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Rhinodawg

(2,219 posts)
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 06:27 AM Oct 2014

BCAM: Why are Komen's pink ribbons on so many carcinogenic products?

Breast cancer giant Susan G. Komen has found its strangest bedfellow yet in one of the world's largest oilfield services corporations, Baker Hughes. The two have teamed up for a second year to distribute 1,000 pink drill bits to oil fields worldwide.

Each drill bit, which burrows thousands of feet underground to tap fossil fuel reservoirs, is "shipped to the drill site in a pink-topped container containing information packets with breast health facts, including breast cancer risk factors and screening tips," according to energy news site FuelFix.com.

These pink drill bits deliver not only barrels of oil, but also good PR and money: Baker Hughes gets to claim it cares about women's health, and Komen will receive a check from the Houston-based company for $100,000. The campaign has even come up with a cute tagline: "Doing their bit for a cure." But this partnership creates something far more insidious - a profit cycle whereby Komen raises millions of dollars each year to cure a disease that its corporate partner could be helping to cause. Baker Hughes' business includes hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a process for extracting oil and gas using a mixture of water and chemicals, including known or possible carcinogens.

This is just the latest example of "pinkwashing" - when a company or organization claims to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink-ribbon product but at the same time manufactures or sells products that are linked to the disease. Pinkwashing publicity stunts serve one purpose: They generate public goodwill and profits for corporation and nonprofit alike.


http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/why-are-komen-s-pink-ribbons-on-so-many-carcinogenic-products-karuna-jaggar-1.9529132

60 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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BCAM: Why are Komen's pink ribbons on so many carcinogenic products? (Original Post) Rhinodawg Oct 2014 OP
Because they are a TOXIC organization. MADem Oct 2014 #1
I wouldnt give one cent to Komen. Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #2
I am a breat cancer 840high Oct 2014 #5
Same here MoonRiver Oct 2014 #8
Me neither. The head of that organization is the sister of the dead "Susan Komen" MADem Oct 2014 #16
1000000 recs for this post! BlancheSplanchnik Oct 2014 #37
You said it! Stargazer09 Oct 2014 #42
Not a dime to Komen, ever tooeyeten Oct 2014 #52
Planned Parenthood--they don't charge people who are broke. MADem Oct 2014 #54
same here Heather MC Oct 2014 #44
yup La Lioness Priyanka Oct 2014 #59
Because it's all about Komen? AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #3
Komen is only out to make money. bigwillq Oct 2014 #4
Pink paint is cheap??? nt NorthCarolina Oct 2014 #6
Because they really don't give a damn about preventing or curing bc. MoonRiver Oct 2014 #7
because it became using womens fear, pain and death for $ and entertainment. seabeyond Oct 2014 #9
Komen is simply a Republican front organization...donate directly to joeybee12 Oct 2014 #10
^^^This^^^ truebrit71 Oct 2014 #17
PLANNED PARENTHOOD. MADem Oct 2014 #19
+1 n/t Silent3 Oct 2014 #21
Definitely...nt joeybee12 Oct 2014 #33
.... bigwillq Oct 2014 #20
Certainly. The NRA is the same league. Dawson Leery Oct 2014 #43
You'd think Dem politicians would realize that... joeybee12 Oct 2014 #48
Breast Cancer Action is a great org and has done much to expose the mendacity of Komen Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #46
Another good organization... joeybee12 Oct 2014 #49
I'd heard it said that Republicans get behind breast cancer... Scootaloo Oct 2014 #51
Wouldn't surprise me...they ignored AIDS for decades...nt joeybee12 Oct 2014 #53
Komen = Corporate elite's go-to PR tool to distract from the CRIMINAL behaviors blm Oct 2014 #11
Because, money LondonReign2 Oct 2014 #12
Money and greed. ENOUGH! mountain grammy Oct 2014 #13
Komen ... Race to the BANK !!! Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #14
lol, yup. closeupready Oct 2014 #32
Because it's all about the benjamins Autumn Oct 2014 #15
Profit from people's fears. JEB Oct 2014 #18
I'd say we probably don't want to know kentauros Oct 2014 #22
they capture research $$ KT2000 Oct 2014 #23
I see a pink ribbon, I don't buy the product. byronius Oct 2014 #24
I'm glad this generated a lot of discussion about Komen. Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #25
Perhaps their lawyers can answer that Man from Pickens Oct 2014 #26
Theres a lot of worst things Komen does. Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #27
I try never to buy anything associated with Komen blackcrowflies Oct 2014 #28
Komen hires Republicans to run its operations. blkmusclmachine Oct 2014 #29
Hey, they may be poisoning the world, but at least they have pink drill bits. tclambert Oct 2014 #30
when they shit on planned parenthood, they left my consciousness spanone Oct 2014 #31
I keep waiting to see Komen smokes in the stores. Maybe some festive pink lead based paint. Erose999 Oct 2014 #34
Because they are before all BIG BUSINESS. Mass Oct 2014 #35
Because it's about keeping their jobs, not about curing cancer? nt truebluegreen Oct 2014 #36
Does anyone know what % of Komen goes for Breast cancer reasearch... Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #38
I just did a quick search. AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #40
My sister is a breast cancer survivor. Pennie109 Oct 2014 #39
As a 3 time cancer survivior, I do not support Komen at all. lark Oct 2014 #41
Also, please check out Breast Cancer Action. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #50
Even though Iwillnevergiveup Oct 2014 #45
I think we have successfully chased them out of San Francisco as have a few other cities. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #47
It'$ All About the $$$ Sparhawk60 Oct 2014 #55
Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2014 #56
This is why I don't give them money anymore. Schmice2 Oct 2014 #57
I was on the fence about promoting their events rocktivity Oct 2014 #58
This Story Has Been Around Since 2011 otohara Oct 2014 #60

