Pinktober Revolution
Comments
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TravelText, good point!
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Jack,
And everyone else...brilliant work. The Pinktober stuff is really getting to me this time around. I've always given to breast cancer action I never paid much attention to the pink and always hated it but now it's EVERYWHERE!! It also didn't help that my second time with this disease I was diagnosed in October. I just have to make sure I don't get mad at people when they think they're only trying to help.
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Bravo fellow warriors! Let it begin...
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ok guys,
I'm really pissed off right now... There's this thing called Pink Ribbon Produce and they've currently got a thing going on that involves the hashtag #tweetforboobs so freaking bullshit insulting. Anyway arrrrrrgh!!!
Check this out!!!! http://pinkribbonproduce.org. Maybe it's late, maybe it's all the herceptin pumping through my system,.... But I just sent them this email I encourage all of you to jump on these jerks... And show em the love they're reached at hello@augustineideas.com....ok, after a long day in the infusion room I'm outta here!
This is my response to their #Tweetforboobs
Really? That's your hashtag? As a two time breast cancer survivor, the first time in my 30's as a non smoking, non drinking, self examining, vegetarian runner with no genetic ties to breast cancer ( I've been tested and tested) I can tell you that vegetables alone will not protect someone from breast cancer otherwise I'd never have gotten sick. I was diagnosed again last year, this time as a vegan... Still got cancer still no genetic link. After two mastectomies and chemo I can tell you that saving my life is more important than saving boobs... And if you asked any other women who have dealt with this disease they'd tell you the same thing. Wives, daughters, mothers and grandmas they want to live not just save their boobs, and their husbands, partners, and children would agree. The hashtag puts a pretty, sexualizing, and frankly demeaning pink ribbon on a very ugly disease. Breast cancer is not cute, or about boobies, or tatas, or "the girls". Breast cancer is about more than saving breasts, it's about saving lives. We can ( and many of us do) live without our breasts and do just fine. Also, even with the earliest detection as I had, sometimes the choice to save our breasts just isn't up to us.
A more thoughtful hashtag would go a long way toward showing you guys really "get it".0 -
Documentary Starting Oct 13
https://go.thetruthaboutcancer.com/?ref=11dda4ac-ad59-4e17-9582-491167b05d63
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Jackie, you are so very articulate about how awareness fundraising should be approached that I am literally taking notes for my next year's letter to the editor! You explain it so well here:
As I said earlier, perhaps the way out of this mess is to ask companies specifically to adopt a new template, which severs the connection between any hint of profit mongering, and simply adopts a traditional donation and matching funds format, with special attention to educating the public
Nobody is saying Breast Cancer Awareness month is bad, or that companies should stop being involved in it. But they can do so much more by being wiser and braver about how they handle the money, especially by scrutinizing very carefully where the money goes, and what % is spent in research, what % on metastatic research, etc. The profiteering and appearance of profiteering must end.
**You should not have to make a purchase of a company's product to trigger their charitable giving.**
This is an important point. I think this would also reduce the amount of sexualization and objectification, since the charitable giving wouldn't be subject to, or dependent on, big marketing's "Look At Me" philosophy and practice.
Furthermore, somehow, all of the efforts of all of the charities need to be accountable in the big picture so that duplication of effort is stopped, and new and exciting areas of research can be pursued. Even the best of charities have funneled money to something that has been tested hundreds of times, while leaving other important areas unexplored.
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Sula, I heading to the website you mention now; their message is beyond insulting
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Sula, thank you for the heads up about that company and kudos on your very well written and powerful letter! I plan to go to my local Harris Teeter and talk with the general manager and produce manager-and also try to find out who in the HT co I can contact about my concerns with their partnership. Also, this might be the person (Molly Okumura) to contact regarding the #tweetforboobs bullshit. Hopefully the phone number is a direct line; I will try to call later today when I'm not so nauseaed (finished rads yesterday)
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Fantastic email, Suladog! (About tweetforboobs)You could turn it into a letter for wider distribution.
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Thanks for the heads up on the Pink Ribbon Produce crap, Sula...beyond insulting. Sending email also. I also like SMJ's approach of visiting and complaining to your local retailer. They should also know how we feel. They should also be held accountable for the actions of suppliers they use.
The parent company for Harris Teeter is Kroger. I believe there are a few Kroger owned stores in the LA area, but as far as I can tell from my internet search there are no local Kroger owned stores in Central California (where I live) or in Northern California. Sula or any other California women: let us know if you have different or more information.
