In an attempt to put a damper on the surge of undocumented migrants heading North to the U.S. mainly from Central America, the U.S. government has launched a million-dollar "Dangers Awareness Campaign".
According to an article by Vice News, one of the components of the campaign is the composition of anti-migration propaganda songs, or "migra-corridos." Eddie Ganz, a wedding singer, is the voice behind "La Bestia," a song commissioned by the U.S. Government's Customs and Border Protection Agency. The song is meant to warn would-be migrants of the dangers of riding the now infamous train across Mexico at the risk of loss of life and limbs.
The federal agency hired Elevation, a U.S. based advertising agency that specializes in the Hispanic market, to produce the song. "They call it The Beast from the South. Screeching, roaring, and twisting" say the lyrics of a song that is currently playing in 21 stations across Central America and can be accessed via the agency's website.
This is not the first time the U.S. Government has employed this agency for campaigns of this nature. In 2009, five other songs were released on a government commissioned compilation CD containing migra-corridos which were dispersed to radio stations to play over the air-waves.
The songs bare no indication of who commissioned them, and most listeners likely have no idea that they are listening to U.S. propaganda.
Other items of the Danger Awareness Campaign include posters, and television ads targeted at Central American parents. Campaigns employed in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador attempt to discourage parents from sending their children to the U.S. under the false belief that they will obtain some sort of legal permit.
borderzonie@gmail.com
Comments
Facebook
SanDiegoRed
New
Best