U.N. launches campaign with Gisele and Ronaldo to mobilize Brazilians for Rio+20

05/15/2012 - 13h38

On Monday the U.N. launched a local version of the campaign "The Future We Want," in an effort to mobilize the population for Rio+20, a global conference on sustainable development that will take place June 13 - 22 in Rio de Janeiro.

The publicity campaign will reach out to people who have internet access and encourage them to send pictures, videos and written descriptions of what they hope for the world in the next few decades. The contributions will be published on the site www.ofuturoquenosqueremos.org.br.

"The discussion about sustainable development will be a success only if public opinion in each country is involved on a global scale to put pressure on governments and companies," said Giancarlo Summa, the director of the Information Center for the United Nations in Brazil and the spokesperson for Rio+20.

"It's a way to immediately influence the conference and all future discussions about sustainable development," he said.

The material distributed as part of the campaign will include contributions from the general public and from famous people, such as the model Gisele Bündchen, the writer Paulo Coelho, the soccer player Ronaldo, the musician MV Bill, the artist Vik Muniz, and the architect Oscar Niemeyer, all of whom are contributing for free.

Some elements of the U.N. campaign were also designed pro bono by Grupo Oglivy and will be voluntarily distributed by radio, TV, magazines and newspapers.

The slogan of the campaign in Brazil will be "eu sou nós," or "I am we," referring to the necessity to think collectively, as well as the power of the united efforts of individuals.

Junto com a campanha, também foi apresentada a ferramenta Agenda Total (www.agendatotal.org ), que terá seu conteúdo alimentado por representantes da ONU, de governos e da sociedade civil. O site permitirá ao público acompanhar a programação completa de eventos oficiais e paralelos da conferência. Parte do conteúdo, porém, será de acesso restrito à mídia.

Along with the campaign, the U.N. is also launching the website "Agenda Total" (www.agendatotal.org), which will include content from representatives at the U.N., governments and civil society. The website will allow the public to follow all of the official and side events planned for the conference. Part of the content will be restricted for media use.

The videos from the campaign can be seen on the U.N. YouTube channel.

Translated by ANNA EDGERTON