In spite of the vast sums involved, and other than some of the fairly radical “get the vote out” spots, the US presidential race has brought little in the way of innovative TV advertising. One issue for pro-Republicans to try to get innovative on is the ultra-sensitive race issue, as this ad from last week attempts to do.

You can see what they’re trying to do, and aside from the unsavoury undertones (dragging MLK into the mire too) it falls down on account of sheer lack of content. But on an emotional level, it may resonate with white guys apprehensive about denying a black guy their vote because it could make them look like racists. The elements are there: a black guy reinforcing himself by invoking Martin Luther King - you just need a slither of savvy to know what’s going on.

The “climate change” tick-box elements are certainly present in this EIB advert that appeared in Environmental Finance magazine in May. But something appears to have gone badly wrong…

Before I go on, I should point out that as far as I’m aware this is not a spoof. The text in the grey box (bloody scanner) reads: We finance climate change and clean energy projects in support of environmentally and socially sustainable development throughout the world.

What on earth is that penguin doing there though, basking in the sun, on a detached piece of icecap? It seems to be getting much needed ventilation from the turbines. Did someone at the agency fall for Terry Jones’ penguin April Fool last year?

At least it’s honest: since the adoption of the Kyoto protocol in 1997 the EIB has pumped over 17 billion euros into fossil fuel projects both inside and outside the EU. In 2007 alone it loaned over 3 billion euros for fossil fuels. The EIB needs to get out of fossils, for the sake of penguins and us all.