Acima Armani, abaixo Mariah.

Nirvana rule!

MILAN — With e-commerce sales set to exceed $300 billion by 2012 according to recent estimates, leading fashion companies from Giorgio Armani to Valentino have been setting up shop online.

Now, some of them are looking to invest in the next generation of e-tailers.

YOOX Group, the global Internet retailing partner for leading fashion and design brands, and MIP, the Business School of the Politecnico di Milano, have organized this innovative learning opportunity combining fashion and the Internet, the future of Made in Italy. 

The master program takes advantage of a major change in the Italian fashion industry. Today, the most important luxury and fashion brands are moving quickly to develop new business through the Internet, but have a difficult time finding the resources needed to do so. The past few years have seen an increase of prominent fashion brands venturing online, such as Diesel, Dior, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Valentino. All of these companies started out with a corporate website to which they added an online store. 

Some of Italy’s most prominent brands will be involved in the master program: Giorgio Armani, Diesel, Marni and Valentino. These companies immediately saw that this opportunity would encourage new E-Fashion talent, and are offering internship and employment opportunities to the master’s most outstanding students.

From the next academic year, when the program begins, Armani will offer one annual scholarship — covering the tuition fees of 15,500 euros, or $24,600 at current exchange...

We can expect that the fashion well of Italy will never dry up.

Actually I do not use colognes much, but there are times when it is a nice addition.

I seem to be drawn to the Armani products and feel this is the one that I find to be appropriate for a special evening out.

This subject is obviously very subjective, since I've known some women that still love old spice above anything else a man can wear. But this cologne has a very clean fresh scent that seem invoke romantic tendencies.

Overall making this a superb men's evening fragrance, but this is simply my opinion.

Get a hold of tester vial if you can, or ask to try it at the mens counters or mens stores. I think you'll agree with me on this one.

I wonder, do Victoria and David discuss their latest campaigns at the dinner table? Did Victoria get jealous of David, which led to her getting the Jacobs contract? I just hate it when people try different things and fail miserably at it. Stick to what you know how to do, in Victoria's case, I am not quite sure what that is.

Oh, and this seems to be another case of Versace. Remove celebrities from fashion advertising, it's not a Pepsi commercial.

Pictures from www.onesourcetalent.com

Gafas Prada para los osos en medio del Polo Norte, All-Stars creados desde los más remotos volcanes de basura, o incluso Giorgio Armani en bicicleta repartiendo su nueva colección. ¿Llamativo? Claro que sí, ese es el objetivo de una nueva idea de publicidad creativa: llegar a los oídos, la vista, el olfato, el tacto, el gusto y hasta el sexto sentido de la población humana para dar gritos de alarma por la situación del planeta. Aunque prestigiosas marcas (como las antes mencionadas) podrían vender sin necesidad de anuncios de este tipo, es de urgencia la unión de todos aquellos que crean gran impacto en el mercado con el gigante que hace posible la expansión de ideas (la publicidad), para que se den a conocer en el mundo y a la vez contribuyan a mejorarlo.

Es de sabios aprovechar la fuerza de el Goliat de nuestros tiempos y enviar indirectamente un doble mensaje: aquel que llame a comprar mi producto, y otro bastante concentrado y a la vez sutil que invite a apreciar aquello que aún nos queda en nuestra habitación, conocida comúnmente como “Tierra”.

Este es un ejemplo de ideas de publicidad creativa que se podrían implementar. A medida surjan más se abrirán más áreas para expandir el proyecto y ofrecer una amplia gama de opciones para que quien decida implementarla en su negocio, tenga de donde elegir.

