michaelh@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Michael A. Hoffhines) (12/14/90)
Below I have enclosed the text of a letter we sent to Anheiser-Busch's PR firm Fleischman-Hilliard in LA voicing our concerns about a recent Michelob Dry advertisement in which yuppie divers in Mexico are shown swimming with and videotaping Humpback whales. In the US, such behavior constitutes harassment and in Hawai'i, at least, you would likely be arrested for undertaking such activities - maximum fine $US25,000. When I spoke with Mr. Oswald, director of F-H, he said that they had not received any complaints RE this TV ad. If you have seen the ad and feel similarly, please take your concerns to Mr. Oswald at the address below. John Oswald c/o Fleischman-Hilliard 515 South Flower Street Los Angeles, CA 90071 Also, I would be interested in hearing from those of you that have seen the ad, so that I can get an idea of how widely-distributed the ad has been to date. The last time I saw the ad was during Monday Night Football, so I know that it has received at least US distribution. How about it, any Aussies seen this ad down under? Thanks in advance, Mike. P.S. Yes, I realize that this probably belongs in talk.environment or some such, but our site is not a fan of USENET (having already pulled alt.sex.* and alt.drugs.* without debate) and we do not _yet_ have talk.environment. Your indulgence is greatly appreciated. For this reason, I have directed followups to sci.bio. Our letter follows: Dear Mr. Oswald: We are writing to you to express our concern about a Michelob Dry television advertisement featuring Humpback whales. The commercial shows a number of people diving with and videotaping Humbacks, including a cow and her calf. As whale researchers, all of us were pleasantly surprised that you chose to feature Humpback whales in one of your commercials. It is unfortunate, however, that the advertisement depicts the Humpback whale as a plaything for thrill-seeking divers. Humpback whales are an endangered species and as such are protected from harassment under the Endangered Species and the Marine Mammal Protection Acts in addition to state and local regulations. The manner in which the divers in your advertisement are portrayed approaching these animals constitutes harassment and gives your viewers an incorrect picture of what is appropriate and/or legal behavior around these animals. It may well be that the advertisement was taped outside of the waters of the United States or even that the advertisement is a composite of videotapes. In either case, our concern at this time lies with the impression given by the commercial to its viewers and not with the illegalities, if any, relating to obtaining the footage for the commercial in the first place. Many of us have worked for passage of legislation to prohibit just the sort of activity that your commercial presents to consumers. Two years ago, off the island of Mau'i, an Austrian tourist was arrested and fined for harassment of Humpback whales. We fear that your advertisement suggests that such behavior is permissible and may well lead to increases in Humpback whale harassment. In light of Anheiser-Busch's recent acquisition of a number of marine parks featuring cetaceans as a public attraction, AnheiserPBusch has taken on a responsibility to educate the public about cetaceans and our interactions with them. Clearly, this advertisement works against such an end. Lastly, of course, we ask that you pull this ad from all markets. Christine Gabriele David Helweg Michael Hoffhines Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory University of Hawai'i