My local retailer is Raley's, which apparently is still family owned and operated and based in California and Northern Nevada. I've seen no pink crap in my local store, nor is there any on their website. Thank goodness. Would like to hear if anyone does see this kind of stuff from Raleys stores elsewhere in California or Nevada.
Edited to add: I do have a vague memory of being asked in previous years at checkout at Raley's if I wanted to donate to bc. So they might do that. Hubby is doing most of the grocery shopping these days and says he doesn't recall being asked when he went shopping earlier in the week, but then he routinely declines any requests to donate to any charity he doesn't know well, so he may not remember. Will have to check it out myself this weekend, not that I am in the mood to grocery shop. As for vegetables, give me my CSA box and the local farmer's market, and I am good to go...
Thanks again
Octogirl
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Krogers is hq in Cincinnati, if that helps an
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Kroger's owns the huge Fred Myers chain in Oregon. I had plans to go there today. Will be keeping my eyes peeled in their produce department.
I feel I have not fed my soul any day I don't speak up at least once.
Sula- you are a rock star. I am lifting your sentiment, if not your actual words, and letting them know I think the same about their tweet. Makes me sick.
Divine- you flatter me. On the contrary, your words in your original letter INSPIRED ME.
Let's all inspire each other.
I hear the battle cry welling up inside me this morning.
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Sula- Just posted this on their FB page. They will probably take it down. But anybody that wants to comment, or like, it will make it harder for them to ignore.
Here's my post:
Your tweet for boobs hashtag and philosophy may be well-intentioned, but is a slap in the face to breast cancer survivors who have eaten healthy, maintained an otherwise healthy lifestyle, and had no genetic predisposition towards breast cancer. You have jumped on the pink bandwagon without thinking. If you truly care about breast cancer and its victims, stop implying that buying your produce will keep them safe. It won't. Furthermore, why should it be necessary for someone to buy your product to trigger a charitable donation? In what other disease scenario is this done? Profit mongering from breast cancer needs to stop. Please re-think your campaign.
ETA: I also emailed this to mokumura@augustinideas.com
Sickening
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I was asked if I wanted to donate to susan b komen when I was checking out at Krogers yesterday. I pointed to my flat chest and said I already gave. Then I politely mentioned that SBK needs to spend more on research and less on awareness while my groceries were being bagged.
Shirley
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Shirley- BRAVA!!! Although it certainly isn't funny, I spontaneously burst out laughing (all by myself here, just got a questioning look from the dog) at the scene I imagined in my head.
Now I am just looking forward to following in your footsteps. I will do exactly the same
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I find you, JackBirdie, inspiring as well. I'm going to follow your lead by tweeting or FBing or writing someone at least once a day for one whole year. October to October. Let's see what happens!
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Mema- that is awesome! Go girl! If you are ever short of memes or other fuel for the fire, pm me.
Wanna start with Komen? Here's a link to charity navigator (at the end comparisons are made).
Score:
BCO- 4 stars
Komen-2 stars
Game over.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=sear...
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Guys,
I just got into it with the "health expert" at my local Pharmaca about an hour ago. I went in to purchase some bubble bath and got a lecture on skin care, fish oils, flax etc. I told her I was a cancer survivor and she immediatly wanted to know how many mamograms I'd ghad before I was first diagnosed..(The old Mammos give you cancer trope) I told her when I was first diagnosed, i'd never had a mammo as I was in my 30's. That shut her up, she was asking me if I drank red wine..I said that alcohol was not recommended for women with ER+ breast cancer and can be a contributing factor, plus I don't drink anyway. Stop. Then she asked if I took fish oil..well turns out fish oil capsules during chemo can possibly interact with certain chemos and make them ineffective, fish are fine just not supplements..so ok, then she asked about flax oil and I told here that flax oil may not be not good for women with ER+ cancers..this from MSK in NYC
Because flaxseed has phytoestrogenic effects, patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer should use flaxseed with caution.so the woman was pushing flaxseed oil on me. I said I don't take anything like a supplement or vitamin unless I discuss it with my oncologists first....then she brought up Komen.....and I let her know that's not the place to quote to me or suggest I give money toMy husband was quite amused watching me, he really enjoyed the whole exchange and just stood back and let me at her. I wasn't totally mean and it ended on a happy note, but she is one of these people who thinks as long as she wraps herself in pink and eats right she'll never get this disease...I did back off so I guess I'm not going to hell today. Grrrrrrrrr.
