Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Be a man. Do the right thing.

One thing that I've noticed here in Uganda is the number of "educational" billboards that they have here. Everything from safe sex campaigns ("HIV stops with me!") to fidelity campaigns ("you can be a reliable partner!") to anti-violence ("it's time to grow up!"). All these can be seen along the roadsides, right beside the ones advertising for this and that ("buy 2 for 1!").

On the one hand, it's good that they have such campaigns in a country where these are all-too-real problems. On the other, I'm having trouble seeing how effective billboards can be, really. I'm skeptical when it comes to the influencing power of sex life advice from this kind of media.

Call me a cynic, but I simply can't imagine this being much more life-altering than, say, online petitions against racism.

4 comments:

  1. It ain't hurting and it may increase awareness. This is typical for a poor country, we have the same in the Phils. You see somehow the billboards and the commercials creep into our psyches, and it may reach those who are not aware.

    I learned that pineapples have phytochemicals, DHA is apparently present in infant formula( Bad! PRO BREASTMILK!) bisolvon kills phlegm before it kills you....ligation is family planning lol...condoms have pores (catholic propaganda) The are all sorts of propaganda, I like those that are honest, positive and informative.

    HIV starts with me =P kidding

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  2. haha i like the title you gave this post

    they totally should put that on billboards round the world

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  3. Did you catch the reference? :)

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  4. Not all countries have managed to reduce the HIV-prevalence from above 20% to below 7% in about 15 years...

    Their campaigns might have worked better than many assume...

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