Well, it's memorable ...

Greenpeace ad on climate change

Posted by JMG (Guest Contributor) at 11:07 AM on 05 Sep 2007

Read more about: Greenpeace | messaging | climate

I have mixed feelings about this powerful ad. I'm curious to know how it strikes others.

For story: Well, it's memorable ...
19 Comments | Post a Comment

Guilt and Fear

I think using guilt and fear plays to our enemies strengths. Don't know if that is always a bad thing. The right wing has flourished turning other peoples strengths against them. But my gut feeling is that this ad is memorable and counterproductive.

by Gar Lipow at 11:30 AM on 05 Sep 2007

Well so no more Johnny jokes?

Here is one lad that won't be paying for my social security!

Wonder if I can purchase an offset by keeping this kid on a bicycle instead of demanding a car from the old man when is 16?

Tragically sad that the kids will be the ones who finally get serious about this after it is too late.

Needs to be broadcast on the evening news along side the Viva Viagra and the heart pill ads.

And here's George Bush's response: Maybe we need to start some Mad Max survival courses in the school curricula. Gotta teach these youngins how to adapt to climate change.

by justlou at 11:35 AM on 05 Sep 2007

Al Gore Linked to Climate Change!

My research has shown a direct linear relationship between the size of Al Gore and the increase in global warming:

1969: Not much warming, not much Al Gore:

http://www.hno.harvard.edu/guide/students/images/yrbook/a ...

1990s: More warming, slightly more Gore:

http://www.redbluesmackdown.com/candidate/image/6/large/a ...

2007: Unpredecented Warming! Unprecendented Gore!

http://thescroogereport.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/al-go ...

We must reduce the size of Al Gore or face the consequences of Global Warming!!!

Texeme.Construct(function(x)=Participation(x))

by jabailo at 11:36 AM on 05 Sep 2007

That's the CREEPIEST....

...kid I have ever seen. I want to pepper-spray the brat, and I agree with him!

Is he actually a vampire, d'you think, or just avoiding all exposure to the carcinogenic rays of the sun?

by eriqa at 11:42 AM on 05 Sep 2007

I pointed to this back in February

Here.

As I said:

Perhaps it's because I'm a parent now, but my impulse watching this, despite my sympathy for the message, is to tell the kid to STFU and go to his room.

grist.org

by David Roberts at 11:49 AM on 05 Sep 2007

Considering it's Greenpeace...

...Greenpeace is really are not so revolutionary, unless you're going to have a program that's revolutionary, the anger doesn't go anywhere. So what does he want "us" to do? Any ideas? The only solution that would go with the monk outfit would be a pretty radical no car/local ag/no coal kind of thing, that ain't Greenpeace's thing. Might have been better as an earth first video.

by Jon Rynn at 11:55 AM on 05 Sep 2007

This is nothing

I think this is nothing compared to the anger that is going to be unleashed, as people start to be affected by climate change.

Many of us at Gristmill are liberals, who are all for worthwhile causes

...as long as they are polite and well-mannered.

...as long as we are not personally affected by them ("Stop flying? Isn't that going a little too far?").

Real political movements for change are powerful and messy.

We are going to be confronted by young people, famine-victims, and flood refuges and they will ask us:

What did you do?

Bart
Energy Bulletin

by Bart Anderson at 12:23 PM on 05 Sep 2007

creeping normalcy

In a couple decades the kid will want all the stuff adults crave now, and more, and not care about who will inherit the problems HE creates. In fact, he will probably view the Earth as normally a bit warmer than his parents experienced. Might even be worried about the ice caps starting to grow again, interfering with the Northern Passage trade route that ensures he has a job, after his wacky parents tried to reduce CO2 emissions rather than buy him a car when he turned 16. He'll be full of hostility, but for all the wrong reasons.

Cynical? Very.

by wiscidea at 12:40 PM on 05 Sep 2007

Great actor

That kid is going places. The ad is technically and artistically strong but the way the message is presented will motivate only the more extreme elements while pissing off or frightening the rest of the bell curve. This ad, with a few modifications, could be used by any number of groups promoting their cause. The extremists are the problem. They fly airplanes into buildings, shoot doctors, arson women's clinics, and leave bombs on animal researchers' door steps.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 12:46 PM on 05 Sep 2007

