Amnesty International's French and Slovakia's headquarter-commissioned
TBWA advertising agency to create a meaningful anti-human rights abuse
campaign directed at China and the Olympic games. The posters which
intensely positions China's disgraceful human rights abuses juxtaposed
in Olympic events really hits home and communicates a strong message.
But the Cannes Advertising Festival award winner has been branded to
harsh and banned from public display ironically labeled by some Chinese
as 'China Bashing'. The caption says: "After the Olympic Games, the
fight for human rights must go on."
The creative pursuits highlight a major issue that must be raised in the world forum at the current time, but as the band ads state "in the name of ensuring stability and harmony in the country during the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese Government continues to detain and harass political activist, journalist, lawyers and human rights workers." Highlighting the need for freedom of press and speech in the growing super power. But in this day and age one cannot underestimate the power of viral marketing as the advertisements have furiously spread across the internet unfortunately due to China's censorship of it's internet they won't be seen there.
Interestingly the same agencies Chinese headquarters produced an advertisement picturing Chinese athletes being help up by adoring Chinese fans, the irony of the two advertisements gives a good insight into the morality of the capital focused advertising industry. Human rights abuses need to be as big a issue in this Olympics as smog has been No more ruthless executions, repressive governance, violent action and control of content. These ads tackle the issues in full strength and it just shows how easy the western world will buckle under the pressure of an economic giant!
Peace out...