Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Published 15 years ago
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Avian Flu Awareness Project

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Launched in 2005, this United-States-based project was designed to educate people about avian influenza through the use of live performance and visual art. The organiser - a single individual - has designed performances/exhibitions involving a faux office set up in an art gallery. He has used primary elements and a series of large blowups of "informative diagram"-style graphics. The purpose of the project was to comment upon what the organiser characterises as "the faux-information that is generated and disseminated in the event of a pandemic or other global event....The Avian Flu Awareness Project addresses the mystery of potential pandemic and our collective experience of waiting and worrying about the uncertainties of the coming days and months."
Communication Strategies

This initiative draws on the use of artwork and live performance to alert people to the risk that avian influenza can pose. An event at The Loft in San Pedro, California (CA) in the United States featured 5 graphic images, with the organiser playing the part of the "less-than-helpful bureaucrat", and a 3-man "Avian Flu Awareness Crew" who wandered the streets outside disseminating promotional posters.

The second implementation of the Avian Flu Awareness Project took place in April of 2006 at Walled City in San Pedro. This version consisted of 3 graphic images. In addition, Awareness Project field staff held a session in an art gallery to answer questions and actively engage citizens in an exercise intended to increase community awareness of the various potentialities of the possible pandemic. Reportedly, the office hours/reception stimulated dialogue about the issue, with visitors expressing different perspectives on the potential crisis.

Development Issues

Health.

Sources

Avian Flu Awareness Project page on the Marshall Astor website.

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