SHould we support Product Red???

[mitch gold]

I am offended by the Product Red Campaign.

You may ask Bono or Jamie Drummond why I should be offended?

Is Redwashing what Development Crossing is about? Give Bono credit for establishing a new form of red washing corporations = an upgrade from greenwashing, and bluewashing,

This last Christmas Apple attempted to Red wash itself until I pointed out only one of its complete line of products was "red" and their whole store was Red! after my observation the Apple company changed their red T Shirts to dark blue. Maybe a coincidence.

But let everyone in this competition be aware that Product Red feeds the Broken system and has no integrity.

I say this as the ideas for Product Red came from the TOPS Program that Bono indicated he was going to support - and did not - he merely used the TOPS marketing concepts to build Product Red - and unsuccessfully too I might add. TOPS includes integrity and holistic thinking models - Product Red does not.

As a member of Developmetn Crossing I ask all members of this competition be exposed to my observations of Product Red and know that the funds that go to Product Red feed the 30/30 model of International do good organizations. (This is not an acceptable model anymore -IMHO and in the opinion of James D. Wolfensohn.)

[Garrett Wyse]

If they have borrowed your ideas, then surely they are moving in the right direction?
and this 'movement' may be interpreted very broadly, and in the medical sense may be equated with the maxim 'first do no harm'.
I would subscribe to this myself, ascertaining what the situation is, how you can help and then moving in that general direction allowing for refinement, modification and perhaps even large scale change if and when necessary. People I am sure were talking about moving in the right direction when Emily Pankhurst threw herself under a horse, but hey, it was a move in the right direction at least
what the RED team has regarding resources I am not aware of, although I would hope that they have the institutional strength to push their goals, and with access to the rich and famous, would use that to further the real RED cause
Its not perfect when you need a famous person to get notice for horrible human conditions, but that is unfortunately the world were appear to live in.
As I mentioned earlier i have been frustrated myself many times in various endeavours, but what are we to do?, continue on i would argue

[mitch gold]

I agree with your final line - but to continue on without learning the lesson would be foolish - I am sharing the lesson with others - not so they will see how I was taken advantage of, but rather the integrity behind the Product red Campaign - that was my reason for asking the question.

I say we continue on - but we call a spade a spade on not colour over it because they are ostensibly doing good - what they are doing is misleqading peolpe, and not helping the CSR movement or the Sustainability movement at all.

NOW what IS THE POINT. of Development Crossing if not to share this question.re product RED.

Integrity is not a direction - it is a quality of ones experience.

[James]

Fascinating discussion, and there is much truth on all sides of this debate I think. We should of course aim high, but sometimes the great mass of humanity and large institutions and corporations get scared off by targets or standards which are over ambitious.

I feel I am missing half of the references, because I am not sure what you mean, Mitch, by the TOPS Program, Heart of Africa Campaign (which I thought was a Nigerian investment promotion campaign). 30/30 Model, or "working with medicine wheel teachings". Excuse my ignorance, but if you could explain, or put a hyperlink/ dierct me to a website to discover more, I would be extremely grateful, and better able to contibute! A quick google search turned up nothing ...

[mitch gold]

much of the informtion can be gleaned at the homeplanet.og website.
but I did not join this discussion to continue my activities of the past fifteen years. I am building something.

those that participate through the homeplanet MBA program will be the beneficiaries of my knowledge and teachings.

the basics can all be found on the website - but the MBA program is how we will work together.

I am somewhat confused as to why there is not more conversation or exploration in Development Crossing on the constructs ;that I am puytting forth.

What I am learning is challenging - hopefully ;those that ;participate in Development Crossing will take up the challenge and bring holistic thinking models to their companies.

[mitch gold]

James, apologies for the delay in response - but I have been stressed over use of my time. Much of the information and references can be found on our website - www.homeplanet.org and for certain within our homeplanet MBA program.

