Canadian Documentary 'Pink Ribbons Inc.' Rips Into Komen's Big Business Charity

Breaking News in the midst of the Komen | Planned Parenthood conflict that has energized American women as no other event in decades. We repost this article from CTZ British Columbia:

A new documentary from a breast cancer survivor raises questions about the “pinkwashing” she believes brands are using to sell products that are actually carcinogenic.

Dr. Samantha King’s investigation into the growing corporate involvement in breast cancer fundraisers is the basis for Léa Pool’s new documentary, “Pink Ribbons Inc.,” opening in select theatres Friday.

The documentary suggests brands use the pink ribbon to create a feel-good sense for their product –-a tactic she calls ‘pinkwashing’.

“That’s when corporations … sell products that might be linked to breast cancer,” King explained. “So cosmetics with toxic ingredients, for example, also make money by doing pink ribbon marketing”.

She said many of the products are not even related to breast cancer.

“One of my favourite examples is a breast cancer handgun that went on sale in the U.S. last year. We’ve seen Kentucky Fried Chicken, snowshoes — the list is really endless” she said.

The trailer for the documentary shares a few stories from women with breast cancer who claim only a small percentage of money raised for fundraisers goes towards research.

“It’s almost like our disease is being used for people to profit and that’s not OK,” said one woman featured in the film.

University of B.C. researcher Carolyn Gotay said she values the questions the documentary raises but argues the push to find a cure has not overshadowed prevention research.

“I think we’re on a good upward trajectory but we’re still not near the finish line,” she said.

Gotay added that some of the film’s arguments have not been scientifically proven.

“Some of the carcinogens identified in the film haven’t really been shown necessarily to be deleterious to the levels they’re being used,” Gotay said.

Representative for Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation B.C./ Yukon. Judy Caldwell also said the documentary uses decade-old campaigns.

“If it’s a product we don’t believe in, if the amount to be donated is highly inappropriately small, then we would refuse it,” Caldwell said

She added that Run for the Cure, the foundation’s signature event, is monumental in raising awareness about breast cancer and providing to prevention research.

“Pink Ribbons Inc.” opens Friday at Denman Cinemas and The Rio in Vancouver, Roxy Theatres in Victoria, Avalon Cinema Centre in Nanaimo and the Paramount Theatre in Kelowna.

Now that Komen has reversed itself on defunding Planned Parenthood, the question NPR asks: Can Komen Recover From Controversy?

Anne of Carversville has withdrawn ANY support for pink ribbons associated with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. We will not BUY any brand or product associated with the Komen Foundation, and we will list all brands and companies who supported Komen in their 2011 campaign.

I will be contacting those companies personally to voice my strong disapproval of Komen’s decision to align with social conservatives against the fight for breast cancer among poor women. Komen’s decision to reinstate Planned Parenthood does not impact our policy.

Until Komen fires its board members and SVP of Public Policy Karen Hanley AND gives more than the current 20-28% of its donations to cancer research, Komen is ‘black’ not pink at AOC.