Th UK Government has lost all sense of realism and decency. As a father of two young children myself, I’d like to smack the person(s) responsible for this upside the head and say “what were you thinking!”.
Even normally pro AGW Nature calls it the Worst. Climate. Campaign. Ever. Watch this.
Link to transcript
Nature writes:
The UK government has decided to convince us all that climate change is real. To this end it is spending £6 million on a prime time advertising campaign featuring a father reading a bedtime story about the evil carbon dioxide monster created by grown ups which is making rabbits cry.
…
In perhaps the worst advert for stopping climate change I’ve ever seen, the cringe worthy short has the father telling his child how scientists found that global warming “was being caused by too much CO2, and it was the children of the land who’d have to live with the horrible consequences”
In an article in the Register, Andrew Orlowski points out that even the UK Met office doesn’t go this far:
Met Office climate modeller Vicky Pope has said apocalyptic predictions are misleading – “distorting” the perception of climate change. She cited shock-horror press releases about recent Arctic ice melt, which she said could equally be explained by natural variation.
…
Taxpayers are paying £6m so their children can be scared out of their wits. It’s not Halloween, but a new climate change TV advertising campaign that begins tonight, which features a young girl watching a dog drown.
See the new center of climate porn here:
http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/actonco2/home.html
They do have a contact form. The question is: will they listen or just brand everyone who thinks maybe the campaign is “over the top” as paid shills of Exxon ?
http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/actonco2/home/about-us/Contact-us.html
Here is a spoof of this video, http://mitchieville.com/15884/dear-british-climate-cult-propaganda-office/
Had me chuckling.
to TonyB
I’m based in France (where libel laws are less stringent than in Britain – not that I’d ever say anything libellous). Look forward to seeing your new website.
On global temperatures: given Anthony’s revelations, shouldn’t all graphs purporting to show average global temperatures since the onset of major C02 emissions be relabelled “Temperatures at the world’s airports since the invention of the jet engine”?
Geoffchambers
That is a great quote by Anthony!
It is a shame we don’t look harder at what the local records are telling us (which is where we all live) which is often at variance with the ‘global’ record.
tonyb
Geoffchamber
Sorry, in fact it is a great quote by you, not Anthony. I think I wouild add in ‘and the worlds greatest urban centres’ to be factual, but as facts never seem to bother some of those on the warmist side I’ll stick with your more succinct phrase.
Tonyb
“Temperatures at the world’s airports since the invention of the jet engine”
LOL! I wonder what the result would be if they measured at both ends of the runway..?
Despite my earlier comments, I was persuaded by Alex Cull (and others), but especially by Alex’s excellent letter, and sent an online complaint to the ASA. Here’s what I said:
QUOTE
My complaint is that this advertisement is (A) seriously misleading and (B) likely to cause harm. I say this for the following reasons:
A. Seriously misleading
Although presented as a fairy story, the message clearly applies to the UK today (otherwise the exhortation to “act on CO2” would be meaningless). But (1) the UK’s weather is not, by any measure, “very very strange” as claimed: despite the advertisement’s reference to “awful heat waves … terrible storms and floods”, we have not experienced and are not experiencing the unusual heat waves, storms, floods, sea level increases etc. said by some to be caused by CO2 emissions and the UK has experienced far “stranger” weather in the past – e.g. the regularly frozen Thames and the Great Storm of 1703; (2) although some scientists say that this (non existent) “very very strange” weather is caused, as claimed here, by “too much CO2”, others profoundly disagree as the hypothesis is unverified by empirical evidence and natural events obviously caused past climate problems; (3) in any case, far from “the effects … happening faster than [the grown-ups] thought” as is claimed, for the past eleven years UK (and global) temperatures have, contrary to expert expectation, not increased (indeed have declined slightly) despite significantly increased human CO2 emissions, casting doubt on the question of causation and obliging the Met Office, for example, to adjust its climate models; (4) CO2 is not, as shown here, nasty black stuff but, as well as being a necessary component of all life, is a colourless non-toxic trace gas; and (5) the concepts that children will “have to live with the terrible consequences” (e.g. houses under water) and that using less CO2 “could save the land for the children” are based, not on the empirical evidence demanded by good science, but on computer models that have been shown to be inadequate (see above) and are arguably no more reliable that those that were significantly responsible for the current financial crisis.
