Oxfam and Behind the Brands: Mondelez

1) Choose one of the big ten companies showcased in the Oxfam Behind the Brands website. What is its humanitarian score?

I found it more than difficult while scrolling through all the brands to find one that was over 50%. The grand total: 1, it's score being 54%. A pass, but still a fail to most. The company and brand I chose was Mondelez, specifically it's brand Cadbury. It's overall score is 29% leveling out to be 'Poor' on the scales the website has created. 

2) What areas did the company score the lowest points in?

Cadbury and Mondelez scored its lowest point in 'Land', its score being 1. With the score of 2, was 'Women' and 'Water' while the other 4 areas scored in 3s and 4s. 

3) What are the different methods that Oxfam has given you through the site to affect global market behaviors?

There is the link to send a message to Canada's governor to the World Bank, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Another way is the petitions you can sign against various companies and actions they make as well as the option to join the GROW Campaign. 

4) How can you change the behaviors of large corporations?
Using today's media as an advantage, it's easy to spread the word via. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest or email. This gets you into forms and debate online which has a much wider audience on an international scale than it used to. There you can speak with people who share your concerns and spread the message around. 

Writing letters are always an option for more of an individual protest and way to voice your concern, however campaigns are usually more effective as the massive swarm of voices heard can make yours more than just an echo in an empty room. This works as more of a formal protest and respectable one however if a company continues to ignore the voices of their consumers, boycotting is an option as well as a public demonstration (no violence intended here, just a group of people showing what they care about- violence can turn your message the other way and lose you supporters). Phone calls are also an option, though old fashioned and rarely noticed. There are many ways to get in contact with companies, the CEO is the better figure to be in contact with as supposed to a representative as your message will go to the top right away. 

5) Put a link to the Oxfam site in your blog entry. 

[Link here]

More Monkey Memes

And of course, here are a few more monkey memes that reflect more on pop culture today~

So whether it be Star Trek, ex-mayor Ford or Batman's Bane, there is always a way to incorporate a meme into pop culture. These are more memes that have reached Tumblr in popularity trending on more than one tag.

Royals in the news

The Royal family has had their spill in the news to over the past week due to Kate Middleton's health status and a prank pulled by an Australian radio show looking to get the inside scoop. Calling in, they spoke with Kate's nurse who released information she shouldn't have. With all the controversy on this matter and the uproar of the media, the newest addition to the long line story is that the nurse is believed to have commit suicide.
Jacintha Saldanha age 46 was found hung in her appartment and now the question is who is to blame? There are four main catagories of this answer, 1. The pranksters 2. The nurse herself 3. The Royals 4. I won't take sides on this matter. The two Australians have now lost their radio show and have been taken off the air and the nurse is now dead. Some theories have been formed that the nurse had emotional problems and was mentally challenged and some blame the force of the hospital on the matter while others blame religion (this has not been conformed, merely a theory).
Pranks have been in celebrity life for a long time now and as much as many people don't agree with them, they still encourage them for a source of their entertainment. The only reason this blew up and out of propertion fo that basic fact is because someone died. That's the part where this story draws its line. Celebrities, the Royals especially given their possition in the UK and the world, live that life every day, always looking out for something that could be used against them and trying to avoid the paparazzi. There are mixed opinions on this story and mine isn't an exception to that. I'm not going to blame anyone because there is still little to go on. Twitter is blowing up with opinions and now the bullying effect has started as a few people who tweeted things supporting the DJs and saying it wasn't all their fault have now deleted their account.

(link: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1299033--london-hospital-expected-to-make-statement-over-possible-suicide-of-woman-where-kate-middleton-was-treated)

Darwin: Ikea money meme

So the news has blown up with the talk of Darwin, the money in a coat found outside a Toronto Ikea's store. The domesticaled money has also blown up on Twitter and of course... the memes.

