The Yes Men Explain How To Pull Off An International Prank (VIDEO)

Last week while I was in Copenhagen, I got a press release in an email stating that Canada was totally reversing its climate change position, announcing aggressive limits on carbon emissions, and would start paying "climate debt" to developing countries.

"This is interesting, I thought. I'm going to have to see how this will play out." I didn't realize at the time that I'd been punked by The Yes Men. The Yes Men are a group of international pranksters who challenge free market doctrine, capitalism and unresponsive governments and call attention to environmental crises and injustice through elaborate public hoaxes.

Past hoaxes have included announcing Dow Chemical would pay $12 billion in reparations to the victims of the Bhopal gas leak on BBC World News, pretending to be the US Chamber Of Commerce and announcing it was totally reversing its position on climate legislation (they are now being sued for this) and creating fake editions of the New York Times and New York Post. You can learn all about their antics in their recently-released film, "The Yes Men Fix The World".

The prank continued in elaborate detail, chronicled and updated by our Eat The Press Editor, Jason Linkins. After the fake announcement, there was a fake press conference between Canada and Uganda (Watch it here) on a fake UN set streamed on a fake UN website. A fake Wall Street Journal article covered Canada's change of heart, which was followed by a fake statement from the Canadian government condemning the prank. Elaborate!

I went behind the scenes in Copenhagen to meet The Yes Men and their team of pranksters to find out what it takes to pull off such an elaborate hoax. I particularly loved the tour of the set they created for the UN press conference, which was designed by art students and used tons of found objects.

WATCH:

A special thanks to Jennifer Prediger from Grist.org for shooting and editing this video.

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Comments

[prohb]

05:39 AM on 12/22/2009

Lots of creative energy and funny and great for generating camradiere........ but ..........what's the point? I mean what effect will this have on change? Sorry if I'm being a downer.

[HarrietteTheSpy]

02:26 PM on 12/22/2009

Does everything have a point? Do you enjoy random acts of fun? When was the last time you did something just for fun? If people were acting from joy wouldn't that change the vibe of most everything? But seriously, I believe in the 100th Monkey and raising consciousness to a tipping point of change. So... there's a point IF you need one... It's the holiday season, I can understand being down, but for fun go out and do a random act of fun today for someone and see the change you bring them... and yourself... I can remind myself that too.... cheers - hts

[prohb]

09:37 AM on 12/24/2009

You're right, you're right. Actually, I have started to emerge from being so disappointed with everyone at Copenhagan. I am going to redouble my efforts to get people locally and in state on board with the vision of an energy clean, just world. I guess I just put much stock in the "Big Event". And along the way, I'll remember to smell the flowers and have some fun ( I haven't gone on a hike outdoors in weeks). Also, about having a point.......I just saw the old Beatle's cartoon movie, "The Point" . The story is about a journey of a round-headed boy who was kicked out of "Pointsville" (a town where everyone had pointy heads) and in his search for answers was reminded that "you don't have to have a point to have a point". Keep it up people.
*By the way - the movie has a great song: "Me and My Arrow"

[ProFormaArtista]

04:50 AM on 12/22/2009

Katherine, so after your investigation, you were still unable or unwilling to make a judgment as to who has more credibility (e.g., who delivers more truth), Rightwing media or the Yes Men?

I would like to know your finding.

[Arjala]

02:45 PM on 12/21/2009

More of Everything, Yes!

[HarrietteTheSpy]

11:21 AM on 12/21/2009

Love these guys. Thanks for this fun tour. Happy Holidays all.

[Bellla]

10:17 AM on 12/21/2009

They are true heros the Yesmen and Yeswimmin. Climate Debt Collection Agents! Brilliant!
Just as an aside, I was so touched when they named that convention center in Copenhagen after me, The plain ticket must have been lost in the mail or something, But I appreciate the honor even if in absentia... Go YesBeings! ( I think I wanna get me a red suit...)