The massive storm Sandy left the New York along with many parts of the eastern United States devastated these days. The hurricane killed at least 50 people and thousands ended up knocked out of their normal life since the disaster caused floods, blackouts and driving millions of losses for insuring companies. While millions of citizens in the area are trying to get over the disaster, brands are also contributing to the recovery—in their ways.
Red Cross
Along with providing entertainment to millions of users, online services help people around the globe overcome natural disasters. In crisis, websites and social media channels are among the top destinations, where users search answers for vital questions (today, the Internet is the third most commonly used source of getting emergency-related information), and technology giants are supporting this trend. In September 2011, Google in cooperation with the American Red Cross launched its Google Crisis Preparedness website to help people find relevant information and tools, which can help them prepare for a disaster and overcome it by communicating and collaborating. Now, the Red Cross and Dell are taking the initiative further and unveil a Washington, D.C.-based Digital Operations Center, the first-of-a-kind social media-monitoring platform, aimed to provide humanitarian relief. In addition to that, the Red Cross also announced a Digital Volunteer program “to help respond to questions from and provide information to the public during disasters.”
Greenpeace is known for taking bold and extravagant actions to protect environment and help jumpstart the conversation about ecological dangers, but this organization is not the only one to persuade people to take actions for the planet protection. Australian Red Cross has teamed up with Belgiovane Williams Mackay (BWM) Sydney and digital agency Pollen to launch a social campaign Target Nucler Weapons aiming primarily at younger generation—the aim of this initiative is to start conversation about the legitimacy of the use of nuclear weapon and get more supporters to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of this weapon of massive destruction and advocate for banning it.