I stopped wearing my Make Poverty History wrist band some time ago. It's not that I don't believe in the cause it's just I'm not sure how helpful it is to wear a fashion accessory is. In a recent Counterpoint interview Sarah Moore (Ribbon Culture: Charity,Compassion and Public Awareness) talked about someone who had a gold Make Poverty History wrist band and did not see the irony in it at all. She suggests that it's more about identifying yourself with for a cause rather than raising awareness. Instead I've taken one of my old bands turned it inside out and written Make Affluence History on it with permanent marker instead. It was an idea I got from the Make Affluence History site. I think there is a connection between one persons poverty and another persons affluence and for me this band makes that explicit. Most people smile politely and agree with the "Make Poverty History" sentiment. I'm keen to see what kind of reaction I get to this wrist band.
Something I think is similar is the new Radiohead film clip done in conjunction with MTV's exit campaign. A great clip and again a great cause but I'd rather hear that all MTV Merchandise or Radiohead Merchandise will be sweat shop free. If they are it doesn't mention it on their respective websites.
2 comments:
Still wearing my white band. I suppose because it's not for anyone but me. Every time I stick my hand in my purse or pocket to buy something I see it or feel it.
Quite a while ago I heard a story from a displaced person's camp in Uganda (I think it was Uganda...). There wasn't enough food for everyone. So they were sorting the kids that came into three groups. Kids who were healthy were fine. Kids who were malnourished and may not survive got a yellow cord around their wrist, and if there wasn't enough food, they wouldn't get fed. Kids who were severely malnourished and were certain to die got a red chord tied around their wrist. They received no food. They spent their remaining time on earth hungry, in the presence of others who were eating food.
I didn't want to ever forget that story. So I tied a bit of red yarn onto my white band. As I said... I wear it for my benefit.
Hi Wilsonian,
Thanks for the great comment. I think I'll continue to wear my new make affluence history band for my benefit rather than for the benefit of others. Like you it has already started to make me question my affluent life.
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