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I just posted this on Facebook and said: I love this kind of breast cancer awareness. Strong, beautiful women sharing their experience 💗
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Sula, yes, there are those out there that seem to feel a bit superior that they're doing it all right and that's why they don't have bc. I'm glad you put that woman thru the paces.
Julie, that scar project is beautifully done and does a good job showing a side of bc many don't see.
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Divine, you just described an attitude I've encountered a few times (women who are a bit superior that they're "doing it all right" and that's why they don't have BC). I work with someone who flashes that attitude from time to time. She is fortunate that I'm committed to nonviolence.
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A friend of mine who also had bc told me about being at a dinner party where another woman said ( hopefully not too loudly) to someone else... "At least I don't sit on my anger" most of those who live in the La La La pink bubble have no real understanding of this disease. Total magical thinking
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Sula, I stopped taking flaxseed oil capsules after I found out that my er-+ was strong at 99%. As a longtime vegetarian (since my teens), the phytoestrogen effect is still probably a daily factor for me. So I think twice when I crave things like yummy tofu scramblers, but it doesn't really stop me. However, even though I've heard that only the seeds from the flaxseed plant give rise to a phytoestrogen effect-and not the oil that is derived from the outer husks, I still choose to give up flaxseed oil as well as most of my supplements because it's too crazy to try to figure all that out. Plus, flaxseed oil is not essential to keeping me alive.
Actually, I had started to become quite neurotic in my initial quest to be a "proactive advocate" in my cancer and treatment. Examining (i.e., questioning) statistical outcomes regarding recommendations and guidelines for every test my MO and BS had ordered, I practically committed to memory things like the newer guidelines from ASCO and CAP (College of American Pathologists) on Her2 testing, would look up the references, download journals from PubMed, and try to analyze how my demographics and test results fit into the article's data results/conclusion, etc, etc, etc. (" Humm.. most tumors used in that study came from women under the age of 50, and living in the middle east...so yada yada", and would toss it into my "Meh" pile). And don't get me started on the OncotypeDx pitch.
But sorry, I really digressed!! I guess what I wanted to say was, thank you for helping to educate people not only on the hurtful pinkism party lines, but that "all natural" "organic" and "high in antioxidants!" may not necessarily be a helpful thing. As you indicated, chemo, or rads, or endocrine tx, or surgery are each affected by their own set of parameters, so it's helpful to understand what-and when-you ingest. Just don't go crazy like I did! I think the stress alone probably negated a couple of centiGrays from my recently completed rads tx. haha! (But don't tell my RO; I'm quite over being fried, thank you).
Yes, there seems to be so many people who are ignorant in their lofty bliss of healthy lifestyles topped off with a fancy dose of pink... <sigh> ... kinda like they wear a pink ribbon in the same way as the villagers of Transylvania wore garlic and silver crosses! Now, which one is more fictional?
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Oh, Sweetmama, you are so right...wearing that ribbon to ward off cancer like garlic keeps the vampires away....
Sula, that comment your friend heard "at least I don't sit on my anger" is just another discriminating comment towards women. It feeds into the "keep sweet" mentality that women must approach all that life sends their way with positivity and pleasantness.
I recently finished a book written by the famed attorney, Gloria Allred "Fight Back And Win". I admire her, the book was a bit autobiography and then touched on various clients and cases she's tried over the years. Reading the book left me feeling empowered. She's stood up time and time again for women's rights. Yes, at times she can be controversial, but I admire the changes she's brought about for the betterment of women. It makes me feel even more confident about raising questions about the direction of awareness
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Please tell me what you think of this:
On Saturday morning, after visiting the PinkRibbon Produce website, which encourages using the hashtag 'tweet for boobs' to help raise awareness, I went to their Facebook page to register a complaint. I selected one of their recent posts, which says they've raised over $450,000 for National Brrast Cancer Foundation. And here's the exchange:
Me: While your fundraising has produced good results, your current promotion regarding "tweetforboobs" is highly offensive. The focus of breast cancer awareness month must be on saving the lives of WOMEN, not their boobs, not their breasts. (Posted about 8:30 am)
Pink Ribbon Produce: Can you please let us know where you see this on Twitter. Our campaign is all about eating more fruits and veggies! Thanks (posted a little after 3 pm)
Me: Is this your website? Please go to the bottom of the page and see where it says "HELP US REACH 20K SHARES! Do your part to help us spread the word about breast cancer awareness. Pick a message to share with your friends!" The tweet in the messages to select says "tweetforboobs"http://pinkribbonproduce.org. (Posted about 10 minutes after their comment).
