It’s all over so we can start joking about it now, right? Well, as the news circulates about the temporary stemming of the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, elite gudz, a self described Design Studio Specializing in Creative Production and Consulting have launched an app named Plug the BP Oil Spill.
This simple app is a fun piece of work that brings entertainment to an otherwise extremely serious issue. But be careful, if you lift your finger, oil will start rushing into the Gulf again. While this may seem trivial, even insensitive, the app does actually have a saving grace hidden up it’s sleeve.
Users are given the opportunity to make donations towards organizations that are assisting the clean up efforts in the Gulf and with ecology efforts worldwide.
While this app may seem trivial I think it raises a good point on generating awareness and fundraising in a digital age. By allowing people to download a free app to their iPhone or iPod the developer gets their foot in the door with a consumer. They in turn feel they are getting value for money and a bit of fun from a free app that could potentially go viral. The developer is then able to push a message of contributing to environmental groups, after the user themselves has felt like they have been able too make a difference to a horrible situation.
A quick search of the iTunes store for the string “BP Oil” sixteen apps related to the spill ranging from “Oil Spill Locator” through to a game called “Duck vs BP“
What do you think? Is it being too flippant with a serious issue or are they hitting the nail on the head?
I honestly think the apps are a little insensitive to the serious issue that the leak has caused our environment and our economy. It’s a great idea to try and get people to donate to a good cause in a fun way, however, it might be a little too soon to joke about, especially for families that have lost jobs or ruined property as a result of the oil spill. I do think apps are a great way to bring awareness to a situation though and can grab people’s attention by giving them something fun to do and learn, while asking them to give.
I couldn’t agree more with Renee. These apps are raising awareness but in an insensitive way. While the BP oil spill might be “done”, there is still a lot of aftermath resulting from the crisis and it is too early to be joking about such an issue. There are plenty of other ways to donate to an organization in a respectful manner and I think people should be focusing on that rather than looking at apps on their cell phones.
This is a very interesting post. Indeed the BP Oil Spill is a catastrophe both in terms of humanitarian and economical aspects. This catastrophe resulted to 11 lives lost and millions of dollars wasted. The BP Oil Spill most definitely could have been avoided, if only BP pushed for more thorough and systematic quality control procedures. The company should’ve been keener on upkeep of their equipment.
Yet, this is another case of “shoulda woulda coulda”. It’s done. Period. Dollars and lives were already lost. The most important aspect to remember is how to improve the clean up procedures especially now that the United States is nearing its hurricane season. Both BP and the United States government should partner to make things work, the soonest possible time.
For more information on how people feel about this tragedy, visit http://www.peoplebrowsr.com/?option=com_pages&view=analyticly_specialreports.