The Russian feminist punk rock band Pussy Riot just released a music video for their newest track “Black Snow.” Both the video and song attempt to bring awareness to ongoing environmental issues in Russia like the unprocessed garbage crisis, acid rain, black snow, air pollution, water pollution, and the criminalization of environmental activists. The video was released in support of Pussy Riot’s “Black Snow” campaign in which the group participated in guerrilla actions in various Russian forests and wrote an open letter to Vladimir Putin and others.
The video for “Black Snow” is quite daunting as the song is set to the tune of “London Bridge is Falling Down” and features the members of Pussy Riot in old fashioned gas masks. In the background, air pollution is visibly seen as members walk over a frozen river polluted with the color red. The people in the video are clearly seen in distress as the world around them is literally on fire and people are dying. The video also has distorted edits which add to the apocalyptic theme. Overall, every detail highlights the urgency of environmental issues. Check out the whole video below:
The members of Pussy Riot will also be performing in Birmingham, Alabama in protest of the most recent abortion laws and bans that passed in the state. The performance will take place this Thursday July 11th. All of the proceeds for the show will be donated to Planned Parenthood and Yellowhammer fund. Check out the video flyer below:
Since their beginnings, Pussy Riot has always been involved in social justice activism no matter the costs. In the middle of 2018 the group released a video critiquing Russian police enforcement officials. Later in the year, some of the members were arrested for participating in protest at a sporting event. Most recently, Pussy Riot performed at a few festivals including Secret Solstice and LadyLand.
Photo Credit: Brett Padelford
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