World Wildlife Fund has been running damage control since Tuesday in response to an ad and video that was produced by the organization's Brazilian unit that contains messages and images related to the events of 9-11.
The video features two planes hitting the World Trade Towers in New York City. Then text appears that reads "In 2001, one of the worst tragedies in the history of humanity killed 2,619 people." Afterwards, multiple passenger planes strike the city from all directions and the text then reads, with the sound of explosions in the background, "In 2005, the tsunami killed 280,000 people. That's 100 times more deaths. Our planet is brutally powerful. Respect it. Conserve it."
In a statement, Leslie Aun, a spokesperson for WWF wrote, “WWF reiterates our strong condemnation and repudiation of this offensive and tasteless ad and reaffirms that no one in the US organization had any knowledge or any role in the ad’s creation and expresses its regret for any pain it may have caused 9-11 victims and their families."
Marc Morano, editor of Climate Depot, a website that highlights environmental stories around the globe, questioned the environmental angle of the ad. "Setting aside the incredibly tasteless images of the New York City skyline, the ad is completely devoid of a scientific basis. The ad incorrectly implies that humans can somehow control a global thermostat and the frequency and severity of storms. It is a sad reflection of how desperate the promoter of man-made climate fears have become. They have literally reached the bottom," he said.
When the video first surfaced, WWF and the company who created the video, DDB Brasil, based in Brasil, denied that they created it. But representatives of WWF later explained in a statement that the confusion about who approved the ad and video was due to a communication error because the branches of the organization in Brasil and the US work independently.
The Cost of Passing Healthcare bill is too high
Catholic bishops erase progressive Lenten reflections
On Wednesday evening, DDB Brasil posted a statement that was also signed by WWF claiming shared responsibility for the creation and initial approval of the ad:
"WWF Brasil and DDB Brasil would like to jointly express their regret for the unfortunate incident involving the 'Tsunami' ad for World Wildlife Fund Brasil. The ad does not convey either the philosophy of the client or that of its advertising agency. It was created and approved in late 2008, mistakenly, and was solely the result of lack of experience on the part of a few professionals from both parties involved. In no way was it done in bad faith or with disrespect to American suffering. WWF Brasil and DDB Brasil acknowledge that such an ad never should have been made, approved or published. We reiterate our apologies to all those who may have been offended by it. The two entities have worked together for three years to mobilize people, efforts and resources for the good of the environment. A single error should not obscure past successes, nor prevent future ones."
RSS