Flemish Liberation Army Against Freedom
This year again, it’s an army of supposed terrorists that warn the Dutch people for the dangers of their traditional New Years Eve fireworks. The L.A.A.F. army now joined forces with neighbouring Belgium, since they provide the Dutch with illegal fireworks. Enough ingredients for a controversial campaign.
If it is not the Taliban alike actors that makes the campaign controversial, the associating with Belgium is. This country recently received serious terrorist threats and arrested 14 ready to attack Al Qaida members. So it’s no surprise that during the shoot the actors and crew got arrested while driving in full gear near the NAVO headquarters.
Nonetheless the campaign received very positive comments and got featured on several leading Dutch news an entertainment shows, as well as over 200.000 online video views in just one week. Last year’s campaign received a golden SpinAward (Dutch creativity awards) for best online campaign.
Campaign by Selmore, production by Comrad, seeding by Pool.
I am all about keeping people safe, and especially for keeping fireworks out of the hands of people who don’t know how to use them, but is this the way to do it? I found this ad completely offensive and think it could seriously work against all of the awareness efforts currently underway to help us better understand Islam. Associating Belgium with Islamic terrorists isn’t funny, it just spreads misconception.
You’re completely not getting the point.
In Holland, people get all of their illegal (and very dangerous) fireworks in Belgium.
Seeing as young people and males bet. 15-30 mostly buy it, it’s very effective to reach them this way.
To be honest Justine, i find your reaction kind of offensive. The latest I heard is that there’s still free speech in the western world and that we are blessed with a sense of humor that is not present in some other parts of the world. You don’t have to find these videos funny, but if you’re missing the irony and in fact the whole point (as Suzanne pointed out), then that says a lot more about yourself than the initial video…