(IN): Animal welfare board growls at Vodafone pug advert

[Guest guest]

The advertisement (in news below) meanwhile continues to broadcast on

National Television even as this news is posted on AAPN.

Indian television networks specially the ones such as Discovery Networks and

AXN Tv are still carrying out unobjected broadcasts of Travel shows which

promote the consumption of exotic South Asian animal dishes to Bull fights.

One can understand that such shows may not be an issue to be talked about in

many countries where the animal protection laws are not stringent.

But the same can be a punishable offense back here in India.

 

AAPN members can recall that one of the recent issue of animals in

advertising was the 'Alpenliebe' candy advertisemt from Perfetti

International where a Bollywood superstar was shown feeding candies to a

captive crocodile in a zoo and then the croc follows her getting addicted to

that candy.

On complaints by a lot of people including me, this is what the Advertising

Council had to say:

 

 

*Ref: Our e-mail of 4/10/07*

* *

 

*A similar complaint received against the same TVC under reference was

considered by the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) at their last meeting

(26/9/07), at which time the CCC viewed the TVC.*

 

* *

 

*As per their decision, the complaint was Upheld as the advertisement

contravened Chapter III.4 of the Code. The CCC concluded that the visual

depiction of " a visitor feeding a crocodile in a zoo " , was in apparent

violation of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The advertisement was in

breach of the law. *

 

* *

 

*We had requested the Advertiser to withdraw the said advertisement, to

which, we have now received their assurance that the TVC has been modified

appropriately. *

 

*On this basis we will treat this matter as closed.*

 

* *

 

*Thank you for having referred this complaint to us.*

 

* *

 

*Assuring you of our services in the pursuit of Self-Regulation in

Advertising.

*

 

* *

 

* *

 

*Alan Collaco*

 

*Secretary General*

 

*A S C I*

 

 

___________

 

 

For those who want to write on watching any objectionable form of animal

abuse or any advertisement/ shows which may or are causing harm to the

wellbeing of animals, can do so by contacting the following.

 

 

Secretary/ Chairperson,

 

Animal Welfare Board of India.

 

Chennai, INDIA

 

email: secretary.awbi, awbi

 

and/ or

 

Alan Collaco

 

Secretary General

 

Advertising Standards Council of India (A S C I)

 

219, Bombay Market,

78 Tardeo Road,

Mumbai 400 034

Tel: (022) 23521066/23516863,

Fax: 23516863,

E-mail: asci

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

 

__

Link:

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/animal-welfare-board-growls-at-vodafone-pug-advert/6\

4351-3.html

Animal welfare board growls at Vodafone pug

advert**<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/agency/IANS/>

*IANS* <http://www.ibnlive.com/news/agency/IANS/>*

*

 

*Chennai:* The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has accused telecom

service provider Vodafone of indulging in cruelty to animals and issued a

legal notice to the company and to Bangalore-based Nirvana Films, makers of

an advertisement that shows a pug running after a school bus.

 

In its notice sent April 25, Chennai headquartered AWBI said: " The pet dog

was made to run, gallop and chase the school van for a long time on a public

road. Thereby, the dog was made to undergo severe pain and suffering due to

the exhaustion caused by chasing (the bus). "

 

AWBI lawyer S.R. Sundaram said: " The final film should strictly follow the

script submitted at the time of pre-shoot permission for the animal

performances. It is also directed that the performing animals should not be

subjected to any cruelty, failing which the AWBI will initiate legal

proceedings under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. "

 

Nirvana Film's counsel Balshankar Menon had March 29 submitted an

application seeking the AWBI's approval of the advertisement, saying that

the male pug called Rocky was Vodafone's brand icon.

 

Menon said the film was shot in South Africa and Nirvana submitted a

" post-shoot fitness certificate duly signed by the veterinary doctor " while

appliying for the no-objection certificate.

<http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/64320/glamour-bazaar-promo.html>

 

AWBI has, however, told Nirvana Films and Vodafone that it has been

" illegally " telecasting the advertisement for the last two weeks as AWBI's

Film Screening Committee has found the portion of the advertisment in which

the pug runs behind the bus ojectionable.

 

The AWBI has ordered Nirvana Films and Vodafone to remove that part of the

advertisement.

 

The legal notice states: " The third sequence in the ad film titled 'Vodafone

Customer Service', which depicts and picturises the pug holding the grey

stripped school tie in its mouth and speedily chasing behind the school van

is objected to by the Film Screening Committee, which has taken a decision

to direct you to delete and remove portion/sequence of picturisation in your

ad film....

 

" Accordingly, you are hereby instructed and informed to delete/remove the

above said objectionable portion/sequence forthwith and send the revised VCD

for consideration by the Film Screening Committee of the AWBI.

 

" It has been brought to the notice of the Film Screening Committee that your

ad film has been already telecast and continuously being telecasted for the

past two weeks and such a telecast is illegal, and flagrant violation since

the above said ad film is yet to be accorded permission/

approval/clearance, " it added.

 

 

--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Today there is article published in DNA Mumbai edition on this issue.

I gave my radio interview on Red FM today with RJ Malishka.

 

Regards,

 

 

Nilesh Bhanage

*: +91-251-2625059

*: nileshbhanage <nileshbhanage

*: www.asbindia.com <http://www.asbindia.com/>

Cell : +91 9820161114

" Hands that help are holier than lips that pray. "

 

AZAM SIDDIQUI [azam24x7]

Friday, May 02, 2008 10:46 AM

aapn

Cc: Animal welfare; secretary.awbi

(IN): Animal welfare board growls at Vodafone pug advert

 

The advertisement (in news below) meanwhile continues to broadcast on

National Television even as this news is posted on AAPN.

