4 - Internationalist

F R O N T L I N E S
FLOWER
POWER —
Garden in
Transit
Most people throughout the
world associate New York City
taxis with a distinctive "slicker
yellow." And although London's black
cabs have long been covered with colorful ad messages,
New York's taxis have stuck with their easy-to-hail color — until now.
For 16 weeks, from September through December, the City's yellow
cabs will be painted with flowers as part of the not-for-profit program,
Portraits of Hope, which uses art as a therapeutic program for children
and adults.
Called "Garden in Transit," the project was created to raise awareness
for children coping with medical, physical, emotional and socioeconomic
challenges. The artwork, consisting of hand-painted panels with garden
motifs, was created by children from hospitals, schools, recreation centers,
and shelters throughout New York's five boroughs. Vibrant flowers were
chosen to symbolize life, beauty, joy, inspiration and healing.
This project will highlight goodwill, hope and triumph on a city,
national and international level. Yellow cabs are part of the New York experience
and are associated with the city in film and television. It is also nice
to see them as a canvas for good.
INFO: http://www.gardenintransit.org/git.php
Macho Sticker
Price
Although luxury product sales are experiencing the biggest boom in history,
there is also another buying surge occurring at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Low-priced versions of high-ticket items like cars and computers are hot
commodities in many of the world’s fast-growth markets. Apparently price is
no challenge to masculinity for cheap cars, as evidenced by Indian automaker,
Maruti Suzuki’s marketing for its $5000 model. Other manufacturers from
Tata to Toyota are planning even less expensive versions with sticker prices
around $2500.
INFO: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/12/
business/12cars.php
Liberté through
Publicité
The successful Paris Vélib' short-term bike rental
program-named for vélo (bicycle) and liberté
(freedom) — is an inspiration for other big cities from
Chicago to Moscow. The 10,000+ rental bikes,
installed at 750 docking stations, have been used by 4
million citoyens. The bicycles have also created an
innovative positioning statement for outdoor media
leader, JCDecaux. By partly financing the self-service
bike program through advertising to keep the rental
costs low, they have demonstrated how
alternative public transport appeals to the consumer’s
new interest in all green issues.
INFO: www.velib.paris.fr
4 inter national ist magazine