Controversial: That’s what this post will be, I’m sure of it. However, at this point in the game, I’m not sure I care anymore. For one, if people get offended, that’s OK by me — everyone’s entitled to his or her beliefs — and for two, because I’m shamelessly desperate for green ideas these days.
So here’s the deal: I’ve never been one to bother wearing pink ribbons, yellow Livestrong wristbands or even poppies on Remembrance Day, and for today’s change I’m simply swearing off all of them for good. Now wait just a sec — this isn’t to say I don’t support meaningful causes; I’ve done my share of walks, runs and bike rides for charity, I donate regularly to organizations like the WWF and Kiva and I made sure to pause and reflect for a few moments at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month.
It just means that I don’t really get the whole marketing scheme of these campaigns. Yes, wearing ribbons, bracelets and poppies raises awareness. But think of all the pins and silk and dyes that have to be manufactured for all those ribbons, the silicone or rubber for all the wristbands, the plastic and felt required for all the poppies — it’s just a bit much, really.
Far better, I think, to actually do some hands-on work for an organization, or donate money without gloating about it, or simply do your best to tell everyone you know how important a certain issue is. I’m all for as much dialogue and media coverage as possible, but unless we’re all reusing our ribbons/wristbands/poppies every single year, I feel like the waste counteracts too much of the well-meaning — not to mention we’ve now gone beyond cancer, AIDS and so on, and are doling out wristbands to just about everyone, including people who don’t like to complain.
Image courtesy of this website
I totally agree with this. It always seems like such a waste to me when I’m standing near the checkout line and there’s a million of those plastic bracelets for a million different causes. It’s gotten a little out of hand, I think.
I agree with this!! So many people display the colors of a cause and do *nothing* to further that cause other than the display…it’s much better for the causes and the world to forgo a flashy (and honestly wasteful) display for actual action.
I respect this choice and agree with you about the little plastic bracelets, but I’ll continue wearing my poppy every year. It’s an important symbol of my grandfather to me, and one I am proud to place on his grave every year on Remembrance Day after the ceremony I attend. Poppa built bridges in WWII and passed away 16 years ago, two days before Remembrance Day. He was a proud veteran who marched in every Remembrance Day parade while he was able, and for me, it’s too personal to give this one up.
Last year I knit a poppy for my grandma to wear. She loved it because it was handmade and I loved it because she can reuse it every year.
I don’t get a new poppy each year. I have a couple that I keep and wear. I do, however, put money in the first donation box I see each year.
I agree wholeheartedly. I would rather the money be put for the cause instead of using it to make plastic bracelets.
This is an interesting post as it asks the question about why we feel the need to wear symbols of our altruism. What exactly are we advertising? The value of the charity or our own generosity? The poppy seems to say a lot more than the ribbons and bracelets.(appreciation, sadness, grief) Some seem to be a fashion accessory. I have never been one to wear any kind of label/logo so the poppy is my only indulgence. And dont forget the flowers (cancers daffodils)
I was thinking about something similar just yesterday. I drive a Prius and believe strongly in implementing the best available technology, however, I had gone the extra step to buy a “personalized” license plate surround that proclaims my fuel efficiency. As if my actions of driving a Prius were not enough to voice my beliefs, I purchased an unnecessary product made from plastics and shipped from who knows where. I also recognize, however, that in order to change other peoples minds it requires you to make a statement. So, is my license plate surround (and all of those little jelly bracelets) making a statement or is it a waste of resouces?
This is such a good idea. Instead of wearing some ribbon or bracelet, actually getting out there and doing something about the cause that you care about is a far better statement. I like dogs, but instead of wearing some stupid bracelet (I’m sure they make them) or some ridiculous “I heart dalmations” bumper sticker, I volunteer at a dog shelter.
For your next green move, why don’t you give up on those ribbons? I swear, there has got to be more ribbons out there than actual causes. For example, wearing a red ribbon doesn’t mean that you are doing anything for AIDS charities, it just means that you wear a red ribbon. I know you’re looking for new ideas, maybe you can use this one
E to the M—I love that you knit a poppy! Do you have a picture of it that you could link to?
Good for you. The thing that enrages me is how the mega corporations make breast cancer another sales opportunity. By packaging something in pink a saying a nickel or dime will go to breast cancer research, consumers are lulled into guilt buying. Just give a few billion to breast cancer research as a rich corporation and leave the consumer out of it. It is disingenuous, if not craven. And to return to your post – no woman needs more pink crap.
Someone just needs to invent a “cure cancer please” bracelet..that stands for all cancers. Make it rainbow if u have to symbolising each cancer’s colour…and pro homosexuality at that.
I’m keeping my one bracelet, and I’ve probably worn it for almost two years at this point. It’s a rainbow bracelet that the Motorola Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Council gave me. It’s the only one I’ll wear, and that’s because I’m bisexual and feel I need to be out. Wearing the bracelet is its own subtle act of activism.
I couldn’t agree more, though I like the point that Rhett makes.
I feel funny about buying “we support breast cancer research” products. I know that it’s more money going to the cause than I would otherwise remember to give. But what about unpopular diseases? I would be inclined to wear a bracelet for each kind of human suffering, and that would just be too much. The point would get lost.
