What is this?
Posted by adiamondinsunlight on March 19, 2009
I noticed this advertisement yesterday:
What is it? The title looks to me like the English expression “Actions speak louder than words”, although here it is “Numbers are deeper than talk”.
The flags represent Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Egypt, and Bahrain. Jordan is not included, and neither is Syria. Next to each flag is a dollar amount, running from $734 million by KSA to $3 million for Bahrain, and a description of what the money was used for: housing units, development, and aid work.
I’m guessing that these numbers have something to do with the Palestinians. But I’m only guessing, because this advertisement is woefully short on information. It is “signed” by “the Lebanese”, but there is no suggestion of where to go to find out more (a website, a phone number, a hint of any kind …?).
Do any of you know what this ad means? Is there some value to its vagueness?
M. said
Yeah, quite vague. I have a feeling it isn’t for the Palestinians though; Lebanon donating 428 million $ would only happen in some fairytale.
The first impression I had – before I started reading the text – was that this was some anti-axis-of-evil thing since both the Iranian and Syrian flag were absent. But now I’m just confused
Nad AS said
Glad that our campaign triggered your interest even if you found it “vague” although it wasn’t our intent:)
A3mal Al Ighathat and all the numbers you see and the countries mentioned in the ad, refer to the countries who sent their donations to the Higher Relief COmmission following the Israeli invasion back in June 06 and all the destructions that followed and subsequent money that went to the construction.
Hope we clarified the ad.
adiamondinsunlight said
M, I was a bit skeptical myself, but couldn’t think what else it could be. Nad, thank you for your reply. I should have known that it was your agency’s work – you produce some of the most visually sophisticated work in the region! Maybe I missed the message because I’m not your target audience …
Nad AS said
Everyone is adressed and targeted in this campaing with no exception.
By the way who are you?
AN dif u know me can we correspond in a less public forum?
Those Cheeky Aounists… « Qifa Nabki said
[...] ablagh min al-kalaam (more or less, “numbers speak louder than words”). Diamond had a post about the billboards several days ago in which she expressed her puzzlement about the message of the billboards, and [...]
Words are good, too « A Diamond’s Eye View of the World said
[...] Mou…youtobest on Fun with Lebanon’s video…Those Cheeky Aounist… on What is this?Rami on Fun with Lebanon’s [...]
PiterKokoniz said
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And want to ask you: what was the reasson for you to start this blog?
Sorry for my bad english:)
Thank you!
Piter Kokoniz, from Latvia