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Recounting the hoax
On one memorable occasion, one of the Yes Men actually made it to the BBC with their impersonation as a representative from the DOW. This public announcement came of course on the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal leak, which killed 20,000 people in total.
| "How in the world have these men not been caught?" |
Getting away with it |
Keeping a straight face while filling the BBC airwaves, the man proceeded to declare DOW took full responsibility for a carbide leak. The "representative" claimed DOW would take all physical and financial steps necessary to make amends with the country and the people affected by the disaster.
It's one thing to go into a lecture and spread a message contrary to what the World Trade Organization preaches, but how does one pull off getting on the BBC, a world-renowned news source, all the while claiming to be someone else?
It's been pounded in my head throughout my entire journalistic career: CHECK YOUR SOURCES! The Yes Men had a logical answer when that question came up...similar websites. The BBC simply followed a fake website, thinking they were getting the real thing. |