MADem

(135,425 posts)
16. Me neither. The head of that organization is the sister of the dead "Susan Komen"
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 11:52 AM
Oct 2014

and I imagine the poor woman, who died and gave her life and moniker to the outfit, is whirring in her crypt at what her craven, mendacious and avaricious sister has done in her name. Just the SALARIES the board takes are outrageous...give your money to those assholes, and you're buying facelifts, resort vacations, and designer duds for herself and her crew of miscreants!

If I have a dollar to spare, I'll shoot it over to Planned Parenthood. They don't waste their money on Big Board salaries.

Stargazer09

(2,132 posts)
42. You said it!
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 03:26 PM
Oct 2014

I used to support them, since Mom died of breast cancer. Once the truth of their wastefulness came out, I cut the ribbon for good.

I avoid buying anything that supports them whenever possible.

tooeyeten

(1,074 posts)
52. Not a dime to Komen, ever
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 09:48 PM
Oct 2014

Find poor women who need treatment and can't afford it, give anonymously to hospital or oncologist offices.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
54. Planned Parenthood--they don't charge people who are broke.
Fri Oct 24, 2014, 06:50 AM
Oct 2014

And they do everything that Komen said that they do, and MORE. Without judgment, either!!

AngryOldDem

(14,061 posts)
3. Because it's all about Komen?
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 06:57 AM
Oct 2014

Because Komen has no scruples, nor ethics?

Because it's all about the money?

MoonRiver

(36,926 posts)
7. Because they really don't give a damn about preventing or curing bc.
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 11:00 AM
Oct 2014

It's all about stuffing their corporate coffers.

 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
9. because it became using womens fear, pain and death for $ and entertainment.
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 11:04 AM
Oct 2014

actually, the entertainment factor is about bring in the $, too.

 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
10. Komen is simply a Republican front organization...donate directly to
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 11:05 AM
Oct 2014

The American Cancer Society, or even Avon...don't give your money to help elect Republicans.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
19. PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 12:04 PM
Oct 2014

They do the same thing--cancer screenings, etc. And they don't waste their money on the administrative end.

Planned Parenthood, we all may recall, was the outfit that Komen stiffed for breast cancer screening funds over some poutrage that they actually helped people with reproductive advice and medical care. The nerve of them ... they had always diverted some of their money in the past, so that PP could do the screenings that they took credit for, but they wanted to get seriously political and they destroyed themselves with their own hubris.

Mayor Bloomberg, who is pro-choice and despite many boneheaded choices during his tenure did a good thing in this instance, wrote them a MASSIVE check--of course, to him it was like flipping a quarter to a newsboy in one of those forties pics..but still. And of course a shitload of people (myself included) sent a Fuck You Komen check to PP just because their goal was to cripple PP and drown it in a bathtub.

Dawson Leery

(19,348 posts)
43. Certainly. The NRA is the same league.
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 03:47 PM
Oct 2014

I make it my business to never give one cent to those right wing theocratic bastards.

 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
48. You'd think Dem politicians would realize that...
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 08:56 PM
Oct 2014

The NRA isn't giving one dime to pro-gun Dems...wake up and smell the coffee

Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)
46. Breast Cancer Action is a great org and has done much to expose the mendacity of Komen
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 08:29 PM
Oct 2014

They created the "Think Before You Pink" campaign. Their focus is on causes and treatment.

http://www.bcaction.org

 

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)
51. I'd heard it said that Republicans get behind breast cancer...
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 09:30 PM
Oct 2014

because it's seen by them as an "older woman" disease - it's something you might expect mom, or your wife to come down with. On the other hand, cervical cancer is what 'those young hussies" get, according to the apparent logic, and so Republicans oppose HPV vaccines and the like.

blm

(113,020 posts)
11. Komen = Corporate elite's go-to PR tool to distract from the CRIMINAL behaviors
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 11:06 AM
Oct 2014

of their industries and firms.

