SYNOPSIS
The spot features four Members of the European Parliament with a secret to confess… they have been exposed to hazardous chemicals. In a dark room filled with the tense atmosphere of a group therapy, we discover the participants sitting gloomily in a circle. One by one, they will confess to the group their apparently harmless deeds such as repainting their house or buying a new carpet… the mystery unfolds only in the final scene when the camera zooms in an empty chair that symbolises the public and a voice announcing the final message can be heard: “You too have a problem. Get harmful chemicals out of your life! Support a strong European chemicals law!” Finally, the last shot shows the WWF and DetoX Campaign logos.
The Members of the European Parliament are, by order of appearance:
- Guido Sacconi (Italy), PSE
- Chris Davies (UK), ALDE
- Riitta Myller (Finland), PSE
- Péter Olajos (Hungary), EPP
DISTRIBUTION
Launched on the 5th of September in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the TV spot will be broadcasted on Euronews, Europe by Satellite (EbS), EUX TV and several national television stations in the EU.A printed advertisement will run during the first week of September in newspapers and magazines such as the European Voice (edition 07/09) andthe European Parliament Magazine (edition 04/09).
An on-line version of the TV spot can be downloaded from
CONTEXT AND AIMS
After three years of debate and negotiation, the proposed new European chemical policy – REACH – is entering its final stage as the Second Reading vote in the European Parliament is expected before the end of the year. WWF has been active on the topic and has tried to improve REACH ever since the Commission first published its proposition for legislation in 2002. The aim of the WWF DetoX Campaign is to raise awareness amongst the public, the media but also the EU politicians about the unique opportunity provided by REACH to bring hazardous man-made chemicals under stricter control to protect wildlife and people effectively.
WHAT WWF WANTS
Man-made chemicals are found in a vast range of consumer products –from furniture, clothing, and toiletries to electrical appliances and cleaning products. And while they have undoubtedly improved the quality of our lives, many persist in the environment and build up in the bodies of people and wildlife. Some can interfere with the hormone systems and the list of chemicals being linked to cancers, allergies and reproductive problems is increasing. As the European Parliament and Council enter the final debate on the proposed new EU chemicals law (REACH), WWF calls on European legislators to adopt the necessary measures to ensure that the new law will:
- Replace hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives whenever they exist.
- Provide sufficient safety information to identify dangerous chemicals and safer alternatives.
3. Ensure that the chemical industry has legal responsibility for the safety of their products.
4. Allow consumers to easily find out what chemicals are in everyday products.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Duration: 40”
Original version in English and subtitled versions available in French, Hungarian, Finnish and Italian.
FILMED IN 16/9. MASTER TAPE IN PAL 4/3 – STEREO A1/A2
Support: available in BETA SP and DVD.
On-line mpg and Windows Media Player versions in various resolutions are also available.
SCRIPT ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION
-Guido Sacconi:
‘My name is Guido. Like you, I’m a Member of the European Parliament and… my body is just full of them.’
-Chris Davies:
‘I’m Chris… and I’m also exposed to them… I eat canned fish!’
-Riitta Myller:
‘Riitta... I couldn’t help it… I just bought a new carpet.’
-Péter Olajos:
‘My name is Péter… I was exposed while repainting my house’
-Voice-over:
‘You too have a problem. Get harmful chemicals out of your life!’
-WWF and DetoX Campaign logo, with web address:
‘Support a strong European chemicals law!’
The creative concept has been produced and developed for WWF by EURO RSCG Warsaw.