Ads Too extreme for Amnesty International to use.
August 7th 2008 08:48
Ads Too extreme for Amnesty International to use.
Coming out of a think tank that perhaps became a little to zealous are a series of posters that AI (Amnesty International) rejected. They were part of the Olympic collection designed to draw attention to human rights abuses.
What do you think?
Are they too harsh or too sofy?
Or are they just propaganda?
Why do you think that AI would not like to run these ads?
Coming out of a think tank that perhaps became a little to zealous are a series of posters that AI (Amnesty International) rejected. They were part of the Olympic collection designed to draw attention to human rights abuses.
What do you think?
Are they too harsh or too sofy?
Or are they just propaganda?
Swimming
Robin Hood
Boxing
Shooting
Wrestling
Chained
Why do you think that AI would not like to run these ads?
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Can I put you down for 'fear of Chinese backlash?'
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Personally if they came to I would rejected them also. The images include athletes as the also. The rest look like hard core propaganda and their defeat their own credibility. So they become ineffective.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Firstly it is obvious that the photo's are mock ups to make a point.
Secondly the point would most likely be lost in the noise created about accusing athletes of participating in human rights abuses.
So why run an ineffective campaign?
If they were genuine photo's then the point would be much more valid.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
If none of them is real, but merely representations of reality, I can see your point. But if AI were truly interested in human rights, they would speak out in the less safe venues.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
These photos are Mockups. AI's art department came up with them for the Olympics. All the people are actors in impossible contrived situations. Every photo is an implausible scenario.
For example: The sooting picture. You would never shoot someone with the cameraman standing on the other side of him. Nor would you use a precision target pistol.
The boxing image is also implausible. People are normally tied up before the are beaten so that they can't hit back.
The drowning shot: Was the cameraman standing in the water?
AI is an NGO so they will act according to their own methods. Usually with some degree of success.
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
Sports fans.... your're not going to like my opinion on this.. but here goes..
I find it ironic that suddenly everyone is concerned with 'human rights abuses' because China is hosting the Olympics.
The Olympics is an event which costs individual nations (not to mention the host nation) BILLIONS of dollars, yet there is not one country in attendance who could legitimately claim to have eradicated child poverty, or homelessness.
That we happily pour money into the Olympic WASTEBASKET while children around the world starve, fail to receive a decent education and die of curable illnesses, is bad enough. That we do so while we bleat about what heartless bastards China are is utter hypocracy.
Lucky our Olympic team have swanky uniforms... It is always advisable to look your best while you swan around spending money that could have provided clean drinking water.
Really, the Salvation Army should give Olympic medal tally updates instead of food vouchers, to families in need. They can bask in the warm glow of national pride.
Who needs food when we have just set a pole vaulting record??
And by the way Amnesty International.. How much did that ad campaign cost???
Kim
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Sports fan? Hardly. I know about sport and can appreciate that exists but I do not see myself staring at the set for next few weeks counting medal tallies. It is entertainment just like Movie or a stage show.
China has issues, we all know that, big ones. Mostly because totalitarian states do not like to give human rights without being forced to.
It is hard to say what would happen if all the Olympics were cancelled. Would there be any positive economic benefits?
or would it just cause more economic problems. I don't think we can expect that it would transfer into a burst of generosity if it was cancelled. Rich people like hanging onto money rather than sharing it.
How much did AI pay for this campaign? Too much if it is not going to be used.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Pragmatist that I am, one thing I do not practice or approve of is the "End justifies the means" school of thought. Making images like this which are designed to shock but not based upon reality is not the answer, in my opinion.
AI is not giving people much credit for intelligence if this is the route they choose to make a point.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Definitely a big mistake.
You have to wonder what they were thinking when the money was handed out to the art department.
Clumsy and easy to refute propaganda is usually counter productive to any cause. So I agree the ends do not justify the means.
On the question of why no athletes are boycotting the games. Maybe half their future sponsors would have their manufacturing based in China. A small ineffective gesture that would ruin their careers. Hmmm. I see a moral dilemma crushed at the first hurdle. But that is just me being cynical.