You may have seen this on other blogs in the last day or so, a print ad apparently for the WWF out of Brazil. It is beyond tasteless. I wasn’t going to comment on it, but then our tipline made it clear that a video spot was also produced.
The caption in the upper right reads: “The tsunami killed 100 times more people than 9/11. The planet is brutally powerful. Respect it. Preserve it.” The ad first starting becoming well known when it won the best of 2009 award at www.oneclub.org, which apparently promotes excellence in advertising. (UPDATE: it appears the ad award has been removed from this website but here is a screencap.)
But World Wildlife Fund is rejecting the ad, saying it was released without authorization by the Brazilian Ad agency DDB Brazil (www.ddb.com).
WWF condemned it, saying it was “categorically not solicited nor endorsed” by the organization. Looking at their main website though, http://www.panda.org/ you’d never know they are condemning this ad. The other WWF website does mention it here. Now according to Adfreak, they are accepting “joint blame” for the print ad.
But given the existence of this video, it appears they approved at least a production budget. The video is professionally done with top of the line CGI. It’s not some “rogue” that did this on a shoestring budget.
The video spot showing 2 planes flying into the twin towers, followed by even more, is probably the most tasteless and stupid environmental advertisement I’ve ever seen. If the goal was to shock people, it worked. But I doubt the shock effect is positive for WWF. What it does is piss people off.
Watch the video and see what I mean.
UPDATE: it appears DDB/WWF has made a DMCA complaint with YouTube. I expect DeSmog Blog’s Kevin Grandia and Climate Progress’ Joe Romm to express shock and outrage any minute now.
Alternate source to the video can be found here. http://creativity-online.com/work/wwf-tsunami-%28tvc%29/17193
In my opinion, it boggles the mind that anyone or any organization could be so dense as to not predict the public reaction to such a print ad, much less a video. I don’t care how noble you think your cause is, this hijacking of an American tragedy for earth awareness, is not only callous and insulting to the thousands of families affected by this tragedy, but it is probably the single most disgusting and stupid application of eco advertising I’ve ever witnessed.
The WWF initial “denial” of association with this ad just isn’t credible and is falling apart. Have you no shame?
From Hot Air:
WWF is finally admitting that they did play some role in approving the print spot, issuing a joint statement with the ad agency, DDB, that “the inexperience of some professionals on both sides” is to blame. And yet:
Sergio Valente, president of DDB Brasil, said the ad was presented to the WWF in Brazil in December 2008 and approved; it then ran once in a small local paper.
“When I saw it, I said, ‘Stop running that ad,’” Mr. Valente said…
A DDB Brasil spokesperson in Sao Paulo said a video version of the ad being circulated on the internet was not done or authorized by the agency or the client. She said DDB execs first saw the video, which features slightly different copy, on the internet and don’t know who created it.
Really? So some wily amateur video producer out there happened to stumble across a print ad that only ran once in South America and was so taken with it that he churned out a slick animated version on his own dime? Humor me for a moment and assume that this is, in fact, the handiwork of DDB. If so, exactly how many “inexperienced professionals” contributed to — and approved — the spot?
This spot comes from an ad agency employed by the same people that say “We Need a New Global Climate Deal“. Good luck with that, with this revelation, you’ve just committed global stupicide.
h/t to WUWT reader Corey
I still dont understand this ad other then shock and awe. The message itself makes no sense. The WWF exists on the idea that humans make an impact on the planet. The message this ad seems to be making is that humans are insignificant to the might of the planet. So are they asking people not to give them money because it wont matter ?
Sad thing is, that this wont have any dent on their donations. Both my grandmas give to this organization every year, both are well off into the 80s age wise, and have no idea just what they are giving money to. My guess is most their funding comes from old ladies that have no idea just what these people do. And most people like myself dont have the willpower/heart to try to explain to them just what they are giving to. Let alone explain it every day because they already forgot.
I didn’t know man made earthquakes happend. This is beyond stupid. This is shouting in the dark hoping some simple people will think the world is going bad because of us. Most stupid idea ever. Shame on wwf. They don’t get the money from me.
Allan M (12:08:07) : Green movement is their “Hara-Kiri” and with it all those gracious persons. It could be perfectly justifiable to ask for the termination of that monarchy.
