New Ad Council PSAs Equate Saving Energy to Saving Money

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U.S. Department of Energy and the Ad Council have launched a new education campaign to educate consumers on how to save money on utility bills. The pro bono campaign, created by GSD&M are designed to help consumers save money on their energy bills by doing things such as sealing leaks in their homes and using energy efficient products.

One spot informs viewers wasting energy is like throwing away everything you could have bought with the money you spent on that wasted energy. Another spot points out how traditional light bulbs generate nine times more heat than light - enough, apparently, to cook a chicken.

The campaign directs people to energysavers.gov where information can be found on how to cut energy use.

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by Steve Hall    Jul-19-11    
Topic: Cause



Russian Women Disrobe in Support of Putin Presidency

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Last week, a video was floated to YouTube that hypes an army of Russian women willing to tear off their clothes in support of Vladamir Putin running for the Russian presidency. While Putin, who has already served two terms, hasn't declared he's running, that hasn't stopped these women, referred to as Putin's Army, from asking other women to post their own videos of themselves tearing off their clothes. Reportedly, the best tearing video will win the woman an iPad2. Some reports claim women are also being urged to kill something or someone to win the contest.

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by Steve Hall    Jul-18-11    
Topic: Cause, Political, Racy, Strange



Campaign Offers Children A Voice

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Calling attention to the thoughts, hopes and fears of children, a new billboard campaign in Pittsburgh was launched last week. The campaign, part of the Hear Me project, aims to make children aware of the project and its focus on providing children means of being heard.

Of the campaign, Hear Me Director Heide Waldbaum said, "We listen to what they're talking about. They do have a voice, and they're capable of producing newsworthy content, and we should be listening to them."

The project, part of Carnegie Mellon's CREAT Lab, has 3,000 children participating who have contributed their thoughts to the campaign's billboards, website and Facebook page.

by Steve Hall    Jul-18-11    
Topic: Cause, Outdoor



Hotties Wrapped in Lettuce Serve Hot Dogs For PETA

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As they have in year's past, PETA, again, has dressed a few women in lettuce bikinis and sent them out to do the cause group's bidding. This time, the lettuce bikini-clad ladies handed out vegetarian hot dogs on Capitol Hill Wednesday to celebrate National Veggie Dog Day. Seriously? You have to be kidding. There's a day for hot dogs?

Of the campaign the the apparent hotness of the PETA lettuce ladies, PETA EVP Tracy Reiman said, "Our sexy vegetarians are living proof that kicking the meat habit is a great way to stay fit, trim, and energetic. And since a vegetarian diet also reduces your carbon footprint and saves animals' lives, it's a win-win situation for everyone."

by Steve Hall    Jul-14-11    
Topic: Cause, Racy



Hot Model Takes Piss in Woods

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Model Environment, a new cause group that uses fashion models to call attention to environmental and social causes is out with a new PSA, Helene on Toilet Paper. The PSA which shows model Helene Traasavis running through the woods in search of a toilet aims to urge people to reduce the amount of toilet paper they use.

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by Steve Hall    Jul-13-11    
Topic: Cause, Commercials, Racy



MasterCard's Priceless Theme Used in WikiLeaks Bank Blockage Ad

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Believe what you will about WikiLeaks but this new ad for the site, which riffs on MasterCard's Priceless theme, is quite good. The ad calls attention to the six month old banking blockage against WikiLeaks. One of the banks blocking WikiLeaks is MasterCard.

Give it a watch. We like.

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by Steve Hall    Jun-30-11    
Topic: Cause



Greenpeace Guerrilla Campaign Attacks Volkswagen's Environmental Record

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This morning Greenpeace launched a guerrilla campaign attacking Volkswagen's environmental record. The campaign consisted of banners which were placed on London billboards paid for by other advertisers including Budweiser and Schweppes.

Of the campaign and the Force ad it imitates, Grenpeace's Emma Gibson said, "Volkswagen has spent millions on its new advert, using children and Star Wars iconography to persuade the public that it's a responsible company. It was a stunningly successful advert, so VW can hardly complain if we now turn its own tactics back on the company to shine a light on its poor environmental record."

The billboards feature an image of Darth Vader with the VW logo as the mouth. Copy reads, "Volkswagen. The Dark Side." Activists also dressed as Stormtroopers walked the streets in protest.

The campaign includes an online video which further pokes fun at the brand's Star Wars imagery and its alleged poor environmental performance.

by Steve Hall    Jun-28-11    
Topic: Cause, Guerilla, Outdoor



New Balls Please

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Hey, women's breasts are continuously used as the central object in breast-related cause group advertising including breast cancer awareness so why cant's the testicular cancer folks whip out their balls for their cause?

Well, they have. In tandem with the Wimbledon Championships, Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R has created a tongue in cheek press ad for Cancer Research UK

Launching today, the ad takes a light hearted approach in spirit of the Brits favorite summertime event which aims to prevent men ever needing to ask for 'new balls please' by encouraging them to be aware of symptoms of testicular cancer.

by Steve Hall    Jun-28-11    
Topic: Cause



Cause Group's Cash-Laden Booty Ad Labeled Racist, Sexist

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A recent internet video ad created by Ladd Ehlinger for political action group Turn Right which features plenty of booty dancing and controversial statements has been labelled by some the most racist and sexist ad ever. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a statement condemning the ad which points its sights at Democratic candidate Janice Hahn who is running in a special election for retired California state representative Jane Harman's seat.

The ad, which likens Hahn to a stripper's ass, addresses Hahn's alleged use of government funds to hire former gang members to become gang intervention specialists, part of an effort to reduce crime.

Both Hahn and her Republican opponent have condemned the ad.

Racist? Probably. Sexist? Probably. Just plan bad? Definitely.

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by Steve Hall    Jun-15-11    
Topic: Cause, Political, Racy



The ONE App That Could Change The World

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That's the dream, anyway. ONE.org has launched a free app that enables you to mobilise in an instant to fight disease and extreme poverty, wherever you are and whenever you feel like it.

The technology isn't anything you haven't seen before, but it demonstrates the power we hold in our hands and take for granted.

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by Angela Natividad    Jun- 9-11    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Good, Mobile/Wireless