| Author |
Message |
    
Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1476
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 09:28 am: | 
|
http://www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/business-0/1165472519149130.xml&coll =1
At first blush, the Web site ap pears to be an unprecedented boon to AIDS philanthropy.
Use your cursor to light a virtual candle on www.lighttounite.org and Bristol-Myers Squibb will do nate $1 to the National AIDS Fund, a non-profit that distributes money to local AIDS groups around the country.
As of last night, about 800,000 virtual candles had been lit, with no end in sight. Word is spreading on the Internet to encourage still more people to visit.
But there's a wrinkle: The New York-based drugmaker, which created the site in honor of World AIDS Day, held last week, is agreeing to contribute no more than $100,000. The company said as much when it announced the Web site last month, although that's not clear unless you read the fine print in the lower right corner of the screen.
As a result, Bristol-Myers won't be donating $800,000, or whatever amount matches the number of virtual candles that are eventually lit.
On this point, some ethics ex perts and AIDS activists say the Web site is misleading and should either be changed to correct the misunderstanding or the company should agree to alter its pledge.
"This is dispiriting at best and dishonest at worst," said Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pen nsyvlania. "I'm glad they're giving money, but companies have to be particularly sensitive about saying what they'll do and why they're doing it.
"This discrepancy doesn't meet those standards. This is like a bait and switch."
Said David Bryden of the Global AIDS Alliance, an advocacy group: "I think it's very misleading. This is the kind of thing that pharmaceutical companies do to por tray positive images. It taps the sympathies of people who are vulnerable.
"But we should be asking about pricing and lobbying over trade issues, which affect accessibility of medicines."
A spokesman for Bristol-Myers Squibb didn't specifically address the criticism. In a statement, Tony Plorohos said the drugmaker is "thrilled that nearly 800,000 people have visited (the Web site) to light a candle and show their support in the fight against HIV/AIDS."
He added that the company is "proud" of its $100,000 contribution and that the "Light to Unite" campaign is one of several ways that Bristol-Myers Squibb is "helping patients" live with HIV/AIDS.
Kandy Ferree, chief executive of the National AIDS Fund, said she was pleased with the Web site's popularity because it was a sign the Light to Unite campaign has raised the organization's profile. She added that NAF remains "committed to transparency and clarity," but declined to say whether she was concerned the Web site may be misleading.
The ruckus reflects an ongoing battle the pharmaceutical industry is fighting to balance its need for profits with demands to provide AIDS medicines at affordable prices in poor nations. The issue has been raging around the world, from South Africa to Brazil to Thailand, where HIV/AIDS rates are high, but incomes are generally low.
Last week, for instance, Merck became embroiled with the Thailand government, which announced plans to issue a license to a state- owned drugmaker to maker a cheaper version of Sustiva. The drug is actually made by Bristol- Myers Squibb, which sells the pill in the U.S., although Merck markets the medicine overseas as Sto crin.
Virtually all big drugmakers that market AIDS medicines regularly encounter criticism. One ex pert noted Bristol-Myers has won praise for some of its efforts, such as offering a royalty-free license to allow a generic version of a drug in South Africa and India. Last year the company teamed up with the Baylor College of Medicine on a plan to provide $40 million to treat 80,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Bristol isn't the best or the worst. It's in the mix," said Brook Baker, a Northeastern University law professor and policy analyst at Health GAP, an advocacy group. "The company has done some good, but also has problem areas."
|
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2369
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 09:48 am: |
|
It's common practice for corporations to state a maximum cut-off when matching donations or whatever. If a million people lit the virtual candle ten times each, that would be $10M - enough to bankrupt some companies  |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 7003
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 10:36 am: |
|
Bristol-Myers Squibb tried to pull a PR stunt and it bit them in the a$$.
Good for'em!
The company could have simply given $100,000 to AIDS-related causes and that wouldn't have been worth a dayam PR-wise.
But instead they create this light a candle scam to try to lure many other people into feeling good about their largesse.
Well. I say if Bristol-Myers Squibb is going to try to use cash to essentially BUY the goodwill of potentially millions of web browsers they should have been prepared to tender much MORE than $100,000. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6128
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 01:07 pm: |
|
Most high-profile charity fund raiser are deceptive because so much of the proceeds go toward staff and promotion. All of these run-for-whatever marathons never publicize how it's usually not the disease well-meaning joggers are running to raise money for, but research on the disease which is a very vague area. I still drop my money in the Salvation Army kettles. Most of what they collect goes directly to good causes. And as the Katrina boondogal proved, the Red Cross is as big joke. |
|
Email This Page