Oh well... it's not what you do...

... but whether or not you had good intentions:

Wristbands sold to raise money for a campaign against world poverty are made in mainland sweatshops in "slave labor'' conditions.

The "shocking'' conditions are disclosed in "ethical audits'' of factories that make the ultra-fashionable white wristbands for the Make Poverty History campaign, started by a coalition of more than 400 charities.

Bob Geldof, who recently confirmed a follow-up to the 1985 Live Aid concert - to coincide with the G8 summit in July - called for action.

``The charities should pull out of deals with those companies immediately or set a firm deadline for improvements,'' he said.

One senior official with a British charity accused Oxfam, Christian Aid and others of ``rank hypocrisy.''

``This is appalling. It goes against everything we stand for. If we are criticizing big companies for trading unethically, then we have to be whiter than white,'' he said.

Hundreds of thousands of wristbands, made in fabric or silicon, have been sold in Britain, with pop stars, footballers and politicians such as Tony Blair seen wearing them. They cost HK$14.22,, of which 70 pence goes to charities. The audits show factories making the silicon versions fall woefully short of the ``ethical standards.''

A report on Tat Shing Rubber Manufacturing in Shenzhen, dated April 12, accuses it of using ``forced labor'' by taking ``financial deposits'' from new employees in violation of the law and the Ethical Trading Initiative set up to promote international standards for working conditions.

I've seen a number of folks touting the MakePovertyHistory banners on their blogs and pitching the purchase of the white bands...  I wonder what they have to say about this story?  Probably not too much...

But I think the whole campaign makes little practical sense...  and thankfully, for you my readers, there are those more articulate than I who have the same kinds of questions.

Like the Anchoress:

The poor are not a “trendy” concern to be flashed on a bracelet so you can show how much you care, and how compassionate you are. And no one is going to “Make Poverty History,” because the poor will always be among us, for many reasons. This silly idea that poverty, everywhere, can possibly be forever eliminated is dishonest and dishonesty never serves anything constructively. You can’t make it go away by buying a bracelet, or even by writing a check. You can’t make it go away by “raising awareness” by attending a dinner wherein straws are drawn and the short straws are served beans and rice while the long ones get lobster. Its SOUNDS noble and enlightening, but it’s just posturing, in the end.

Or like Jeff Doolittle:

I'd like to see organizations like Make Poverty History take a harder line against autocratic, despotic governments that are a major culprit in keeping much of the world under the thumb of extreme poverty. Ending poverty is the noblest of humanitarian causes and we should take whatever measures are within our power to reach this goal. My hope is for organizations such as this one to see the missing link in their logic chain. The discussion must include calls for personal freedom and free markets within developing nations.

So get involved in the fight to eradicate poverty, but let's have a complete picture of what the process will involve. Poverty cannot be permanently eradicated unless people are protected by the rule of law and the provisions of a free society.

Or my personal favorite, The PunditGuy, who is more than brutally honest in this missive addressed to Bob Geldof:

Dear Mr. Geldof,

I hate to break it to you, but the people (teenagers) who attend your free concert will be there to see whomever shows up. They will not attend the show as a sign of solidarity to end world hunger. They will not leave the show and change their consumption habits either. In fact, 24 hours after the concert, I bet 99% of them won’t remember any of the overtly political messages blurted from the stage. All the pontificating that will go on between acts and between songs will go in one ear and out the other. Oh, you’ll hear cheers and applause alright…but don’t make more out of it than it is. Crowds like these will cheer the breaking of wind.

Bottom line I think is that we can all do more to help the poor, and we all should, but much of what I see in the attempt is merely another vehicle by which liberals make political statements that do more to make themselves feel good than it does to help eradicate poverty.

And I think they ought to be a tad more honest about it.

You?

Comments

[Sue]

Well, colour me red....who knew????

Just yesterday I was online looking for a place to buy said white Make Poverty History bracelet. I'll rethink that.

The bracelets are just another version of the ribbon. (Remember that Seinfeld episode where Kramer refused to wear the ribbon at the AIDS Walk?) It seems to me that it can't hurt to model good intentions toward good causes, but I also wonder about the "fad" aspect of it.

Frankly, I would prefer that my good intentions show up on my private tax records for actual money given to help people in real need. No one needs to know about that but me, God and the tax people.

BTW Rick, you've been tagged. check out innerdorothy :)

[MarcV]

Can I get any wristbands that say "Make MY Poverty History"? Oh yeah, that's what a PayPal button is for.

[Eric]

Rick...you did a wonderful job being artfully articulate. Great post... Summed up many thoughts I've had about many of the so-called causes out there.