Tops referred to the 1% solution campaign endorsed by many peace educators around the world
Heart of Africa Campaign is a Campaign to awaken the creative aspects in cities world wide based upon a new paradigm of thinking, medicine wheel teachings - well that is a whole area of thought unto itself, (also found on our site) and the 30/30 model refers to the distribution system used by the World Bank, IMF etc. 30% off the top for outside consultants - 30 % again for inside consultants the balance to overheads and projects.

I would appreciate you registering for the Homeplanet MBA as a serious starting point for your learning and allow me the privilege of using my time effectively.

[Henry Klen]

Mitch
After reading this, you totally open my eyes. Especially when you said "since they "borrowed " my ideas"... I googled them and it is very hard to get information about the "real" structure of the red campaign. Thanks for making me aware of this. I don't think many people know about it.

[mitch gold]

Those that see Product Red as a step in the RIght Direction after becoming aware of what I wrote, would do well to look in a mirror and ask themselves why they are involved with the Development Crossing site and the values it proposes.

Certainly my intentions are to motivate all Development Crossing members to work together - and I think looking deeply at the Product Red campaign is a good place to start.

- when people support "borrowing" of important ideas, without honor, recognition, or their own ; expressed intention declaring "steps in the right direction" as excuse for thievery, duplicity, and ignorance. If ignorance is bliss - then Bono may be quite blissful;even as he takes steps in the right direction.
I wanted more, expected more and certainly did not expect anyone on this site to be supportive once being made aware of the choices that are in front of us.

YES there are choices and steps in the right direction are of little value given the conditionhs we are addressing.

trusting in the goodness of all is challenging.

Peace

Mitch

[mitch gold]

and those at Development Crossing seem to be oblivious as well.

[Erle Frayne Argonza]

Good afternoon! It seems I got to catch up a bit in familiarizing myself with corporate campaigns such as 'red campaign'. At least the term 'red' had quite changed in connotation, it used to be a fear-mongering line of Cold War fanatics. In the Philippines we still haven't gotten away completely with the ambivalence over the 'red' thing. Will be following through on this campaign, and will be glad to hear some updates here.

[Will Marre]

This seems to be a very hot topic. I've read several blogs/articles on it, one of which is Better (Red) Than Dead by Marc Gunther published at GreenBiz.com. Gunther sites arguments for and against Product Red and refers to a New York Times article in which it states that Red contributions in Rwanda "have built 33 testing and treatment centers, supplied medicine for more than 6,000 women to keep them from transmitting H.I.V. to their babies, and financed counseling and testing for thousands more patients." Red has also generated $110 million for the Global Fund to fight Aids. While the flaws with Product Red are aggravating and appalling, and I'm sure they could be doing more and doing better, I can't help but applaud what they have accomplished--$110 million. At least they are doing something. And in my opinion, something is better than nothing.

[mitch gold]

I agree with much of what you say but I must disagree on principles. And after all what are we about but our principles? How do we expect to achieve a new balance on the planet without honesty, integrity, and truth?

I take this maybe a little too personally. Bono created Product Red after meeting with me, and agreeing to work together and borrowing our strategy without acknowledging our agreement. Had we taken the benefit of his outreach - we would have raised 1 Billion dollars by now - maybe more. SO you decide. Is $100 million - which becomes $40 million in the distribution system that they employ, better than $1 billion in a new distribution system that deplores the 30/30 model.

Imagine that you had worked for ten years on a project - to have a large portion of its essence taken from you by a an Irish Rocker - just after he introduced the new Prime Minister of Canada to his party at a convention center in your home town. Imagine that you thought you had hit your home run, scored your goal - only to have an unofficial official - declare silently - no goal - no home run - its my game - and you cannot play. Imagine your disappointment in having to justify your existence to anyone and everyone at the same time. Lofty thoughts deserve lofty outputs.

You must know that things must be in balance and if you think for one minute that Bono is balanced in this matter- you are truly mistaken.

Product Red is an abomination no matter how you choose to look at it.

I am sure he will repent one day - but not until the mirror is placed in front of him, with the Heart of Africa in the background. That may wake him up. and then again it may not!