Banks face invasion of golden toads in environmental protest Jul 21st 2013, 19:23
Reverend Billy's singing activists dressed as extinct species plan 'gentle' demonstration against irresponsible lending
British bankers have been warned to expect an infestation of bright orange golden toads over the next 10 days.
The tiny creatures that used to live in the cloud forests of central America but were made extinct 25 years ago when the trees were felled, are likely to burst into their lobbies, start singing and may also approach staff bearing small trees and pictures of other endangered species.
But the troupe of 15 Broadway and other US actors, led by fire and brimstone gospel preacher the Reverend Billy, say their satirical choir of resurrected toads now in Britain intends the bankers no harm, and wanting only to remind them that decades of irresponsible lending have resulted in climate change, the death of nature and social disintegration.
The toads are keeping their targets secret but can be expected as far afield as London, Liverpool and Colchester, says Bill Talen, aka the Rev Billy.
"British banks should be very afraid. Two weeks ago we went into Chase bank in Manhattan and we set little trees on desks and gave staff pictures of the black rhino. We started pounding the ATMs like drums. People just did not know what to do.
"The manager was very angry and increasingly hysterical and called the police. We were set to be [arrested] but the cops didn't come.
"In fact we were very gentle. People don't feel threatened. There's no reason not to be gentle. Gentle is powerful".
Judging by the "exorcisms" of bankers and the impromptu gospel services which Billy and the uninvited toads have performed inside the offices of JP Morgan, UBS, HSBC and Goldman Sachs, they expect the financiers to respond with anything from hysteria to beatific calm.
"Something happens when you break into a bank. They are the like cathedrals, full of hushed voices and reverence for money. They are moving billions of dollars, funding industries that are causing climate change, deforestation, pollution and loss of diversity.
"A quarter of all the wealth in Britain is said to be in the financial markets. The banks are more powerful than governments, yet they are financing the death of life. The big banks have taken over life itself," said Talen.
Talen, who in 2009 ran for the US Green party in the New York mayoral race, mixes social activism with street theatre around the world. He founded the church of Earthallujah after BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and last year performed an 'exorcism' in Tate Modern, with his group anointing each other with crude oil as a commentary on the industry's growing sponsorship of the UK arts. In other "actions" they have scrubbed banks clean, and performed in malls, shopping centres and at St Paul's cathedral.
But he says the global climate movement is in danger of being ignored by governments. "It needs to discover something new and non-violent. Scientists do not know how to talk to us. It's not enough to march and rally. We cannot just be protesters."
In an age of increasing freak storms, heatwaves and melting icecaps, the arts and even the British police, he says, are needed to persuade governments and institutions that massive change is necessary to avoid apocalypse.
"We have to have [an organisation called] Bobbies for the Biosphere. When the Bobbies take on the banks, then the bankers will go into hiding."
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