Sea Shepherd, a global NGO focused on conservation of marine wildlife, is using depictions of tortured animals to raise awareness of the impact of plastic debris. A simple plastic bag seems harmless, but it can represent extreme suffering – and even death – for thousands of animals in the oceans. Two key images show a turtle and a seal suffocating, their heads trapped in plastic bags. The caption: “The plastic you use once tortures the oceans forever.” In Portuguese: “O plástico que você usa uma vez tortura o oceano para sempre”. The ads show seals and turtles in extreme agony after coming in contact with plastics from items used in our daily lives and generally discarded without any special care. In addition to the print and posters, social media and digital media pieces have been developed, and further information about the negative impact of plastics in the oceans is available at www.seashepherd.org. The online content also highlights tips to reduce the use of plastic on a daily basis.

Today, honouring those affected by the shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, we feature two NZ works of art that express the concern and support being shown across the world. Invercargill cartoonist Shaun Yeo has picked up international coverage for his cartoon of a weeping kiwi, in response to the horrific shootings of worshippers in two Christchurch mosques on Friday, March 2019. The kiwi, set against a black background is given just the date of the tragedy. 15-3-19. The image, shared on Yeo’s Twitter page, has been shared on social media across the world as people come to terms with New Zealand’s experience of terrorism. Wellington artist Ruby Jones also has provided one of the iconic images at the heart of international responses to the grief experienced by the New Zealand community. Two women, one visibly identifying as Muslim, hug together. “This is your home and you should have been safe here”, words by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The image, shared on Jones’ instagram page, has appeared online as well as on messages left in the public physical displays of support in Christchurch.

Shutterstock is encouraging photographers to contribute photographs that defy traditional stereotypes, particularly in the high-end stock photography site Shutterstock Offset. The company is promoting the new diversity offerings with a print advertising campaign featuring photographs that challenge expectations around parenting, domestic duty, sexuality and athleticism. As the Buenos Aires agency Mercado McCann explains, “All stereotypes start with a search. At Offset we created a new category to be more representative in the world we live in. Inclusion also starts with a search.”

Westpac, a major banking organisation in Australia, is running an advertising campaign focused on support provided for Australians going through separation and divorce. Continuing the bank’s theme of help in in pivotal life moments, the campaign centres on a young boy, his mum and his dad, as they adjust to life living in two places. Ari does what he can to bring hope to his mum, finding fairy lights under the house, sorting out the Huntsman spider on the wall, encouraging a swim in the ocean, eyeballing the tradesman and just being there. And then it’s Dad’s turn. The commercial is filmed around Kiama and Sydney, NSW, and set to the 1977 Fleetwood Mac track, “Landslide”, performed by Australian singer/songwriter Conrad Sewell.

McDonalds in France is promoting McDelivery, a service introduced in 2017, with a print advertising campaign featuring impressionist photographs of Paris in the rain. Four photographs by Roberto Badin provide the sense of looking out a window at four Parisian streetscapes. This series of visuals depicts buildings and stormy skies seen through windows soaked in the rain – giving a pictorial aspect to the composition. TBWA\Paris, the agency behind the campaign, explain that potential customers are being presented with the idea that when it rains, there is nothing like staying at home and getting a McDonald’s delivery. However, spare a thought for the delivery team on days like this!