Cool Commercials Bad Karma

Nike got a contract extension from CBF, our football association. If you have the habit to read this Brazilian blog you know that Nike is evil. You also know that Adidas designs are more interesting as well. I don’t blame the designers, of course. The good side of this matter is that we will continue to see those very cool commercials. Everybody remembers the airport piece while now we are rewarded with the very young Ronaldinho playing. But there is a bad side to it too.

My particular problem with Nike is, in fact, the wild capitalism that injures our global society. I like capitalism, but with money and power there must be also a social responsibility. How can you put money in your pocket when you know it is stained with unethical and unjust treatment of brothers. Of course you are thinking “but everybody does that”, I know that but it still ain’t right. I think that the good democracy will happen the day rich countries start demanding workers rights from their suppliers. Of course that will mean to pay more for the work force from poorer countries, but at least it will be fairer. Now we’ll have to swallow this new deal until 2018, unfortunately.

Why did I choose Nike as my target? It is the biggest and profitable sportswear company in the world, with the clearest policy on cheapest labor to maximum profit I know. I’ve seen some TV specials about that in the past few years and the thing that I remember the most is the footage of a stock holders meeting. The announcer was preaching like a fanatic while the audience was cheering as in a crazy cult, screaming with their hands up, like if a messiah was coming down from the heavens (or coming up from the ground). It was a really scary scene. We usually do that to celebrate art, as in a rock concert or a good football match.

With a Brazilian shirt costing 180 reais, while the minimum wage is 360, I know we’ll see few of them worn by locals. In fact they’ll be everywhere, but those fake ones with bad fabric sold in little tents near the beach in front of hotels filled with American and European tourists. I’m sure I won’t buy anything from Nike. My lonely boycott still stands.

One last thing, I think CBF should ask for more than 12 million dollars. I heard Manchester United had a 300 million dollar contract, so…

(Slam Sports about it here)