The Humane Society's LOLseals

But before we get back to delivering IT projects on time, let's look at some funny pictures. Certainly none of us have been spared the LOLcats phenomenon - where folks photograph cats and give them funny captions. Here's one my god-daughter Leah posted on Facebook, for example: Taking off on the popularity of this craze, my friend Carie Lewis, the dynamic internet marketing manager for the Humane Society of the US - one of the most savvy non-profits around when it comes to interactive and social media - has launched an LOLseals contest on the HSUS website. Take a peak. The idea is to create your own caption for one of the seal pictures. A panel of celebrity judges will announce a winner, who will take home a bunch of great HSUS seal gear. It's a great idea to encourage engagement and awareness of the ongoing plight of Canadian seals. What is exciting about this contest is the way it changes the images used in educating folks about the seals. The Canadian Seal Hunt is still the worlds largest slaughter of marine mammals. And it happens every year. We are all used to seeing images of baby seals being clubbed. This campaign reminds us of how appealing these animals are, rather than forcing us to look at violent images we've learned to shield ourselves against over the years. It gives the community a new way to engage with the issue, a new way to feel about these animals. It can be hard to find a new way of presenting the same old story - HSUS has found a way here.