It appears to me, therefore, that the advertisement is in breach of sections 4 and 5 of your TV Code – specifically, paragraph 4 (d) and paragraphs 5.1.1, 5.1.2 (see in particular Notes 2 and 6 and possibly 3, although little claimed is even “literally true”), 5.1.3, 5.2.1, 5.2.3, 5.2.6, 5.2.10 (b), 5.4.1 and 5.4.7/11 (it is not made clear that this is a Government advertisement).
B. Likely to cause harm
I consider it offensive and potentially harmful that the advertisement suggests unambiguously that normal domestic activities are the direct cause “terrible storms”, “awful heatwaves” etc. and that they are likely to make matters far worse (“terrible consequences”) in the future, when these are, as noted above, matters of considerable uncertainty. Specifically, I believe it’s clear intention of using this misleading suggestion to create anxiety and guilt (about irresponsibility to children) in the minds of adults is deplorable and likely to be emotionally harmful to them. Even worse, is the likelihood of its frightening children – with its pictures of horrible monsters hovering over flooded homes, sad animals and a drowning dog – especially when all these are directly linked to “normal” activities such as heating houses and driving cars. I suggest that to deliberately cause anxiety, even fear, in the minds of young children (this was shown before the 9:00 PM deadline) is especially reprehensible – and that would be my view even if the “facts” were more soundly based. The advertisement is, I suggest, likely to be especially harmful to children.
It appears to me, therefore, that the advertisement is also in breach of sections 6 and 7 of your TV Code – specifically, paragraphs 6.1, 6.2 (b) (the drowning dog), 6.4 and (arguably) 6.6 and paragraphs 7.1.1, 7.4.1 and 7.4.6 (see Note on “Harmful Advertising”).
UNQUOTE
In earlier posts, I said that I considered complaint to be futile. I said I hoped I was wrong. That hope is now reinforced!
to Robin Guenier
Excellent letter! As I said in an earlier comment, my experience aeons ago working for the Central Office of Information, who are responsible for putting out government ad campaigns, leads me to believe that a well-argued case may have an effect. Most government advertising involves getting across neutral expert advice to the general public on such subjects as road safety or vaccination campaigns. If only all the parliamentary parties hadn’t hitched themselves to the AGW bandwagon, this campaign would have led to a minor political scandal, since it obviously breaches all standards of objectivity. There must be many in the corridors of Whitehall who are aware of this, and will be susceptible to any waves coming out of the ASA.
It will be interesting to compare replies to our responses from the ASA. If no other British blog opens up a thread, I’ll look for comments on Harmless Sky’s New Statesman open thread.
Geoffchambers
There is no doubt that AGW took a highly political step in 2005 prior to Britain assuming the chair of both the G8 and the EU. Tony Blair thought he could make a name for himself by acting on advice from influencers that included Friends of the Earth, The Green party and WWF.
After reading hundreds of documents I think there is no doubt that Britain is headed for a carbon ration card if the Govt can screw up its political courage and act on the advice of the astonishing variety of doom mongers it has hitched its wagon too. Read Orwells 1984 to stay ahead as clearly this govt sees that as a handbook for govt.
Tonyb
Richard Treadgold (16:12:19) 10.10.09:
Poneke
Way OT: two Kiwis saying hi.
Rereke:
If you’re visiting Auckland, get in touch; details on the web site.
Best regards.
I’m telling my children that they are going to have pay for the CO2 mania thorugh a lower standard of living caused by high energy prices. I also tell them that more people in the world will suffer because of the global warming insanity will retard growth in the developing world.