This makes much more sense:
http://algorelied.com/?p=2758
WWF not the only one to run amok:
Green Jobs Czar wants Green Revolution:
http://heliogenic.blogspot.com/2009/09/obamas-green-jobs-czar-wants-green.html
Interestingly (or should I say predictably) enough if you check this on the liberal sites the comments all say something like – “The adds are offensive but they do have a point”. Typical.
JC (15:42:38) “Interestingly (or should I say predictably) enough if you check this on the liberal sites […]”
I want to comment here because this doesn’t help. The truth about climate certainly does NOT depend on party-lines; furthermore, beliefs about climate do not need to depend on party-affiliation. Expressing the truth about climate will become more acceptable as we work to tear down the political assumptions. I would argue that those of us who are concerned with the truth should not want this issue to divide along party lines, as that is sure to cause serious & enduring problems for everyone (regardless of affiliation).
It is the political left that is now exploiting 9/11. I don’t agree with WWF and I find their AGW agenda deplorable. But aside from offending some people, this ad pales in comparison to the way that the political right has exploited 9/11 – which has resulted in millions dead, trillions of dollars spent in foreign wars, obscene deficits, the emergence of a police state through the implementation of the Patriot Act, the abolition of posse comitatus, torture and rendition, and the list goes on and on. Aren’t these the items to which all the conservatives that frequent this site are supposed to be stringently opposed?
The way that the 9/11 myth has been exploited by those of every political stripe is very offensive.
At least they are delivering the right message.
The Earth is more powerful than Man.
But they have a lot of followers who want to blame everything bad on Man.
Jay (02:36:33) :
I downloaded the video from You Tube and have it saved. I’m sure a lot of people have it but I could send it on to anyone who wanted it.
Mike McMillan (23:58:49) : “The tsunami killed 100 times more people than 9/11.”
Am I the only one who was reminded of the film “Team America: World Police”?
Spottswoode: From what I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.N.C.E has gathered, it would be 9/11 times 100.
Gary Johnston: 9/11 times a hundred? Jesus, that’s…
Spottswoode: Yes, 91,100.
Probably not what the ad’s creators had in mind…
“Sunfighter (13:16:06) :
I still dont understand this ad other then shock and awe. The message itself makes no sense. The WWF exists on the idea that humans make an impact on the planet. The message this ad seems to be making is that humans are insignificant to the might of the planet. So are they asking people not to give them money because it wont matter ?”
I think the ad tunes into the idea that the Earth will destroy those who destroy the Earth. Basic christian apocalypse type stuff repackaged as new age awareness and projected via big budget special effects (action movie language targeted at teens). It could also be construed as a kind of revenge fantasy or more simply and innocently a warning. But basically I’d agree with TamRob- it’s just politics. Using the biggest thing you can come up with to scare people over to your side of the fence. The right had WMD’s, the left and its associations has climate change. It’s politics.
Don S. (05:04:32) :
To our Aussie friends, thanks for the comforting words mates.
No thanks required – you folk saved our asses in the coral sea in 42. We’re unlikely to forget that.
9/11 was an attack on all of us. What offends you offends us.
I dislike the WWF as much as anyone, but the connection of this campaign to them is tenuous at best, and the conjecture and legerdemain that Anthony uses to make that connection is unlike him.
Ad agencies regularly work out concepts hoping to net a client (especially potentially lucrative ones like greenie-funded NGOs), and the ad world (who would know) are all declaring this to be a stupid move on the part of the agency.
It doesn’t do our cause any favours when we all start foaming and raving about the WWF as soon as they’re even vaguely implicated. We’re about questioning scientific process, and comment threads like this make our cause look foolish to anyone who is undecided.
If I were Anthony, I would remove the entire post, because it’s contrary to the mission.
What this video says for me is:
«Islam can kill a few thousands but look how powerful our GOD is. Kneel!»
FYI Mainstream UK media:
——————–
An advert designed for an environmental charity has been condemned for featuring an image in which dozen of planes are posed to collide with New York.
In an effort to raise awareness of potential environmental disasters and their resulting casualties, the designer twinned the depiction with the slogan ‘The tsunami killed 100 times more people than 9/11’ and the Worldwide Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) logo.
