why (RED) is suddenly the best colour
If you live in the UK and are reading this today, and the shops are still open, get down there and buy a copy of today's INDEPENDENT newspaper, which is a special issue all about Africa, edited by Bono.
If you missed it, try linking to www.independent.co.uk
Within the pages, as well as some great articles with lots of terrible facts about the reality of many plights that hit Africa, not just AIDS, there is a lot about something called (RED)...
From what I understand, it's a group that's been set up to put money into something called The Global Fund to help fight 3 main causes of death in Africa : AIDS, TB and Malaria.
It's going to work by conquering the high street. To quote Bono:
'We had the student campuses and the church halls but we didn't have the high street.'
You'll be able to get a (RED) American Express card, (RED) mobile phone (which actually looks quite cool, and apart from initial handset charge, won't cost you anything more than you're paying now) , Converse (RED) shoes, Gap (RED) t-shirt and Armani (RED) sunglasses and promise of clothes to follow. Donations are made to the Global Fund when you buy these products, or in the case of the phone, when you make calls, 5% goes to The Global Fund.
Sounds like a very clever plan...
Watch out for more (RED) products... this could be the next big thing...
If you missed it, try linking to www.independent.co.uk
Within the pages, as well as some great articles with lots of terrible facts about the reality of many plights that hit Africa, not just AIDS, there is a lot about something called (RED)...
From what I understand, it's a group that's been set up to put money into something called The Global Fund to help fight 3 main causes of death in Africa : AIDS, TB and Malaria.
It's going to work by conquering the high street. To quote Bono:
'We had the student campuses and the church halls but we didn't have the high street.'
You'll be able to get a (RED) American Express card, (RED) mobile phone (which actually looks quite cool, and apart from initial handset charge, won't cost you anything more than you're paying now) , Converse (RED) shoes, Gap (RED) t-shirt and Armani (RED) sunglasses and promise of clothes to follow. Donations are made to the Global Fund when you buy these products, or in the case of the phone, when you make calls, 5% goes to The Global Fund.
Sounds like a very clever plan...
Watch out for more (RED) products... this could be the next big thing...
posted by Caroline @ 3:49 pm
3 Comments:
At Tuesday, 16 May, 2006,
Martin said…
Got the paper (without even being prompted), although haven't yet had time to read it. Still, lack of small group tomorrow night should give a good opportunity. I am very interested to hear what is said on the issue.
However, I am sceptical about (RED) commercialising charity. I think this is the wrong approach, and quite the opposite of what Jesus said about giving in the sermon on the mount (see Matthew 6:1-4).
At Wednesday, 17 May, 2006,
Caroline said…
take your point martin, but I think the idea is more that you are encouraging others to be more giving, such as using fairtrade products, that's kind of using commercial means...
I think it's aimed at people who are going to buy this stuff anyway, so that they have the choice, plus by actually having (RED) products I guess it could lead in to a conversation about the issues in Africa.
Having said that, I'm not sure I'll be able to get any of the stuff, being that I'm becoming minimalist and all...
At Wednesday, 17 May, 2006,
Caroline said…
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