| Have you ever wondered why so many products are | | | | who did not care enough about breast cancer |
| emblazoned with pink ribbons every time the month | | | | sufferers and survivors to buy a single product. |
| of October comes around? In case you did not | | | | Skeptics point out that these corporates hand over |
| know, pink is the color associated with breast cancer | | | | only a small fraction of their earnings to breast |
| and many countries have breast cancer awareness | | | | cancer charities. In other words they cynically make |
| days in October. In the United States, the entire | | | | use of this occasion to drive sales. People have also |
| month is denoted as breast cancer awareness | | | | noticed that some companies spend more money on |
| month. | | | | promoting the event rather than actually donating |
| People are urged to buy products that are specially | | | | money to help find a cure for it. You will be shocked |
| made for this occasion, either pink in color or just | | | | to know that many cosmetics companies that are |
| with a pink ribbon affixed to them for two main | | | | associated with this program use ingredients like |
| reasons. One is that people will get intrigued by the | | | | parabens in their products which are known to have |
| color and therefore show some interest in this | | | | a link to cancer. Many of these companies are |
| subject. The other reason is so that a portion of the | | | | industrial giants and are also huge polluters of the |
| proceeds goes towards breast cancer programs. | | | | environment. |
| Many offices also organize pink parties where | | | | One also wonders why breast cancer gets so much |
| employees dress up in this color and make | | | | attention from these companies when 10 times as |
| contributions towards a particular cause that focuses | | | | many women in the United States die from heart |
| on breast cancer. Women are encouraged to go for | | | | related ailments. When it comes to cancer, there are |
| health checkups and screenings for cancer such as | | | | other cancers that deserve more attention because |
| mammograms. | | | | they kill more women than breast cancer does. |
| While this is no doubt a noble cause, there is a lot of | | | | All the same, one can still do ones bit to help the |
| skepticism about the role that corporate play in this | | | | fight against breast cancer. Wear the pink ribbon by |
| new phenomenon. People are very suspicious about | | | | all means, even if you do not buy some product that |
| their intentions and this is borne out by the spike in | | | | you dont really need. Make a donation to a charity |
| sales during the month of October. Many people buy | | | | related to this cause and do your best to spread the |
| these pink products out of genuine concern for | | | | word about this disease. After all, getting breast |
| breast cancer patients but many more people do it | | | | cancer is an immense tragedy and everything you |
| because they feel pressurized into doing it. After all, | | | | can do to help will be greatly appreciated by patients |
| nobody wants to be perceived as the only person | | | | and survivors. |