Comments on: Product (RED): from ridicule to dialogue

By: Karis

Karis — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:09:10 +0000

geckonomist : I’m sorry – do you have any proof or evidence on the prices paid to farmers and the sustainability of the Starbucks purchasing system? Because from what I know of Starbucks they have one or two certified Fair Trade coffee. Fair Trade may not be a panacea, but it’s accountable. And that says more than Starbucks’ claims. Not to mention that Starbucks tried to ban Ethiopia from patenting it’s coffee so that farmers could make more money because they’d pay more. They only withdrew b/c of a heavy handed campaign by Oxfam and others.

Bill, I don’t know your views on Fair Trade, but to me, that the Starbucks RED coffee is not Fair Trade is questionable. I’m sure the $1 from every bag of RED coffee sold will go far. Cue the eye roll.

Here’s my benchmark. I go out of my way to buy Fair Trade (the official certification) where I can (sugar, coffee, cocoa), because in my research I’ve not found a legitimate and fair alternative. And if someone sells one product that is FT among many that are not, they are definitively window dressing, and nothing more.

By: Nate Jackson

Nate Jackson — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:12:22 +0000

“He understands the politics of advocacy much better than I do:”

Amen. That is what Product RED is essentially about – advocacy marketing. The $ is secondary. I do agree that they could focus more on African products.

And kudos to Dr. Easterly and Mr. Shriver for the meeting. Sometimes all it takes is a different perspective to more fully understand something.

By: PMcClellan

PMcClellan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:52:49 +0000

Coffee Summit-Awesome! (was it really coffee?)

Seriously-Very cool that Bobby Shriver is open minded and willing to listen to the “other side” and smooth some feathers.

By: Zeynep

Zeynep — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:12:39 +0000

“Is ridicule a good way to promote dialogue?”
John Stewart is the most trusted newsman. I think ridicule works just fine…

By: Dave Backus

Dave Backus — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:06:50 +0000

I don’t know what works best, but your satire is really entertaining, would hate to give that up. Can’t we have some fun here?

By: booksquirm

booksquirm — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:05:08 +0000

I agree with teekay – they’re managing the situation, like skilled and intelligent public relations people do. Saying that they talk with their critics looks so much better than saying that they don’t because as the comments here show, people respect open-mindedness.

I don’t doubt their good intentions and their commitment and drive is great too but they create a certain kind of ‘gaze’ where we see problems around the world in terms of things that can be fixed by the ad hoc cash donations of shopping. Worse, if something’s seen as a really big problem, they arrange concerts to raise money and awareness so that we get the impression that if there isn’t a benefit gig for something then it can’t be that big a deal. The organisation’s scale and influence over people’s perceptions mean that we say to the impoverished around the world that while in theory, as citizens, we can influence our governments’ foreign policy to be less detrimental to them, in reality, what they really need to do is catch the attention of a rich Western entertainer or business tycoon. If RED or ONE set up something like an open access tv channel where marginalised people around the world could tell their own stories then I wouldn’t have a problem with them but they prefer to control how we view the people they help, like they manage the look of how they deal with critics.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:34:31 +0000

Bill maybe you are mellowing with age. Or maybe your recent success and prize have made you less angry. Glad you are questioning the effectiveness of satire. Debate is for healthy inquiry. Satire is just elitist fun. It’s cathartic (which is why I watch Jon Stewart after a hard day) but not very good at convincing people.

By the way, didn’t i give you your first pound of Tomoca?

By: Andrew W

Andrew W — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:06:56 +0000

Satire is for life, dialogue’s just for Christmas (or seemingly, coffee with Bobby).

By: Paul Rigterink

Paul Rigterink — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:38:33 +0000

Did you provide RED with a specific list of supplies and training that African BOP personnel need to make a living in the specific countries that RED is trying to help? Do BOP personnel need micro-irrigation systems, ferilizer, pesticides, nursery stock, seeds, farm equipment, well drilling equipment, veterinary supplies, small animals suitable for backyard farming, poultry netting, etc? How do you propose that these supplies and training be sold to BOP personnel so that they can double their income within one year?

By: Raphael

Raphael — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:51:25 +0000

Completely agree on the Tomoca coffee!