It’s Global AIDS day today.
And there’s a foot of snow outside my window.
How are these two related? Shopping of course! Yes, as well as reminding us that ‘climate change/ climate chaos’ (or better yet ‘climate justice’!) are more appropriate terms than the more easily dismissed and ignored ‘global warming’, this latest record-breaking bout of weather also reminds that Christmas is on it’s way. Christmas and shopping of course being intertwined. Snow, Christmas and shopping – or rather – rampant greed and over-consumption leading to crazy weather patterns a less promoted notion…
World AIDS day has also been captured by the mega-brands and now, just like Saint Nicholas, it sports a suit fashioned from a distinctly commercial shade of red – what else is there to think about on World AIDS day but buying that (RED) branded product to show how much you care?
Here’s a poem I dedicated to Product (RED) recently published in the non-affiliated Red Anthology, the first collection of Contemporary Black British Poetry for 10 years:

not affiliated with Product (RED)
SAVED BY SHOPPING
dear santa
i would really like an afrikan baby Continue reading →