Interesting Ads

Two interesting ads in the paper today:

The first is to mark World Aids Day, today. Specifically, in France, its the 20ème Journée mondiale de lutte contre le sida.

A bit of translation:

Nou Pli Fo = Nous sommes plus forts (We are stronger)

Doubout Kont le Sida = Debout Contre le Sida (Stand Up Against AIDS)

Ansanm Kont le SIDA = Ensemble contre le SIDA
(Together against AIDS)

Earlier in the week, I saw large posters along the nationale, with just the words Nou Pli Fo, and a large line drawing of a conch shell in black. Quite arresting, a mysterious call to arms (or conchs), evoking stylized Che against the red backdrop.

The imagery is aggressive, perhaps, because AIDS is a real problem in Guadeloupe. According to the article in France-Antilles today, the département of Guadeloupe has the second highest number of AIDS patients undergoing treatment, and AIDS deaths. Prevalence is four times that of France métropole.

The second is an ad for France-Antilles itself. The campaign accompanies the launch of France-Antilles' online content.

The image is almost transparent, but behind the text is a map of France, with dots representing the large cities. Except, the names have been replaced with names of cities in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyane.

A bit of translation:

France-Antilles is online...
And ever since, its crazy how the Antilles influence the métropole.

The ad is a bit of marketing folly. The métropole was not incredibly influenced by the Antilles before France-Antilles went online, and it certainly isn't any more so after. Case in point: There has been a massive strike in Guyane this past week. The roads in Cayenne, the capital of Guyane, and elsewhere had been completely blocked for more than 4 days by strikes and there was no mention of it on the evening national news. It wasn't until the day before officials in Guyane announced the closure of the port (essentially sealing the département) that the strike made evening headlines. Its as if Marseille had been held hostage by the city's population, closing all roads, the port, the airport, and the story doesn't make the evening news. But, as M.'s brother noted, Guyane is far away...