The serious business of international development - a gimmick - surely not.
A story this week got me thinking, and if I'm honest, worrying about the future of the MDGs and the millions relying on them too:
...How is the UAE--which lays claim to nearly the highest rate of carbon emissions per capita in the world--trying to attract tourists? By opening a theme park with a global warming gimmick, of course...
[Read more on that story here.]
It's bad enough last week's summit barely got noticed by the media, isn't it? We don't need these kind of stunts do we?
Or perhaps that is what it has come to. Perhaps novelty value (like the stunt mentioned in Luan's post) is all that will get development stories into the paper. Either that or the public tiring of celebrity faff - leaving space for real news - but I don't see that happening anytime soon, do you?
Very good post, Lara.
What has a development worker or journalist resort to in order to raise awareness and attract attention?
Gimmicks and BTL campaigns may in fact turn out to be awareness-raising tools of the future but to me they belong to the world of consumerism as they play with emotions, which result in sporadic, one-time help. If they have to be used on a larger scale, it would be a sign that humanity is very spoiled…
I think that Ice Land Water Park is just for fun. Leaders from MDG do not visit this place. :/
I think I’ve seen it all now
Hope things are well with you Lara. Did you get your article about that faithful dinner with shared in KL published?
Just saw this story on 10:10’s latest bid to get the world to notice climate change and act on it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2010/sep/30/10-10-no-pressure-film, definitely a departure from their habitually calm approach. Maybe Franny Armstrong is right, time is running out, and if this is what it takes to get people’s attention, then so be it. I think I’m having a change of heart…
@Clare, how are you doing? just waiting to hear back from the editor!
I’ve embedded the 10:10 video into the post for those who would like to wash out. Be warned, it’s quite gorey!
Great thanks Lara. Pop me a mail when it’s in print, I’d love to see it.