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AARC Memo 1 - Radioshack

We are pleased to announce that the Animals in Advertising Royalty Concern protest organization has successfully mailed a notice of the wrongful use of an animals image in advertising to the Radioshack Corporation for their abuse of both the grizzly bear and bald eagle.

The final paragraph from the memo sums up the position of AARC

Beyond the factual and ecological errors in these advertisements it is the overwhelming sense of sadness that is evoked by these images that forms the basis for AARC's action. We as humans have so completely and irrevocably altered the world in which we live that the existence of the grizzly bear and bald eagle is dependent on the power of our collective conscience to stay the hand of unbridled growth. By no means are we required by the law of humans to honor the beauty and individuality of all life, but we are given a choice to do so. AARC deeply hopes Radioshack has the courage to make the right decision and give the grizzly bear and bald eagle the respect and freedom they deserve. (For full text of letter click here)

AARC is calling for Radioshack to accept their corporate responsibility and donate an appropriate amount to two non-profits who are dedicated to the preservation and conservation of these two animals.

A.A.R.C.

HODGES & CO. DESIGN
in association with
Greenishbrown Productions
and
Be Now Here Concepts

PRESENTS...

The Formation of a New Organization:

The Animals in Advertising Royalties Concern (A.A.R.C.)

AARC's mission is to ensure that when a for-profit corporation uses a photographic image or illustrated likeness of a currently extant animal (excluding Homo sapiens) for purposes of advertising, entertainment, or any other activity by which said corporation can be reasonably expected to benefit, either through financial gain or brand identification, the corporation is responsible for paying due royalties to the animal.

AARC will accomplish this mission through a four step process:
1. Identifying ad campaigns that use animals.
2. Calculating royalty rates based on total expenditures for the ad campaign and estimated increase in revenue due to the ad campaign in which the animal was used.
3. Identifying non-profit and private conservation organizations that work to restore, protect, or study the animals featured in the ad campaign.
4. Directly contacting said corporations through publicly available communiques that detail their financial obligation to the animal used in their ad campaign and an appropriate organization to whom they can remit the funds.




For example, the infamous Geico Gecko is a wildly successful ad campaign. Geico has even used the computer generated gecko to promote wildlife conservation efforts and sponsor a travelling gecko exhibit aimed at educating school children about the importance of wildlife conservation. These efforts are commendable yet are thinly veiled ad campaigns aimed at increasing the popularity and recognition of the Geico brand. Their responsibility to the gecko is greater. I suggest a yearly donation of $500,000 to Project Gecko, a non-profit organization with a proven track record of effectively protecting the world's most endangered gecko species.

Other obvious examples of corporations that will be receiving communiques include Coca-Cola for their use of the polar bear


Kellog's use of the tiger to sell breakfast cereal


and the Lunesta moth.


AARC believes in the fair and just treatment of all life and that the exploitation of animals in advertising without due compensation is ethically unjustifiable.

This is of course a large task and the AARC is currently looking for volunteers and interns to assist with the four step process outlined above. AARC does not expect or receive any financial gain from addressing this issue and we are therefore unable to pay our assistants. We are also currently investigating the feasibility of developing a sister organization, PARC (Plants in Advertising Royalty Concern).

If you have noticed any ad campaigns using an animal please contact n.hodges@gmail.com immediately.