Rocking the do-good boat
February 4th, 2010 atam Posted in Greenwash | 1 Comment »
Brian Johnson, the lead singer of the rock band AC/DC, has a message for other rock stars: stop telling your fans to give money to charity.
“I don’t tell everybody they should give money – they can’t afford it,” he said, adding that he and his band preferred to do something private.
Good point. Whenever a disaster strikes we find celebrities lining up to feature in charity events to drum up donations, which makes one wonder: how much of it has to do with their concern for the victims, and how much for their image? Given their earnings, surely it makes much more sense for them to donate directly rather than badger their audiences to do so; after all, ordinary folks who can afford to will have already responded to the appeals of the NGOs doing the hard work on site.
The obsession with image knows no bounds, hence all kinds of awards and accolades for celebrities and corporations alike for good work that’s utterly disproportional to what they’re capable of contributing – or what they’re really like, for that matter. I still remember walking past the shop of a certain telecommunications company shortly after the minority buyout controversy and staring at the “Caring Company” logo screenprinted on the glass door. Visit any country park, and there’s a good chance you’ll spot a big plaque acknowledging that a certain patch of saplings have been planted courtesy of a donation from a certain company. Want to see how tokenism can be taken to new heights? Come visit Hong Kong.
Earlier today I saw a taxi give way to an off-duty fire engine at a junction where the taxi driver had the right-of-way, and both the driver of the fire engine and a fellow fireman gestured to thank him. I don’t think the taxi driver was expecting to have some “caring driver” logo stamped on his car. Why can’t celebrities and big corporates learn from ordinary folks and give for the sake of giving, without blowing any trumpet?
February 6th, 2010 at 11:22 am
I spoke to some people working in the charity sector. They told me that there are so many charity in place competing to each other for government and donar funding.
Some people do expect something in return such as a plaque on the back of a theatre seat.
There are so many charity organisation these days fighting for money in art, advocacy and give out to the needed. From life saving perspective, the art and advocacy shouldn’t be more important than the charity who gives money to the “needed”. But they do have the lobbying power to influence government decision etc. Most importantly, they can provide donar what they like “in return” whether is fame, tickets or cocktail party etc.
Many forgot the purpose of traditional charity – to give without any return or anyone’s knowledge.