I haven't heard back! Four hours ago, I posted "Checking to see if there is a follow up to this." Still nothing.
It seems to me some of them don't know what promotions they are running. What do you think of their initial response and then the lack of follow up?
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Typical? The right hand has no clue what the left hand is doing?
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I tweeted to Pink Ribbon Produce in response to their ads and now have them "following" me! Welcome aboard!
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Divine- I also posted a complaint on their FB page. Same basic tone as yours. Very shortly after, with my name spelled wrong, some perky admin said " we are all about eating healthy fruits and veggies"!.
I pointed out the same things you did, and the misspelling of my name, wondering if this lack of attention to detail could be part of the problem and to please re think their campaign.
Silence. Goose. It's been 48 hours. I assume they've deleted my post, but I haven't the heart to check. It all just wears me down. They all jump on the pink bandwagon, each trying to be more "clever" than the last. And what they need us true compassion. And enough brain cells to rub together to start a fire.
Very depressed this morning.
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My tweet for the day was to "Tata Communications" in NYC Really?
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When I posted to Pink Ribons Produce, I simultaneously emailed the pr person in charge of the campaign. Just got this back. I am a bit underwhelmed. Here is her response:
Dear Kathryn,
Thank you so much your email. First of all, let me offer my sincere
apologies for any pain or frustration our campaign has caused and assure
you that it is well-intentioned. The last thing we would ever want to do
is offend breast cancer survivors through this campaign.
Pink Ribbon Produce is an awareness initiative that began ten years ago
with the goal of encouraging people to eat healthier and engage in a more
active lifestyle. While we have cited the American Cancer Society's
recommendation of eating 2.5 cups of fruits and vegetables every day to
help reduce the risk of cancer, we certainly didn¹t mean to imply that
this would prevent cancer altogether.
Regarding the charitable aspect of our campaign, our grocery partners have
contributed over half a million dollars to breast cancer research and
prevention over the past 9 years (to Susan G. Komen and the National
Breast Cancer Foundation). Most all of our partners donate a flat amount
so product purchase is not necessary to generate a donation. Additional
funds are raised voluntarily through the ³Donate Today² tab on our website
that reroutes directly to NBCF¹s secure donation portal. We will review
the verbiage on our website and other communication to better clarify
this.
We appreciate you expressing your concerns about the Pink Ribbon Produce
and, again, we apologize if our hashtag or campaign seem insensitive in
any way. That is certainly not our aim. Our foremost goal is to prompt
consumers to think more about the foods they are eating while providing
them with simple ways to fill their plates with healthy food.
I would be happy to discuss this with you further if you have any
questions.
Best,
Molly
Molly Okumura
Public Relations Account Associate
AugustineIdeas
Be Inspired. Be Innovative. Be Smart.
532 Gibson Drive, Suite #250
Roseville, CA 95678
P. 916.774.9600 F. 916.774.9611
www.AugustineIdeas.com <http://www.augustineideas.com/>
www.facebook.com/AugustineIdeas <http://www.facebook.com/AugustineIdeas>
Twitter: @AugustineIdeas
Branding | Digital Strategy | Creative | Social Media Marketing |
Public Relations | Graphic Design | Shopper Marketing | Retail
ActivationSo, I am tempted to simply follow up that donating to 2-star rated Komen is nothing to be proud of, and donating money is still no excuse for offensive tweets. Ideas?
My original email us below
On 10/10/15, 10:29 AM, "Katy" wrote:
Your tweet for boobs hashtag and philosophy may be well-intentioned, but
is a slap in the face to breast cancer survivors who have eaten healthy,
maintained an otherwise healthy lifestyle, and had no genetic
predisposition towards breast cancer. You have jumped on the pink
bandwagon without thinking. If you truly care about breast cancer and its
victims, stop implying that buying your produce will keep them safe. It
won't. Furthermore, why should it be necessary for someone to buy your
product to trigger a charitable donation? In what other disease scenario
is this done? Profit mongering from breast cancer needs to stop. Please
re-think your campaign.
Kathryn
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