PSA Gets Men to Look at Prostitution Differently

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Here's a look at prostitution from a male perspective. It's quite interesting. The whole prostitution thing when viewed from the eyes of men as the John is sometimes quite glamorous. Imagery of hot, young women in tight mini dresses at one's beck and call to server one's every sexual whim. But when that viewpoint comes from a man as prostitute, the viewpoint is very different. Not all paying "johns" are hot, young women in tight mini dresses. Far from it. Man or woman, Johns are just regular people and regular people are from from the seemingly glamorous fantasy.

But the message in this PSA from the European Women's Lobby which is aimed at men isn't to call attention to the fact not everyone is hot. It's to make men aware of the fact prostitutes are likely disgusted by you, would never have anything to do with you if you weren't paying and wished you'd understand the harm you're doing when you hire a prostitute.

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by Steve Hall    Dec- 6-11    
Topic: Cause



If You Sleep With Your Baby You Could Kill It

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Well here's a pleasant one as we ease our way back into the work week. A new Serve Marketing-created campaign from the City of Milwaukee Health Department would like people to know it's dangerous to sleep with your baby. The campaign, which uses the imagery of a baby sleeping with a knife, urges parents to make sure their baby sleeps on its back in a crib and offers a number to call if the parent can't afford a crib. See the second ad here.

by Steve Hall    Nov-14-11    
Topic: Cause, Outdoor



Meth Project Gets Graphic With Darren Aronofsky

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OK. So here we go again. Wasn't it determined that scare tactics don't work when it comes to getting kids to stop drinking, stop doing drugs and to not text while driving? If that's the case The Meth Project hasn't been informed. An tandem with Darren Aronofsky, Organic and Wild Plum, four new commercials continue down the "hard-hitting" road to getting people's brains off drugs.

We're not claiming the four scenarios we see in this campaign. Don't happen. They do. Far more often than anyone would like. But hasn't it been determined that all these scare tactics get is a "well that would never happen to me" response? As always, we could be wrong.

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by Steve Hall    Nov- 8-11    
Topic: Cause



Pereira & O'Dell Raise Money For Cancer With Pod Movember

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San Francisco-based Pereira & O'Dell is showing its support for the fight against cancer with Pod Movember, a fund raising project that reaches out to the entire ad community to help raise funds for the cause. Head over to their Movember site, check out some of the mustachioed Pereira & O'Dell employees and donate to the Movember cause. Really. You'll feel much better after you do.

by Steve Hall    Nov- 4-11    
Topic: Agencies, Cause



Laura Vandervoort the Latest Nude PETA Celebrity

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Are you a fan of Smallville? Or V? Or just love any chance you can get to stare at Laura Vandervoort? Well, now you can stare more as PETA, otherwise known as celebrity porn for a cause, is out with a new animal rights ad. In the ad, Vandervoort is naked and painted to look like a reptile. The ad's tagline asks, "Whose Skin Are You In?" Of course, the ad is aimed at urging people to "leave wildlife out of your wardrobe."

In a short PSA, Vandervoort says, "I want to make people aware that if you want a high end python bag or crocodile... Three or four alligators have to die for each purse. It's just ridiculous. A lot of people think that reptiles don't feel, but they do."

And she should know. She played one on TV.

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by Steve Hall    Oct-24-11    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Celebrity



OccupyWallStreet's Crowdsourced Commercial Spews Same Old Rhetoric

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Occupy Wall Street has been getting a lot of press. Now it's trying to get its message out to more people with a commercial it's purchasing through Google TV with crowdsourced funds through LoudSauce. There's zero said in this commercial that hasn't already been said a million times before in a million other cause-related political commercials. Basically, the message is the same. Everyone wants more for less. Tax the the rich. Free health care for all. No wars. Blah, blah, blah.

Hey, it's a noble cause and maybe the work will result in actual change. But call us jaded. We aren't buying it. As long as there's money to be made, those making it will bend every last rule to make more no matter who it hurts. It's really that simple.

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by Steve Hall    Oct-21-11    
Topic: Cause



Publishers Clearing House Taps Facebook Fans For Charity

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Today Publishers Clearing House launched a social charity program on Facebook called The Give Back which lets PCH Facebook fans vote for the charity they would like to see the company award $25,000. Second and third place charities will receive $2,500 each and, to encourage participation, one Facebook fan will receive a $5,000 prize.

The Give Back program is a two stage process. In the first stage, fans will vote on ten different causes, including Fight Disease, Save the Environment, Protect the Animals, Help the Homeless, Develop Communities, Improve Education, Enrich the Arts, Promote Sports, Provide Disaster Relief and Support the Troops. This stage will last approximately two weeks. The three causes with the most votes will move on to the next rounds.

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by Steve Hall    Oct-19-11    
Topic: Cause, Social



Let's Not Do Lunch. Let's Feed Starving Africans

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Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners has launched a social media fund raising effort called Let's Not Do Lunch which aims to capture money otherwise spent on lunch. The effort hopes to raise £1 million for famine relief in East Africa.

The Let's Not Do Lunch campaign is one of an intended 50 technology-based solutions that agency Made By Many is crowd-sourcing from agencies around the world with the goal of launching 50 projects in 50 days to raise funds for famine relief. The 50/50 project has nearly 40 global initiatives and launched October 17, World Hunger Day.

Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners Director of Strategy and Innovation Ed Cotton said, "Our idea was to create a social movement behind famine relief by tapping into social experiences we all enjoy, many of which are built around sharing a meal with a friend, colleague, business associate, even family. Through our Facebook application, 'Let's Not Do Lunch,' we are leveraging the social experience into a social action that can be shared and activated through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels."

So, people, don't eat lunch today. Donate to the cause. You'll feel good. Trust us. You will.

by Steve Hall    Oct-19-11    
Topic: Cause, Social



Mullen, Boston Restaurants Use Social Media For Famine Cause

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In support of UNICEF relief efforts for the famine in East Africa, Boston's Mullen has announced the Good Belly Project, a social media-powered fundraising partnership with 17 Boston restaurants and their customers. For each Instagram photograph taken of food or drink at participating Good Belly establishments, the tagged restaurant will donate $1 to the Good Belly Project and to UNICEF's East Africa relief efforts. The Good Belly Project kicks off on World Food Day, Sunday, October 16 and runs through November 6.

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by Steve Hall    Oct-18-11    
Topic: Cause



Miss America, LeBron James Help Kids Stay in School

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The U.S. Army and the Ad Council, with pro bono help from Publicis New York, have launched a new series of TV, radio, print, outdoor and Web PSAs aimed at helping kids stay in school. The PSAs direct friends, parents and adults who know at-risk students, ages 9-17, to www.BoostUp.org. On the site, visitors can learn about the dropout issue and state-by-state dropout statistics, hear from real students about the challenges they face to graduation, and find connections to ways to get involved directly with students or support classroom projects in their communities.

Also launching today is Boost Nation, a microsite developed in collaboration with the 26 Seconds BMOR campaign that will facilitate the creation and sharing of video and written messages for students to view and see that people all across the country do care that they stay in school and graduate. LeBron James and Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan are among the first to share their video messages of support on Boost Nation.

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by Steve Hall    Oct-18-11    
Topic: Cause