AIDS is something we have all heard about; the question is how is this information coming to us. We have things such as: Global AIDS day, walk for AIDS, starbucks product RED, GAP AIDS products, and concerts for AID. The question I challange is: how much does our buying of t-shirts and coffee really impact the lives of AIDS victims.
One of the most known and well advertised products is the famous starbucks RED campaigns. Starbucks says that for every holiday drink (there are 3 choices), 5 cents will be donated to the AIDS global fund. In a recent press release from Starbucks, vice president Michelle Gass claimed “If every single Starbucks customer bought one (RED) Holiday Exclusive (beverage) for a week, we would save 15,000 lives for a year in Africa.” This seems like a remarkable number and would definitely convince me to participate in the promotion. However, I did some of my own math. At 4 dollars a cup, if every Starbucks consumer didn’t but coffee everyday for a week and instead donated the 4 dollars each day to the AIDS fund…how many lives could we save then??
Likewise with Gap clothes, fashion accessories and purses etc. What if instead of buying the product and having a small portion donating to the fund, we don’t buy it at all and donate 100% of the money to the fund. Events such as the AIDS walk and fundraisers like that I can fully support. Not only because such a large amount of money is being donated, but it is something that encourages people to come out and be active. Participating in events like these seem much more worthwhile and what we should be doing to help solve the AIDS problem.
No matter what the numbers are that I see coming from GAP, concerts, and others like Starbucks, I just can’t imagine this is the right way to be going about curing an epidemic. If anything, it might even justify some people’s reasons to not get further involved. There is just so much more that could be done that doesn’t serve a co-purpose of consumerism. If you like these products, then by all means buy them and enjoy. However, do not justify that because you bought them you have contributed to the cure and research of AIDS and have done all you can do. This is not true because there is so much more to be done. 5 cents, or 10% of a product is not nearly what could be raised by participating in walks or free testing programs.
I am glad corporations are trying to help and raise awareness, but there is still way more to be done. People need to get out there are make a difference, not just carry a purse or buy a new cd. I challange people to cut back on consumer products for a week and see what they could raise to make a difference: I bet that will show you an astounding result.
You have really good points and I agree. Even though it is nice for companies to donate a portion of their proceeds, it seems like a strategy to manipulate consumers to buy their products instead of others. It would be a lot more beneficial for the consumers to simply donate $5 to a cause, instead of buying a coffee and only a portion of that going to the cause.