Global Development: Views from the Center

As volunteer leader of the Columbus, OH. ONE Campaign, I can't tell you how many people have gotten involved with our group, or signed the ONE Declaration, or had their interest piqued by Bono or Brad Pitt or Coldplay, etc.

It's easy to be cynical about pop stars pontificating on complex issues such as fair trade and debt relief, but if we're going to make these issues front and center, if we're going to make them resonate with the public we need to embrace what is often heart-felt passion from celebrities that have the power to move many through their movies and music.

Not every pop star that wears a white band will be advocating for trade justice in ten years time, and not every soccer mom that signs the ONE Declaration will be thinking about the Global Fund when her daughter is ready to graduate college, but if they've taken even a little bit of action, for even a small portion of their lives, it adds to the tidal wave awareness and advocacy that we need to build an international movement.

We simply cannot afford to be cynical. Just as we cannot afford to be partisan. We need everyone we can get.

Most will move on with their lives and forget about these issues, but a few might just become experts, or they might raise money, or lobby Congress. And for those few, it is worth it.

Part of the reason such disasterous errors were made regarding "domocratization of Iraq" is that enthuiastic people did not understand what the world is all about- or how important step by step capacity building is. While it is good that celebrities are getting on board regarding global poverty, those of us who have long experience need to do all we can to help them understand the complexities so that they do good and no harm. Donovan Russell

I don't agree with this statement: "If the movement to fight poverty among the famous and fashionable (and among the masses of young people who pay attention to them) proves to be just a trend, it will not be because they stopped caring about the poor. It will be because development experts--who work tirelessly studying and writing and knocking on the doors of the policy elite of Washington--forgot to offer them real, scalable solutions."
I agree that scalable solutions are immensely important in maintaining the momentum of the fight but underneath that "momentum" there must be an iron will to stand against the powers that cause and promulgate the problem, regardless of trends. Trends come and go in America and elsewhere because we like the change, we like not having to really dig in and fight because it's too hard. We live in a culture where problems are solved in 30 min sitcoms, Starbucks are on every corner and our endless wants and desires can be satisfied. And yet we still want more.
Events that bring awareness are necessary and important I only hope that these events reinforce self sacrifice in the face of the evil they seek to combat.

Great blog post Lindsay! It's easy to forget how much of a role guilt plays into the desire for social justice. The guilt is not "wrong" per se, but merely an acknowledgement of the great fortune we have to be born into a life of relative comfort ("the birth lottery" as Warren Buffet calls it).

The key (as Mike points out below) is to translate that guilt into something positive. That's what you guys try to do at CGD and if 1 out of every 1000 people that wear the white wristband do the same, then we're on our way to building real coalitions for change!

I would love to think that the celebrities are doing it NOT for their egos or their backers ego but for the RIGHT reason for compassion and devotion. I would be sad beyond belief if they were doing it for self promotion by taking advantage of something for advertising some product. Richard Branson IS doing it for the right reason and I applaud with all my heart the position he and Warren Buffet and Bill & Melinda Gates are taking.

Sincerely

Garvin Brown
Mahatma Gandhi Awareness
Queensland Australia

And so what do you think about GAP going RED?

http://pienso.typepad.com/pienso/2006/09/the_gap_goes_re.html

It is disappointing that many become aware of development issues only because their favorite celeb visited a developing country, but let's face it: many of those to whom the celebrities appeal couldn't otherwise be reached. If one were to quantify awareness as a result of celebrity influence, this debate would not exist (assuming the goal is awareness, which I think it is). Look at one event: The rockstars of Live Aid in '85 raised 40-50 million in just a few days. It was viewed by an estimated 1.5 billion in 100 countries.

Celebrities shouldn't be discouraged because they are not economists. I agree with Donovan that they need to work with experts so as not to do any damage but do we need to highlight the fact that they don't understand everything? What is the risk- will Brad Pitt suddenly be elected to replace Wolfowitz? (and again, what would the risk be?) Even if celebrities can't muster up the "iron will" to stay focused for the long-term, at least they have influenced others...

Thank you for a very interesting perspective! Perhaps the day is coming when well-meaning development experts together with famous, fashionable and “fabulous” people, and especially the governments of economically-challenged regions of the world, will make a concerted effort - through a stroke of genius – to implement sustainable poverty-reduction strategies. As Paul Cezanne put it: “Genius is the ability to renew one’s emotions in daily experience.”

It doesn't bother me at all that stars promote social issues - I think it is great.

However, concerning fashion, the writer states, "But enjoying these things does not necessarily make our concern any less genuine..." This is the thing that bothers me. I would have a problem wearing $500 shoes, or a $3,000 suit. If I have that kind of money, I should be giving it for a better purpose, rather than just clothes.

However, I have a TV, a car, I buy chocolate, and costume jewelry, I keep very warm in winter, and cool in summer. Where does one draw the line in spending, vs. assisting the planet? What can saving $470 on shoes buy? Can it save lives? Probably.

On the other hand, one could argue fashion as art, and doesn't art have value? It is expensive to produce, is it not?

However, when people are dying, status symbols and ridiculously expensive food, clothing, and liquor, etc., make me cringe. Wearing expensive clothing also creates a clear separation between "us" from "them". It will be difficult to achieve economic equality when a true belief in real equality is not there.

Not easy questions.

Good blog and a needed perspective. I confess to squirming a bit when celebs get involved, not because they don't understand economics, but because the road to hell IS often paved with good intentions. I particularly object to celebrity tours of Africa which perpetuate the myth that Africans are helpless and need rich people from America to fly in and "save" them. On the other hand I give Bono credit for doing his homework and drawing attention to less glamorous issues like trade and debt which are a big part of the story behind the skinny children and which are often ignored by the other celebs. I think the key is for development professionals to work with well intentioned celebs to make sure their contribution is positive.

As the co-founder of Fashion Fights Poverty (this is Michael Dumlao, the Creative Director), allow me first to express how honored I am that our initiative has contributed to what I believe is an exciting and very necessary debate on the role of fashion, design and - dare I say, consumption - in our collective responsibility to work towards eradicating poverty.

Fashion Fights Poverty is about two things: one, it rewards designers and non-profits who employ ethical means and practices in their design and manufacturing processes to produce products that are not only intended to promote economic development and the betterment of a given community, but products that are also attractive and commercially viable.

Two, it is about responsible consumerism and providing equally attractive marketing and branding platforms (such as the "Dress Responsibly" look book and style guide) between ethical designers and the burgeoning population of socially-conscious shoppers. By focusing on the consumer (and ethical consumption almost as a form of civic duty), FFP hopes to extend dialogue and PARTICIPATION in poverty eradication beyond the beltway's oft-cynical think tanks to include members of other communities and industries.
If we are indeed following any trends here, it is not so much the celebrity-adopts-an-orphan trend, but these:

1) the very tangible reality of public-private-partnerships as the engine of development (consider the Gates foundation and global health);

2) micro-enterprise and its particular role in empowering women and their surrounding communities;

3) and the role of consumer choice in affecting policy.

At Fashion Fights Poverty, we do our best to challenge the cynicism that fashion, entertainment, the culture industry and those who consume its products (as in, everyone) has no place in the vibrant dialogue and activity against global problems. FFP is about action and promoting positive behavior. As I said during the Look book launch mentioned by Lindsay's article, we are not telling people to stop shopping. Rather, we are showing opportunities to do so responsibly and, in the process, engage organizations and enterprises which use fashion, design and creativity as a means of addressing some of the most important issues of our time.

For more information on FFP, log onto www.fashionfightspoverty.org. Hope to see you all next Friday, October 27th!