Francesca Caprile

/kliknij na zdjęcie, aby powiększyć/

“ Ce bine ma simt! Am petrecut un weekend de vis alaturi de B la Milano.Pot zice ca am meritat acest moft. Dupa cate i`am suportat in ultimul timp, B ar trebui sa se considere norocos ca inca mai sunt a lui. Nici ei nu stiu de ce mai continuam minciuna asta...chiar ca dureaza de prea mult timp. Inca n`am curajul sa`i zic „PA”. Nu pot! Nu acum ,poate intr`un viitor apropiat. Pur si simplu, situatia mea financiara actuala nu`mi permite sa ma debarasez de el, mai ales acum , ca pe piata va fi lasanat noua colectie de toamna-iarna de la Prada .

Pe zi ce trece, B e tot mai cufundat in munca lui. Toata ziua e cu nasu`n acte. Pana si in timpul liber monitorizeaza actiunile de la bursa. Incerc sa`l inteleg ca doar, deh , o mare parte din castigurile sale se topesc in palma mea.Uneori, ma simt un simplu obiect, un fel de trofeu cu care B se mandreste atunci cand iesim in lumea buna. El nu observa aceste detalii.Ori de cate ori incerc sa`i atrag atentia asupra neglijentei lui fata de mine ,imi daruieste un nou card VISA ,ca sa`mi inchida gura. N`am ce face. Sunt vulnerabila. Nu pot rezista tentatiei banilor. Ma resemnez cu gandul la un nou parfum Armani...tac gandindu`ma la o pereche de ochelari Dolce & Gabanna sau la o haina de blana Versace.

Fie ca`mi place, fie ca nu , sunt proprietatea LUI. El e stapanul ,chiar daca ceilalti nu sesizeaza asta (inca). In pat, ne completam perfect, un fel de atractie ying&yang in dormitor. Mereu sfarsim imbratisati. Patul pare sanctuarul unde toate conflictele noastre se aplaneaza ca prin farmec. Dimineata insa ,betisoarele aromate si`au pierdut mirosul,lumanarile s`au topit, iar spuma din jacuzzi s`a dus dracu` demuuuuult . . .

Daca stau bine sa ma gandesc ,prezenta lui B imi e vitala.O escapada a sa din peisaj ar reprezenta falimentul pe toate planurile existentei mele.Hmmm...nici C n`arata prea rau.Azi l`am surprins spionandu`ma in timp ce`mi probam noul bikini de la Jolidon.Asta n`ar fi nimic, dar nu e prima data cand privirile ii ratacesc pierdute in decolteul meu. C e doar un pusti, n`are experienta lui B. Asa, si ? Nu conteaza. Ne`am putea „juca” impreuna. Desigur, fara stirea lui B , caci gelozia lui n`are limite ,chair daca nu lasa sa se vada acest lucru.

Ce corp..ce muschi...olala...ce bunaciune.Trebuie sa fie al meu.C va fi mica mea marioneta .Mda...A, nu esti tu asa angelica precum pari...Chiar deloc.

M`am intalnit azi cu C si e de acord. N`a avut ezitari.Se citea dorinta in ochii lui. E cam agitat pustiu`.Mi`e putin frica sa nu ne dea de gol.Nici nu vreau sa ma gandesc ce mi`ar face B. Sa fim optimisti!C ma vrea doar pentru el.Eu am chef de nebunii.B imi pompeaza banii de care am nevoie.Intr`un final ,acest triumvirat [istoria ne omoara] va fi satisfacut din toate punctele de vedere.

Au trecut (deja) 2 luni de cand ma vad pe ascuns cu C .Niciodata n`am fost mai fericita.Chiar daca e mai tanar cu 10 ani, C e barbatul ideal pentru mine.Totusi, are un mic defect: banii.Ca cel mai bun prieten al lui B ,e mana lui dreapta in afaceri , ca amant al meu, el se considera cel mai aprig dusman al superiorului sau.Lucrurile ar fi atat de simple daca C i`ar lua locul lui B la firma . . .

I`am propus lui C ,impreuna, sa`l lichidam definitiv pe B.Daca el „dispare” , C va deveni noul magnat al Bucurestiului.Incepe sa ma enerveze.C e fricos.Nu intelege ca, in ziua de azi,banii pot cumpara orice, chiar si discretia unui asasin platit.

