Cargo Cruelty Film Cuts Deep

LONDON, June 29, 2011 -

Neo Creates Cargo Cruelty Film for BUAV’S Campaign to End
Airline Transportation of Monkeys for Research

BUAV commissioned communications agency Neo to create a short
film that would make an immediate impact with the public on the
cruelty of passenger airline transportation of non-human
primates.

The 30-second online film will release on 19th July via social
network sites and BUAV href="www.buav.org/">www.buav.org. The film is
aimed at the air-travelling public to    ask them not to
travel with passenger airlines that continue to be involved in
monkey transportation.  

“Visual impact is a powerful and immediate thought tool. The
30-second film we’ve created urges people to take action by not
travelling on airlines that continue to ship monkeys for lab
research. We have not taken the old route of using real life images
of monkeys suffering, people are already over-exposed to horrific
images via the media. What we have done is create a powerful visual
message to drive home the role some airlines play in a chain of
suffering” says Nick Christoforou, MD Neo.

“We all associate international airline travel with comfort and
luxury, and most of us are not aware of what horrors may be
happening behind the scenes. Neo’s film initially evokes the smart
presentation and efficiency synonymous with airline travel, and
cleverly uses this to hint that it can be used to conceal a
sinister secret,” says Sarah Kite, Director of Communications,
BUAV.

“In reality, primate shipment is in complete contrast to
passenger comfort. The monkeys are shipped as cargo on passenger
airlines. They are packed into crates, usually too small to allow
them even to stand up, in the holds of aircraft. They may have to
endure poor ventilation, noise and temperature fluctuations as they
are shipped on long journeys across the world,” says
Kite. 

Comedian and actor Ricky Gervais supports BUAV’s Cargo Cruelty
campaign and has spoken out against the remaining airlines, urging
them to take a compassionate stance and say no to monkey
transportation.

‘The film we’ve created for BUAV isn’t about obvious
sensationalism (shock factor of the early animal rights videos),
instead it gives pause for thought so that people think about a
chain of consequences that they are involuntarily involved in -
i.e. travelling on an airline with monkey cargo.  And with
knowledge of the offending airlines they can avoid this, ” says
Nick.

Notes to Editors

The Cargo Cruelty video will be released on 19^th July
2011 at href="www.buav.org/cargocruelty">www.buav.org/cargocruelty.
The film is created by Neo with film production by Nice &
Serious.

About BUAV

For over 100 years the BUAV has been campaigning peacefully to
create a world where nobody wants or believes we need to experiment
on animals.

The BUAV is widely respected as an authority on animal testing
issues and is frequently called upon by governments, media,
corporations and official bodies for its advice or expert
opinion.

We work lawfully and professionally, building relationships with
MPs, MEPs, business leaders and other decision-makers. We also
analyse legislation and sit on decision-making panels around the
globe to act as the voice for animals in laboratories.

Our dedicated London-based team coordinates an international
network of scientists, lawyers, campaigners, investigators,
researchers, political lobbyists and supporters.

About Neo

Neo is a communications agency that takes care of brands that
are taking care of the world. To view Neo’s portfolio of branding,
marketing and communications visit href="www.neocreative.co.uk/">www.neocreative.co.uk.

Neo’s specialist sectors include environmental organisations,
arts and cultural organisations, charities, sustainable businesses,
and the public sector.

Neo’s services include Strategy & Innovation, Branding &
Campaigns, Websites, Promotional Materials, Written Communications,
Media Relations & PR, Training & Capacity Building,
Marketing & Advertising, Events & Exhibitions.

Neo specialises in finding sustainable communication solutions
and actively promotes these through projects such as the ’small
calendar for big change’ that was developed with an impressive team
of collaborators including The Carbon Trust, Fairtrade Foundation,
Soil Association and Generation Press.

For a press preview of the film, images or interviews please contact Rori Cross Brown at Neo: rori at neocreative.co.uk / +44(0)1273-600500 and we will send you a link.