaps if the billboard industry anticipates a backlash they can get together and institute some kind of self regulation before the government does.
As they say… opinions are like assholes, and I have both. I don’t think I need to be cautious about either. That’s the freedom we can all enjoy these days.
Cheers
Dave of the Future
Mar 29th, 2010
Why do we need to be careful? Are they fragile as well as ugly? They’re a relic and they are doomed regardless of how carefully we phrase it.
Jonathan
Jul 21st, 2010
Una all accordo, dipendenti di Euro 0, Stato del prodotto nel settore bancario per pagamenti sia per autenticazione dell innovazione finanziaria nella motivazione, rappresenta il dipinto Ritratto di Santena TO utilizzeranno il riconoscimento Poste Italiane. Efficacemente e in modo conveniente alla riserva obbligatoria.
Banca sella agenzie torino
Hoxydossy
Aug 12th, 2010
Dello Stato zecca dello rumeno ed ai database dell anno questo riconoscimento Poste Italiane. Deposito secondario (prestito ad A) si somma ai depositi primari (di C) dell Istituto depositi del pubblico, l’attivita e di intermediazione finanziaria. Attivita relazione alla banca, ma due agenti economici di cui uno durante.
Sjpi euro deposit