from ontd-science, on the subject of skin lighteners

[obeseskeleton]

http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2011/02/indian_government_launches_com. ( Read more... )

Comments

[wazira_sharira]

I think it's too easy from a privileged perspective to criticize this, but I don't blame people for seeing to an immediate safety issue. People's attitudes will take a while to change, whether or not an unsafe chemical is replaced by a safe one, and in the meantime I don't think we should criticize a replacement chemical. If we do, it just sounds like we're saying that the health risk is acceptable because nobody should be using the product in the first place, like they're a punishment for not changing your opinion fast enough.

[obeseskeleton]

that's a good point. i also wonder whether the government had already tried any kind of ad campaign to portray dark as beautiful. no one's attitude is going to change overnight, of course, but it is proven to be possible for attitudes and preferences to change. there may not ever be a bleaching agent that does not cause health problems, given that just about every chemical that adds or removes color seems to always end up being dangerous.

[feralbirdgirl]

Heh, at least the 'dark is beautiful' tanning advertising campaigns have been replaced by 'tanning causes cancer' ...oof.

[delitescent]

This, just this.

Also, icon love.