Pink is popping up veritably everywhere. Now, we rarely think twice when we see pink ribbons, having grown accustomed to what it symbolises.
Pink ribbons have become the uniting force for millions of people facing breast cancer or supporting someone with the disease. According to the World Health Organisation, breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer among women worldwide, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of women.
Breast cancer has captured the hearts of millions across the globe, inspiring corporations and NGOs to raise funds for the research, increasing awareness and reducing the stigma through education whilst providing diagnostic breast care services for those in need.
Supporters hope that greater knowledge will lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, which is associated with higher long-term survival rates, and that money raised for breast cancer will produce a reliable, permanent cure. ‘Susan G Komen for the Cure’ is arguably the largest source of non-profit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
And pink has now become synonymous with individual generosity, faith in scientific progress, and an optimistic ‘can-do’ attitude. It encourages people to focus on the emotionally appealing ultimate vision of a cure for breast cancer. Consumers can purchase pink merchandise, and a portion of those sales is donated to breast cancer initiatives.
Although the pink ribbon evolved because pink expresses femininity, calm, health, and youth, the first breast cancer ribbon was actually peach. Charlotte Haley, who had battled breast cancer, is credited with devising the first breast cancer ribbon in 1992. Charlotte not only distributed and encouraged people to wear the ribbons, she urged law-makers demanding more funding for breast cancer research. Almost at the same time Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estee Lauder company, and Alexandra Penney, Editor in Chief of Self magazine teamed up to create a pink ribbon. In 1996, Nancy Nick created a blue-and-pink ribbon to symbolise male breast cancer ribbons in the honour of her late father. The ribbons remind others that breast cancer can affect men as well as women.
Breast cancer has been called the ‘nun’s disease’ because of the high number of nuns affected by it. Lifelong nuns are at an increased risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers, compared with mothers.
October may be Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it’s not just now that you need to be aware of checking your breasts. It’s a habit you should be maintaining all year round, no matter your age, gender or family history. You may go through all of that and mostly get a benign result and say, ‘Phew, I’m so relieved.’ It does make a lot more sense.
Welcome to ‘Nutty’s Infotainment. YAYS!’
Your time starts now.
What connects Kylie Minogue, Sheryl Crow, Jane Fonda, Martina Navratilova, Cynthia Nixon, Christina Applegate, Richard Roundtree, Betsey Johnson and Kathy Bates?
All Breast cancer survivors
Who won the Noble Peace Prize in 1948?
Following Mahatma Gandhi’s death that year, the Noble Committee declined to award a prize on the ground that ‘there was no suitable living candidate’ that year.
Which sport was author Bill Bryson talking about when he said, “It is the only sport in which spectators burn as many calories as players – more if they are moderately restless”?
Cricket
What happens when onions release a volatile gas, syn-propanethial-S-oxide?
It stimulates the eyes’ lachrymal glands often resulting in uncontrollable tears.
Which is the largest distributor of toys in the world?
McDonald’s. 20% of all sales at McDonald’s include a toy, with one being passed out with each Happy Meal the company sells.
What is the most common traditional gift for a 13th wedding anniversary?
Lace
Fantasia is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney. What is the name of the sorcerer in the movie?
Yen Sid (‘Disney’ spelled backwards)
In colonial time in the USA, it was called ‘winter banana’ or ‘melt-in-the-mouth’. How do we know it now?
Apple
In Pied Piper of Hamelin, the piper lured the rats into a river, where all but one, drowned. How or why did this rat survive?
Because it was deaf
Below is a poster from a movie which marked the “end of an era”. Name this movie.
(Answer next week. Answer to last week’s photoquiz: Vladimir Putin)
What’s the Good Word?
1. Crass: (a) offensive in manner (b) metal (c) code (d) condensed
2. Kibitzer: (a) art (b) celebrated (c) unprecedented (d) meddler
3. Adroit: (a) canonized (b) skillful (c) political (d) custom
4. Cantankerous: (a) introductory (b) victorious (c) argumentative (d) extraordinary
5. Veridical: (a) coinciding with reality (b) austerity (c) inconclusive (d) eventual
6. Effrontery: (a) achievement (b) impudence (c) colossal (d) responsibility
7. Fastidious: (a) inspiring (b) unintentional (c) prominence (d) choosy
8. Shivaree: (a) opponent (b) stationary (c) noisy mock serenade (d) allusion
9. Vilipend: (a) one-to-one (b) disparage (c) glossary (d) contemporary
10. Hirple: (a) hobble (b) allusion (c) attack (d) defending player
Answers: 1 (a); 2 (d); 3 (b); 4 (c); 5 (a); 6 (b); 7 (d); 8 (c); 9 (b); 10 (a)
UNITING FORCE: Pink ribbons have become a uniting force for millions of people facing breast cancer or supporting someone with the disease.
