After a very long hiatus, it’s nice to return and see some fantastic ads coming out.

We’ve all been very aware of the visual concept of ice shrinking beneath polar bears—in fact, it’s been done so much, many of us are probably beginning to show signs of immunity to the imagery (which, while sad, is how our brains work).

The issue is still very real.

The WWF and BBDO have launched the interactive website allforbear.com, which features a game “fully-optimized for sharing on social media”. The concept is very simple. For each “click”, water is turned to ice—giving the bear something to stand on. Each click holds a very real value in the real world: with every share, money is donated and awareness is raised. According to the WWF, donations support coastal monitoring, anti-poaching activities, and Arctic environmental projects.

A standing ovation for DDB, very well done!

Save Palawan

A bit of background: Last year, environmentalist Dr. Gerardo "Doc Gerry" Ortega was gunned down for his heroic stance against the exploitation and destruction of Palawan, one of the most breathtaking tropical islands on the planet. Located off the coast of the Philippines,  Palawan is a mecca for marine life. Over 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs teeming with abundant fish and crustacean populations support a broader network of turtles, dugongs, cetaceans--all currently threatened by the government's proposed mining operation. The "Say No to Mining in Palawan" campaign was launched in his memory.


Agency: DM9JaymeSyfu, Manila, Philippines

Client: Say No to Mining in Palawan

Art Direction: I think this is a great concept. No matter what language you speak, the message is clear and heartbreaking. This is a fantastic illustration of the detrimental effects of mining. 5/5


Issues like this don't get a whole lot of press, and strong advertising can cross the barriers of language, politics and social standing. One good image can ignite the fires of action.

Sign the petition. Save Palawan.

The Sea Will Give Back To Us

Client: The Surfrider Foundation
Agency: Klem Euro RSCG, Casablanca, Morocco

Art Direction: This is kind of an awkward execution of a tired concept. I can completely sympathize with the designers, however, ocean pollution is a really overdone topic and it's hard to come up with new ways to illustrate the problem creatively. Having said that, it is the job of creatives to come up with new ways to express concepts, no matter how popular they are. We'll give it a 3/5.

Copy: "La Mer Nous La Rendra" roughly means "The Sea Will Give Back To Us", which is a very ominous tagline. Well done! 4/5.

Plastastic

Client: WWF

Agency: BBDO

Plastic and its affect on the oceans has just about been done to death, but hey, what's one more campaign? 

Art Direction: This is a pretty cool concept, and beautifully executed. It looks just like Avatar--which kind of defeats the purpose. They make plastic look magical and really attractive. Whoops.  4/5

Ye Olde Swimsuit Calendar: The Remix

Agency: Y&R
Client: Surfrider Foundation

In order to bring attention to the oil spill problem, Y&R France has brought us a seemingly tireless marketing ploy: The Swimsuit Calendar.

The catch?

"That's no moon."

What look like swimsuits are actually intricate mini oil spills. Pretty neat.

Art Direction: I'll be honest, I'm not a fan. For three reasons:

              One: The swimsuit calendar is old. Who even uses calendars anymore anyway?! Unless you're Sports Illustrated, and have a magazine, this seems silly.

              Two: This makes oil look attractive. It communicates: "Apparently oil spills are bad...but they look AWESOME here! SPILL MORE!" However, it also can communicate: "Hey--want to see them naked? Oil spills are totally blocking you right now. Clean up the ocean to see boobs." Which brings me to my next point...

             Three: As a woman, I'm pretty darn tired of seeing this used to sell things. Next?  2/5

Copy: Unless they're counting the names of the months, there isn't much here. 0/5

Try again, Y&R.

Protecting Dugongs

Agency: TBWA South Africa
Client: Endangered Wildlife Trust

You are looking at every Dugong left in African waters.

Extensive trawling and habitat destruction off the coast of the Bazaruto Archipelago are destroying seagrass meadows, the dugong's main food source. Already, 60% of the area's seagrass meadows have been depleted.

Stand up against trawling and destructive fishing techniques.


Art Direction: Unlike the previous post, this is an example of a piece driven entirely by a simple, powerful piece of copy. While the idea is very simple, it's effective and really makes you investigate further. 4/5

Copy: There's nothing quite so powerful as a simple statement of fact: especially if that fact is terrifying. This is a great example of no-frills writing. Kudos! 5/5

Time is Running Out

Agency: Scholz & Friends

Client: Bund

Art Direction: I don’t even know where to begin—this is such a stellar concept. This is truly top-notch design and execution. It’s violent without being absurd or offensive, and still communicates the danger and peril this animal is facing, and the potential permanent damage we’re doing. As my bff Karly (EcoDiva) says, “Dude. 5 minutes to midnight” (If you’ve never seen/read Watchmen, get off your computer and go buy it. Download it. Whatever you have to do). This ad does a great job connecting you to the problem at hand. This is one ad you’re guaranteed to feel for a long time. In terms of design, whoever did the graphics for this piece needs an award. Seriously. I don’t know who you are, but you have talent in spades.

Rating: 5/5

Copywriting: This is one of those wonderful rare pieces where the copy isn’t even really necessary—that’s how powerful the imagery is. However, for the dull tools in the shed, the apt, “Every 60 seconds a species dies out. Each minute counts, each donation helps.” However, the copy compliments the piece wonderfully, and really—what copy could outshine the concept?! I mean really. Can’t be done.

Rating: 5/5

WTG, Bund.

As one of the many predators in the ocean, seals, sea lions and walruses (or pinnipeds, as they’re known in the science world) are one of the most threatened species who receive some of the least amounts of attention. Of the 33 species of pinnipeds, the IUCN has listed five as endangered

Threats pinnipeds face:

            *Habitat destruction: Many pinnipeds are found in the Arctic: where melting ice and increased co2 levels are threatening their survival.

            *Pollution: (Did you know? Sea lions used to live abundantly in the Hudson river. Thanks to pollution, they don’t anymore).

            *The fur trade: Seals are slaughtered in Greenland, Namibia, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Britain, Finland, South Africa, the U.S. and Canada. I’ll be honest, the PETA crowd is a big turn-off to me. They’re a little extreme in all the wrong ways—they’re not helping the cause. Dumping paint on fur, demonizing anybody who enjoys a hamburger, etc. is just bogus to me. However, they’re one of the top enemies of the harvesting of seals—they gave seals a voice, and for that I’m grateful, and I’m sure the seals are as well. Thanks to organizations like PETA, we see just how the fur trade affects seal populations:

How to help:

            Avoid these products and brands:

      Omega-3 Fatty Acid Tablets: Terra Nova, Canomega, and Omegavite.

      Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Birger Christensen, New Vogue, and Vogue Furriers, and Pajar.

            

            Live in Canada? Participate in the Canadian Seafood Boycott.

            Minimize your carbon footprint and your plastic usage. Calculate your footprint. EcoDiva has great tips on how to minimize your footprint without minimizing your lifestyle.