Mixed feelings

The video gives a creepy sense of brainwashing and exploitation.
Greater anger in public discourse usually reduces our ability to think clearly.
We shouldn't care only about this kid's future, and I think his rather selfish "it's about my future" rings hollow. Rather, we should be concerned about the future of all succeeding generations (with some level of discounting to account for the fact that we might all die off someday).
Raw anger can be a shocking spur to action but it clashes with my vision of the best society, which is peaceful and cooperative. Is it legitimate to use dire means to achieve that vision? That is not a simple question. Is it appropriate to use such means if "gentler" means could achieve the same ends? I think in that case we should err on the side of the less "severe" approach.
I tend to think people who act like this have anger management problems and are simply using "causes" as a convenient outlet for their personal problems. I can't imagine having a productive conversation with this person.
The underlying problems of society (climate change, poverty, malnutrition, etc.) involve a lot of uncertainty about the best solution. It is inappropriate to introduce virulent anger into a situation where the best path is uncertain.
It's certainly memorable.

by mkayser at 12:55 PM on 05 Sep 2007

the other Greenpeace ad

They're running an ad on the tube in Mass right now on the topic of Cape Wind, singling out Kennedy and Congressman Delahunt for opposing it. They sure are spending a lot on videos these days:

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/global-warming-an ...

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,200+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

by Erik Hoffner at 1:03 PM on 05 Sep 2007

looks like an ad to me!

Hey folks, it's advertising! The company behind that kid wants to sell you something. Come get yer global credits and offsets while they're still "hot" and don't forget to join GreenPeace as well!

Discounts may not apply please read the fine print all offers valid until otherwise ratiocinated, only prize winners over the age of 18 are valid, some settling may occur during packaging and transport.

-thams

Onward through the fog

by Sam Wells at 1:10 PM on 05 Sep 2007

Greenpeace ad

Without having read other comments, mine is that this ad is serious, reasonable, to the point. I might tweak one word or another but I think about what the kids will think of what we did. We MUST get SERIOUS and this ad is mild, in my opinion.

Retro

by retro at 3:38 PM on 05 Sep 2007

Cynic? Not at all.

This thought captures the human predicament. We're disposed to think of ourselves first and foremost. The point is, though, that we need to work against our instincts / dispositions.

Retro

by retro at 3:43 PM on 05 Sep 2007
[ Parent ]

I agree with the young person

And judging by the responses both here and on youtube, many adults are totally ripe to be targeted . Too bad the truth hurts.

Would like to see a lot more ads on the same inter-generational theme but reaching out to younger people to mobilize them. If it takes shame, fear and intimidation to get selfish, delusional and pig-headed adults to move so be it.

by RoySV at 4:08 PM on 05 Sep 2007

Wrong tone, but right ethical imperative

To me, it seems likely to be counterproductive. If you make people scared to the point where they become entirely defensive, they no longer listen to you at all.

Still, there may well be ways to use concern for intergenerational justice to spur action in the near term.

a sibilant intake of breath

by sindark at 4:12 PM on 05 Sep 2007

Effective? Yes

Sure, the message was effective - that why somebody paid or donated so much time and video. That's the business of the Green Revolution, which has spawned thousands of clones just like you and me. It is a billion dollar growth industry. Face it, we're "big bidness."

But do you have to take off your pants if you want to whore yourself for the cause? Sure ya do! If you keep sending out Milquetoast messages nobody will think you're sincere. You need the kids, the scary gut feeling, the sense that you really screwed up by not "getting with it."

It's big business, my friends, over a billion in revenue and growing. Maybe it IS time for some real results instead of talk. /sam

Onward through the fog

by Sam Wells at 4:27 PM on 05 Sep 2007

Memorable, and correct

I agree with RoySV. It's easy to dismiss angry people - but have you thought that maybe they're justifiably angry? I can excuse his lack of manners, because I too will be trying to clean up the mess left for me by previous generations.

If your kid left a messy room for you to clean up, you'd be annoyed. Imagine how your kids will feel when they realise you've left them an entire messy planet...

I don't think fear is an effective motivator - but this isn't an ad to motivate people, it's an expression of what a lot of young people are thinking. I doubt it will make anyone buy a different lightbulb, but it might just make people realise the gravity of the situation. If it's followed up with some ads about what political action can be taken, it'd be part of an effective campaign.

---- ---- ---- Go Greener, Australia - you know you want to.

by gogreener at 8:02 PM on 05 Sep 2007

Pointing fingers

I agree with Gar. It's massively counterproductive. If your kid spent every day pulling faces like that (from underneath a hoodie, no less!) and blaming you for how f****d up the world, wouldn't you feel like strangling him?

by plum at 4:24 PM on 06 Sep 2007

ADVERTISING POLICY

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