SCP Image: Silence Is The Enemy Of Human Rights

Amnesty International opened a brutal cinema campaign targeting political complacency today in Wellington’s Embassy Theatre. The catch-line is: “Speak up – Silence is the enemy of Human Rights.”

In Auckland, the cinema advertisement – filmed by filmaker Gregor Nicholas - will screen with Eyes Wide Shut. In Wellington it will precede screenings of Run Lola Run.

The ad opens with a few seconds taken from a Monty Python film. A man then appears to stumble onto stage and the screen ‘behind’ him fades to black. He entreats viewers to take a more active and critical political stance. In the theatre, someone is waving around one of those annoying laser pointers. It dances around the screen before settling on the speaker’s forehead. He is then executed. As blood oozes from his body, Amnesty International’s message rolls across the screen.

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9908/man.JPG– Scoop apologises for the picture quality.

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9908/words.JPG– Scoop apologises for the picture quality.

The campaign comes after nine mock ‘disappearings’, staged in popular Wellington restaurants over the last 10 days. In each case, seemingly innocent diners were singled out by intruders, dragged from their tables and removed from the restaurant. Other diners challenged the performers on only two occasions. It is this complacency the new campaign intends to highlight.

Amnesty’s Ced Simpson said, “While New Zealand has a good human rights record, that doesn’t mean we can be complacent about human rights abuses elsewhere.” This campaign represents the first of a series of awareness raising events. A large, red target sticker will promote the idea that we should never take our rights for granted.

The campaign which also includes a radio spot has been supported by a number of organisations including Saatchi & Saatchi, Network Communications, Flying Fish Productions, Media Entertainment Group and CommArts.

See also the New Zealand Amnesty International Web Site: www.amnesty.org.nz

0800 AMNESTY (0800 266 3789)

ENDS

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