JONES AND ANNAN FOR CANNES
KofiAnnan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, President of theGlobal Humanitarian Forum and David Jones, Global CEO of HavasWorldwide, CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide and co-founder of One YoungWorld, hold a crisis debate hosted by Hervé de Clerck (pictured left),Dream Leader, ACT Responsible & Founder of AdForum, at the 56thCannes International Advertising Festival on the human face of climatechange and the role that only the creative community can play inchanging Climate Change to Climate Justice.
In June 2008, ACT Responsiblestarted working for Annan’s Global Humanitarian Forum and togetherwith David Jones (pictured right), created a dedicated communicationsteam working for Kofi Annan to raise awareness of human consequences ofclimate change all over the world. Annan, working in closeco-operation with all the major non-governmental organisations (NGOs)in the framework of the Global Campaign for Climate Action will call onthe Cannes Lions worldwide audience to support this work.
“We hope to involve millions of people in a global movement for a fair resolution to the climate crisis” said de Clerck.
“Thisis vital because political leaders will stand up and act only if theyfeel there is strong public support” said Annan.
“Thefundamental word is actually ‘movement’ rather than a ‘campaign’.Because a campaign is something that you watch, whereas a movement issomething that you join and are a part of” said Jones.
29 Comments
That’s two climate-change keynotes in three years.
Personally, I reckon the ad community should be more concerned about the increasing likelihood of the US economy going into almost total meltdown in 2009 and 2010. Not recession… not depression… the underlying debt levels are so astronomical, that we could well be about to witness the most rapid economic descent in modern history.
Rampant commercialism fueled by cheap carbon-based energy leads to debt crisis which leads to rapid shrinking of global economy which leads to less use of fossil fuels, which leads to problem of climate change going away.
Funny how most systems are, in the end, self-regulating.
Personally, I’d rather listen to someone teaching me how I can do better work. I get enough carbon talk from Penny Wong and Earth Hour. Hey, wait a minute, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t all Cannes delegates wear green ribbons to denote they’re really, really, really concerned about global warming whilst they’re listening to Goodby talk about advertising? You are still allowed to talk about advertising at Cannes aren’t you?
How bout we make everyone swim there instead of our former UN private jet.
I think the cannes organisers need to figure out the world is changing, and it’s not such a good look for agency people to spend a week over there self-indulgently listening to Kofi Anan talk about climate change.
The whole festival is about excess, excess and more excess. The registration fee is a freaking rip-off, accommodation costs are stupidly high, and if you don’t live down the road, it ain’t cheap to fly there either.
I reckon it’d make more sense for the organisers to publicly state they’re cutting the registration costs by 10%, and don’t bother flying out a UN figurehead for our gratification.
I mean, fuck me, clients are on our hammers about adding value and justifying our fees. Going to Cannes makes sense for a lot of reasons, but for shit’s sake the organisers could make it a little easier for us to justify the expense if they realised it isn’t 2007 anymore.
Note to 8:50,
There’s absolutely nothing stopping you from moving your assets to China or India and out of the US economy.
Well, unless you work for a multinational with predominantly US lead agency heads dependent on the automotive industry. Then you’re fuck and learn to grow your own veggies.
Kthnxbai
Ad guy – Hey Mr.CEO, can I please go to Cannes?
Ad boss – Why?
Ad guy – So i can help Kofi Annan reduce global carbon emmissions.
Ad boss – How about helping the clients who pay your wages.
Boutrous Boutrous Gali
There is a very interesting question in all of this. Was the momentum being built up around green issues of late the result of a prolonged economic boom? I’m not saying they aren’t important. Not at all. It’s just that the moment times get tough, issues like the environment, work-life balance and so on recede hastily into the background. It’s true whether you are talking about corporations or individuals. Putting bread on the table comes first. Polar ice caps – sadly – come second. Are we as an industry pushing yesterday’s trendy issue? It would have been far more pertinent to our clients to be showcasing speakers that are all about profit, profit, profit. That would have demonstrated our relevance.
Well, seeing as China is basically one giant manufacturing plant for the U.S., the Chinese economy isn’t going to hold up too well if the US economy goes belly-up.
Domestic demand in China isn’t anywhere near strong enough to finance the sort of growth figures everyone wants. There’s a reason why Australian resources stocks took a hammering this week – China needs a lot less steel and coal. Why? Because the US needs a lot less goods manufactured from those raw materials.
2008 GDP figures (in $USmillion)
USA 14,320,000
China 4,800,000
India 1,200,000
In other words, if you think the rest of the world can insulate itself from a US meltdown, you’re absolutely kidding yourself.
Sorry for the topic hijack, but seriously find it hard to believe the advertising industry is going to be lectured on global warming by an ex UN functionary. Cannes = out of touch in a major way.
much smaller than I thought, I must say…
Cann’t
seriously, whilst the intention is worthy and perhaps fruitful, right now, right here, what a load of old toss. Have you lost your perspective CB?
This blog gets sadder by the minute. Really wish the brighter lot that I am familiar with were on here commenting.
This is pretty simple. Kofi Annan wants to make a difference. Going to the place where he can speak to the world leaders of ad agencies, media companies, and PR companies etc… is the best way to amplify his message. End of story.
