Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Environmental Activism, Of Sorts...



Unlike other fellow Scandinavians such as Swedes and Danes, Norwegians are often thought to be uptight about sex. Not so with this young couple, Tommy Hol Ellingsen and Leona Johansson, who are members of the environmental organization Fuck for Forest. They have sex in public and make porn -- which they distribute through the Website -- in order to raise money to save the rainforests. Originally they received money from the Norwegian government to start up their "Webshop to support the environment". The first application they sent out stated "T-shirts and similar items". The idea matured, and this is the product, even though it deviated from the first drafts...

According to the organization's Website, "Fuck for Forest are concerned youngsters, fighting to preserve the environment. We believe it is possible to use people's need for sexuality as a way to raise money for nature".

At Norway's Quart festival in 2004, as a band -- appropriately called Cumshots -- played, the couple had an intercourse right in front of the audience. A banner was raised on stage informing the audience that the couple was having sex to save the rainforest. After completing the intercourse, the couple received applause from the audience and disappeared. The festival organisers and local police were not amused, though; eventually taking the couple to the Kristiansand court. Neither was the Rainforest Foundation Norway. WWF, the World Wildlife Fund, has so far refused to take money from Fuck for Forest; argumenting their decision that they "cannot connect our brandname and logo to certain sectors of industry". Other environmental organisations haven't warmed up yet to Fuck for Forest's offers, neither has the actual porn industry.

More:

Grist Magazine

Nettavisen

Sex Herald (adults only)

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