There's a right way and a wrong way...

[caddyman]

Now not everyone is entirely convinced about the need to cut carbon emissions, or that global warming is happening, or if it is than humanity bears some of the blame for it. There are arguments in either direction, some better than others. I know that many of my friends are convinced and wish to do something about it including pressing home the message. That's not a bad thing by any means; you believe something needs to be changed you should absolutely say so and try and help make the difference. This is true in just about any field, I guess.

But there are right ways and wrong ways of doing something. The worst kind of encouragement is exclusive (crikey, I am beginning to sound a bit 'Right On' here) and antagonistic. It doesn't actually tell you a great deal, assumes certain things are 'facts', but doesn't persuade and dumbs down the argument to no argument at all.

So, the 10:10 Project, eh? Where do they stand? What is their view, persuasive or antagonistic? Does their message have merit - should we cut carbon emissions by 10% at a time?

Without judging the actual argument one way or the other, take a look at this promotional video they put together, issued and then withdrew. Presumably at great expense.

There's a right way and a wrong way.... I seriously need a WTF? icon for this sort of post...

Comments

[irdm.livejournal.com]

I did laugh rather.
I think I see their point but.... perhaps it was just a little PSYCHONAZI! in its final edit?

[petrusplancius.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised they withdrew it, I've rarely seen such an inept propaganda film; I first came across it posted elsewhere with the comment, doesn't it just make you want to go of and start an oil compnay. Maybe the trouble was that, once they had invented their splatterer, they couldn't resist the temptation to use it again and again.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

ooookaaay...that was a bit nuts.

Having said that, I wouldn't mind one of those button doohickeys...for entirely different reasons.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Two questions:

10:10 is, according to their own wbsite:

About us
Who is running 1010?

10:10 is an independent organisation founded by film director Franny Armstrong, staffed by a small team based in Camden Town, London, and backed by a range of organisations including Comic Relief, ActionAid, the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust.

a) what has this video got to do with the civil service - ie why is it our fault and b) if it was our fault, how does selling the message in this way help, when clearly it doesn't?

[fencingsculptor.livejournal.com]

I don't like that video.

[suitandtieguy.livejournal.com]

this is disgusting.

[ladkyis.livejournal.com]

I didn't watch it. I asked Mr M and he said NO! because he doesn't like being kept awake by me running away from a video induced nightmare.

[ed-fortune.livejournal.com]

Clever. So they made a disturbing video, that some will watch and some won't, (and some will be told not to, and will watch anyway). Then they withdraw it, wiping their hands clean of controversy but it's still available.

So it's the advertising equivalent of 'one for flinching' then? The tactics of a bully, maybe, but an interesting campaign none the less.