For anyone who has ACTUALLY been to Cannes you would know it’s a lot more than an award show. It’s a media and communications frenzy. Why do you think Al Gore went? Let’s not be so narrow minded shall we?
Just what we need. Genuinely great and inspiring world leaders convincing us what we do is genuinely great.
Sorry Kofi, but last time I checked, 2/3rds of Aboriginals are still reliant on handouts or live below the poverty line.
I’ll probably be going but I won’t waste my time going to see Kofi bang on. He made no difference to the UN coz it’s still a fucken lame, ineffective joke so what difference does he think he’ll make to climate change. I’d rather listen to a 3hr speech from Stephen Hawking. Now he’d be interesting.
Pot calling the kettle….mmm better stop there.
Last time I checked under Kofi’s time, the U.S. didn’t do squat about climate change and are still yet to sign Kyoto. (sure it’s old now, but that’s not the point.)
I guess it’s good to see the calibre of speakers wanting to go increasing and outside of admen. There’s nothing worse than going to a show / weekend / conference and only seeing admen.
What a bunch of negative pricks. Yeah so the economy is in the shit. It’s a temporary problem that is being made worse by negativity and uncertainty.
How about a bit of perspective? From what I can tell, this is about the human consequences of climate change – how millions of people will be completely fucked by this long term problem. Doesn’t really compare to getting retrenched.
Kofi is clearly a great man and rather than whinging and whining, if you get to hear him speak, you should count yourself lucky.
9.16am, you say that Kofi Annan wants to make a difference. I say he’s doing what he needs to do in order to continue to be a ‘man of influence’. That’s his gig – that’s how he earns his money. As others have pointed out, he achieved two-tenths of fuck all as head of the UN, because he’s nothing more than a well paid career diplomat.
And yeah, I’ve been to Cannes more than once. And I can tell you right now that when guys like Gore and Annan turn up, it’s nothing more than a big fat wank designed to add a little prestige to an industry that can’t quite come to grips with the fact that it sells stuff for a living. When Gore and Annan roll into town, the motorcade that ferries them to the Palais makes everyone feel all goosebumpy… almost like they’re involved in something of global significance.
Oh, and keynote speakers like Annan are paid for by the delegates and entrants (ie, us). Or do you suppose he’s paying his own way?
Charging us to fly out a superannuated diplomat who’s going to crap on about an issue he hopes will keep him relevant… oh yes. That’s just what the advertising industry needs right now.
Putting bread on the table is the most important thing. And everyone on this blog can put bread on the table. So now do something for others. Regardless of what happens to the economy- we’ll all still be able to eat. And drink. Stop sitting back and knocking down anything worthy. The only thing thing that ain’t worthy is the economy. And if you think it’s the end of the world you’re either really stupid or a planner (oops – tautology). You’re not really a creative.
Want to know what Kofi thinks? Google it. Cheaper. And no jets spewing out black balloons.
10:50 – Arguably the most ignorant comment thus far in 2009. There are many people, creative or otherwise, now struggling thanks to retrenchments. It is also likely that there will be more to follow. I am not suggesting that Cannes speakers need to be about the financial crisis (I think Kofi will be very interesting, albeit a reprise of what everyone has heard before), but your dismissal of the current situation is just plain stupid.
If you were older than 21 and not living at home with Mum and Dad, you’d possibly understand this.
This is great. I can finally talk to him about my Lipton’s tea idea, where we get Kofi Annan to say he prefers tea. Get it? Kofi likes tea!!
You can take that straight to the bank, Senator.
I don’t think there is any doubt that things are warming up, as they do and don’t over any period of time.
We are in an interstitial ice age period, although whether we are before the half-way point (in which case things will get warmer), at it (stasis) , or after (cover up) is up for discussion.
In any case, the assumption that it is a) Our Fault and b)we can do something about it seems a tad egotistic. Look at even recent history in the past few thousand years. Look at the ice ages (which we are in). Look back to Holocene, Pleiocene etc etc. Even better, look this stuff up.
Even if you disagree, flying people to a chat in Cannes would seem to be less than helpful.
The ego maniacs who blog here are hysterical. Experts in international politics, economics, geology, meterology……they know everything! C’mon you self indulgent prats, go back to the brochure writing.
Well 9.01, at least brochure writing is writing, unlike your arrogant scribblings.
9:01 Kofi is a non-event who achieved diddly twat at the UN. I dont think a guest spot at Cannes is gonna make him anymore relevant.
“U.N.-appointed panel investigating corruption in prewar Iraq’s oil-for-food program delivered a scathing rebuke of Secretary General Kofi Annan’s management of the largest U.N. humanitarian aid operation and concluded that Kojo Annan took advantage of his father’s position to profit from the system.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR2005090701646.html
Hey 6:57, whilst all the other serious insects on the blog ignored your Kofi likes Tea idea, I thought it was a cracker…hey, wait a minute…cracker…I know, let’s get Robbie Coltrane (Cracker) to front a campaign for, say, Ryvita.
Cracker likes Ryvita! Now there’s an idea.
Why do so many people on here mention brochure or DM writing?
I’ve never had to do any of that shit in my life, I thought they got design agencies or crappy BTL places to do that.
Oh…. sorry…. just clicked. *p-ching*
Guess I won’t be seeing you cats at Cannes.