Ce e de facut?Fara C nu pot trai, dar nici fara banii lui B. A dracu` incurcatura.Mai bine traiam eu acasa la ai mei, in Pipera [loaleeeeeeee]Dar deh ,mi`au trebuit haine de firma, masini luxoase si vacante extravagante.

Suferă baba la frumuseţe . . . “

__________________________________________________________________

am vazut la cory pe blog ceva legat de infidelitatea in cuplu. de acolo mi`a venit idee de a scrie o "fantezie" [nu`i cuvantul potrivit, dar acum am lapsus :D] am asternut`o pe hartie si asta`i rezultatul ;)

Por quê? O próprio Giorgio Armani explica: "Hoje a internet é uma ferramenta de compras e esse comércio cresce absurdamente. Temos que ficar atentos a isso." Que tal ser um aprendiz do italiano? Para conhecer e saber mais informações sobre a escola, clique http://new.mip.polimi.it/.

Glam

(Clicca sull'immagine per vederla in HQ)

Ok. Se quando mancavano 7 giorni alla partenza ho parlato di shopping intensivo, ora che ne mancano solo 4 la situazione sta degenerando. Vuoi i parenti che non mi vedranno se non ad agosto, vuoi due genitori che prima di un viaggio del genere non vogliono badare a spese, praticamente mi sento ricchissimo per tutte le spese che faccio.

Ieri ero ad una seduta di shopping intensivo con V. al nuovo centro commerciale Euroma2. Passeggiando per gli enormi corridoi arredati in stile Caesar Palace de noi antri (di cui potete vedere qualche mio scatto qui, il Trash non ha limiti), non o potuto fremere dinnazi alle vetrine di Guess e poche altre. Tra un tentativo di tenere a bada la carta di credito ed un auto-divieto di non usare contanti, mi son tenuto buono fino a quando non ho ricevuto la telefonata di zio. "Pink, se il prossimo luglio avrai terminato tutti gli esami, io e te andiamo in centro e ti compro quello che vuoi". Ok, il mio cuore mi ha quasi abbandonato per un secondo e poi ho urlato. "V. io per il prossimo luglio devo avere 10 kg in meno e 10 esami in piùùùùùùù". Per calmare le palpitazioni ho dovuto comprare una canotta nera da indossare sopra una t-shirt borgogna comprata qualche giorno fa.

Oggi invece ero in missione per lo stesso zio della telefonata. Avrei dovuto cercare in tutto il centro una camicia vinaccio taglia 38. A., che mi ha accompagnato, alla fine della giornata mi è apparsa completamente stremata per tutti i negozi che le ho fatto visitare. Dolce&Gabbana, D&G, Armani Jeans, Emporio Armani, Sartorie, Modiste e Magazzini. Poverina, non ne poteva più, quando, inaspettatamente ho trovato quella camicia alla Sisley. "Zio, ho trovato la camicia", ho subito comunicato. "Bene, prendila e prendine una anche per te se ti va". Eccerto! Ne ho scelto una marrone slim fit.

Quando, infine, stavo per tornare a casa, zio mi ritelefona. "Potresti passare da Gucci per vedere se ci sono delle cinture belle? Ne devo recalare una al tuo cuginetto". Ah che bello essere viziati, ho immediatamente pensato. Sono andato da Gucci e l'ho vista. Bella. Con i colori classici della griffe e fibbia in acciaio lucido.  Il massimo. Ho subito chiamato a zio che, probabilmente immaginandomi con la bava alla bocca, mi ha detto "se ti piace prendine una anche per te!". Morale della favola, sono uscito dallo store con due buste patinate e con una strisciata di Carta pari a 310 euro. (La cintura è quella in foto)

Quando dicevo che lo shopping è fuori controllo non scherzavo. Tocca rinchiudermi per questi ultimi 4 giorni in un rehab... e domani ultima missione per conto dello Zio. Comprare una t-shirt da Armani per la cuginetta!

