Archive for June, 2007
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
Two years ago I posted on the results of an investigation into a complaint of vilification against Muslims in Australia: Vilification Sentencing in Melbourne Reveals Need for Humility. Two years later the parties to the case, the Islamic Council of Victoria Inc., Catch The Fire Ministries Inc., Daniel Nalliah and Daniel Scot, have released a joint statement…
The Islamic Council of Victoria (the ICV) has reached an agreement with Catch the Fire Ministries, Pastor Daniel Scot and Pastor Daniel Nalliah about the complaint the ICV brought in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), concerning what it alleged were acts of religious vilification in contravention of s 8 of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 (Vic).
Although some of the terms of that agreement are confidential, the parties have agreed to make this joint public statement.
Notwithstanding their differing views about the merits of the complaint made by the ICV, each of the ICV, Catch The Fire Ministries, Pastor Scot and Pastor Nalliah affirm and recognise the following:
1) the dignity and worth of every human being, irrespective of their religious faith, or the absence of religious faith;
2) the rights of each other, their communities, and all persons, to adhere to and express their own religious beliefs and to conduct their lives consistently with those beliefs;
3) the rights of each other, their communities and all persons, within the limits provided for by law, to robustly debate religion, including the right to criticise the religious belief of another, in a free, open and democratic society;
4) the value of friendship, respect and co-operation between Christians, Muslims and all people of other faiths; and
5) the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act forms part of the law of Victoria to which the rights referred to in paragraph 3 above are subject.
Posted in Australia, Reconciliation, Spirituality | No Comments »
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
Victory Family Church in Decatur, Texas, has hit the news with a billboard with the words, “I Hate Victory Family Church’, Satan”. The church is lapping up the publicity, enjoying the rise in hits to its web site, www.victoryfamilychurch.net.
Associate pastor Chris Bates said the web site has had more than 1,100 hits since the billboard went up. “That’s huge for a small church like us,” he said. Bates said his church isn’t done yet; the next billboard will read, “Victory Family Church stole my kids - Satan.” “It’s a different take on the God sign,” he said. “We just wanted something that didn’t look churchy.”
USA-wide church network Lifechurch TV runs satanhateslife.com, a web site associated with a billboard campaign for Billboards include the words, “I was robbed at lifechurch.tv”, “Lifechurch.tv is killing me”, and “Lifechurch.tv sucks”.
Cedarcreek, Ohio, one of those churches, provides the explanation:
“Satan wants people to be stuck in a meaningless, frustrated whirlwind with no apparent way out. But he knows better. He knows there is a way out and it’s found in a relationship with God, not in a religion. God is willing to forgive and forget your mistakes. Satan wants you to remain in a guilt-ridden state of mind and will constantly remind you of your miserable performance in life. Don’t fall for Satan’s tricks to get you to give up on and hate life. He hates life and hates you. God loves life and loves YOU! To find out more about God’s love, forgiveness and purpose click here.”
So what do you think? Is this an example of a church network with a sense of humour? Is it likely to get people thinking? I guess it depends on whether people believe in the existence of Satan or not. They do risk encouraging a polarisation in their community, unwittingly (or maybe consciously) inviting persecution and resentment.
How about the explanation of the gospel? Framing good news in the context of Satan’s hold on people is an approach used since the church first began - the Christus Victor approach. However the way this is written comes across like a political dirt campaign. It’s not convincing and paints the advertisers as people who believe in two choices - God or Satan. It assumes a common understanding of Satan.
For other perspectives see Friendly Atheists and Marketing The Church.
Posted in Advertising, Spirituality, Theology | No Comments »
Saturday, June 23rd, 2007
ASB’s campaign to launch pago in New Zealand has received a number of top-ranking awards in Cannes this last week.
The pago campaign has received five honours at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival including a Grand Prix. The Festival is regarded as the most preeminent international advertising festival, this year attracting 25,000 entries received from 80 countries. pago was awarded a Media Grand Prix in the ‘Financial Products & Services’ category; a Bronze Media Lion in the ‘Best Use of Ambient Media: Small Scale’ category; another Bronze Media Lion in the ‘Use of Mixed Media’ category; a Bronze Direct Lion in the ‘Alternative Media’ category for the pago Money Sticker; and a Promo Lion in the ‘Best Integrated Promotional Campaign’ category. The campaign is also shortlisted in the Titanium and Integrated Lions awards.
“We are absolutely rapt”, says Peter Muggleston, Group Manager ASB Online & Info Services, ASB. “This is a massive achievement for our campaign and it’s fantastic to be recognised on the global stage.”
The most striking feature of the “Money Goes Digital” campaign was tiny ads stuck on genuine banknotes as peel-off stickers. The NZ$5 note was stickered and seeded into circulation at the Big Day Out and key youth retailers. Using hypertag and bluetooth technology festival punters could download free money vouchers to their mobile phone. The stickers were attached with permission from the New Zealand Reserve Bank and Sir Edmund Hillary, the NZ icon whose face is on the five dollar note.
The campaign team commissioned NZ artist Maurice Bennett to create a mural at Britomart, the Auckland Central train station, using 30,000 Post-It notes to represent a pixilated five dollar banknote. Commuters were able to help themselves to the post-it notes. Bennett is known as the ‘Toastman’ for his ambient art using pieces of toast.
Launched in New Zealand in November 2006, pago is a new payment service, allowing money to be sent from one person to another using their mobile phones or email. The pago service is available to people with a mobile phone or e-mail address who also have a New Zealand bank account which is accessible online.
The pago campaign was developed at TBWA/Whybin, Auckland, by executive creative director Andy Blood, art director Karen Maurice-O’Leary, copywriter Verity Butt, group account director Sarah Goldring, account manager Tracey Hazelwood.
See my post on the Whybin TBWA award-winning All Blacks Bonded By Blood campaign at Duncan’s Print.
The Whybin/TBWA team, in their submission to Cannes, describe the ASB project as beginning with a dream brief. ASB demanded and (research supported) non-conventional advertising. The prospect target was defined as ‘Digital Natives’ - a tech savvy youth audience. Although highly cynical of conventional marketing messages, they are captivated by innovation and digital development. The strategy was to capture attention through new technology and media innovation reflective of the Pago brand. The media solution discovers new touch points and embodies genuine media innovation.
The team at OMD New Zealand, responsible for media buying, included business director Rebecca Houston, media planner/buyer, Will Douglas and media buyer Chloe Hardy.
Posted in Advertising, New Zealand | 1 Comment »
