M&C Saatchi campaign gives whales a voice

Hundreds of Australians had their opposition to whaling heard at a crucial International Whaling Commission forum in Morocco on Tuesday in the climax to the ‘Give Whales a Voice’ campaign. The joint partnership with Optus and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) was created by M&C Saatchi. 

It aimed to record every word in the English language (give or take a few) via people visiting www.givewhalesavoice.com.au. Thousands of Australians took the opportunity to record a word that voiced their opposition to whaling. Hundreds of these were stitched together in a stunning audiovisual presentation delivered by WSPA at the IWC meeting. The presentation was the centerpiece of a packed to capacity WSPA press conference at the IWC forum that featured a closing speech by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett who was glowing in his praise for the ‘Give Whales a Voice’ campaign.

“To WSPA and Optus can I congratulate you on engaging with so many people and hearing clearly what they had to say and their views about what we now see happening to our oceans down to the south every year,” Garrett said.

WSPA spokesperson Louise Fitzsimons said years of debate about numbers of whales that can be killed, rather than acknowledgement of the fact that whaling is inherently cruel, have left many people feeling “frustrated and powerless”. The ‘Give Whales a Voice’ campaign was a tangible way people could make a contribution that will actually be heard by the decision-makers, Fitzsimons said.

On the agenda at the IWC meeting is a proposal to legitimise commercial whaling, effectively putting an end to the existing whaling ban. Passionate animal welfare campaigner Sami Lukis is the ambassador for the ‘Give Whales a Voice’ campaign and was present in Morocco to help make WSPA’s presentation.

Luca Ionescu and Rich Ellis from Like Minded Productions donated their time to put together the ‘Give Whales a Voice’ presentation to the IWC.