George,

I just wanted to write to say what a sad waste of time and energy the supposed campaign to end "cynical" blood-donation ads is. The alleged "cynicism" is simply the accurate portrayal of the extremely difficult time anyone in the world has in attempting to preserve the planet for future generations by attempting to wield influence over, and probably decrease the profits of, some of the most powerful organizations on the planet, namely, extremely wealthy companies who churn out pollution and have plenty of money to bribe politicians to ignore the problem. In a political situation where "environmentalism," the view that humanity should work to avoid poisoning and destroying its own environment, is not considered a major issue for debate, and is often associated with small unconvential political groups such as the Green Party and people derided as the "loony leftists," it is indeed unlikely that the protesters depicted in the "offending" ads would have any of their intended impact. From a certain point of view, giving blood is something which will satisfy such idealistic people as the ones depicted in the ads (and the ones the ads are presumably targeting) as having a positive effect no matter what the political climate, thus being a much easier way to do good in the world.

Cutting these ads will not make people feel more optimistic about environmentalism as the complainer implies, and if it has any effect (which is unlikely) it will simply slightly reduce the number of people who give blood. An accurate depiction of unpleasant realities is to me a welcome change in the usually vomitiously saccharine images and ideas used in mass marketing, and I am considering writing the advertisers to compliment them on their original ads.

Brendan Ferreri-Hanberry (electronic mail, September 12, 2005)