Charity wristbands

Well, I suppose this is the best place to post this one.

A couple of weeks back, I bought a wrist band reading "make poverty history," for £1, which goes towards supporting fair trade.

Since then, I've seen a few of these about and other wristbands too, different colours, supposedly representing charities such as breast cancer, bullying and others.

The trouble is, despite what these wristbands represent, they seem to be turning into a fad, and a lot of people have started wearing them simply as fasion accessories, and buying them from retailers who don't actually contribute anything to the charities.

I've also heard rumor that the "make poverty history" bands are being sold at £30 apiece on ebay!

Has anyone else heard or had any experience concerning this, and what are your opinions about it all?

 

They're not my style, I would rather just donate a couple bucks directly to the cause & wear something else. Especially the really bright but uni colored ones, they look like some kind of hospital bracelet or whatever...

 

i agree that the charity wrist bands are turning into a fasion accesory. at my high school some kids wear like 10 of these rubber braclets on their arms, and i am pretty sure they arent representing that they are supporting a charity or desiese...i wonder why they've become so popular??....


lisa

 

I really don't know, but I don't think it's right. You shouldn't wear something that represents a charity unless you've contributed to it and you really believe in it.

 

Welcome to the land of shallow pretention.

 

i hate those. they even have the ones now that say like "Dramaqueen" or "brat" or some shit like that.

 

A true act of charity is done in secret.

 

I don't like them because I think that people are using them to turn a profit instead of their original intention...and they pinch me... I once tried my sis's on...

 

Right on. It's such a bummer.

 

i have a breast cancer and racism wristband...i bought them for a £1 and im 110% they went to the charity...they shouldnt be worn as a fashion accessory but worn because you believe in that charity...and its not like i just bought it and thats it...i actually give to the breast cancer charity monthly as it is a cause which is close to my heart...so lets not be quick to say these bands are wrong...if they are used as an accessory then yes they are...if the money they make dont go to the charity then yes, again, of course they are...but if not then i think they are just a way of making more people contribute...and is that a bad thing? this is just my opinion

 

At my school it's a trading game... "I'll trade you breast cancer for gay pride!" It's all a game to them.

 

Some people consider them a fashion accesory but I don't. My best friend's mom passed away in August of cancer, so since then, all her other friends and I have donated alot of money toward cancer research in any way possible. She really appreciates the support and we all wear the bracelets in honor of her mom who also was a fan of them. I also wear my livestrong bracelet in honor of my yiayia who passed away a few years ago of cancer.

Sure, some people do wear it just to be cool, but I wear mine in honor of two very great women.

 

yiayia...are you greek?

 

No, my yiayia was though. She was actually my stepgrandmother and she said she didn't approve of my brother, cousins, and I using the same term for her as with our other grandmothers but it's ok in Greek. She spoke fluent Greek as well.

 

Wearing livestrong bands certainly has become a fad. I got one just the other day, it was yellow, the original color of the livestrong band. It didn't even say livestrong. And it was weak. I stretched it a little, and it broke.

I think the best way to donate to charity is the ol' "give charities appliances and clothes, etc. and recieve an income tax cut." Works for me!

 

The fact that people want crappy plastic bands in exchange for helping others out really shows what a desperate state the world is in.....

 

It's not a matter of wanting something in exchange, it's a matter of showing that you support a cause that you believe in.