PINK RIBBONS: Who really profits from pink ribbon campaigns?

[Chimichurri]

Billions of dollars have been raised through the tireless efforts of women and men devoted to putting an end to breast cancer. Yet, breast cancer rates in North America have risen to 1 in 8. "What's going on?" asks Barbara Brenner in Pink Ribbons, Inc. a new film coming in 2012.

This feature documentary visits some of the massive fundraising runs and questions where the money goes and asks 'who really profits from pink ribbon campaigns?'. We meet women with metastatic breast cancer from the IV League support group of Austen, Texas who openly tell us their stories.

&feature=watch

[myrna minx]

1. Wow - Korman Inc's timing couldn't have been better for this movie opening.

I think there's big changes happening. I think many of us are learning some shocking truths today. I know I am.

[Tansy_Gold]

2. May the goddess bless Barbara Ehrenreich

And before her, Molly Ivins.

Almost a year ago, with the encouragement of a number of friends, I joined my local Curves fitness center. I knew at the time that the founder was anti-choice, but I justified my membership by the many good things the local franchise does to help women in the community. I took out only the minimum membership.

Today, when I went in, there was a huge pink blanket hung on the wall, made by one of the "girls" and being raffled to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I got a really sick feeling in my stomach.

Now, reading this thread, I did a little more research on Curves and I found this:

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Curves-patrons-exercise-their-right-to-choose-1148290.php

"Neither Curves International Inc. nor my wife, nor I gave money to Operation Save America or any other radical pro-life group," (Curves Founder CEO Gary) Heavin said in a statement. "The newspaper flat out got it wrong."

The born-again Christian from Waco, Texas, did give many hundreds of thousands of dollars to clinics and centers that offer health care to women while working to dissuade them from terminating unwanted pregnancies. He writes generous checks to centers stressing abstinence-only programs for teens. And he withdrew his funding of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and its Race for the Cure because the foundation supports Planned Parenthood, which he strongly opposes.

"I'm not afraid to tell the truth," Heavin told Today's Christian magazine. "There's nothing healthy about abortion."

I am legally commited to Curves for another month, but that is the end. I will turn my monthly membership into a donation to PP.

You just don't support women part of the way. You support them all the way, or it's the same as not at all.


Tansy Gold

[Chimichurri]

3. wow! Thanks for that!!

I had no idea and I know many women who use curves - hopefully not for much longer!

[myrna minx]

4. kick

[limpyhobbler]

5. It's the charity industrial complex. I'm not even kidding.

So I used to work at this minimum-wage telemarketing place doing fundraising for charities.

We called around trying to raise money for breast cancer charities, heart groups, lung groups, lukemia groups, veterans groups, etc.

I'm not saying any of those is bad. But the impression I got there is that the whole professional charity fundraising industry is a racket.

Most of the money that got raised went back into supporting the fundraising. Which means paying the professional fundraising contractor, like the sleazebag that owned the company I was working for. And he payed his people crap and he offered crappy health insurance that didn't cover anything but cost half your check.

Before I donate anything I would check to see how much of the money actually goes towards the cause, and not back into supporting the salaries of fundraisers.

[Raffi Ella]

6. This is all new to me.

I had no idea, at all,that Komen was a right wing organization or anything else to "not like". I've bought pink ribbon products. I walked in their fundraisers, I have t shirts and baseball caps - I had no idea.

And now I see that this movie is coming out - Thank the stars for that! Maybe this is a good thing that happened with them withdrawing their support from Planned Parenthood- It sure has opened MY eyes! And apparently a lot of others'.

[Chimichurri]

8. It's very disheartening

[Wilms]

7. ^

[DeSwiss]

9. Why of course those pink ribbons......

...are being used to unscrupulously benefit and increase profits for the already rich so they can become even richer. It's the American Way.


- The sleeper must Awaken......


K&R

[Stuart G]

10. You gotta watch and listen to this(it is only 2 minutes)....K and R..nt

[avaistheone1]

11. Wow. Dr Susan Love is in this film.

If SHE says something is wrong about how breast cancer $$$ donations are being used THAT is good enough for me.

k&r

[Chimichurri]

13. Nonprofits react: Dr. Susan Love says she's saddened by Komen decision

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-susan-love-komen-planned-parenthood-20120202,0,3498444.story

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. wow!!!!! Women standing up against the profit machine!

WOW!!

THIS should be one hell of an education!

I would have no idea this movie was out if not for DU (opening today, apparently---might be a while longer in this burgh).

Pretty amazing, with the timing of current events.....how perfect!

"feminizing, normalizing breast cancer...It's NOT normal! It's horrible!"-------
gave me goosebumps------ WATCH this TRAILER!

[Quantess]

14. The timing is phenomenal!

Is it because S.G.Komen Foundation have recently taken a sharp turn to the right, or what?

[Tx4obama]

15. Kick!