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The Forum > Article Comments > Caring big business or a wolf in sheep’s clothing? > Comments

Caring big business or a wolf in sheep’s clothing? : Comments

By Dayna Simpson, published 10/1/2005

Dayna Simpson argues that corporate philanthropy must not be allowed to become an opportunistic branding opportunity.

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Audrey, what exactly would YOU do and how would YOU do it? What is that big picture we’re all missing; pray tell.

What has Bridget Jones got to do with anything and who said “retail therapy” is needed or provided. What is it about the western capitalist culture that you like?
Posted by Seeker, Sunday, 16 January 2005 10:42:12 PM
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"Heaven forbid that people in developing countries might actually want to develop!"

An odd idea this one, and one that I find rather condecending.

The aritcal was about big corporations taking advantage of the cituation, one I feel is justified. However, now we get to see an old favorite, what development actually means.

American planners, consultants and architects mannaged to turn Mecca, the most holy city for some 1.3 billion Muslims, into a mess of tunnels, flyovers, gaudy hotels and rater tacky malls. Lets look at the good old Marlbro Man. A corporate image that many people in America don't want to see anymore, but throught Asia his gurning face is there, grinning down at you while teenage girls dressed as cowgilrs hand out free cigeretts to passing youngsters.

No one, including Dayna, is denying that the people affected by this disaster need help (though the fact that roughly 210,00 die EVERY WEEK because of world poverty is a fact often overlooked by so many of us, including the all loving, all careing corporations) however a question has been raised regarding the overall stratagy of these big buisnesses and other possiable motives. While one may by synical for asking such questions, I believe that one would be totally naive not to.
Posted by sherbetsaucers, Monday, 17 January 2005 2:20:41 PM
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Most Australian corporate giving was channelled through charities.

Here’s a link to an article jointly written by Australian chief operating officers of these charities; this is what they promise to do. http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/16/1105810774915.html
Posted by Seeker, Monday, 17 January 2005 3:11:09 PM
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Thanks for proving my point Audrey. What are you actually trying to say? That people in developing countries should try and live up to some Utopia of quaint village life, everyone looking out for one another, loving the environment and rejecting the ideals of a consumer society? And I'm the one being patronizing!? These people have just as much right to strive for comfort, security and anything else they might like. Pity most people in the third world don't have computers, they might be able to put their two cents worth in as well as all us privileged Westerners. The human race has spent it's entire existence trying to control the environment to its benefit. Trying to make life for itself as safe and comfortable as possible. It's a bit hard to swallow that we've had if wrong from the beginning. Remember that along with consumerables, Western commercialism also provides better health standards, longer life expectancies, better education, plentiful food and safe water.

Australia's biggest exports are mining and agricultural products. According to your reasoning then most Australians are miners or farmers. I'd also much rather work in a sweat shop than starve to death. But this gets back to what I've already said. It's up to governments to ensure that their people don't work in such conditions.

Audrey I really don't understand what's so bad about our society? You are most probably a product of this society, as are your family, friends, neighbours and all the generous people who donate money and time to alot of causes in this country. Most people I meet are lovely decent people. We can walk down most streets in this country safely, if we get injured or can't find work our country supports us until we get back on our feet. Our kids have a bright future and we can think and say as we please (almost) without having to worry about being dragged from our beds at night. Our country has recently been in the grip of drought for years, yet I haven't heard of thousands of Australians starving to death in the streets. If that's what an evil consumer driven society produces then I'm all for it.

Sherbetsaucers, what's patronizing about that statement? Do you think they don't want to develop? Do you think I'm putting my Western values onto these simple people who have no concept of the evil inherent in Western lifestyles? Who's being patronizing here?

Your statement about Mecca is ridiculous. Do you think the Yanks just showed up there, in the holiest city in Islam, and built all these things whilst the locals sat around crying about it? Every brick laid in Mecca was commissioned by the Saudi's. If they've got a gaudi, horrible place then it's no ones fault but their's. It's like blaming the workforce who assembled your car because you don't like it's design.

To ask the question about corporate motivation in donating money is fine if it's asked from an academic perspective. But it's a bit grubby when asked as a means of attacking the same corporations. They really are in a no win situation.
Posted by bozzie, Monday, 17 January 2005 6:47:01 PM
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Very well put Bozzie. I really don't understand what these people are objecting about, unless they think this money should have gone to themselves instead.
Posted by Seeker, Tuesday, 18 January 2005 12:33:53 AM
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I wonder if Audrey and sherbetsaucers put their lotto on for the fifteen million tonight?
Posted by Cranky, Tuesday, 18 January 2005 12:50:32 AM
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