The following is from Mike Todd over in Vancouver, reflecting on the North American kick-off of the ( Red ) campaign on Oprah's show with Bono and guests. I share Mikes concerns, the paradox that we can't feed Africa per say without feeding ourselves first...the need to feed this pervailing gluton of consumerism first. Anyway Mike has a great missional voice and expresses it far better than I, here's Mike...
(Red)emption
Please stick with this one to the end… where there is a challenge waiting for you.
This is a post I’ve been chewing on for a few days now, and I really wasn’t sure if I’d end up writing it or not. On balance, I think I need to.
On Friday, as Sue packed for Bangkok, we watched Bono and Oprah launch the North American version of the Product (RED) campaign. We were both inspi(red) by the excitement, and moved to tears by the scenes from Africa. But as the show progressed and the feeding frenzy that was Oprah’s shopping trip continued, I started to feel a little sick.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I love this program. And I hate it. Let me try to explain why.
Continued here...
Mike has a challenge for us all, so please read his post and hear him out.
I KNOW you mean well, but I suspect the shirts were made in sweatshops in China, imported to the US/Europe using oil and half the profits go to large corporations, so you get to show off a lousy tee shirt to feed a kid for two days...
You want to help "Africa"? Ask your priest or minister to get the name of a missionary there and send him or her money.
Even missionaries who only "preach" are involved in teaching purity (i.e. don't rape girls to be cured of HIV) and often with raising the status of women (no polygamy, no forced marriages, no wife beating) so are part of the "publichealth" prevention of HIV.
And, of course, most missionaries run hospitals linics and HIV groups.
Start here:http://www.globalhealthaction.org/successwalsh.html
Sister Patricia's HIV clinic was destroyed with Mugabe's "operation cleanup".
Posted by: tioedong | October 25, 2006 at 10:40 PM
Ron, thanks for posting this. I had a very similar reaction to this campaign. A mix of gladness that funds will be going to meet a desperate need and a terrible feeling of how everything is tied into our consumerism and trendiness. It completely lacks a critical element to it, don't suggest that people actually go without a new iPod and give that money away.
Posted by: Sacred Art of Living | October 25, 2006 at 11:45 PM
"You want to help "Africa"? Ask your priest or minister to get the name of a missionary there and send him or her money."
Tioedong, the church I'm involved in does support missionaries in Africa, and there certainly needs to be support as they are much more hands on, and engaged with the victims of poverty and Aids. But I also acknowledge there has to be a greater commitment from us, for the funds to aquire the drugs for Aids and Malaria. I agrree with Christine, forget about buying the i-pod...go without and give that money away. Or you keep the 10$, and give the 200$ away.
I just think in a sense, the ( Red ) product program just magnifies how bad our culture of consumerism is.Fill our plates first, and what ever dribbles off the sides is good enough for the rest of the world.
We need to begin to live in the economy of the Kingdom, where we just " give " in love, where sacrifice is normal, thinking of others before ourselves.I know the Kingdom will come one day, but for many time is running out.
Posted by: ron | October 26, 2006 at 12:42 AM