World Leader Porn: Benetton wants the world to UNHATE

US President Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela

A new campaign from Benetton recalls the brand's controversial heyday. A series of posters features world leaders with lips locked to launch the UNHATE project

Benetton, says the accompanying press material, is inviting "the leaders and citizens of the world to combat the 'culture of hatred'". The UNHATE campaign is the first initiative from a new Benetton foundation of the same name, launched by Alessandro Benetton, executive deputy chairman of the Benetton Group.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy

A series of posters, created by Benetton's 'research communication centre' Fabrica, features political and spiritual leaders kissing (shown above, The Pope and Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb, Imam of the Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo. Below, US President Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

According to Benetton "These are symbolic images of reconciliation - with a touch of ironic hope and constructive provocation - to stimulate reflection on how politics, faith and ideas, even when they are divergent and mutually opposed, must still lead to dialogue and mediation."

The Pope and Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb, Imam of the Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo

Hu Jintao, president of China and U.S. President Barack Obama

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Il and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak

Additional social media activity includes the Kiss Wall where users can upload images of themselves kissing.


Source: Creative Review