AGGIORNAMENTO:

Comprata una cintura di Armani Jeans e ricevuto in regalo un pantalone GrigioPerla TUCH. Adesso ho il guardaroba tatmente pieno che non saprei che comprare in America! :D

I've just added two more sellers in my ebook. They have a lot of experience in selling to USA, specially Miami and California. And also they sell to many other places: Mexico, Germany, Italy, England.

Don't waste time, buy the e-book now! If you already bought it, contact me and I'll send you the updated version.

Stay safe ;)

velkommen skal dere være:
http://trelangesnuter.piczo.com

så takk for oss her

To me, the limelight wasn't on the openly gay singer Sam Sparrow in the June edition of Attitude Magazine. The real star was the Australian surfer-turned-Armani model Jaymes Triglone who posed around the pool in swim wear. The layout "Before Night Falls" was done by the gifted Simon Harris. In one of the pages, we see Triglone supporting his body which was leaning on air with his pointed toes and hands on the rail but still looking effortless (and sexy!) Now that's a professional.

(cliccate sulle immagini per vederle in HQ)

Messaggio pre-programmato.

-7 giorni alla partenza. Ahhh, davvero non vedo l'ora. Cominciano i sogni notturni che vedono me protagonista delle strade americane. Si fa intensa la ricerca di itinerari pre-partenza. E, ahimè, si è intensificato in maniera massiccia lo shopping. Ogni volta che esco mi assale l'ansia che manchi sempre qualcosa nel mio guardaroba, ed allora compro! Insomma, tra un pò la carta di credito mi abbandonerà per le troppe strisciate.

In ogni caso, nell'elenco delle ultime compere si sono aggiunti:

1. Cinturone per valigia omologato per i viaggi in America.
2. Due favolose etichette per le valigie  in pelle nera.
3. Cappello verde militare.
4. Due camicie. Stesso modello. Una nera ed una bianca (sono a quota 25 camicie. Yauch!).
5. Due t-shirt. Una vinaccio ed una viola (un pò scollacciata).
6. Ceretta per spalla affinchè possa indossare la t-shirt scollacciata del punto 5.
7. Sneakers Armani Jeans completamente bianche.
8. Infradito Cafè Noir in pelle.
9. Guide traveler National Geographic della California e di New York.

Proprio nella guida della California ho trovato le due immagini inserite sopra. Sono un segno tangibile della presenza futura di Pink negli Stati Uniti. Insomma un barboncino rosa ed un surfista (figo) con una tuta rosa. L'America mi sta aspettando! -7, solo una settimana ancora!

Fotograf: Klaus Rupp www.pixelio.de

na, ob dem noch zu helfen ist?

Zur Info: "Menschen-Schrott" ist mit einem Arsenal an passenden Schlappies und Schlippies ausgestattet (Webseite auf Bestellung): Es bietet für jeden Mann und Mann-o-Mann den richtigen Knaller: Für den energischen den kleinen, für den schüchternen den mittleren und für den Kifi (wir kennen die Abkürzung - Aufklärung bietet die Redaktion!) den allergrößten - allerdings nur als aufblasbaren :crazy:

(Fotograf: Günther Dotzler www.pixelio.de)

...gar nicht witzig!

Gehirne mit Inhalten hat das mittelständische Unternehmen aus dem Bergischen in der Pfalz ebenso zu bieten: allerdings nur mit Torf. Politikerinhalte sind zur Zeit nicht auf Lager - werden jedoch gerade aus Berlin herbeschafft (es gibt freiwillige Abgeordnete aus dem Gesundheitsministerium, die sich bereitstellten - die 10 Euro Krankenkassenbeitrag spendeten sie übrigens dem DRK).

