Environmental activists Greenpeace conducted an elaborate online hoax to draw attention to the the oil company Shell’s push to drill in protected Arctic lands. Users were invited to submit suggestions for the “Arctic ready” ad campaign through a mock website designed to look like the company’s.
By GABRIELLE LEVY, UPI.com Published: July 17, 2012 at 12:19
Environmental activist group Greenpeace followed up a fake Shell launch partywith yet another successful viral campaign against the oil giant.
The pranksters set up a website imitating Shell‘s, encouraging people to submit their suggestions for a “crowdsourced ad campaign” promoting drilling in the Arctic.
Greenpeace released a statement taking credit for the campaign.
“With help from the Yes Lab we built a special Arctic Ready website for Shell, which houses our new advertisements, plus a tool for you to create your own,” the statement says. “Take a moment to choose a picture and add your own message – there are some great ones up already. We’ve even built a charming kids’ game – Angry Bergs – to keep the littl’uns happy. Watch the dollars flood in as you protect your oil platform from those pesky natural hazards. Unsinkable.”