Although it was published just once in a small Brazilian newspaper, it has provoked widespread outrage after being picked up by bloggers in the US.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1211029/America-shocked-advert-designed-environmental-charity-compares-tsunami-9-11.html#ixzz0Q7oaE0TX
Isn’t 9/11 what WWF, Greenpeace and other NGO’s regard as “Direct Action”.
Perhaps when they don’t think we’re paying attention they will start blowing things up instead of chaining themselves to things?
It’s not that much of a jump once you reach the mind set that people are less important than your cause……..
BUT, BY PROMOTING IT FOR THEM… VIA FACEBOOK (WHICH IS WHERE I GOT THIS LINK) OR YOUTUBE ETC… YOU ARE PASSING AROUND THEIR TASTELESS MESSAGE!!!
JUST LET IT DROP PEOPLE! YOU ARE GIVING THEM FREE ADVERTISING!
F Kassen (21:57:41) :
“I dislike the WWF as much as anyone, but the connection of this campaign to them is tenuous at best, and the conjecture and legerdemain that Anthony uses to make that connection is unlike him.”
Don’t you think that the presence of the WWF logo makes the connection somewhat stronger than tenuous?
Do not forget that 9/11 was celebrated by many millions around the world, who have significant overlap with the anti-Western component of climate alarmism. A large proportion of young Europeans also believe also/ alternately that it was a self inflicted American/Israeli plot. This ad preaches to a large converted audience.
Not sure if DDB has given up on their copyright claim, YouTube has rejected it or otherwise, but the video continues to proliferate. This version on YouTube has 34,244 views and is increasing rapidly:
Also, The Guardian picked it up:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/sep/04/ddb-brasil-wwf-twin-towers-ad
Chris (05:46:22) :
“JUST LET IT DROP PEOPLE! YOU ARE GIVING THEM FREE ADVERTISING!”
I’m guessing that you didn’t see last weeks quote of the week…
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/08/30/quote-of-the-week-17/
Free advertising? This video will likely severely damage WWF’s brand, curtail their fundraising and makes it clear to all that WWF is a biased advocacy organization and not a trustworthy source of information/facts.
Anthony
Per the report/study that WWF released this week;
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17726-has-runaway-arctic-warming-already-begun.html
if you look on page 17 of the actual WWF report;
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_arctic_feedbacks_report.pdf
you’ll note that the first section was written by Mark C. Serreze and Julienne Stroeve.
Does this mean that the Director of NSIDC:
http://nsidc.org/research/bios/serreze.html
is on WWF’s payroll?
REPLY: Thanks I’ll have a look. – Anthony
The video spot showing 2 planes flying into the twin towers, followed by even more, is probably the most tasteless and stupid environmental advertisement I’ve ever seen. If the goal was to shock people, it worked. But I doubt the shock effect is positive for WWF. What it does is piss people off.
It also doesn’t make sense…unless they think the tsunami was an example of our abusing the planet.
Jimmy Haigh: “Don’t you think that the presence of the WWF logo makes the connection somewhat stronger than tenuous?”
Only if I’m really desperate to make a connection. You can get vector-based logos for pretty much any organization, company, etc. online, often from their websites. If I’m an ad agency trying to win a contract, of course I’m going to put the logo of the company on my mockups. If my ad agency wants to win a contract with Coke, our submissions are sure as hell going to include the Coke logo.
My point is just that our efforts to question the science are compromised with threads like these, where we jump to convenient conclusions in spite of flimsy evidence, and then get all worked up about it. Shame on the ad agency, of course, but, then again, ad agencies are consistently idiotic – just turn on a TV!
It’s just important that we as a movement not also look like idiots, and this thread does just that, I’m afraid.
F Kassen (17:04:34) :
“Only if I’m really desperate to make a connection. You can get vector-based logos…”
What? WWF has essentially admitted that its their video and they are now trying to isolate it to their Brazilian organization, which is part of the “international WWF network”:
http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2009/WWFPresitem13559.html
This is a World Wild Life fund video, regardless of which of their branch offices requested and paid for DDB to produce it. If you donate to WWF you are funding alarmist propaganda, not preserving wildlife.