Green Police? Audi’s Superbowl ad a winner, but not everyone is laughing.

I thought the Audi “Green Police” television ad that debuted in this year’s Superbowl was pretty funny. It’s a collage of vignettes of ordinary people getting arrested for various environmental misdemeanors, including compost infractions, possession and use of incandescent lightbulbs, throwing away batteries, and using plastic bags (“You picked the wrong day to mess with the ecosystem, plastic boy.”) Add a remix of Cheap Trick’s “Dream Police” playing in the background, and you have an entertaining 60 seconds, promoting Audi’s new Clean Diesel A3 (which delivers 45 miles per gallon.) Check it out below.

I particularly liked the Green Police Anteater. On USA Today’s Ad Meter, the ad was tracking at #6 out of 63, just ahead of a very funny e-trade baby spot.

But not everyone seems to like it. Some critics have pointed out that the term “Green Police” refers to a group affiliated with Nazi persecution during World War II…as if Audi would intentionally be making that connection. Sheesh. But the advertisement does paint a picture of a police state, enforcing sound environmental practices ahead of civil liberties. While it is meant to be tongue in cheek, there are plenty of people — particularly those angered by the prospect of increased environmental regulation and emissions caps — that do not find the concept very amusing. Some of the responses floating around on the web/blog/tweetsphere quote Ayn Rand, warn of a police state, and point to this satirical scenario as some sort of end game for President Obama.

My first reaction is to shrug these folks off and say “lighten up”, but the strength of their reaction is perhaps another symptom of the green divisiveness I discussed in a previous blog:

“As the Economist reported, ‘…climate change is becoming more divisive: one of those touchstone issues, like abortion and the death penalty, in which the opposing camps see one another as not just mistaken, but bad”.

Change is hard, and the idea of living more sustainably is apparently as scary to some as it is urgent to others. But scary or not, it is urgent. As I have said before, I for one hope that our democratic system can come up with a positive climate and ecological outcome, without trampling on personal rights. With urgency and some choice, I think we can do it. It starts with dropping the conspiracy theories and getting to work on the problems.

Read more: climate change, environment & wildlife

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Tourism R.

3:51PM PDT on Jul 29, 2010

great post. it really made my day! thanks

Alex
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Military Computer Loans

send a green star

Ellinor S.

7:40AM PDT on Apr 11, 2010

thank you

Elaine D.

3:24PM PST on Feb 23, 2010

thanks for the post

Mervi R.

2:03PM PST on Feb 16, 2010

That was hilarious, thanks for posting this!

Ellen C.

9:07PM PST on Feb 14, 2010

I love this commercial! And I agree with previous posters - Americans have civil liberties and obviously these types of things aren't going to be happening! Lighten up, we should all be more eco-conscious individuals!

Deanna F.

12:02AM PST on Feb 13, 2010

I enjoyed this commercial. I've heard and studied a lot about the nazi's, but I don't recall them being called the green army. Maybe my studies were just too many years ago for my memory on that (grin).

As for the raids on eco-violators, I don't understand why anyone is thinking this could really happen. C'mon people, this is still America, and we still have civil liberties.

I do hope that, eventually it WILL be illegal to SELL eco-toxins so that everything we throw away will simply and quite naturally be recycled.

Oh yes, while watching this ad, I was enjoying it so much that I forgot it was for a car until it was pointed out in the end. Now THAT is a great ad. It's got people talking. (grin).

CINDY O.

7:51PM PST on Feb 12, 2010

Yes, People needs to lighten up, It is a wake up call, Get a sense of Humor, And if you choose you do not like it, turn off the T.V.

Terry B.

5:42AM PST on Feb 12, 2010

Hilarious.

Actually they had green police on the beaches in Hong Kong ticketing litterbugs(at least when I was there way back when it was a British colony)

Laura L.

12:10PM PST on Feb 11, 2010

I thought it was funny!.... And I wouldn't mind green police in my town because I never break the eco rules. Those pointing out the Nazi connection are deluded retrogressive republicans.