Doch zurück zu Schlappie und Boobs-TV: Es werden - im Auftrage von Mensch-ist-Mensch-TV-Un-Produktion (einem geilen Sender mit Einschaltquotenverfallsdatum) - mutige Männer mit viel Mumm zum Originellen gesucht. Sie sollen es wagen sich in einer Live-Op ihr Fortpflanzungsorgan umzugestalten. Dabei bedarf es polente und polante Männer. Als kompetente Frauen-Jury gibt es eine klasse Besetzung: Marilin Monroe! M.M. hat sich extra vom Himmel frei genommen (JFK sieht´s mit einem lächelden und weinenden Augen!) um der Schau das passende Salz zu verpassen (man munkelt im Himmel, die MM hätte sich extra eine neue Brille bei Fielmannto gekauft, um die Männer-OP-Ergebnisse korrekt einschätzen zu können!) Also Männer, raus mit Euren gebrochenen Ersatzteilen, zeigt was ihr zu zeigen habt, zeigt Euch Mann, zeigt Euch von Eurer Schokoseite - und die Quote schmilzt garantiert!

Einsendung, nur mit ehrlichen Bilderchen - in Vergrößerung! bitte an RTRL-Menschen-Schrott, 55100 Köln, Pisssentraße 1245545.

Beste Grüße
Euer Schrott-TV

SO., 20.7., 19.05 UHR

"AUS ALT MACHT NEU – BRIGITTE NIELSEN IN DER PROMI-BEAUTY-KLINK" – TEIL 3

DRAMA UM BRIGITTE NIELSEN: BESTER FREUND STIRBT VOR BRUST-OP

Nachdem Brigitte Nielsen das aufwändige Facelifting gut überstanden hat, geht es entschlossen zur dritten OP. Jetzt sollen die Brust gestrafft und die bereits 18 Jahre alten Implantate ausgetauscht werden. Doch dann trifft den Hollywood-Star ein schwerer Schicksalsschlag: Joker, ihr Lieblingshund, verstirbt bei einer OP in der Tierklinik. Brigitte Nielsen ist am Boden zerstört. Trost findet sie bei ihrer besten Freundin Marianne Baronin Brandstetter.

Sonntag, 13.07. / 20.07. / 27.07., 19.05 Uhr: Exclusiv Spezial: Aus alt mach neu - Brigitte Nielsen in der Promi-Beauty-Klinik
Brigitte Nielsen (li.) und Frauke Ludowig
Fotos: © RTL

Brigitte Nielsen: "Ich bin einfach nur traurig und vermisse ihn. Joker war immer ein enger und sehr liebenswerter Weggefährte." Während Brigitte Nielsen untröstlich ist, geht ihr selbst auferlegter OP-Marathon erfolgreich weiter. Bei der vierten OP sollen die alten Implantate ausgetauscht werden. Dabei gibt es für die Ärzte eine besondere Herausforderung: Nach den vielen Jahren hat es Verwachsungen in diesem sensiblen Bereich gegeben.

"Hier war bereits eine Voroperation im Spiel", erläutert Chefarzt Dr. Sattler. "Einerseits mussten die alten Implantate herausgenommen, andererseits die Narbe, die darum gewachsen war, berücksichtigt werden. Dann musste das neue Implantat eingesetzt und die Brust gestrafft werden. Für diesen schwierigen Eingriff benötigt man viel Erfahrung, damit der Vorbefund nicht in Konflikt mit der Abheilung des Neubefundes steht."

Für die Ärzte eine kleine Überraschung: Busenwunder Nielsen wollte sogar eine Brustverkleinerung von D auf C. "Der Busen soll wieder eine topp Form bekommen. Aber ich will nicht unnatürlich aussehen", betont Nielsen.

Und was ist Brigitte Nielsen für eine Patientin? Dr. Sattler: "Sie ist eine wunderbare Patientin, steckt die Eingriffe meisterlich weg. Wir haben keinen vergleichbaren Fall bisher aus unserer Erfahrung. Man sollte zwei Monate für diese Menge von Veränderungen und Eingriffen veranschlagen. Hier war es ein Zufall, dass es in zweieinhalb Wochen möglich war. Und Brigitte Nielsen ist eine sehr disziplinierte Patientin, die allen Anweisungen bereitwillig folgt, um am Ende das gewünschte Ergebnis zu erzielen."

