Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Clueless about Johnson's Baby Powder Talc


Talc not unlike asbestos is hazardous to health. I wonder why it is still in our baby powder. Johnson's & Johnson's should discontinue its use. But why should they care? Meron pa silang mode na Corporate Social Responsibility thru Larong Pinoy children's games.

What bothers me mostly is the uninformed public. But I think Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in the Philippines would hardly gain momentum, kung shoppingera at kikay ka pakelam mo ba kung carcinogenic at nanoparticles ang nilalagay mong myuk ap sa fez mo. Tapos babayad ka ng mahal, i-credit card na lang.

I am a fan of Mineral Makeup. Ellana, a local brand, is so swak sa Filipina beauty and her exotic complexions. Pero madz, safe kaya ang mga materials sa mineral mix niya? I hope so. I've been thinking of writing Ellana proprietor about having her products tested. I'm hesitant. Baka dedmahin ako. Sayang naman kasi, I would love this local brand to grow and become part of Filipina sustainable beauty and health enterprises.

Awareness relies on pop culture.

Kung sana merong docu film about big cosmetics company and their dirty secrets. Parang tipong The Corporation

Film about Corporate evils ng mga fast food meron na pati corporate evils ng mga oil and mining companies. Dapat meron ding film about corporate evils ng cosmetics companies.

Pero pano yun, with this campaign babanggain natin ang mga direct selling cosmetics like Avon. Maapektuhan ang livelihood ng mga homemakers/Avon Ladies, locally.

Pero kasi puwede din namang campaign for safe cosmetics alongside fair trade and local livelihoods. Promoting natural beauty products while sustaining local communities.

What a kikay challenge. Sa Canada meron ng advocacy for natural fibers and materials in the garments industry, Fashion Takes Action. Pero kasi, mas matindi ang campaign about pharmaceutical industries at food chemical industries. Kung ikaw ay isang socially aware, concerned citizen Kikay, alin ang uunahin mo?

Monday, July 27, 2009

Culture and Sustainable Development

Culture as Fourth Pillar of Sustainable Development by Keith Nurse (PDF)

I am hoping to find a relevant content about Philippine cultural heritage and cultural industry/enterprises. In this paper, is concludes that culture has a central role in strategic development of Small Islands Developing States (e.g. Barbados, Jamaica, Mauritus, etc.) SIDS are not unlike the Philippines. Archipelago, cultural diversity, Western colonial history, developing state.
Currently, festival parades are being created and marketed for tourism along with ecotourism in the Philippines. Cultural enterprises. Institutional. Check. Independent film, contemporary arts, new media and community arts practice are in place and thriving. Cultural enterprises, cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. Multi-local. Check. But somehow, "culture as sustainable development" is yet to be conceived in our minds, let alone practices. Why?

I don't know. But maybe, the youth should start digging up artifacts. Youth, as culture and sustainability catalysts, should rise up to the challenge.

Enter: Philippine Youth and Sustainable Development (PDF)