I like this change! I’ve never had one of those ribbon magnets that people put on their cars in support of various causes, but I decided they were at the height of ridiculous when I saw one on a car that said, “I support what’s trendy.” So I don’t have one of those, I don’t wear the rubber bracelets and last year when my niece asked me to buy Girl Scout cookies I made a check out to her troop instead. Now, when I get asked to buy something for a cause, I decide if it’s a cause I support and then I write a check. And if it’s important enough to me I volunteer.
This is a great change!
I am so glad that someone is finally talking about this! I am so tired of all the disposible crap produced in the name of some cause or another. Another thing that bothers me are all of the so-called gifts that charitable organizations send out in order to solicit donations. No more address labels please! Imagine what could be done if all of the money spent to produce all of these products actually went to the causes they supposedly promote! We don’t need more stuff!
I think this is a wonderful change to make! Now, if there were something useful and tasteful that supported a cause, I’m all for it. A cloth bag with some cause’s logo on it, if you needed a cloth bag anyway, for example. Or I have checks with pretty nature images and quotes on it, and a trivial amount of the profits went to a nature preservation group. I needed the checks, and it didn’t cost any more resources to make them make a statement. But the little ribbons…those always bothered me. The pink stuff just infuriates me. Especially since some of it is products that have been linked to causing breast cancer! Ok, rant over.
I have to admit, I haven’t heard of the 11/11/11 thing…what is that commemorating?
Nice work Vanessa…I agree totally, Say no to the wristbands and other chemically enhanced forms of support and if you want to wear a poppy…make you’re own out of paper for a second use and then recycle it at then end of the day, or wear a real one that you grew!
Cheers…
I totally agree w/ you Vanessa. People truly need to think before they support with stuff.
Honestly, what are those little rubber bracelets made from anyway? They can’t be good for the enviroment.
I guess we can thank Lance Armstrong for those “Live Strong” bracelets for starting the trend.
OOHhh look out! I think I might make people upset w/ that comment!! Don’t get me wrong–I’m glad he survived his cancer and all, but come on now, how much $$ could have gone to his charity if those bracelets hadn’t be produced? And imagine how many are in the trash now…
I agree that we shouldn’t promote wasteful and harmful products in the name of “supporting a good cause”, however, I still think that we need to leave room for helping people with less
altruistic motives. People often need to take baby steps toward a full understanding of what it means to live responsibly. Maybe buying a pink ribbon will help them one day do more.
A more innovative approach would definitely be to find more eco-friendly “promo items”.
“Who won’t wear the ribbon?” I can’t help but evoke memories of a Sienfeld episode.
I agree, those bracelets are trendy and wasteful to the max.
A suggestion for a green change: striking a match rather than spraying air freshener in the bathroom. Saving your vegetable water when cooking veges and using it instead of stock.
I can imagine that it is getting difficult to think of more green stuff to do as you have already made such huge changes.
This has nothing to do with ribbons or wristbands…. but this morning as I was parking my car at school (I park in the Superstore parking lot because it is free), the guy in the car beside me was sitting in his car. The engine was running, he had his windows down, he was smoking, drinking coffee and reading the paper. Made me mad. So I said in as nice and unconfrontational way as possible “Do you have to have your car running while your doing all that?” And he said “I’m listening to the radio”. So he he was smoking. drinking coffee, reading the paper and listening to the radio. So I said “the engine doesn’t have to be running to listen to the radio.” And he says “well it’s cold out- I got the heat on”. Windows were down so he could smoke. Heat was on to stay warm. So I said all I could think of at the moment and that was “good thing you’re keeping warm then” in a sarcastic tone. And as I walked away he bellows out “stupid hippie”. And no, he didn’t key my car after I walked away, he somehow manage to arrange for the biggest bird to ever roam North York to make a giant runny poop on my windshield. How is that fair?
The world isn’t fair, healthycookie! But it’s really interesting, isn’t it? I don’t even bother having a conversation with folks like that because I’d rather spend my energy where I think it might actually do some good. But I can totally understand how angry you must have felt.
Vanessa, I am all for saying no to plastic crap or any extra stuff that you don’t need whether it comes from a non-profit or not. I attended the SF Green Festival last weekend, and it was full of plastic crap. Just give to the organizations you like without taking their stuff. The swag is there for people who need a little bribery to give money.
Thank you for this reminder. While I already avoid these things in favor of donations, this just triggered a concern for me about plastic promotional items my company gives out. I need to see what I can suggest in leiu of those!
Well… for things like the LiveStrong bracelets, those aren’t just wear this for awareness, it raised several million dollars to help cancer patients. And it was a way to get money from people who might not normally give to a cause. So if it’s a little less plastic or millions of dollars for cancer research… I pick the later.
I agree 100%! Wristbands are purely a symbolic gesture. There is no affirmation that the person wearing one is actually taking action and supporting a particular cause. The world today is filled with useless junk and adults are like children, enamored with trinkets of little or no intrinsic value, like toy in a Happy Meal. This brings me to another dilemma, Cristmas decorations, I refuse to buy anthing fake or plastic or unhealthy for the enviornment. Perhaps we could recycle the old wristbands and decorate our trees with them?
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