Hat sie dabei keinerlei Angst vor den Risiken, die auch diese Operation mit sich bringt? "Ich habe mich ausführlich über die Risiken aufklären lassen. Und mal ganz ehrlich, haben Sie Angst, Auto zu fahren? Kennen sie die Zahlen von Erkrankungen, die auf Grund des Konsums von Alkohol, Fetten und Zucker entstehen? Ich kenne die Zahlen aus den USA. Sie sind erschreckend. Wie viele Opfer aber gibt es im Vergleich dazu im Bereich der Schönheits-OPs? Es gibt deutlich mehr Unfallopfer im Straßenverkehr!", so Nielsen energisch.

Aber ist das die Leiden der vielen OPs wert? An dieser Stelle kommt Nielsen in Rage: "Essen Sie lieber einen schrumpeligen Apfel oder einen frischen knackigen? Dekorieren sie Ihre Wohnung vielleicht mit Trockenblumen? Ich stelle mir lieber frische Blumen auf den Tisch. Hören wir doch alle endlich auf, so verlogen zu sein. Natürlich sieht jung, frisch, glatt schöner aus, als ausgezehrt, ausgetrocknet und faltig. Schauen Sie mal in den Kalender. Wir schreiben das Jahr 2008. Fahren wir noch in der Pferdekutsche? Erlegen die Männer das Wild mit Pfeil und Bogen? Na also, und Frauen nutzen die modernen Möglichkeiten der Schönheitschirurgie. Warum eigentlich auch nicht?"

Die vierte und letzte Folge (3. August, um 19.05 Uhr) zeigt, wie Brigitte Nielsen ihr neues Leben angeht.

Quelle / Vollkontakt: RTL

Link
http://www.rtl-television.de/

cand ma uit la ei ashea parca atunci imi vin in cap cele mai sadice si dure moduri de a muri, cele mai tari farse care se pot face...partea mai trista este ca au inceput sa apara in cele mai neasteptate locuri, ca de exemplu chiar si pe plantatie.

comportamentul marelui cocalar de plantatie nu inceteaza sa ma aduca la consternatie zilnic si cu atat mai mult cu cat participa si la constructiile de echipa. cele mai frapante comportamente ale lui:

- pentru ca merge la fiare, evident are muschi (dar nu muschii ii umfla la fiare, ci ego-ul, pentru ca muschii ii umfla cu prafuri)....cand intra intr-un birou, ordinea fireasca este: pectoralii (mersul specimenului, bietului nenorocit este pe principiul maimutei cu morcov in cur), lantu lui ca ala cu care se leaga vaca pe camp si apoi restul.

- pentru ca trebuie sa impresioneze, intotdeauna intr-o parcela de plantatie se intra DOAR dand puternic cu usa de perete fara sa te sinchisesti, in mortii ma-tii, sa o tii cu labele alea batotorite de la atatea incercari de iti gasi putza

- invariabil va avea gesturi violente, de adevarat mascul....gesturi care se amplifica de o mie de ori cand bea ca bou uischi si taur rosu, ca asa i-a spus lui bambina cand era mai mica ca se face.

- discutiile preferate contin cuvinte de maxim elevat, pe principiul: ce pizdoasa e asta, pula, pula in pizda si toata gama din dictionarul de argou

- pentru ca este un cocalar adevarat si gusturile si priceperea in ale modei sunt desavarsite la un astfel de personaj, tricourile roz si turcoaz cu armani nu lipsesc...insa imaginea apoteotica in ale modei a fost atunci cand in statiunea Bunica (pentru ca un maxim modern merge doar acolo) a aparut cu pieptu-i acoperit cu o plasa din aceea neagra, care culmea avea si manecutze si cu lantu-i de bou pe sub ea....de unde il suspectez ca plasa a fost luata special ca sa se vada lantzu...

