V-Gen "Gorilla" Campaign Targets CMA meeting in Bondi

17 October 2008

In October, the Confectionery Manufacturer's of Australasia held their conference at Bondi's, Swiss Grand Resort. Inspired by World Vision’s ‘Big Chocolate Just Say: "Yes!"’ campaign and the recent success of fellow Vision Generation Groups interstate, NSW Vision Generation was ready to make its mark! Here’s an update from one of the creative young activists that took part...

Dressed as a Gorilla, armed with a stereo, a drum kit and several hundred postcards Vision Generation NSW sought out willing signatures to our worthy cause.

"On the back of Cadbury's most recent add featuring a gorilla drumming out to the famous Phil Collins classic, Vision Generation sensed a chance to turn the tables. With their very own Gorilla outfit and a full scale drum kit set up along with Phil Collin's blearing out over Bondi beach's famous promenade the team certainly caused a stir, attracting a lot of curious bypasses who were all informed on the campaign.

Tourists, mums, surfers, children and grandparents alike crowded round the spectacle wondering what was happening? Along with a giant block of chocolate (a well painted door!) with information on the 'dark side of chocolate' plastered on it, Vision Generation went to work handing out new postcard petitions and getting the message across, "consumers, your chocolate has slave labour involved!" Many were shocked when they found out and immediately signed up to the call to get the CMA to come good on their promises of implementing the Harkin and Engle Protocol and a funded plan to clean up their supply chains.

Then it was up to the Swiss Grand to try and convey our message to those in charge. With the postcard petitions in hand and a complimentary beverage in the other, one of our group was able to infiltrate the corporate drinks being held in the resort restaurant. This presented the chance to talk to some of the executives of our major brands including Ferraro and to put questions directly to them, letting them know that it was VGEN's mission to make sure their consumers were going to be informed on the situation if they failed to act!

Meanwhile, the beach team had made their way to just outside the lobby of the hotel and were planning the next move but it appeared someone had been tipped off that they were around. Trish Hyde, CEO of the CMA came out to meet them, slightly perplexed and obviously a bit put of by the gorilla holding a placard that read "Australian's Advocating Against Slavery in Chocolate", she invited the team (including gorilla) in for a meeting to discuss the issues.

Trish Hyde informed Vision Generation that during the day this issue had been seriously discussed with the producers and they were keen to find a better solution but believed they were already working hard. The conversation bounced back and forth for about 30 minutes as the group each took their turn to try and probe exactly what was being done and whether it was really enough.

All in all a great success and with only a team of about eight of us it shows that anyone with a thought-out creative plan, a little bit of time and the desire to see change can make great things can happen!"

- Matthew D.