The civilian sea rescue organization Sea-Watch recently released a gruesome promotional video entitled “erTrinkwasser”. The commercial alludes to people drowning in the Mediterranean while parodying influencer marketing.
“A water that keeps you young forever? For adults, children and the whole family? For the infinite silence and the force of nature?” Thus begins the new commercial the civilian sea rescue organization Sea-Watch.
A young woman presents a bottle of water. The clip looks modern, fresh and positive, in the style of current influencer videos. The product should also be “Made in Europe”.
Sea-Watch introduces water that costs your life
But appearances are deceiving. Because after about 17 seconds, the influencer calls the supposedly new drink: “erTrinkwasser”. Also, the pitch of the video suddenly changes.
At least now it becomes clear what it’s really about: the entire Sea-Watch commercial is a macabre allusion to people drowning in the Mediterranean Sea on their way to Europe.
Because with the clip on the water, “… human life costs”, the association does not want to present a new product, but to ask for donations. Above all, the commercial never targets influencer marketing.
Sea-Watch wants to save people in the Mediterranean
Time after time, people flee across the water to escape war, persecution and poverty in their home countries. The dangerous crossings are often organized by gangs of smugglers and often end in injuries and, in the worst cases, death.
According to Aid to refugees from the United Nations The Central Mediterranean Route is the most dangerous and deadly sea crossing in the world. Between January and August 2022, some 938 people are said not to have survived the Mediterranean crossing or have disappeared since then.
Sea-Watch has therefore been engaged in sea rescue for seven years. According to its own statements, the association has been involved in rescuing more than 45,000 people in distress at sea since 2015.
No European emergency aid system
Despite the emergency, so far there is no European state rescue service at sea. However, Sea-Watch keeps coming across his work headwind. Also because in the past the organization’s rescue vessels were not allowed to sail or the competent authorities prevented crews and rescued people from docking in safe ports.
It also happened several times that ship captains ended up in court. The arrest of German Sea-Watch captain and activist Carola Rackete made headlines.
Under international maritime law, masters on the high seas have been obliged since 1910 to provide immediate assistance to those in distress at sea. Once rescued, these people must be taken to a safe haven.
The “drinking water” wants to shock people with its macabre provocation. With the donations, Sea-Watch now wants to send the fifth rescue ship to the Mediterranean and help even more people.
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