VW Pisses Off BUND for Failing to Disclose Fuel Efficiency

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Treehugger sent us news that the ad at left, which depicts a Volkswagen Polo Blue Motion chained to a bike rack, violates EU law by failing to disclose fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data.

And it isn't just the one piece. All creative from VW's current campaign, which promotes its "environmentally friendly technology," is being challenged by the Association for Protection of the Environment and Nature of Germany (BUND) as illegal under the above stipulation.

Not to say the VWs aren't actually fuel efficient; apparently, though, you can get your wrist slapped for not making it clear enough. Weird world.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-16-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Cause, Magazine, Strange



Truth Campaign Continues Broadway Musical-Style Idiocy

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It's getting really painful to write about the Truth campaign. It's become so horrifically bad, it makes one want to digitize one's hand, shove it deep inside the internets until it finds the neck of the entity that created this horror show, squeeze really really hard and put the entity out of its misery. You know who you are Arnold and CPB people! Do you seriously believe this stuff is any good? Damn, it makes one wish you'd bring Derek Beckles back!

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by Steve Hall    Jul-10-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Commercials, Worst



Hey, Kids! Fight Smoking with Sampled Beats.

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Fans of the irony-soaked music from the Sunny Side of Truth campaign can now mash them up, courtesy of a new Truth project called "ReMix."

Actual DJs and artists on the spin include Cobra Starship, Diplo, DJ Kaskade, Mix Master MIke and DJ Sega. Users can share tracks via mobile and download a complete album from the link above. So go do that, because you know you love yourself some free shit.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-10-08    
Topic: Cause, Good, Online



Grassvertising at Wimbledon, Green Patriots in Cleveland, SAG Deluges Idaho, Coca-Cola Rents-a-Blog

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- To jazz up its Wimbledon sponsorship, HSBC commissioned two artists to make photographs out of growing grass. Brings a freakish new angle to "watching grass grow."

- Cleveland-based? Go be a patriot. A green patriot.

- Former CEO Carly Fiorina of Hewlett Packard is among the contenders for VP under McCain. George Parker is hella bummed.

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by Angela Natividad    Jul-10-08    
Topic: Cause, Guerilla, Newspaper, Political, Promotions



What's That? It's a Phone Charger, Powered By My Mooooves.

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European mobile carrier Orange has launched a phone charger powered by dance energy.

"The Orange Dance Charge is the result of months of research into alternate, sustainable energy sources to power mobile phones during summer music festivals," says the pressie with a straight face.

The unit was developed with help from GotWind, whose unfortunate name refers to renewable energy research, not the thing that happens when you pull Uncle's finger. The charger's system of weights and magnets provides an electrical current when a person flails about.

Orange Dance Charge was tested at the Glastonbury Festival last month. A promotional Dance Charging Man helped newbs charge phones in exchange for a dance.

Yeah, I've fallen for that one before. Just one dance, baby ... and I'll give you a charge, all right.

by Angela Natividad    Jul- 9-08    
Topic: Cause, Events, Good, Mobile/Wireless, Packaging, Promotions, Strange



2 Clever Ways to Drum Up Empathy for Female Genital Mutilation

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- Hit the honeys where it hurts. Effort by the Association of Women Against Genital Mutilation.

- Stitch up a rosebud. Because where our ladyparts are concerned, we just love ourselves a flower pun. Effort by Amnesty International, variant ad at Copyranter.

Now that you've been primed, here's some reading on female circumcision. (Because while the image of a dirty blade in new panties might make my eyelid twitch, it doesn't really tell the whole story.)

by Angela Natividad    Jul- 9-08    
Topic: Cause, Guerilla, Magazine, Strange



Smooching Hubbies Targeted by Christian Group -- and the Ad Hasn't Even Aired Yet!

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The American Family Association has convinced Heinz to suppress a Deli Mayo ad that hasn't even appeared on American TV.

The spot features a male couple kissing good-bye. And unlike the trashy Snickers kiss ad, which generated national backlash during Super Bowl 2007, it takes a step toward normalizing the gay family:

Morning sun pours through an ordinary kitchen. Two kids dash downstairs to collect lunch from Mom, who turns out to be a man with a deli cap and a deep Brooklyn accent. Dad, a British businessman, yanks on his jacket and prepares to head out the door, when Mom goes "Hey -- aren't you forgettin' somethin'?"

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by Angela Natividad    Jul- 2-08    
Topic: Brands, Cause, Commercials, Television, Worst



Philly Does Single-Stream Recycling. Oh Boy

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Philly's doing this "single-stream recycling" thing, a convenience ploy to make urbanites more earth-friendly.

Single-stream recycling is when you take all recyclable goods and put them in one bin. We've been doing that in Walnut Creek for years. Here's what ends up happening: everyone disregards the rules and starts putting damn-well whatever they please into those bins.

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by Angela Natividad    Jul- 2-08    
Topic: Cause, Online, Outdoor



Rumors of Polar Bears' Deadliness Are Grossly Exaggerated

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The polar bear was recently added to the Department of the Interiors' list of endangered species. In response to this tragedy, National Grid tapped Mullen, who apparently plans to save them by encouraging children to adopt them as pets.

I'm sure Grizzly Man would weep with (either indignation or) longing. Bear envy? Get your own.

Firstborn assisted with the digital components of the campaign.

by Angela Natividad    Jul- 1-08    
Topic: Cause, Commercials, Online, Television



Recycle Right: Start with All Those Hoarded Dreams

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In this charming new spot for its "Save Today, Save Tomorrow" campaign (an unwieldy URL if you ask me), EDF Energy enlisted Miklha Singh, Anne Packer and Sammy Lee to reflect on their Olympic glories, using "recycled" footage of them in their prime.

The ad concludes with a shot of the adorable Lee and the tagline, "This commercial was made from recycled dreams." Better recycled than left broken, I guess.

The spot was created by FEEL Films for Euro RSCG/London. It marks Phase II of EDF's "It's not easy being green" campaign -- another effort that appears to have been shaped in the blistering flames of nostalgia.

I liked it a great deal, even with the epilepsy-inducing London 2012 Olympics logo at the end.

by Angela Natividad    Jun-30-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Commercials, Good, Sponsorship, Television