Environmental Advertising: A Paradox or Something Real?

Being an advertising major forces me to exist in this limbo world where neither advertisers or environmentalist take me very seriously.

Not looking for a pity party with that statement, those two groups generally just don't mix.  Advertising is usually unethical and used to push a society of materialism that destroys conservation efforts.  You can't be good at advertising if you can't influence buyers.

And yet, I've stuck to my major mainly because of the idea that social change needs advertising to rally individuals around a cause.  I sell the idea and the future that can be attain through these causes.  But is this an actual thing or do I just tell myself this to sleep at night?

Enter Conservation International and their new "Nature is Speaking" campaign.

I hope by now you have been exposed to at least one of these videos.  If not I'm going to force you to at least sit through a couple.  Observe below:

Just watch them all, I know you want to.

Anyways, though these videos have amazing talent and beautiful cinematography, does it actually incite behavior and consumers?

I personally like the relentless tone that "nature" has taken.  We see Mother Nature always as this kind and giving woman, but actually by killing nature, we are killing ourselves.  This is voiced in each video and if anything, is the voice that environmentalists have wanted environmental ads to adopt years ago.

Some issues that might arise from these videos.

1) They don't give any sort of idea on how to help, which might cause individuals to feel helpless (however once they go to the actual website they can see just how Conservation International is working to save the earth)

2) Historically, it is incredibly hard to reach climate-deniers.  This campaign is targeted to bridge that disconnect and prove to individuals how dependent we are on nature, however threatening them with extinction might not be seen as credible by these people.

And though these issues might have some weight, I'm just proud to see an agency go beyond the "polar bears are cute" tactic when it comes to environmental causes.  I also like that it's not necessarily saying, "take care of the earth because it is fragile." Instead, "take care of the earth because it gives you so much you ungrateful human!"

What are your thoughts on these videos humans?  Do you care? Want to visit the website?  And if you are really smart, how would you advertise environmental causes to deniers?