Lil update on this story-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/16/complaints-government-climate-change-ad
“The advertising regulator has received more than 200 complaints that the government’s latest TV campaign on climate change is misleading.”
No news yet whether the ASA will ‘act on’ these complaints or not.
You can tell from all of the “against” comments, that you are all scared of the truth.
The truth is that our children will have to pay for all the power hungry and greedy people across the planet, and the poor will die.
The people in the third world are dying to let us drive big cars and run large factories producing mass-produced rubbish.
All for the sake of using our brain to think of eco-friendly solutions.
Remember drive a smaller car and switch of unnecessary lights, the outside of your big house does not need to be lit during the hours of darkness.
The world resources belongs to all of the worlds people not a few rich and greedy people.
The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few.
If you find this to be in bad taste, please sign the petition to the Prime Minister’s against it here: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/climate-ad/
[q] Vader2004 (05:47:49) :
You can tell from all of the “against” comments, that you are all scared of the truth.
The truth is that our children will have to pay for all the power hungry and greedy people across the planet, and the poor will die.
The people in the third world are dying to let us drive big cars and run large factories producing mass-produced rubbish.
All for the sake of using our brain to think of eco-friendly solutions.
Remember drive a smaller car and switch of unnecessary lights, the outside of your big house does not need to be lit during the hours of darkness.
The world resources belongs to all of the worlds people not a few rich and greedy people.
The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few. [/q]
Spoken like a good little socialist …”From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”
It’s people like you that are the cause of videos like this. I only hope one day when it all comes to a boil you and your ilk are held accountable for your idiocy.
Personally I couldnt care less about “people in the third world that are dying” so I can drive my big car. Its my choice…get it? MY CHOICE not yours! I dont understand what these crazies want..back to the middle ages with no lights and no cars?
I truly hope that when the war starts its not the lawyers that are first against the wall but it will be the ones like you that have tried to ruin the world for the rest of us.
P.S. If we do get back to the “good ol days” of villages and horses I’m sure you’ll be a shoe in for the job of Village Idiot…wait maybe Al Gore will run to be the King of Village Idiots and you’ll have a friend.
Man-made Climate Change is a Fairy Tale and children know Fairy Tales are not true.
Absolute rubbish – to put it mildly.
This is just another example of the manipulation of our youth in this climate alarmism – the main one being the one-sided science curriculum in our schools. It is nothing short of propaganda.
Check out the story on BBc website. ASA does take notice! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8317998.stm
Sorry to come into this late, but you shouldn’t take too much notice of Vicky Pope (Met Office) trying to sound less alarmist. This is what she says on the Met Office’s site:
“Decades like 1999–2008 occur quite frequently in our climate change simulations, but the underlying trend of increasing temperature remains. We cannot be complacent. Indeed, other signals of climate change are increasing as fast, or even faster than ever due to the combined effects of global warming and natural variability — the rapid loss of summer Arctic sea ice is one such example. Early action to reduce the extent and impacts of climate change remains vital.”
So to Ms Pope, the Arctic summer melt is being caused by us, not natural ocean currents. Wonder how she’ll feel in 5 years time when it’s back to normal?
This advert is typical of the mindset of ecofascists!!! Know doubt some idiot in a position of control will try and justify this disgraceful advert.
If this was placed on the tv by a private company the powers that be would come down on them like a ton of bricks.
ASA have just written to me telling me they are investigating my complaint along with many others.
Unfortunately I cannot pass on any further details on the idetified issues or process as they have deemed the correspondence to be “confidential”.
i hope it will be better for reducing emission all over the world
Oh dear…
Funny how shocked you are by this cringeworthy ad. Makes you feel better about being a thgoughtless, selfish person huh?
6 million pounds is nothing when compared to the amounts that can be saved. Even if global warming is NOT happening, and we are wrong- as you neoflat-earthers claim- the savings in energy costs and wasted resources will easily dwarf that miserable sum.