- evident a condus o dacia tunata, cu un abtibild cu o gheara care zgarie tabla, evident avea boxe supradimensionate si evident ca si-a luat apoi un volzvagin d-ala storcit, adica pasat, si evident ca in ambele asculta muzica casa data la maxim.

asadar nu se poate trage decat o singura concluzie: sclavul cocalar tot cocalar ramane oricat de mult incerci sa-i spui ca-i un taran.

crapa mah de ura si mai da-te dreacu ca nu te suport cu tot cu freza aia a ta suvitzata de ani de zile!

calaul de cocalari

E.B. White (July 11, 1899) was an American writer. Although named Elwyn Brooks White by his parents, White used his initials in professional writings all his life. On Elwyns' twelfth birthday his father wrote to him: "You are the object of the affectionate solicitude of your mother and father. Then you have been born a Christian. When you reflect that the great majority of men are born in heathen lands in dense ignorance and superstition it is something to be thankful for that you have the light that giveth life." He is the author of many great writings including Charlotte's Web (1952) and Stuart Little (1945).

John Quincy Adams (July 11, 1767 ) was a diplomat, politician, and the sixth President of the United States. John Quincy Adams was the son of the second United States President John Adams, and of his wife Abigail Adams. He is most famous as a diplomat involved in many international negotiations, and for formulating the Monroe Doctrine. As president he proposed a grand program of modernization and educational advancement, but was unable to get it through Congress. Late in life, as a Congressman, he was a leading opponent of the Slave Power, arguing that if a civil war ever broke out the president could abolish slavery by using his war powers, a policy followed by Abraham Lincoln in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.

Nevertheless, this has not all been met with cheers, instead attracting critics from many circles. A close acquaintance of mine, Michelle Bryton (a medical student and young altruist) to be exact, added, “This is just a selfish product pushing machine designed to sell merchandise under the guise of philanthropy”. It seems that these student’s words were also shared by that of Mark Rosenman, of the Stanford Social Innovation Review who wrote that it was an “example of the corporate world aligning its operations with its central purpose of increasing shareholder profit, except this time it is being cloaked in the patina of philanthropy”. Strong words for what is essentially a humane goal to eradicate diseases that plague Africa and stunt the development many countries.

South Park once referred to Bono, subtly of course, as “the world’s biggest crap (Episode 1109 [#162]). And if this is anything to go by, then Bono has just laid an almighty turd on the whole world, one which I feel will never go away. In essence do we have a true fighter for world justice or an Irish megalomaniac with a penchant for grandiose dreams? Questions that, I am sure will raise much mass-debate, but I digress.

Let us look at how all this began. In January of 2001, in the British medical journal, The Lancet, Amir Attaran and Jeffery Sachs proposed a large increase in foreign aid budgets for HIV/AIDS, over the researched figures of the 1990s. They wished-for a stream “of $7.5 billion or more… directed toward funding projects which are proposed and desired by the affected countries themselves, and which are judged as having epidemiological merit against the pandemic by a panel of independent scientific experts”. This was to be based on grants, not loans, for the poorest countries", unlike the World Bank, which was the largest multilateral HIV/AIDS funder then existing. Three years later we get a newly recognised public-private partnership, a first of its kind, with a transparency that allows one to trust it.

From this, enter Bono and another host of wagonites, who together introduce many campaigns whose proceeds would help Global Fund. Bill gates himself, through the Gates Foundation, donated $500 million to the Global Fund, calling the fund "one of the most important health initiatives in the world". (P) R, a brand licensed to partner companies such as American Express, Apple Inc., Converse, Motorola, Gap, Emporio Armani, Hallmark, Microsoft, and Dell, by which each partner company creates a product with the Product Red logo. In return for the opportunity to increase their own revenue through the Product Red products they sell, a percentage of the profit is given to the Global Fund.

