Advertising: Smurfs left dead and orphaned in UNICEF ad

Belgian television is airing ads for UNICEF that depicts Smurfs lying dead and orphaned as warplanes bomb their village. According to UNICEF spokesperson Philippe Henon, the ad has proved the desired effect and driving people to their website.

The appeal is meant to raise money for UNICEF projects in Burundi, Congo and Sudan, but the graphic scenes mean that the ad can only be shown after 9 p.m. One scene depicts an orphaned Baby Smurf crying at the edge of a bomb crater. The tagline is, "don't let war destroy the children's world."

Of course is the ad is successful and the sky is filled with white doves instead of bombers, Halliburton and the Carlyle Group will bring out an ad depicting a crying executive standing in front of a "For Sale" sign outside his mansion, tearfully beseeching, "Don't let peace destroy my world".