THE PROBLEM
UNICEF's mission statement. “UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.” On The caption under this photo is “Bad water kills more children than war.” This photo is a bad water urgency alert. UNICEF creates the awareness about the real problem that exist in this world. UNICEF highlights the severe-ness of poverty and how billions of children are effected with this. UNICEF emphasize that bad water is causing more death than the war we are at in the world. UNICEF creates this photo with hope to get people to spread the word and be a part of this campaign.
THE ARGUEMENT
UNICEF tries to appeal to the emotions of parents and anyone who cares for children, by using this photo. In this photo a child who is living in poverty is shown holding a water gun to his head. It is important that UNICEF get people attention by displaying this because the point is that children in poverty are drinking unclean water that kills them so it’s basically force suicide because of their living situations. Parents and those who care for children should care because what if this was their child or a child they loved. Parents and those who care for children will respond to this photo by trying to reach out and help try to end child poverty to stop the risk of child force suicide. This photo brings awareness to help get clean water. Although the photo explicitly depicts persuasion, it is implicitly interpreted from it.
One tool that UNICEF use to persuade viewers is that they try to change the mood and mind of the audience so that they help join in to end child poverty. In TYFA Pg. (17) Heinrichs says to do this you have to “Get people to what you want them to do. On Pg. (21) Heinrichs says that your artifact should “Determine how audience must change for you to achieve a goal. Using a child pointing a gun to his head whether real or fake sends a message of suicide in such a way. This message is then received which changes the mood of the viewers to a somewhat sad mood so that now they are willing to help which was your overall goal, so goal reached. This artifact is like a S.O.S cry for help, basically that’s what UNICEF strive for through the child with the gun to his head with a sad face. UNICEF uses this child’s cry for help as a way to change people’s mood and mind to help get clean water and raise the awareness.
Through this artifact UNICEF appeal to the beliefs of views. Heinrichs says on Pg. (94) that you should “Stir emotions.” Children and committing or force suicide stir up sad emotions because children are thought of as innocent cute little small people and should live a happy life. Children shouldn’t have to die because of unclean water. This approach is somewhat the approach of the titanic movie something you see and cry because it’s sad. UNICEF tries to appeal to viewers’ emotion to cause sadness to get your emotions involved so that you get the message that the water problem is severe.
UNICEF tries to arouse value through choice through this photo. In TYFA Heinrichs mention this skills on Pg. (57) saying through your argument “The audience should believe you share their values.” On Pg. (27) he explain how it should appeal “Morally right or wrong.” Pg. (28) explain how you should have “Choice questions have to do with the future.” Lastly on Pg. (37) Heinrich says to “Keep it focused on choices that solve a problem to your audience’s advantage.”
UNICEF tries to get viewers to act upon their values but it’s their choice. One who values children will say that no child should have to go through this and would immediately help. UNICEF’s whole campaign shows that they value children so they show parents and those that care for children that they share the same values. UNICEF shows that they share values of children living in poverty, the wrong of force suicide and saving the children of our future generation as those who care for children would. This approach is like an approach somewhat of a car salesman. They want you to buy a car so they pretend to share your values, understand you and are for your best interest so that at the end of the day you walk out buying a car and do exactly what they intended for you to do. UNICEF seems to show that they value children health, safety, and well-being. Viewers who share the same values then choose to follow up with UNICEF and help children in need.
THE DOWNFALL
UNICEF does a great job of persuasion appealing to the emotions of viewers to help with the issue about bad water killing children. Telling others how they should help without showing ways that you are involved may seem a little hypocritical to those who may see this photo and read what UNICEF is trying to convey. UNICEF’s downfall with this artifact was that they didn’t provide evidence that unclean water was killing children or how they are implementing ways to solve this problem.
After conducting my own research on the ways that UNICEF are helping to prevent this problem I found a couple. Ways that UNICEF are trying to implement to solve this bad water problem is that they are increasing access to improved water and sanitation, they help to develop systems to control water-borne disease, they also work closely with governments, helps strengthen policies and budget and supports technical capacities in programs for hygiene promotion sanitation, cost effective water supply options and water quality.
UNICEF’S would have made a great artifact if they would have added these things. They would have showed people that they are contributing to the problem. What makes an argument stronger is when you add your next/future plans to solve the problem. By adding these things UNICEF would have showed that children survival lies at the heart of everything they do. For more info about UNICEF and how to get involved visit http://www.unicef.org/. Every donation count, every thought count, just get involved.