This is one of the cuter ones I found while searching through the now endless pages of my tumblr account. For those who don't quite understand the reference and can't hear the screechy voice calling in yoru head, the quote is from the over played Ikea sales advertisement on television. The commercial is made up on a woman receiving a low sales receipt and running to the car yelling at her husband to 'start the car' before they can be taken back to pay the extra money (showing just how low their prices are).
Now on this, it's amusing that they used the line from an Ikea commercial for the Ikea money, it only seems to fit perfectly in my opinion, but pressing this all further, why are the other ones funny? Why did this blow up like so many other unique news stories? The general answer is 'because it's not something you see everyday and it makes you laugh instead of cry like so many of the other stories in the news'. Also, when asked someone called out "Because moneys are cute". Yeah, they are and that's probably why this has also blown up that extra bit where it's now spamming all the mainstream blogging and social media sites.
The other one that reached the top trending list is 'Who wore it better' spoof off the gossip websites and magazines where celebrities int he same outfits are compared to one another.

A study of dyed hair: Trend Tracking

When asked about hair a lot of (female and some male) students at the school said the most they would do it dye it a natural colour, most of that section and responce said it would be to change their natural deep brown/black hair colour to something a little more lighter and unique. Unique. That's the word that was repeated over and over again by almost everyone. Those who chose to go along with the 'dip dye' fashion trend for hair who used a bright neon colour alien to natural hair colour said it was so show a unique quality of themselves, or simply be cool and in trend. I myself have 'peek-a-boo' highlights (the underlayer of hair is dyed so it can peek out from under the top layers) in the colour purple although it fades to a pretty cool teal colour or something along that colour pallet. My reasons and motives for dying my hair is what most of the artists and artistic folk at school agreed with. "I dyed my hair to bring out an inner artistic side and show my creativity and individulaity."
Two catagories for one answer- "why did you dye your hair?"
1. "I dyed it to be unique"
2. "I dyed it because it's in and I wanted to be on trend."

Peek-a-boo highlights:

Dip Dye: (Natural and vibrant)


One responce that wasn't heard too often was "To be like..." Dyed hair in my opinion is a unique choice and few choose to do it because a celebrity did it or a friend did. Most use the same style as the current trend but the colours and techniques range from ombre to vibrant colours to patterns to solids. Oportunities are endless.

Media Trend Proposal- Dyed Hair

Group members: Madeline, Robin and myself
Proposed Trend: Hair
Our proposal is to do a study on the fashion trend of hair. Dip dye, Peek-a-boo highlights and random bright colours have all made their way into fashion in the recent year and almost half the girls at Riverdale supposidly have dyed their hair or show plenty of care for it with product and styling tools (some of the guys aren't too different with their sky high styles either). Dyed hair in both vibrant colours and plain natural tones have made a huge impact on todays teens, whether their trying to idolize Lady Gaga, Katy Perry or Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, or simply trying to express their individuality and artistic style its evident in teen culture.

Media Trends: Doctor Who

Doctor Who, your BBC sci-fi show that's been on televisions for almost 50 years, and has only gotten more popular. Recently the show has had an enormous trend and popularity in Canada and The United States -as well as another show Steven Moffat is a co-director of (BBC's Sherlock- Elementary is the new American version).
The Doctor, a Timelord from the planet Gallifrey has stollen the hearts of many over the world now as it's turned into a fenomenon on an internation scale.

1. What are the different techniques used to inform, persuade, entertain, and attract attention?
Different techinques used are ads in magazines (covers and teasers), half season mini-sodes (for series 7 there was a 5 part miniseries averaging about 3 minutes titled 'Pond Life'), merchandise (tshirts, hoodies- your general clothing products and costume pieces- as well as various things ranging from a TARDIS cookie jar to a toy or prop replica sonic screwdriver). The stars themseleves also play a huge role, Matt Smith and Karen Gillian are both in the spotlights on interview shows, in the common media and just by being themselves they've inticed viewers to watch the show. Also the general Doctor Whos and 'Whovians' themselves from the previous generations before the re-boot of the series by Russle T. Davies in 2005. The stories they tell about the previous episodes from 50 years ago have made the new generations of Whovians want to go back and watch the originals. A marketing scheme within the fans themselves.

