A new website called KomenWatch (www.komenwatch.org) has just come onto the scene as a public service website aimed at “sharing information and generating critical discussion about the largest breast cancer fundraiser in the world, Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.” The website launched last week and is already making its way to bloggers, health activists, and breast cancer organizations. Created by Ida and Alex, the site is a one stop shop for information and critique about the organization that helped to make the pink ribbon what it is today.
The KomenWatch press release explains the purpose of the KomenWatch website, its vision for the future of breast cancer advocacy, and Komen’s potential role.
…At KomenWatch, we are deeply concerned that Komen’s funding relationships, program allocations, awareness messages, educational materials, and general organizational conduct are no longer in accordance with the spirit of its nonprofit status, nor are they aligned to its basic mission of ending breast cancer forever.
…The end of breast cancer can only be achieved with new vision, strong and collaborative leadership, actionable program goals in support of its mission, ethical and evidence-based decision-making, systematic and continuous evaluation of programs, innovative and coordinated research, freedom from conflicts of interest, and truth in advertising.
…As a leader within the breast cancer movement, Komen must answer to the public and to the breast cancer movement at large.
In addition to poignant editorial analyses and historical information (some excerpted from Pink Ribbon Blues), the KomenWatch website includes a large, searchable database of news sources and other articles – dating back to the 1990s – which highlight public concerns about the Komen organization and/or its role in contributing to the splintering of the breast cancer movement and to the overt commercialization of the cause itself. The archives are verifiable, including abstracts to articles as well as source links.
The Komenwatch archives is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about the documented (though frequently less visible) activities of the Komen organization. I’m especially impressed with the website’s “Agenda for the Future” and “Act NOW” pages, which are thoughtful, comprehensive, and doable. The Pink Ribbon Blues Tools for Action page even made it to the list of actions! Other notable elements to the website include “quotable quotes” and confidential reports of “allegations” about some of the tactics Komen “allegedly” uses to maintain its prominent status and visibility.
Komenwatch has made it clear that they are “keeping [their] eyes and ears are open…” It is a website to watch!
Thank you for this blog post Gayle. We continue to follow your work with interest, and we have included a number of links to your articles within our archive. KomenWatch is committed to fostering meaningful discussion and critical analysis with respect to the activities of the Komen organization, which has important implications for the breast cancer movement as a whole. We look forward to sharing more of your work with our readers.