Think before you pink
How’s this for synchronicity? No sooner had I posted a piece on the origins of the pink ribbon, than I come across a campaign in the US, called Think Before you Pink.
Think Before You Pink, a project of Breast Cancer Action, launched in 2002 in response to the growing concern about the overwhelming number of pink ribbon products and promotions on the market. The campaign calls for more transparency and accountability by companies that take part in breast cancer fundraising, and encourages consumers to ask critical questions about pink ribbon promotions. Questions to ask include:
- How much money from the purchase actually goes toward breast cancer?
- What is the maximum amount that will be donated?
- What breast cancer organization/programs does the money go to?
Think Before You Pink also highlights “pinkwashers”—companies that purport to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon campaign, but manufacture products that are linked to the disease.
I think it’s an excellent initative and while we in Ireland, do not have as many organisations selling pink products for breast cancer, in these times of recession, when we are all counting our cents, charities will need to be more accountable with where those hard-earned cents are going.
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Funny enough, I got a couple of people wondering if the money was really going to Breast Cancer Awareness/Research. I once was told by someone working for my Spanish regional government that only about 5% of the money (should I add ‘little’? Spaniards are a bit reluctant to charity) collected in any big charity campaigns in the region would actually reach those in need.
I dread to think that could be the case everywhere else, too.
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