Femen - Is a topless protest an effective form of dissent?

I don't have a problem with the semi-nudity. Naked bicycle rides don't attract the same criticism. And I'd say there's a big difference between the "ick" factor of this group, and PETA, which has used nudity in a far more sexually exploitative way.

I am leery of the fact that they were originally (no longer, apparently) organized by a guy, and when I first checked out their website some years back there was no politics on the main page - just,. ironically, t-shirts for sale. That is no longer the case.

Most striking protest I think they ever pulled was chainsawing that cross in Kiev over the Pussy Riot trial. If the criticism is that the focus is all on breasts, it certainly wasn't the case in that action.

As for debates about how appropriate it is, I think it bears remembering that Carrie Nation was also considered a caricature and a joke when she was smashing saloons; now she is the first name that comes to mind when thinking of the early temperance struggle. And she is not the only protester  whose contemporary status as a joke, loose cannon or exploiter has been forgotten.  So while I have no problem with discussion of the appropriate nature of tactics, you can't have that discussion without factoring in results, and that everyone wants to do what is necessary for their protest to gain attention. And of course we are going to see someone else's tactic as a gimmick if it is not to our taste.

It is also important to put the nudity in a European context, where that is no big deal, and also to consider that sex is a pretty common part of other similar protest groups, most notably Voina in Russia, which has staged orgies on film and painted a giant penis on a drawbridge as a protest against the KGB. I think I posted the helicopter dildo not too long ago on another thread. I probably don't need to do it again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-tpG-AYs7o 

FEMEN's Ukrainian Neo-Nazi Connections:

http://rabble.ca/comment/1492911#comment-1492911

An effective form of dissent = direct action.

We all can learn a thing or two from anarchists.

alan smithee wrote:

An effective form of dissent = direct action.

Really? Well it depends on what you mean, but since you invoke bombing, kidnapping and murder, how did the group that went by that "direct action" name fare?

The Icelanders used pots and pans to great effect, but the laws around the right to peaceful assembly and the carte blanche that is given to the police in this society makes even that kind of peaceful undertaking risky business, even if we could involve the most benign elements of the citizenry.  What is needed is an effective way to hold rank and file police, their leaders, and the political leaders in this country to account for their violence.  We don't really have a reliable process like that, and even the most determined objectors to police violence must have the patience of years of legal proceedings to see justice if any is to be had at all.  It's enough to almost wish for the drumhead method of sorting things out at the top were that not a risk in itself.  But when it comes to ideas for direct action, who am I to say 'no, that won't work.'  When political representation is non-existent all of the pent up frustration is understandable.

On another note, my but this went stupid rather quickly, on several fronts.

Who was saying that naked protests aren't an effective means of getting attention?

(edit)

cross posted with you, alan. Do you really want to go there and start comparing notes? Thing is, I don't need to put murder in scare quotes.

Topless tactics did nothing for the Doukhobors and it'll do nothing this time either except stigmatize opponents of C-51 as a bunch of boobs. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Slumberjack wrote:

alan smithee wrote:

Our system needs an overhaul. When less than 40% of a vote gives someone unquestionable power to the point of dictatorship and completely dismissing the will of the majority,we have a fundamental problem.

The problem was there right from the beginning.  It just needed the rise of a third contender in the political mix to reveal the extent of it.  What is most telling about the qualities that this system recognizes and bestows validity upon is that any two parties out of the three are quite willing to allow the majority of the voters in this country to be ruled over by the minority opinion, instead of setting aside partisanship for the greater good.

So what do we do? Wait for the ruling class to govern in fairness? I don't see that happening.

Do we protest? If so,can we expect they will listen?

How about civil disobedience? Or do we burn our cities down to the ground?

I'm just looking for solutions. Anyone got one?

I simply forgot where I was, considering there are two threads on the topic.  I'll try and respond to Alan's question over at the Smash the Vote thread.  Unfortunately not straight away though.