Manchester condom campaign is simple, silly, sexy — and hopefully effective

Interesting visual campaign from Manchester to remind youth to pick up free condoms before heading out for a night on the town. I couldn’t find better images, so I’ll caption each one below the picture.

“Whatever you do tonight, make sure you’re ready to roll. For free condoms and advice visit...”

The visuals and puns are quite silly, but in the primary research we just finished for a similar campaign in Canada we got the clear message that a little naughty humour is still the best way to reach youth — especially if it is guaranteed to make their parents uncomfortable.

“Whatever you do tonight, make sure everything’s in hand. For free condoms and advice visit...”

See two more after the break.

Great ads for a message I just don’t buy

“What parents may not realize is that children say parental disapproval of underage drinking is the key reason they have chosen not to drink.”

That’s the quote from Charles Curie, former Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) administrator at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which forms the basis for this beautifully conceived and illustrated campaign from Utah. But what does it mean?

According to recent American data, underage alcohol use is down overall, but 63.5 percent of 12th-graders, and 26.9 percent of eighth-graders reported past year use of alcohol in 2011. Binge drinking was reported by 6.4 percent of eighth-graders, 14.7 percent of 10th-graders, and 21.6 percent of 12th-graders. (Marijuana use, however, is rising.)

So the kids who do not choose to drink do so because their parents told them not to. What about the kids who did drink, and whose parents forbade it? Or the ones who drank without having such rules?

While it’s a great idea for parents to talk to kids about alcohol, drugs, sex and other risky behaviours, the cause-and-effect of this campaign’s overly-simplistic message is just not there. There are no comparisons, no control groups… just anecdotes about kids who don’t drink. It’s a combination of the logical errors of confirmation bias and “survivorship” or selection bias.

Let’s face it: This is another abstinence campaign. And as a parent I “just say no” to such unrealistic social marketing.

The ads are still cool, though. See two more after the break.

“Raw-doggin’ it” and other sex ed PSAs in the parlance of our times

I’m never really keen on teens creating their own ads. Not that they don’t have great ideas. They just often lack the discipline and training to bring their ideas to life in a really effective way.

This PSA series, called “More Than Just Sex” is a good example of this. Produced entirely by teens for teens by Community Healthcare Network’s Teens P.A.C.T. program in New York City, what it gets right is speaking in authentic colloquial language like ”Raw doggin’” — slang for unprotected sex.

The Importance of Condoms! from MORE THAN JUST SEX on Vimeo.

Apparently, the organization paid $15,000 for video production “including a professional director and editor”. That’s not much for six video PSAs, and it shows.

Nonetheless, these ads are already too much for some. New York Republican State Senator Marty Golden’s office said the ads “advocates for safe sex in a roundabout way” and “could be hazardous for the youth population of our city and state.” Democratic Assemblyman Rafael Espinal thought they were relevant to his youth constituents but “shouldn’t be accessible to children under 13,” because “the language is too raw.”

I don’t find them “raw” but they are a move in the right direction. Next time, maybe the kids could be mentored better on how to make the best use of their insights.

See four more after the break.

If You See That Double

Seems to be a nice idea:

If you see that double, you know who to contact.
+358 40 848 4000 / help@aafinland.fi / aafinland.fi

But how about the text at the bottom when seeing double?
And what’s up with the link? It isn’t a working domain.

Safety in Numbers with Animal Cops

A new emergency telephone number recently started in the Netherlands: 114.  This number is meant as you witness an animal in need by accident, abuse or neglect. It is like 112, 999 or 911.
”114 144, red een dier” (Call 114 144 and safe an animal).

The idea caused a lot of stir because it came from the Dutch political party PVV, a populist and extreme discriminatory new movement.
Animal rights is also an important topic for them. They call the idea ‘animal cops’.

In this post the introductory campaign to make the Dutch aware about the emergency number.
I read a lot of negative comments today on Twitter. And I agree it’s hard to ignore the political situation in the Netherlands. It is part of the emotion around this campaign.
But when looking at it like a pro, more technical, what do you think? A translation isn’t necessary. The message is brought primarily visual.

Trying to ignore all emotions around the idea is difficult but I think the visual part of the campaign is too technical. Emotions as we used to see in animal rights campaigns are missing.
Others find the morphed animals very creepy.

How To Look Pretty Without Poisoning Yourself

Nice campaign video from the Canadian Environmental Defence, full of humor.
To raise awareness about the toxins in Canadian products, Environmental Defence partnered with creative agency Open to create the 60-second spot “How To Look Pretty Without Poisoning Yourself,” directed by Partners Films’ Aleysa Young, that begins airing nationally today.
The campaign urges the federal government to ban harmful ingredients in cosmetics and to give the Canadian beauty industry a long overdue makeover.

In the ad, a chipper game show contestant must choose a cosmetic product that doesn’t contain toxins and cancer-causing chemicals, a “game” that thousands of Canadian women play on a daily basis whenever they buy make-up or perfume containing harmful substances. Naturally, she loses because flaws in Canadian cosmetic regulations mean that there are undisclosed toxic ingredients in many cosmetic products.

The world loses 1598 astronauts per day

Nice campaign from Brazil about Child Safety.
Accidents are the leading cause of death amongst children and adolescents in Brazil.
Criança Segura (Child Safe) is an organization dedicated to promoting the prevention of accidents involving children between 0 and 14 years.

O mundo perde 1598 astronautas por dia.
90% dos acidentes envolvendo crianças poderiam ser evitados.

The world loses 1598 astronauts per day.
90% of accidents involving children could be avoided.

See the ballerina version after the break.

Flu Wiped Me Out

Beautiful video which reminds me of the award winning video Embrace Life from the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership.

NHS Leeds (UK) has launched a campaign to tell people with long-term health conditions about the importance of getting a free flu jab from their GP.
For the 86,000 people in Leeds who are under 65 and have heart, kidney, liver or neurological problems, immunosuppression, diabetes or chest problems such as asthma and COPD, catching flu could be very serious and can even kill.

Alongside work with GP practices, the issue of reminder letters and the distribution of leaflets and posters, a video has been produced featuring the real story of Kirsty Gamble from Armley in Leeds.

Kirsty has asthma, which means it’s always a bit harder for her to breathe when she gets a cold. But when she got flu last year, it hit her so hard that she was unable to look after her two young children.

The ANTI-DRUG Facebook Timeline!

Anti-drug campaign is the subject of many associations and organizations to announce the fight against addiction. More and more young people fall into addiction and find no way out alone.
Once you are dependent, is the way back to drug-free life very difficult and requires a strong will and strong support. Self-awareness is the strongest prevention. 
The great campaign with innovative use of the Facebook timeline by Mccann Digital, Israel, shows two life paths of the same person, where people can see how the drugs can be extremely addictive, and health- and lifedestroying.
This timeline campaign, Drugs set your timeline made by Mccann Digital for the Israeli Anti Drug Authority, captures the topic of teenager/young people today and uses excellent the tools of the social media.

Vinnie Jones’ hard and fast Hands-only CPR

British actor and retired footballer Vinnie Jones stars in this funny and informative film from the British Heart Foundation. Originally considered a bit of a “hard man” on the playing field, Jones cashed in his sporting reputation on the big screen playing thugs in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.

In this short-film PSA, Jones and two shady-looking characters demonstrate the “hard and fast” version on hands only CPR ("no kissing!") that might break a rib, but could save a life. The Bee Gees provide the soundtrack.

See it after the break.