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giggsy
February 3rd, 2010, 01:18
BANGKOK тАУ Responding to international criticism that its initial donation of $20,000 was insufficient, the Thai government has generously added 50,000 bottles of whitening skin cream to its aid shipment to earthquake-stricken Haiti.

тАЬThailand is a compassionate nation,тАЭ said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. тАЬWe noticed in the news that the Haitians are all very dark-skinned. This is surely one of the reasons they are living in poverty. With lighter skin they could be more successful.тАЭ

The donation is co-sponsored by Unilever Thailand Ltd., which has agreed to provide the 50,000 bottles of Citra Ultra White if the government provides shipping. Along with the whitening cream, there will also be 50,000 copies of CitraтАЩs new brochure, explaining the power of CitraтАЩs double-action anti-aging and brightening formula.

тАЬCitra Ultra White lets you look and feel your best,тАЭ said Marlene Van Houten, UnileverтАЩs regional marketing director. тАЬWhether youтАЩre standing in line for UN food shipments, or just sorting through the rubble of your devastated village, Citra Ultra White provides whiter skin and all-day UV protection.тАЭ

The whitening cream represents the single-largest shipment of its kind ever to a disaster-zone. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the generosity of Thais was evident because so many people had encouraged the donation.

тАЬEveryone kept talking about how black-skinned the Haitians are,тАЭ he said. тАЬAt every discussion about aid, the skin color kept coming up. I see now that the initial pledge of USD20,000 was very low because in the back of our minds we knew that these black people needed something more than just money.тАЭ

Many people interviewed for the story seemed to agree with the PM.

тАЬI donated some money to help the Chinese after the Sichuan earthquake,тАЭ said office worker Vasana Prasarnmit. тАЬBut these Haiti people are so dark I donтАЩt want to give them anything. Maybe if they were lighter, like Obama.тАЭ

It is believed that the whitening cream can make the homeless, starving survivors of the earthquake look whiter and brighter in just 14 days, according to the Unilever brochure. It is hoped that by looking whiter, the Haitians might be able to secure more aid.
тАЬWhite skin is the key to succes in life, whether itтАЩs job interviews, finding a mate, or being elected to office,тАЭ said Chulalongkorn sociology professor Urmkit Srisomwattanathip. тАЬThereтАЩs no reason to believe this is any different.тАЭ

The Haitian government has tentatively accepted the donation, but has surprisingly appealed for more non-whitening aid.


from notthenation :sign5:

maisoui
February 3rd, 2010, 03:55
I could tell this was a spoof as soon as I saw the quote from the British educated PM. No way would he say "colour" as "color". Clearly made up by some US educated person.

Strange, they don't usually delight in the misfortune of others that side of the pond.

elephantspike
February 3rd, 2010, 04:05
Sick but funny. :evil4: I think it's from that Thai version of The Onion. What's it called again? Link please?

ceejay
February 3rd, 2010, 04:06
It's "Not the Nation"
http://www.notthenation.com/

elephantspike
February 3rd, 2010, 04:13
Strange, they don't usually delight in the misfortune of others that side of the pond.

It isn't delighting in anyone's misfortune, its lampooning racism and obsession with being light-skinned in Thai society.

Thanks for the link, ceejay. "Not The Nation". I'm pretty sure its done by Thai and various farang nationalities. Here's a direct link to the original article: http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/ ... php?id=861 (http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=861)