 

JEB

(4,748 posts)
18. Profit from people's fears.
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 11:58 AM
Oct 2014

Exploitation of cancer survivors and victims. Disgusting organization.

kentauros

(29,414 posts)
22. I'd say we probably don't want to know
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 12:09 PM
Oct 2014

what the oilfield workers are saying upon receiving these drill bit packages, either...

KT2000

(20,568 posts)
23. they capture research $$
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 01:19 PM
Oct 2014

and direct research away from environmental causes - CORPORATE PROFITS ARE SAFE!

 

Man from Pickens

(1,713 posts)
26. Perhaps their lawyers can answer that
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 02:06 PM
Oct 2014

or could, if they weren't so busy suing tiny non-profits that are trying to deal with other diseases and dare to use the phrase "for the cure". Of all the things that Komen does, that has to be the single worst.

 

blackcrowflies

(207 posts)
28. I try never to buy anything associated with Komen
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 02:44 PM
Oct 2014

or even pink, which now nauseates me.

In an ideal world, the Komen directors would be in jail.

I don't know anything about Susan Komen's character, just that she was an actress of my vintage. If she was a decent person, she must be waiting near the gates of hell to toss her sister in. Well, maybe not, she is her sister, but she must be ashamed of her.

tclambert

(11,085 posts)
30. Hey, they may be poisoning the world, but at least they have pink drill bits.
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 03:24 PM
Oct 2014

And thereby have restored their virtue. Yay!

See, it's like if you murdered a dozen hookers, went to confession and admitted it, and the priest made you say a LOT of Hail Marys, then you're cool with God again. Well, until you murder another hooker. You probably ought to stop doing that, too. And the oil companies won't stop committing their evils, either, because PROFIT!

And Dick Cheney may have screwed the country and obviously hates the American people, but he wears a flag pin, so you cannot doubt his patriotism, which used to mean "love of country" but now just means wearing a flag pin.

 

Rhinodawg

(2,219 posts)
38. Does anyone know what % of Komen goes for Breast cancer reasearch...
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 07:56 PM
Oct 2014

and how much goes into their pockets?

AngryOldDem

(14,061 posts)
40. I just did a quick search.
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 06:00 AM
Oct 2014

You'd think that kind of info would be readily available, and transparent. I found no source that I thought was trustworthy.

That says something.

Pennie109

(128 posts)
39. My sister is a breast cancer survivor.
Wed Oct 22, 2014, 10:21 PM
Oct 2014

She likes to go to their survivor lunches for the free goodies they give out. She wanted me to go with her but I can't tolerate that organization.

I work for a local hospital who sponsor race/walks by Komen but I don't participate anymore. I'd rather support the Heart Association or local charities where I know were the money goes.

lark

(23,070 posts)
41. As a 3 time cancer survivior, I do not support Komen at all.
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 01:59 PM
Oct 2014

They lost my support when they came out against Planned Parenthood a few years ago. No more pink ribbons, bracelets, hats for me.
The American Cancer Society is the real deal and provides great resources for people dealing with this diseases. Love them!

Iwillnevergiveup

(9,298 posts)
45. Even though
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 08:21 PM
Oct 2014

the NFL has had its' headaches and egregious publicity, I think if all the teams STOPPED promoting "pinkness," it would go a long way to shutting down this scammer. She and Palin are cut from the same cloth.


Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)
47. I think we have successfully chased them out of San Francisco as have a few other cities.
Thu Oct 23, 2014, 08:35 PM
Oct 2014

If Komen holds events in your town or city (whether it be the "race for the cure" or sports teams wearing pink or handing out pink sports tchotchke), use the "Think Before You Pink" info on Breast Cancer Action to shut them down.


http://www.bcaction.org

Response to Rhinodawg (Original post)

rocktivity

(44,572 posts)
58. I was on the fence about promoting their events
Sat Oct 25, 2014, 02:25 PM
Oct 2014

on my New Jersey health blog. I thank the drill bit story for pushing me in the right direction.

http://yourhhrsnews.com/breast-cancer-awareness-month-think-before-you-pink

...Here are some breast cancer organizations that do not engage in “pinkwashing:” Claiming to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon product, but at the same time producing, manufacturing or marketing products or misinformation that are linked to the disease. Help them continue to help others with their communication of accurate information and practical support for the sake of both research and patient care.



rocktivity
 

otohara

(24,135 posts)
60. This Story Has Been Around Since 2011
Sun Oct 26, 2014, 04:24 PM
Oct 2014

and apparently SGK was going to reformulate it... but I can't find where they did or did not.

I'm thinking not, otherwise it would be out there on the interweb

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