Project Billboard - United States

Project Billboard uses media outlets, such as outdoor billboard spaces, around the country to raise issues that concern the nation, and to help engage fellow citizens, the media, and politicians in discussion. The issues that Project Billboard considers most crucial include the economy, the environment, education, health care, national security, and uses of American military power in the world. According to organisers, "It is our belief that such issues have not been discussed in a forthright, honest and open manner."

To cite one example, in July 2004 Project Billboard created a billboard to inspire debate about the United States' participation in the war in Iraq. The billboard originally included an image of a bomb coloured in red, white, and blue (characteristic of the American flag) accompanied by the words "Democracy is best taught by example, not by war". Clear Channel Communications, one of the nation's largest media companies, with close ties to national Republicans, refused to allow the billboard. (Project Billboard had accused Clear Channel of rejecting the ad for political reasons but backed away from that position after its lawsuit against the media giant was settled out of court. Clear Channel denied any political agenda, claiming that it rejected the billboard because the image of a bomb would be offensive in a city that was a target of the September 11 2001 terror attacks.) Project Billboard redesigned the billboard; the words remain the same, but the image is that of a stylised peace dove. Click here to download the billboard in PDF format. The ad was scheduled to be displayed in New York City's bustling Times Square for a 3-month period beginning in August 2004. In addition, Project Billboard planned to post a billboard with the words, "Total Cost of Iraq War," along with a display of a running tally of war costs. (According to Project Billboard, as of July 2004 these costs amounted to US$122 billion).

Conflict, Political Participation, Free Speech.

Project Billboard believes that, "far from having enhanced our country's national well being, the policies of our current government have all too often led us in dangerous, retrograde directions." In that context, Project Billboard works to foster meaningful national discussion of issues that it claims presidential and congressional candidates must address and debate in order to effectively govern the United States. The broad aim of Project Billboard is to identify these issues, inform citizens about them, and encourage them to take action to hold their lawmakers accountable for dealing with them.