Madam, - Given the recent history of Trócaire advertisements, you would imagine the charity would tread carefully. However, the ad currently running on RTÉ radio pushes the envelope to an alarming extent.
A young boy is explaining his painting to a woman. It depicts acts of violence in Darfur. Finally, it emerges that this is his own experience.
You can imagine cheque books being reached for all around the country - presumably the effect intended.
Several things worry me, though. The boy is clearly reading a script. If he actually experienced the events depicted, would it not be better for him to use his own words? And is the whole concept not really rather tacky? Might it not be better to explain the Darfur situation in unemotional terms, and trust intelligent, well-intentioned people to respond in an equally unemotional way?
I can see the cleverness of this advertisement, but it is just too slick, and leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. Maybe someone from Trócaire would care to explain why they felt it necessary to resort to such tactics.- Yours, etc,
PAUL GRIFFIN, St Helens, Merseyside, England.