In retrospect, this sounds dandy and well thought out, and there seems to be streams of money that is going to the right places, something I feel organisations like World Bank, WHO, UNAIDS and PEPFAR can and should learn from. Nonetheless, one must ask the question, is it working? Is there change? What are the current benefits? Looking at the situation more closely will reveal a trend that is juxtaposed to the aims of many a philanthropist and aid-worker for the last 20-30 years. This is that the countries most heavily affected by the AIDS epidemic have had an increase in their rates, rather than a decrease that has been so sought after. Lest not to sound like a cynic, but there must be something that is not being done right, if we still have up to 24% of sub-Saharan Africa still HIV/AIDS infected, a figure as aforementioned that still increases.

So I ask is all this money still worth it? Billions of pounds is being thrown in to Africa in a bid to “save” its peoples. Many new initiatives are being drawn up to entice (and yes that is what it is) the public into trying to help. I can only imagine the stress Bono, Geldof and Co. must go through trying to convince normal people to not only think of ourselves. We are a culture where we will watch some terrible tragedy on TV, say how horrible it is, then change the channel and forget about it. So maybe (P) R is helping, and I must say that I myself have been infected with its bug, having in my possession 5 (P) R products (my Dell Laptop, IPod Nano, RL Wallet, Gap Bracelet and Armani Watch). Interesting enough, having used the RED impact calculator, the total money I have spent will be enough to “provide HIV prevention training for 40 peer educators”, pretty impressive for about £2500.

So like I, many have been sucked into this cause, whose danger lies in becoming a fad. I have met many an idiot who only buy red, “cos’ it’s cool” and it’s a “great fashion statement”. So in other words there is no heart in this, rather self righteous preservation, which I believe is the worst kind of altruism – it’s false. I mean there is a large incongruence between the said and the done. Let’s take President Bush for a moment. He was pushed into cartoon villan status when he decided to veto a new bill in the US that, simply put, proposed to increased tax on cigarettes and use the money raised to provide cheaper healthcare for poor kids. I mean if Bush can do that to American-white trash/wet-backs/Negros, why should the give a f**k about Africans?

So does that mean that it takes the throes of status minded celebrities to make us, the normal, want to make a change to another country? Little do we realise that the true power lies within the consumers, rather than the celebrities. I should have, in all sense, spent the $150 not on the Armani watch but donated it straight to Global Fund. But instead, like most others, there is this invisible force that makes us want to consume into the wrong things. Purchase power and the strength of economies do not lie in the hands of celebrities and politicians, as well as the need to affect change. Politicians and celebrities are just people elected buy us into positions of power, who in turn tell us how we should live our lives and spend our money. We can affect more change directly without the need to give Bono more reason to win a Nobel Prize.

Secondly, medicine, which has become a real crux in the African developmental wheel, is stunting progress with epidemics, pandemics and throes of other diseases. Let us get a few things straight, HIV/AIDS has become a manageable disease in the EU/US/UK and Japan. Tuberculosis and Malaria are virtually non-existent in these states. I am therefore pretty certain that if more money was focused in providing the same system of healthcare and same types of medicine (not the out of date 5 year old s**t that we get), then maybe my earlier described trend would be on a downturn. A friend of mine once commented that, “If H5N1 ever got into Africa, the whole continent is f****d”, yes and I must fully agree that if that situation ever occurred (and touch multiple woods that it does not happen) then that is truly the end.

So this is my personal cry to all proud African medics, teachers, lawyers, musicians, writers, journalists, engineers, academics (basically anyone with a worthwhile gift to share) – go back home and help the country that gave birth to you and raised you. I know that many have had to leave home because of government related problems, but in the end it is not about you and the past, but those who may end up being in the same situation as you. We have all been fortunate enough to have this chance to have something greater, but help is needed back at home.

So is Africa really worth saving?

I leave it to you to answer that question.