Pink is the New Blah

What are you having for lunch today? How about some warm, delicious, tomato soup -- in a pink can? Because nothing whets the appetite more than thinking about breast cancer...

Mmm-mmm.

cl-nwtreehugger recently called our attention to an article from the Seattle Times that breaks down just how much money from those super-PC pink purchases ACTUALLY goes to breast cancer research. She writes: “After reading this, I'd buy the Clinique lipstick ($10 out of $14)...but honestly, I'd rather sponsor someone in one of the Race for the Cure events!” Although I’d like to point out that she posts this in a bright pink font. How much of that font goes to breast cancer research, treehugger?! What are you trying to pull? Oh wait.

Anyway, she brings up an interesting point. Are retailers cashing in on people’s guilt/sympathy/compassion? Is “buying pink” just the lazy person’s way of making herself feel like she’s doing something good? As an expert in the article points out, "If you think you're going to solve the problem by buying Yoplait, you've got another thing coming."

cl-libraone: “I donate to causes. I don't buy things so companies look good.”

There’s a brand-spanking new board about this very issue: Hot Topic: Too Much Pink? -- just in time for the last few days of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

All pinked out? Weigh in.