Indian television networks specially the ones such as Discovery Networks

and

AXN Tv are still carrying out unobjected broadcasts of Travel shows

which

promote the consumption of exotic South Asian animal dishes to Bull

fights.

One can understand that such shows may not be an issue to be talked

about in

many countries where the animal protection laws are not stringent.

But the same can be a punishable offense back here in India.

 

AAPN members can recall that one of the recent issue of animals in

advertising was the 'Alpenliebe' candy advertisemt from Perfetti

International where a Bollywood superstar was shown feeding candies to a

captive crocodile in a zoo and then the croc follows her getting

addicted to

that candy.

On complaints by a lot of people including me, this is what the

Advertising

Council had to say:

 

*Ref: Our e-mail of 4/10/07*

* *

 

*A similar complaint received against the same TVC under reference was

considered by the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) at their last

meeting

(26/9/07), at which time the CCC viewed the TVC.*

 

* *

 

*As per their decision, the complaint was Upheld as the advertisement

contravened Chapter III.4 of the Code. The CCC concluded that the visual

depiction of " a visitor feeding a crocodile in a zoo " , was in apparent

violation of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The advertisement was in

breach of the law. *

 

* *

 

*We had requested the Advertiser to withdraw the said advertisement, to

which, we have now received their assurance that the TVC has been

modified

appropriately. *

 

*On this basis we will treat this matter as closed.*

 

* *

 

*Thank you for having referred this complaint to us.*

 

* *

 

*Assuring you of our services in the pursuit of Self-Regulation in

Advertising.

*

 

* *

 

* *

 

*Alan Collaco*

 

*Secretary General*

 

*A S C I*

 

________

 

For those who want to write on watching any objectionable form of animal

abuse or any advertisement/ shows which may or are causing harm to the

wellbeing of animals, can do so by contacting the following.

 

Secretary/ Chairperson,

 

Animal Welfare Board of India.

 

Chennai, INDIA

 

email: secretary.awbi <secretary.awbi%40gmail.com> ,

awbi <awbi%40md3.vsnl.net.in>

 

and/ or

 

Alan Collaco

 

Secretary General

 

Advertising Standards Council of India (A S C I)

 

219, Bombay Market,

78 Tardeo Road,

Mumbai 400 034

Tel: (022) 23521066/23516863,

Fax: 23516863,

E-mail: asci <asci%40vsnl.com>

 

Thanks,

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

__

Link:

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/animal-welfare-board-growls-at-vodafone-pug-

advert/64351-3.html

<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/animal-welfare-board-growls-at-vodafone-pug

-advert/64351-3.html>

Animal welfare board growls at Vodafone pug

advert**<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/agency/IANS/

<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/agency/IANS/> >

*IANS* <http://www.ibnlive.com/news/agency/IANS/

<http://www.ibnlive.com/news/agency/IANS/> >*

*

 

*Chennai:* The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has accused telecom

service provider Vodafone of indulging in cruelty to animals and issued

a

legal notice to the company and to Bangalore-based Nirvana Films, makers

of

an advertisement that shows a pug running after a school bus.

 

In its notice sent April 25, Chennai headquartered AWBI said: " The pet

dog

was made to run, gallop and chase the school van for a long time on a

public

road. Thereby, the dog was made to undergo severe pain and suffering due

to

the exhaustion caused by chasing (the bus). "

 

AWBI lawyer S.R. Sundaram said: " The final film should strictly follow

the

script submitted at the time of pre-shoot permission for the animal

performances. It is also directed that the performing animals should not

be

subjected to any cruelty, failing which the AWBI will initiate legal

proceedings under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. "

 

Nirvana Film's counsel Balshankar Menon had March 29 submitted an

application seeking the AWBI's approval of the advertisement, saying

that

the male pug called Rocky was Vodafone's brand icon.

 

Menon said the film was shot in South Africa and Nirvana submitted a

" post-shoot fitness certificate duly signed by the veterinary doctor "

while

appliying for the no-objection certificate.

<http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/64320/glamour-bazaar-promo.html

<http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/64320/glamour-bazaar-promo.html> >

 

AWBI has, however, told Nirvana Films and Vodafone that it has been

" illegally " telecasting the advertisement for the last two weeks as

AWBI's

Film Screening Committee has found the portion of the advertisment in

which

the pug runs behind the bus ojectionable.

 

The AWBI has ordered Nirvana Films and Vodafone to remove that part of

the

advertisement.

 

The legal notice states: " The third sequence in the ad film titled

'Vodafone

Customer Service', which depicts and picturises the pug holding the grey

stripped school tie in its mouth and speedily chasing behind the school

van

is objected to by the Film Screening Committee, which has taken a

decision

to direct you to delete and remove portion/sequence of picturisation in

your

ad film....

 

" Accordingly, you are hereby instructed and informed to delete/remove

the

above said objectionable portion/sequence forthwith and send the revised

VCD

for consideration by the Film Screening Committee of the AWBI.

 

" It has been brought to the notice of the Film Screening Committee that

your

ad film has been already telecast and continuously being telecasted for

the

past two weeks and such a telecast is illegal, and flagrant violation

since

the above said ad film is yet to be accorded permission/

approval/clearance, " it added.

 

--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com <http://www.stopelephantpolo.com>