How to avoid mosquitos is becoming people’s common concern as dengue and zika fever spread all over the world. And this idea from Thailand, successfully blew up mosquitos by developing a tiny but clever device.
これは、おもちゃを通じて障害を持つ子供たちに自尊心を持ってもらおうと活動している民間団体「Toy Like Me」の問いかけに答えたものだそうで、記事には「世界的おもちゃメーカーとして、(世界に1億5千万人いるといわれる)障害を持つ子供たちの存在をポジティブに商品へ反映させることが大事だと考えた」という趣旨のコメントが記されています。
On January 27, Lego posted on their fansite that they would release their first wheelchair-using minifigure this summer. They decided to take this step to comply with a request from a social online campaign group, “Toy Like Me”.
In addition to this Lego’s case, it is now becoming this year’s trend for toy manufacturers to bring diversity into their products, aiming sound growth of self-confidence in children’s mind. Have a look at the case of Barbie dolls below.
Talking of Barbie dolls, I strongly recommend that you also check the instagram account “hijarbie”. You will see hundreds of exotic pictures of Barbie with a hijab on her head. This “Muslim Barbie” was created by a Nigerian medical scientist, Haneefa Adam and she wants to correct “some misconceptions” about Muslim women in the world, by showing an attractive side of Hijab.
Playing with toys gives a lot of viewpoints about the world to children. I’d love to welcome these toy makers' efforts to bring diversity into their product lineup.
This is a smart idea from Brazil. They’ve created a new and intriguing channel for a blood donation in one of the most wasteful scenes of our life, a queue. This idea can be adapted anywhere in the world. Very effective and practical, isn’t it?
This is a controversial campaign from Australia's New South Wales government. They created an original character named “Stoner Sloth” to show the terrible consequences which drug abuse brings to teenagers' body and mind. However, young people just made a joke of this strange creature and as a result, it went viral without conveying the real intention of the advertiser. As long as it succeeds to go viral, is everything OK? I don't think so.
In Japan, there is a type of crime called “It’s me” fraud (“Ore-ore” fraud in Japanese). This fraud takes advantage of the lack of communication among parents and their children. The criminals pretend to be their children, and make a phone call to ask for money from “their” parents. This is an online movie by the Japanese government, aiming to diminish this crime – by targeting children of their parents.
<オレオレ詐欺を防ぐのは、オレだ。 It’s me who prevent “It’s me” fraud.>
Son: Mom, I’ve warned you! I told you to watch out for a call from somebody, who pretends to be me. Why did you give him money? …Hey mom, are you still there?
Mom: Sorry... Maybe, I got too old. I just wanted to help you.
Copy:Why didn’t I call her more often.
Copy:It’s me who prevent “It’s me” fraud.
Son: Hi, mom. How are you?
Copy:Your everyday-call prevents“It's me” fraud.
Copy : The number of victims of “It’s me ” fraud keeps increasing. Call 188 when your family is in trouble.
Happy new year! As the first article in 2016, I feature the social campaign from Australia, which makes people understand the severe symptoms of multiple sclerosis, which are hard to imagine for general public. Please watch the casefilm of this clever campaign.