Tweets--

the beat goes on...

Tom

>Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 15:32:09 -0500
>Reply-To: "Bird Bander's Forum" <BIRDBAND at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
>From: "BILL HILTON JR.--Hawk Mountain Education Director"
> <bhilton at FAST.NET>
>Subject: Newest IBM Response to Owl Commercial
>
>This afternoon I got another call at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary from IBM, this
>time directly from Roy Schecter, an executive in IBM's Brand Advertising
>division. He is in California on an unrelated commercial shoot and had not
>seen my faxes to him but was aware that there is considerable
>disappointment among us with regard to the inappropriate nature of IBM's
>"owl rehabilitation" commercial.
>
>I repeated to him the contents of my faxed letters (see previous postings),
>especially that the commercials should be taken off the air because they
>encourage illegal and dangerous activities. His responses to my comments
>were very polite, but he did defend the commercial and its contents.
>
>He mentioned that IBM and its ad agency had contacted several individuals
>and organizations when the commercial was designed, including national fish
>and wildlife officials, rehabbers, and the World Wildlife Fund--all of whom
>he said approved of the commercial and its intent. I told him I was
>astounded that any of these folks would approve a commercial that
>encouraged "amateur owl rehabbing" without permits or training.
>
>Mr. Schecter also told me his legal department had carefully researched the
>issue and that they understood the state and federal laws to say that it
>was entirely appropriate (legal?) for a person to temporarily possess a
>wild Great Horned Owl for the purpose of nursing it back to health. I told
>him I believed this to be incorrect and suggested he talk with federal fish
>and wildlife permitting agencies about both the letter and intent of
>federal laws about such practices.
>
>Lastly, Mr. Schecter indicated that the commercial would only be airing for
>a "few more weeks" and that re-shooting it in the short run was nota
>workable alternative for IBM. I still requested that it be taken off the
>air immediately and that IBM design a new ad campaign that would encourage
>potential customers to interact with the natural world only in a humane,
>safe, and legal ways.
>
>I have taken the liberty of contacting all the major TV networks and
>USAToday about this problem. I recommend that any concerned individuals
>continue to contact IBM with sincere wishes that IBM act more responsibly
>in advertising its products.
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>BILL
>
>***********
>
>BILL HILTON JR.
>Director of Education
>Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
>RR2 Box 191
>Kempton, Pennsylvania 19529
>USA
>
>phone: (610)756-6961 fax: (610)756-4468
>
>e-mail: bhilton at fast.net
>
>
>"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for a sunrise
> or too busy to watch the sunset." -- BHjr.
>

******************
Louise Shimmel
Cascades Raptor Center
PO Box 5386
Eugene OR 97405 USA
e mail: raptors at efn.org
Phone: 541/485-1320
Fax: 541/485-4586
**************************************