2. What messages are communicated (and/or implied) about certain people, places, events, behaviours, lifestyles, etc.? 

Doctor who reaches the topics of humans, love, life, economy and pretty much anything a writer for an episode can think of- It's Sci-Fi you can do almost anything! Example: A two parter episode and the series 1 finally titled 'Bad Wolf' and 'The Parting of the Ways' is set in the year 200,000 and reaches the topic of television- specifically shows like 'The Wakest Link', 'Big Brother' and 'What Not to Wear'. The premise of the episode is that the Doctor and his companions are taken by force to play in reality shows that 'kill you' when you loose. The weakest link, Big Brother and typical fashion and physical reconstruction shows are all poked at and twisted into the deadly show. Another episode concerning transportation, plution and the excessive use of cars, 'GridLocked' where families have been traped along a highway under the city for more then 20 years, some children born in the tunnels. The eipose displays human resourfulness and the problems we have with backed up roads, highways and going to the worse case scenario in this episode, if you travel more then 5 feet in one day- that is a very very good day for driving. Crazy yeah?

Another topic brushed on - out of the so many there are - is human behaviour. The scenarios are all to the extreme - sci-fi and television will do that - but time after time The Doctor is faced with Humans and our emotions, reactions and our selfish needs. Whether it's panicing, willing to kill someone to save ourselves or sharing the planet with a new species that has been inhabiting the inner crusts long before Humans evolved, the concept is always relevant. Humans will behave in some of the oddest ways and most unpredictable ways. Reckless or cautious, for our own benefit or a strangers, the episodes and characters are always relatable.

Topics conveyed about events (in the past) is that there's always something the general public doesn't know- an episode around WW2 and another one around the London Blitz- and those set in the future show that even though the human race has evolved, there are still the problems we have today.

Trend Tracking

1. Research some current trends in teen fashion and culture.

2. List 5 trends that you can find and post them with pictures on your blog. 

Backpacks and sneakers (unisex)


Leather Jackets (unisex- targeted at women this season)

Skinny Jeans (women and unisex)

Leg Warmers (Women)



Dr. Martens (unisex)



3. Who is the target audience, and how is the product  specifically tailored to them? 
_Backpacks and sneakers: Mostly students - in high school and in university/college - and your typical kid on the street. The bright colours and intricate and unique designs are eye catching and can express ones individuality; which in high school is what most students need.
_Leather Jackets: The typical leather jacket- a staple to most closets and fashion lovers- is a fashion trend that has been brought back every season with a different twist to it. This year for 2012-2013 Fall and Winter, it's trendy to have a deep red and wine coloured leather jacket, leather dress, leather pants, leather bag- not all at once of coarse- but this year the leather dress has returned on runways all around the world. That's been targeted at a wider audience, more adult women in that trend as it's been on the runways and in various fashion weeks on an international scale.
_Skinny Jeans: Where would we be today without them? To the relief of many the trend of boys in colourful skinny denim has faded with the past year and now that trend is mainly kept alive by girls in highschool and early adulthood. Your typical skinny jean is still a hot trend with women of all ages and is mixing with patterned denim coloured denim as well as your typical trouser for those who don't like denim. The sexy fit and ways of customizing the product are what catches others eyes, the colours, the washes, the ability to wear them either dressed up or dressed down (formal or casual) and who wears them. All aspects are what have kept this trend alive.
_Leg Warmers: This is a new trend for 2012-2013 but a trend that is breaking through DIY websites and various clothing catalogs. The new twist this year is wearing them with the other trend, knee high boots, over wither a pair of skinny jeans or leggings with a large sweater over top. This trend is still catching on but what is making it so popular is the avalibility of it, the comfort level and the warmth- as well as the fact that it looks great with a sweater dress for the winter and fall months.
_Dr. Martens: The brand and the boot that have made such an impact on highschool students and hipsters everywhere. The comfort, colours, prints and comfort level all make this shoe so popular- as well as the brand name attached to it.

4. Have you bought a product because it was trendy, why did it appeal to you? 
Recently I bought a pair of Dr. Martens, (from an online outlet store - 6pm.com - that sells trendy brands for a fraction of the price) and adore them. They're a higher platform heel which I absolutely love and much to my surprise the cushoning inside and the foot pad is comfortable to walk in for hours on end; after an 8 hour shopping day with my friend, I wasn't feeling the strain on my foot like a normal pair of heels would cause.
On the opposite side of the scale, a fashion trend I did fall victim for was a backpack at Urban Outfitters for $55. I bought it because it looked spectacular but after one day using it for school and straining my back, I returned it for a refund and bought my trusty MEC backpack -that cost me $40- that has lasted for 2 years now- and at a much better price too.